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Method and apparatus for ultrasound velocity measurements in drilling fluids

  • US 7,418,865 B2
  • Filed: 11/21/2003
  • Issued: 09/02/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a velocity of ultrasound propagation in a drilling fluid flowing in a mud channel within a borehole of a downhole environment, comprising:

  • disposing a first ultrasound transducer (37) across the mud channel from a second ultrasound transducer (39) such that a front face (37f) of the first transducer (37) is offset from a front face (39f) of the second ultrasound transducer (39) by a predetermined radial offset distance (Δ

    Df), wherein the transducers are separated from the mud channel by a thin interface for protecting the transducers from the drilling fluid flowing in the mud channel while permitting the ultrasound propagation there through;

    emitting an ultrasound pulse into the drilling fluid in a borehole using the first ultrasound transducer(37);

    detecting the ultrasound pulse after the ultrasound pulse has travelled through the drilling fluid a distance (d);

    determining a travel time (t) for the ultrasound pulse to travel the distance (d) through the drilling fluid in the borehole between the first and second transducers; and

    determining the velocity of ultrasound propagation in the drilling fluid from the distance (d) and the travel time (t).

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