Antenna structures for electromagnetic well logging tools

• US 6,690,170 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Homan, Dean M., Smith, David L., Hazen, Gary A., Ray, Paul Michael, Rosthal, Richard A., Barber, Thomas D., Tabanou, Jacques R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aurora, Reena
• Application Number:
  US10/113,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20030184304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 324/338, 324/339-343, 324/346, 324/356, 324/369, 343/742, 343/741, 343/866, 343/867
• US Class Current: 324/339
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/28 using induction coils
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/04 Adaptation for subterranean or subaqueous use
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/20 the units being spaced along or adjacent to a curvilinear path slotted waveguide arrays H01Q21/005; circularly or helically slotted waveguides H01Q21/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 7/08 Ferrite rod or like elongated core

Abstract

The invention refers to antenna configurations for electromagnetic logging tools. The antennas have one or more electrical conductors disposed on a dielectric substrate wrapped around a core or disposed directly on the core. The conductor or conductors are arranged such that the antenna has a first magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core. The invention also refers to antennas adapted for mutual balancing using interleaved conductive paths or disks to alter the magnetic dipole moments to mutually balance the antenna system.

Claims

1. An antenna for an electromagnetic well logging tool, comprising:

a core, the core including a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the outer surface having channels and pins adapted to retain a first electrical conductor in a predetermined pattern, the first electrical conductor disposed in the channels;

the predetermined pattern adapted to cause the antenna to have a first magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core.

2. The antenna according to claim 1 further comprising a second conductor disposed in the channels and adapted to cause the antenna to have a second magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core and substantially perpendicular to the first magnetic dipole moment.

3. The antenna according to claim 2 further comprising a third electrical conductor adapted to cause the antenna to have a third magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetic moments and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, the first, second and third magnetic moments intersecting at a common point along the axis.

4. The antenna according claim 3 wherein the first and second electrical conductor form at least one loop having first and second sides and first and second ends, the first and second sides disposed in the channels and the first and second ends retained by the pins.

5. The antenna according to claim 4 wherein the pins each comprise at least one slanted surface adapted to retain the electrical conductors.

6. The antenna according to claim 3 wherein the third conductor comprises a solenoid coil.

7. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein the core is annular.

8. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

9. The antenna according to claim 1 wherein the first electrical conductor forms at least one loop having first and second sides and first and second ends, the first and second sides disposed in the channels and the first and second ends retained by the pins.

10. The antenna according to claim 9 wherein the pins each comprise at least one slanted surface adapted to retain the electrical conductor.

11. The antenna according to claim 1 further comprising an independent electrical conductor disposed on the core and positioned within the predetermined pattern, the conductor adapted to alter the first magnetic moment.

12. The antenna according to claim 11 wherein the independent conductor forms a closed loop.

13. The antenna according to claim 11 wherein the independent conductor forms a disk.

14. An antenna for an electromagnetic logging tool, comprising:

a core formed of a dielectric material;

an electrical conductor disposed on a dielectric substrate, the substrate wrapped around the core and the conductor disposed such that the antenna has a first magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core.

15. The antenna according to claim 14 further comprising a second electrical conductor disposed on the substrate such that the antenna has a second magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the core and perpendicular to the first magnetic dipole moment.

16. The antenna according to claim 15 further comprising an additional electrical conductor disposed therein and adapted such that the antenna has a third magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetic moments and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.

17. The antenna according to claim 16 wherein the additional conductor comprises a solenoid coil.

18. The antenna according to claim 14 wherein the core is annular.

19. The antenna according to claim 14 wherein the electrical conductor comprises at least one of wire, metal foil, and deposited conductive film.

20. The antenna according to claim 14 further comprising an independent electrical conductor disposed on the substrate, the optional conductor adapted to alter the first magnetic moment.

21. The antenna according to claim 20 wherein the independent conductor forms a closed loop.

22. The antenna according to claim 20 wherein the independent conductor forms a disk.

23. The antenna according to claim 14 further comprising a second dielectric substrate overlaid atop the first substrate and wrapped around the core, the second substrate having an electrical conductor disposed therein.

24. An antenna for an electromagnetic logging tool, comprising:

a core, having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the outer surface having channels and pins adapted to retain electrical conductors in a predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern adapted to cause first and second electrical conductors to have a first and second magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core, the first and second electrical conductors disposed in the channels and adapted to have the second magnetic dipole moment pointing in a different direction from the first magnetic moment.

25. The antenna according to claim 24 further comprising a third conductor adapted to cause the antenna to have a third magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetic moments and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.

26. The antenna according to claim 25 wherein the third conductor comprises a solenoid coil.

27. The antenna according claim 24 wherein the first and second electrical conductors each form at least one loop having first and second sides and first and second ends, the first and second sides disposed in the channels and the first and second ends retained by the pins.

28. The antenna according to claim 24 wherein at least one pin comprises a slanted surface adapted to retain an electrical conductor.

29. The antenna according to claim 24 wherein the core comprises an annular cylinder.

30. The antenna according to claim 25 wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

31. The antenna according to claim 24 further comprising at least one independent electrical conductor disposed on the core and positioned within the predetermined pattern, the conductor adapted to alter the first or second magnetic moment.

