System and method for measuring gaps using an opto-analytical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012070-B2
Application number	US-201214424794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining a distance between a portion of the drilling tool and the formation based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool;
receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool near the end of the wellbore, the opto-analytical device configured to detect an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation; and
determining a distance between a portion of the drilling tool and the formation based on the intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an amount of bit whirl associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an amount of bit walk associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an amount of bit tilt associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining an amount of bit tilt comprises:
determining a first distance between a first portion of the drilling tool and the formation;
determining a second distance between a second portion of the drilling tool and the formation; and
comparing the first distance and the second distance.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a depth of cut associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein determining a depth of cut associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance comprises:
determining a first distance between the opto-analytical device and the formation; and
comparing the first distance and a second distance between the opto-analytical device and a cutting element of the drilling tool.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining an amount of wear of a cutting element of the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

9. A downhole drilling system comprising:
a downhole drilling tool configured to drill a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool; and
an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool near the end of the wellbore and configured to:
receive electromagnetic radiation;
detect an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation; and
determine a distance between a portion of the drilling tool and the formation based on the intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of bit whirl associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of bit walk associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of bit tilt associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the opto-analytical device configured to determine an amount of bit tilt is configured to:
determine a first distance between a first portion of the drilling tool and the formation;
determine a second distance between a second portion of the drilling tool and the formation; and
compare the first distance and the second distance.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine a depth of cut associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the opto-analytical device configured to determine a depth of cut associated with the drilling tool based on the determined distance is configured to:
determine a first distance between the opto-analytical device and the formation; and
compare the first distance and a second distance between the opto-analytical device and a cutting element of the drilling tool.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of wear of a cutting element of the drilling tool based on the determined distance.

17. A drill bit comprising:
a bit body;
a rotational axis about which the bit body rotates;
a plurality of blades disposed on the bit body to create a bit face;
an opto-analytical device integrated with the bit body, the opto-analytical device configured to:
receive electromagnetic radiation;
detect an intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation; and
determine a distance between a portion of the drill bit and a formation based on the intensity of the received electromagnetic radiation.

18. The drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of bit whirl associated with the drill bit based on the determined distance.

19. The drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of bit walk associated with the drill bit based on the determined distance.

20. The drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of bit tilt associated with the drill bit based on the determined distance.

21. The drill bit of claim 20 , wherein the opto-analytical device configured to determine an amount of bit tilt is configured to:
determine a first distance between a first portion of the drill bit and the formation;
determine a second distance between a second portion of the drill bit and the formation; and
compare the first distance and the second distance.

22. The drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine a depth of cut associated with the drill bit based on the determined distance.

23. The drill bit of claim 22 , wherein the opto-analytical device configured to determine a depth of cut based on the determined distance is configured to:
determine a first distance between the opto-analytical device and the formation; and
compare the first distance and a second distance between the opto-analytical device and a cutting element of the drill bit.

24. The drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to determine an amount of wear of a cutting element of the drill bit based on the determined distance.

Assignees

• Pelletier Michael T
• Freese Robert P
• Weaver Gary E
• Chen Shilin
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Pelletier Michael T
• Freese Robert P
• Weaver Gary E
• Chen Shilin

Classifications

• E21B47/085

  using radiant means, e.g. acoustic, radioactive or electromagnetic · CPC title

• E21B47/0228

  using electromagnetic energy or detectors therefor · CPC title

• E21B47/024

  of devices in the borehole (determining slope or direction of the borehole E21B47/022) · CPC title

• E21B7/00

  Special methods or apparatus for drilling · CPC title

• E21B12/02 Primary

  Wear indicators · CPC title