Downhole navigation and detection system

• US 7,763,845 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2006
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: DiFoggio, Rocco, Kurkoski, Philip L., Chalitsios, Constantyn, Molz, Eric B., Estes, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta; David P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim; Kiho
• Application Number:
  US11/503,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 250/269.1, 250/269.2, 250/269.3, 250/269.4, 250/269.5, 250/269.6, 250/269.7, 250/269.8
• US Class Current: 250/269.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/024 of devices in the borehole determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/101 and detecting the secondary Y-rays produced in the surrounding layers of the bore hole
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/107 and detecting reflected or back-scattered neutrons

Abstract

A photodiode whose long-wavelength cutoff is in the short-wavelength range (preferably, between ultraviolet and yellowish-green) having reduced temperature sensitivity is used in downhole applications. It may be matched with scintillation devices having an output matched to the response curve of the photodiode for use with nuclear logging devices. The photodiode may also be used in gyroscopes in which light from an LED matched to the photodiode is reflected from a spinning mass.

Claims

1. An apparatus for evaluating an earth formation, the apparatus comprising:

a logging tool configured to be conveyed in a borehole in the earth formation; and

a spinning mass gyroscope configured to provide an indication of an azimuthal orientation of the logging tool, the gyroscope including;

(i) at least one photodiode primarily responsive to light having a wavelength less than about 440 nm, and

(ii) a light source configured to have an output matched to a response curve of the at least one photodiode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the logging tool further comprises at least one formation evaluation (FE) sensor configured to be responsive to a property of the earth formation.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one FE sensor further comprises:

(i) a radiation source which is configured to irradiate the earth formation; and

(ii) a plurality of detectors which are configured to be responsive to interaction of the irradiation with the earth formation.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the radiation source further comprises a neutron source and wherein the plurality of detectors comprise scintillation counters configured to be responsive to gamma rays.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the radiation source further comprises a neutron source and wherein the plurality of detectors comprises scintillation detectors configured to be responsive to neutrons.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one FE sensor further comprises at least one of (i) a photodiode having a bandgap greater than about 2 eV, (ii) an array of photodiodes, and (iii) a gradient refractive index lens.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a processor configured to an output of the at least one FE sensor and an output of the orientation sensor to provide an image of the earth formation.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the at least one FE sensor further comprises a directionally sensitive FE sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the logging tool is configured to be conveyed on a wireline in a cased borehole.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the logging tool is configured to be conveyed in the borehole on a drilling tubular, the apparatus further comprising a processor configured to use an output of the orientation sensor to measure a direction of drilling.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source further comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

12. A method of evaluating an earth formation, the method comprising:

conveying a logging tool into a borehole in the earth formation; and

using a spinning mass gyroscope having at least one photodiode primarily responsive to light having a wavelength less than about 440 nm and a light source configured to have an output matched to a response curve of the at least one photodiode to provide an indication of an azimuthal orientation of the logging tool.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising using at least one formation evaluation (FE) sensor responsive to a property of the earth formation.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

(i) using a radiation source on the logging tool for irradiating the earth formation; and

(ii) using a plurality of detectors for providing an output responsive to interaction of the irradiation with the earth formation.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the irradiating further comprises using a neutron source and wherein providing the output further comprises using scintillation counters responsive to gamma rays.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the irradiating further comprises using a neutron source and wherein providing the output further comprises using scintillation detectors responsive to neutrons.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one FE sensor further comprises at least one of (i) a photodiode having a gap band greater than about 2 eV, (ii) an array of photodiodes, and (iii) a gradient refractive index lens.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising using an output of the at least one FE sensor and an output of the orientation sensor for providing an image of the earth formation.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising using, for the at least one FE sensor, a directionally sensitive FE sensor.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising using a wireline for conveying the logging tool in a cased borehole.

21. The method of claim 12 further comprising conveying the logging tool in the borehole on a drilling tubular, the method further comprising using an output of the orientation sensor to measure a direction of drilling.

22. A computer-readable medium product having stored thereon instructions that when read by a processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

using an output of a formation evaluation sensor on a logging tool and an output of an azimuthal orientation sensor to provide an image of the earth formation wherein the azimuthal orientation sensor comprises a spinning mass gyroscope and at least one photodiode-primarily responsive to light having a wavelength less than about 440 nm and a light source configured to have an output matched to a response curve of the at least one photodiode.

23. The medium of claim 22 further comprising at least one of (i) a ROM, (ii) an EPROM, (iii) an EEPROM, (iv) a flash memory, and (v) an optical disk.