Downhole visualisation method

• US 10,174,603 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welltec A/S
• Original Assignee: Welltec A/S
• Inventors: Barfoed, Jens, Hallundbaek, Jorgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sathyanaraya V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Philip P.
• Application Number:
  US14/365,882
• Publication Number:
  US 20140340506A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/002 by visual inspection
• 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 47/26 Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of visualizing a downhole environment using a downhole visualization system. The downhole visualization system comprises a downhole tool string comprising one or more sensors, a downhole data processing means for processing the sensor signals to provide sensor data, an uphole data processing means for uphole processing and visualization, and a data communication link operable to convey the sensor data from the downhole data processing means to the uphole data processing means, the sensors being capable of generating sensor signals indicative of one or more physical parameters in the downhole environment. The downhole visualization system further comprises a downhole data buffering means capable of receiving the sensor data from the downhole data processing means and temporarily storing the sensor data in the downhole data buffering means.

Claims

1. A method of visualising a downhole environment using a downhole visualisation system comprising a downhole tool string comprising one or more sensors, a downhole data processing means for processing the sensor signals to provide sensor data, an uphole data processing means for uphole processing and visualisation, and a data communication link operable to convey the sensor data from the downhole data processing means to the uphole data processing means, the sensors being capable of generating sensor signals indicative of one or more physical parameters in the downhole environment, the downhole visualisation system further comprising a downhole data buffering means capable of receiving the sensor data from the downhole data processing means and temporarily storing the sensor data in the downhole data buffering means,

said method comprising the steps of:

moving the downhole tool string within a downhole environment,

sensing, during movement, one or more physical parameters using the one or more sensors generating sensor signals indicative of one or more physical parameters in the downhole environment,

processing the sensor signals to provide sensor data of a section of the downhole environment,

temporarily storing the sensor data, obtained at a pre-set sample rate, in the downhole data buffering means,

transmitting a first part of the stored sensor data in the downhole data buffering means to the uphole data processing means at a pre-set first transmission rate equal to or lower than the sample rate,

processing the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data using the uphole data processing means and visualising the section of the downhole environment based on the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data,

sending a control signal from the uphole data processing means to the downhole data processing means based on an event including a sudden change in one or more of the physical parameters during the visualisation of the downhole environment based on the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data, thereby changing the transmission rate from the first transmission rate to a second transmission rate,

transmitting at least partially a second part of the stored sensor data in the downhole data buffering means to the uphole data processing means at the second transmission rate,

visualising the same section of the downhole environment, based on the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data and the transmitted second part of the stored sensor data, chronologically before and after the event without reversing the movement of the downhole tool string, and

generating, using the uphole data processing means and based on the transmitted first part of the sensor data stored in the data buffering means, a first visualization of the section of the downhole environment; and

after transmitting the control signal and receiving the second part of the sensor data stored in the data buffering means, generating, using the uphole data processing means and based on the transmitted first part of the sensor data and the received second part of the sensor data, a second visualization of the same section of the downhole environment,

wherein the generated second visualization is higher resolution than the generated first visualization of the same section of the downhole environment.

2. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 1, wherein the second transmission rate is higher than the first transmission rate and lower than the sampling rate.

3. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 1, further comprising a step of deleting the part of the stored sensor data in the downhole data buffering means which has been transmitted to the uphole data processing means.

4. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 1, further comprising a step of sending an additional control signal to change the speed of the downhole tool string from a first to a second speed.

5. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 1, further comprising a step of transmitting a third part of the stored sensor data at a third transmission rate.

6. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 5, further comprising a step of visualising the downhole environment based on the transmitted first, second and third parts of the sensor data.

7. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 1, wherein the event is a change in a casing structure, a formation structure or properties of fluids being present in the downhole environment.

8. A method of visualising a downhole environment according to claim 1, wherein the first transmission rate is higher than the sampling rate when the sensor of the tool string moves past uninteresting parts of the well.

