Formation evaluation system and method

• US 7,495,446 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Bogath, Christopher C., Lovell, John R., Pringnitz, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEDYNH, BOT L
• Application Number:
  US11/209,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20070052551A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.5, 3408531-8535, 324332-334, 324338-340, 324354-357, 324/366, 324/369, 324371-372, 175/40, 175/50, 702 6- 7, 702 9- 11
• US Class Current: 324/338
• 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 formation evaluation system for a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The formation evaluation system is provided with a downhole tool and a sensor. The downhole tool is positionable in the wellbore. The downhole tool has a downhole electromagnetic unit for communication with a surface electromagnetic unit. The sensor determines at least one wellsite parameter from the electromagnetic signal. The downhole tool and the surface electromagnetic unit are adapted to pass electromagnetic signals there between. The electromagnetic signals pass through the subterranean formation whereby the senor determines the at least one wellsite parameter from the electromagnetic signal.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating a subterranean formation having a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, comprising the steps of:

deploying a downhole tool into the wellbore;

transmitting a first electromagnetic encoded telemetry signal through the subterranean formation between a downhole tool and a surface unit;

calculating a wellsite parameter from the first encoded electromagnetic telemetry signal;

encoding at least one subsequent electromagnetic telemetry signal with data correlated with the calculated wellsite parameter;

transmitting at least one subsequent electromagnetic telemetry signal through the subterranean formation between a downhole tool and a surface unit;

receiving the second electromagnetic telemetry signal by a surface electromagnetic unit; and

determining the wellsite parameter from the at least one subsequent electromagnetic telemetry signal.

2. A formation evaluation system for a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

a downhole tool positionable in the wellbore, the downhole tool having a downhole electromagnetic unit adapted to communicate with a surface electromagnetic unit via a electromagnetic signal; and

wherein the electromagnetic signal passes through the subterranean formation between the downhole electromagnetic unit and the surface electromagnetic unit such that a wellsite parameter is determined as a function of one of

     1) voltage and

     2) current employed to generate the electromagnetic signal as attenuated by passing through the subterranean formation.

3. The formation evaluation system of claim 2, wherein the downhole electromagnetic unit comprises:

a first antenna;

a first control circuitry operably connected to the first antenna that controls the first antenna such that an electromagnetic field is generated and modulated for communicating the electromagnetic signals to the surface electromagnetic communication unit; and

a first processor operatively connected to the first control circuitry.

4. The formation evaluation system of claim 2, wherein the surface electromagnetic unit comprises:

a second antenna;

a second control circuitry operably connected to the second antenna that controls the first antenna such that the electromagnetic signals are received from the downhole electromagnetic communication unit; and

a second processor operatively connected to the second control circuitry;

the second processor adapted to determine the wellsite parameter as a function of one of

     1) voltage and

     2) current.

5. The formation evaluation system of claim 3, wherein the first antenna includes a coil for generating the electromagnetic signals via inductive coupling.

6. The formation evaluation system of claim 3, wherein the second antenna employs a voltage potential to generate the electromagnetic signals.

7. The formation evaluation system of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic signal include a carrier frequency receivable by the surface electromagnetic unit.

8. The formation evaluation system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the electromagnetic signals comprises a measurement signal and a carrier signal, the measurement signal being superimposed on the carrier signal and wherein the measurement signal is distinguishable from the carrier signal.

9. The formation evaluation system of claim 8, wherein the measurement signal is at a higher frequency than the carrier signal.

10. The formation evaluation system of claim 8, wherein the detection of the measurement signal is performed by measuring the difference between two signals;

wherein said first signal comprises the measurement signal superimposed upon the carrier signal; and

wherein the said second signal comprises an approximation of said carrier signal.

11. The formation evaluation system of claim 2, the electromagnetic signal further comprising at least two separate signals, the first comprising a measurement signal and the second comprising a carrier signal.

12. The formation evaluation system of claim 2, wherein the at least one wellsite parameter includes a resistivity measurement.

13. A method of evaluating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, comprising:

positioning a downhole tool in the wellbore;

transmitting an electromagnetic signal between a downhole electromagnetic unit of the downhole tool and a surface electromagnetic unit, wherein the electromagnetic signal transmits one of data and a command and passes through the subterranean formation; and

determining a wellsite parameter from the electromagnetic signal as a function of one of

     1) voltage and

     2) current relating to the electromagnetic signal as attenuated by passing through the subterranean formation.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of encoding the electromagnetic signal with data indicative of the wellsite parameter;

wherein the determining is based on the data indicative of the wellsite parameter.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one wellsite parameter includes a resistivity measurement.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining at least one wellsite parameter further comprises to determine the wellsite parameter from the electromagnetic signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wellsite parameter determined from the electromagnetic signal is determinable as a function of an induced current.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the wellsite parameter determined from the electromagnetic signal is determinable as a function of the induced current according to formula:

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the wellsite parameter determined from the electromagnetic signal is determinable as a function of a voltage potential induced across a gap of the downhole tool.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the determining and the transmitting are performed concurrently.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising superimposing a high frequency measurement signal on top of a low frequency carrier signal to generate the at least one electromagnetic signal.