Adaptive optimization of output power, waveform and mode for improving acoustic tools performance

• US 9,933,538 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Lim, Chin Wee
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J
• Application Number:
  US15/034,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20160291188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,580 Days
• Field of Search: 367 25
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/18 through the well fluid , e.g. mud pressure pulse telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/00 Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/46 Data acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/48 Processing data
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2200/14 Quality control
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2200/16 Measure-while-drilling or logging-while-drilling
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/1299 Subsurface, e.g. in borehole or below weathering layer or mud line
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/1429 Subsurface, e.g. in borehole or below weathering layer or mud line
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/32 Noise reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/6169 using well-logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/6222 Velocity; travel time

Abstract

A method and system for enhancing the signal quality of received signals generated by acoustic tools by factoring in feedbacks from the rig operations in an adaptive optimization process. The system may include a transmitter driver circuit and transmitters which can implement signal transmission at selected power, mode and waveforms. The selected power, mode and transmit waveforms may further be generated in the system by making optimal calculations based on realtime information from the downhole data regarding the formation and borehole characteristics.

Claims

1. An acoustic data transmission method for enhancing signal quality of a transmitted signal comprising:

identifying desired signal qualities;

generating a first acoustic signal generated using a first waveform, a first mode and a first power,

transmitting the first acoustic signal into a formation;

receiving the first acoustic signal at a plurality of receivers;

computing formation velocities from data extracted from the first acoustic signal;

computing signal qualities of the first acoustic signal;

identifying an error calculation between the first acoustic signal qualities and the desired signal qualities;

performing an optimization of a plurality of parameters using information from a plurality of sensors regarding formation characteristics and the formation velocities extracted from the first acoustic signal, wherein the optimization generates an optimum second waveform, an optimum second transmission mode and optimum second power;

generating a second acoustic signal using the optimum second waveform, second transmission mode and second power.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired signal qualities is input by one of an operator or a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic signal results in producing a compression wave and other direct or surface waves from the formation that are acquired at the receivers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first acoustic signal results in producing a shear wave from the formation that is acquired at the receivers.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises one or more of density, temperature, mud velocity, pressure, azimuth, rotation velocity, standoff or viscosity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information extracted from the first acoustic signal is further processed by a filtering process.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimum second waveform and second power are further determined by using the error minimization methods.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the error calculation is the difference between the signal qualities of the first acoustic signal and the desired signal qualities.

9. An adaptive acoustic transmission optimization system for enhancing signal qualities of received signals comprising:

desired signal qualities, wherein the desired signal qualities are identified by one of an operator or a user;

a first acoustic signal, wherein the first acoustic signal is generated in part using a first waveform, a first transmission mode and a first power;

further wherein signal qualities of the first acoustic signal is determined;

a second acoustic signal, wherein the second acoustic signal is generated using an optimum second waveform, an optimum transmission mode and an optimum second power, wherein the optimum second waveform, the optimum second transmission mode and optimum second power are determined based on a plurality of parameters using information from a plurality of sensors and information extracted from the first acoustic signal regarding formation characteristics;

an error calculation, wherein the error calculation is identified based on the signal qualities of the first acoustic signal and the desired signal qualities.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the desired signal qualities is input by one of an operator or a user.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first acoustic signal results in producing a compression wave and other direct or surface waves from the formation that are acquired at the receivers.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first acoustic signal results in producing a shear wave from the formation that is acquired at the receivers.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises one or more of density, temperature, mud velocity, pressure, azimuth, rotation velocity, standoff or viscosity.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the information extracted from the first acoustic signal is further processed by a filtering process.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the error calculation is the difference between the signal qualities of the first acoustic signal and the desired signal qualities.

16. A system for transmitting an acoustic signal at an optimum signal quality for an acoustic transmission, the system comprising

desired signal qualities, wherein the desired signal qualities are identified by one of an operator or a user;

a first acoustic signal, wherein the first acoustic signal is generated in part using a first waveform, a first transmission mode and a first power;

further wherein signal qualities of the first acoustic signal is determined;

a second acoustic signal, wherein the second acoustic signal is generated using an optimum second waveform, optimum second transmission mode and an optimum second power, wherein the optimum second waveform and optimum second power are determined based on a plurality of parameters using information from a plurality of sensors and information extracted from the first acoustic signal regarding formation characteristics;

an error calculation, wherein the error calculation is identified based on the signal qualities of the first acoustic signal and the desired signal qualities.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the desired signal qualities is input by one of an operator or a user.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the first acoustic signal results in producing a compression wave and other direct or surface waves from the formation that are acquired at the receivers.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the first acoustic signal results in producing a shear wave from the formation that is acquired at the receivers.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises one or more of density, temperature, mud velocity, pressure, azimuth, rotation velocity, standoff or viscosity.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the information extracted from the first acoustic signal is further processed by a filtering process.