32. The antenna according to claim 31 wherein each at least one independent conductor forms a closed loop.

33. The antenna according to claim 31 wherein each at least one independent conductor forms a disk.

34. An antenna for an electromagnetic logging tool, comprising:

a core;

an electrical conductor disposed on a dielectric substrate, the substrate wrapped around the core, the conductor forming first and second conductive paths, the first and second conductive paths arranged to have a first and second magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core, the first and second magnetic dipole moments pointing in different directions.

35. The antenna according to claim 34 further comprising an additional conductor adapted to cause the antenna to have a third magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetic moments and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.

36. The antenna according to claim 35 wherein the additional conductor comprises a solenoid coil.

37. The antenna according to claim 34 wherein the core comprises an annular cylinder.

38. The antenna according to claim 34 wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

39. The antenna according to claim 34 wherein the conductor comprises at least one of wire, metal foil, and deposited conductive film.

40. The antenna according to claim 34 further comprising an independent electrical conductor disposed on the substrate and adapted to alter the first or second magnetic moment.

41. The antenna according to claim 40 wherein the independent conductor forms a closed loop.

42. The antenna according to claim 40 wherein the independent conductor forms a disk.

43. The antenna according to claim 34 further comprising a second dielectric substrate overlaid atop the first substrate and wrapped around the core, the second substrate having an electrical conductor disposed therein.

44. A well togging tool comprising:

a support having at least one antenna mounted thereon; and

processing circuitry electrically coupled to the at least one antenna,

wherein the at least one antenna comprises a core having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, the outer surface having channels and pins adapted to retain at least one electrical conductor in a predetermined pattern, the predetermined pattern arranged such that first and second electrical conductors disposed in the channels have a first and second magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core, the first magnetic dipole moment pointing in a direction different from the second magnetic dipole moment.

45. The well logging tool according to claim 44 further comprising a third conductor adapted to cause the antenna to have a third magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetic moments and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core, the first, second and third magnetic moments intersecting at a common point.

46. The well logging tool according to claim 45 wherein the third conductor comprises a solenoid coil.

47. The well logging tool according to claim 44 wherein the first and second electrical conductors each form at least one loop having first and second sides and first and second ends, the first and second sides disposed in the channels and the first and second ends retained by the pins.

48. The well logging tool according to claim 44 wherein at least one pin comprises a slanted surface adapted to retain the electrical conductor.

49. The well logging tool according to claim 44 wherein the core comprises an annular cylinder.

50. The well logging tool according to claim 44 wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

51. The well logging tool according to claim 44 wherein the support comprises least two antennas mounted thereon.

52. The well logging tool according to claim 51 wherein at least one antenna is a transmitter and at least one antenna is a receiver.

53. The well logging tool according to claim 44 wherein the support is adapted for disposal within a well bore on one of a wireline, a drill collar, or coiled tubing.

54. The well logging tool according to claim 44 the at least one antenna further comprising an independent electrical conductor disposed on the core and positioned within the predetermined pattern, the conductor adapted to alter the first or second magnetic moment.

55. The well logging tool according to claim 54 wherein the independent conductor forms a closed loop.

56. The well logging tool according to claim 54 wherein the independent conductor forms a disk.

57. A well logging tool comprising:

a support having at least one antenna mounted thereon; and

processing circuitry electrically coupled to the at least one antenna,

wherein the at least one antenna comprises a dielectric substrate wrapped around a core, the substrate having an electrical conductor disposed thereon, the conductor forming first and second conductive paths, the first and second conductive paths arranged to have a first and second magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core, the first and second magnetic moments pointing in different directions.

58. The well logging tool according to claim 57 further comprising an additional conductor adapted to cause the antenna to have a third magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to the first and second magnetic moments and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core.

59. The well logging tool according to claim 58 wherein the additional conductor comprises a solenoid coil.

60. The well logging tool according to claim 57 wherein the core comprises an annular cylinder.

61. The well logging tool according to claim 57 wherein the core comprises a dielectric material.

62. The well logging tool according to claim 57 wherein the electrical conductor comprises at least one of wire, metal foil, and deposited conductive film.

63. The well logging tool according to claim 57 wherein the support comprises least two antennas mounted thereon.

64. The well logging tool according to claim 63 wherein at least one antenna is a transmitter and at least one antenna is a receiver.

65. The well logging tool according to claim 57 wherein the support is adapted for disposal within a well bore on one of a wireline, a drill collar, or coiled tubing.

66. The well logging tool according to claim 57, the antenna further comprising an independent electrical conductor disposed on the substrate and adapted to alter the first or second magnetic moment.

67. The well logging tool according to claim 66 wherein the independent conductor forms a closed loop.

68. The well logging tool according to claim 66 wherein the independent conductor forms a disk.

69. The well logging tool according to claim 57, the antenna further comprising a second dielectric substrate overlaid atop the first substrate and wrapped around the core, the second substrate having an electrical conductor disposed therein.