9. A method of visualising a downhole environment using a downhole visualisation system comprising a downhole tool, an uphole processing system, and a communication link configured to convey data from a downhole processing system included in the downhole tool to the uphole processing system, wherein the downhole tool includes one or more sensors and a downhole data buffer, and the downhole processing system is configured to process signals from the sensor and provide sensor data, the method comprising:

moving the downhole tool within a downhole environment;

while moving the downhole tool, sensing one or more physical parameters using the one or more sensors generating sensor signals indicative of one or more physical parameters in the downhole environment;

processing, by the downhole processing system, the sensor signals to provide sensor data of a section of the downhole environment;

temporarily storing the sensor data, obtained at a pre-set sample rate, in the downhole data buffer;

transmitting a first part of the stored sensor data in the downhole data buffer to the uphole processing system at a first transmission rate equal to or lower than the pre-set sample rate;

processing, by the uphole processing system, the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data to provide a visualization of the section of the downhole environment;

when a predetermined event is detected, sending a control signal from the uphole processing system to the downhole processing system;

in response to receiving the control signal, changing the transmission rate from the first transmission rate to a second transmission rate;

transmitting at least a second part of the stored sensor data in the downhole data buffer to the uphole processing system at the second transmission rate;

providing, by the uphole processing system, a visualization of the same section of the downhole environment based on the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data and the transmitted second part of the stored sensor data, chronologically before and after the event without reversing the movement of the downhole tool string; and

generating, by the uphole processing system and based on the transmitted first part of the sensor data stored in the downhole data buffer, a first visualization of the section of the downhole environment; and

after transmitting the control signal and receiving the second part of the sensor data stored in the downhole data buffer, generating, by the uphole processing system and based on the transmitted first part of the sensor data and the received second part of the sensor data, a second visualization of the same section of the downhole environment,

wherein the generated second visualization is higher resolution than the generated first visualization of the same section of the downhole environment.

10. The method of visualising the downhole environment according to claim 9, wherein detecting the predetermined even includes detecting, based on the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data, a sudden change in one or more physical parameters.

11. The method of visualising the downhole environment according to claim 10, wherein the visualization of the downhole environment based on the transmitted first part of the stored sensor data and the transmitted second part of the stored sensor data is provided chronologically before and after detecting the sudden change in one or more physical parameters, without reversing the movement of the downhole tool string.

12. A downhole visualization system comprising:

a downhole tool comprising one or more sensors, a buffer, and a first processing system, the first processing system being configured to at least;

while the downhole tool is moving in a section of a downhole environment, receive signals from the one or more sensors at a pre-set sample rate;

temporary store, in the buffer, sensor data corresponding to the received signals from the one or more sensors received at the pre-set sample rate;

transmit at a first transmission rate a first portion of the sensor data stored in the buffer and corresponding to the section of the downhole environment to a second processing system located outside of the downhole tool;

after transmitting the first portion of the sensor data stored in the buffer to the second processing system, receive a control signal from the second processing system; and

after receiving the control signal, transmit a second portion of the sensor data stored in the buffer and corresponding to the section of the downhole environment to the second processing system at a second transmission rate that is higher than the first transmission rate; and

further comprising the second processing system and the second processing system being configured to;

generate, based on the received first portion of the sensor data stored in the buffer, a first visualization of the section of the downhole environment; and

after transmitting the control signal and receiving the second portion of the sensor data stored in the buffer, generate, based on the received first portion of the sensor data and the received second portion of the sensor data, a second visualization of the same section of the downhole environment,

wherein the generated second visualization is higher resolution than the generated first visualization of the same section of the downhole environment.

13. The downhole visualization system of claim 12, wherein the first processing system is further configured to automatically adjust the transmission rate from the first transmission rate to the second transmission rate when it is determined that a value represented by the sensor data exceed a pre-set numerical value or a pre-set derivative value of the sensor data.

14. The downhole visualization system of claim 12, wherein the second processing system is configured to transmit the control signal to the first processing system when, based on the first part of the sensor data, a determination is made that a change in one or more physical parameters in the downhole environment exceeds a pre-set threshold.

15. The downhole visualization system of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the sensor data transmitted to the second processing system and the second portion of the sensor data transmitted to the second processing system both correspond to signals received from the one or more sensors over a same time period.

16. The downhole visualization system of claim 12, wherein the first transmission rate is lower than the sample rate of the one or more sensors, and the second transmission rate is lower than the sample rate of the one or more sensors.

17. The downhole visualization system of claim 12, wherein the first transmission rate is lower than the sample rate of the one or more sensors, and the second transmission rate is higher than the sample rate of the one or more sensors.