System for logging formations surrounding a wellbore

• US 7,407,006 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC (Weatherford International PLC)
• Original Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb Incorporated (Weatherford International PLC)
• Inventors: Malloy, Robert, Wilson, Paul, Pitts, Robert, Senn, Stephen, Standley, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HOANG C
• Application Number:
  US11/112,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20050211433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 166/250.01, 166/254.2, 166/66
• US Class Current: 166/250.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B

Abstract

A system and method for logging a formation adjacent to a borehole. The system includes a conveyance member, a memory module in communication with the conveyance member, a communications module in communication with the memory module, and a logging tool in communication with the communications module, wherein the communications module is configured to facilitate communication between the memory module and the logging tool.

Claims

1. A system for logging a formation adjacent to a borehole, comprising:

a conveyance member;

a memory module in communication with the conveyance member;

a communications module in communication with the memory module, wherein the communications module includes local memory with a library of power and filtration schemes for various logging tools; and

a logging tool in communication with the communications module, wherein the communications module is configured to facilitate communication between the memory module and the logging tool by querying the logging tool for identification data used to select one of the power and filtration schemes.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configurable to facilitate communication between the memory module and a variety of logging tools.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to facilitate communication between the memory module and a plurality of logging tools at the same time.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyance member is a wireline conveyance member.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyance member is a slickline conveyance member.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyance member is a continuous, reelable rod.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyance member is a coil tubing.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications module is configured to receive analog signals from the logging tool, wherein the analog signals contain information about the formation adjacent to the borehole.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the communications module is further configured to convert the analog signals to digital signals readable by the memory module.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the communications module is further configured to transfer the digital signals to the memory module.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the memory module is configured to periodically poll the communications module for the digital signals.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory module functions as a log backup.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications module comprises a power supply for providing power to the logging tool.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the communications module comprises a data conversion module for converting the analog signals to a format readable by the memory module.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the communications module comprises a data conversion module for converting the analog signals to digital signals readable by the memory module.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the communications module comprises a digital signal processor for removing irregularities from the digital signals.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the communications module comprises a local memory for storing the digital signals.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the communications module comprises a hardware filter for filtering the analog signals from the logging tool.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the logging tool comprises one or more scintillation detectors and a pulsed neutron generator having a Penning ion source.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the pulsed neutron generator operates at a frequency between about 500 Hz to about 30 kHz.

21. A method for operating a logging system, comprising:

providing a logging tool, a communications module, a memory module, and a conveyance member that are coupled to form the logging system;

receiving a connection signal from the logging tool;

determining, based on the connection signal, a power requirement for operating the logging tool and a filtering scheme for processing signals received from the logging tool;

configuring the communications module for compatibility with the logging tool;

sending analog signals from the logging tool to the communications module, wherein the analog signals contain information about one or more formations surrounding a wellbore; and

converting the analog signals to a format readable by the memory module.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising supplying power to the logging tool according to the power requirement.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising converting the analog signals to digital signals readable by the memory module.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising removing irregularities from the digital signals.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the irregularities are removed using a digital signal processor.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising storing the digital signals to a local memory.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising transferring a copy of the digital signals from the local memory to the memory module.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising querying the logging tool for identification data.

29. A method for operating a logging system, comprising:

coupling a logging tool to a communications module;

coupling the communications module to a memory module;

coupling the memory module to a conveyance member;

configuring the communications module for compatibility with the logging tool, wherein configuring the communications module for compatibility comprises querying the logging tool for identification data used to select a power and filtration scheme from a library that forms part of the communications module;

sending analog signals from the logging tool to the communications module, wherein the analog signals contain information about one or more formations surrounding a wellbore; and

converting the analog signals to a format readable by the memory module.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein converting the analog signals comprises converting the analog signals to digital signals.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising transferring the digital signals to the memory module.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising removing irregularities from the digital signals using a digital signal processor.