Tilted antenna logging systems and methods yielding robust measurement signals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10358911-B2
Application number	US-201214410544-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2012
Priority date	Jun 25, 2012
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

Disclosed herein are electromagnetic logging systems and methods that provide a set of signals that robustly approximate the response of a model tool employing orthogonal triads of point-dipole antennas. One illustrative method embodiment obtains an azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic logging tool's signal measurements as a function of position in a borehole, the tool having at least two spacing distances (d 1 , d 2 ) between transmit and receive antennas. Orthogonal direct coupling measurements (Vxx, Vyy, Vzz) are derived from the signal measurements and converted into a set of robust signals, the set including: a ratio between Vzz coupling components at different spacing distances, a ratio between Vxx and Vzz coupling components, a ratio between Vyy and Vzz coupling components, and a ratio between Vxx and Vyy coupling components. The set may include an additional robust signal having a ratio between a sum of cross-coupling components Vxz+Vzx or Vyz+Vzy and a sum of orthogonal direct coupling components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetic logging method that comprises:
obtaining signal measurements collected using an azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic logging tool with a titled antenna as a function of position in a borehole, the tool having at least two spacing distances (d 1 , d 2 ) between transmit and receive antennas;
deriving orthogonal direct coupling measurements (Vxx, Vyy, Vzz) from the signal measurements;
providing a set of robust signals as a function of position in the borehole, the robust signals including:
a ratio between Vzz coupling components at different spacing distances,
a ratio between Vxx and Vzz coupling components,
a ratio between Vyy and Vzz coupling components, and
a ratio between Vxx and Vyy coupling components; and

using the set of robust signals to determine a log of one or more formation parameters.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the set of robust signals in log form to a user.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein as part of said deriving or providing, the method includes combining measurements associated with different spacing distances to obtain each of the robust signals.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein as part of said deriving or providing, the method further includes employing measurements associated with different transmit antennas to ensure that the robust signals are compensated for instrumentation drift.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein as part of said deriving or providing, the method includes using air-hang measurements for calibration of each of the robust signals.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool is a logging while drilling tool having one or more tilted antennas.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool is a wireline tool having at least one triad of orthogonal transmit antennas and at least one triad of orthogonal receive antennas.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing and additional robust signal having a ration between a sum of cross-coupling components Vxz+Vzx or Vyz+Vzy and a weighted or unweighted sum of orthogonal direct coupling components.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the additional robust signal is expressible as

S
5

=

1
+

V
xz

+

V
zx

1
2

⁢

V
xx

+

1
2

⁢

V
yy

+

V
zz

.

10. An electromagnetic logging system for determining resistivity of earth formations that comprises:
an azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic logging tool with a titled antenna, wherein the tool has at least two spacing distances (d 1 , d 2 ) between a transmit antenna and a receive antenna, wherein the tilted antenna transmits an electromagnetic signal, wherein the receive antenna is used to collect signal measurements;
a memory that stores logging software; and
at least one processor coupled to the memory to execute the logging software, the software causing the at least one processor to:
obtain the azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic logging tool's signal measurements as a function of position in a borehole;
derive orthogonal direct coupling measurements (Vxx, Vyy, Vzz) from the signal measurements;
provide a set of robust signals as a function of position in the borehole, the robust signals including:
a ratio between Vzz coupling components at different spacing distances,
a ratio between Vxx and Vzz coupling components,
a ratio between Vyy and Vzz coupling components, and
a ratio between Vxx and Vyy coupling components; and

use the set of robust signals to determine a log of one or more formation parameters; and
generate a geosteering signal from the set of robust signals to direct a drill bit.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the software further causes the at least one processor to display the set of robust signals in log form to a user.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein as part of said deriving or providing, the software causes the at least one processor to combine measurements associated with different spacing distances to obtain each of the robust signals.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein as part of said deriving or providing, the software further causes the at least one processor to employ measurements associated with different transmit antennas to ensure that the robust signals are compensated for instrumentation drift.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein as part of said deriving or providing, the software causes the at least one processor to use air-hang measurements for calibration of each of the robust signals.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tool is a logging while drilling tool having one or more tilted antennas.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the tool is a wireline tool having at least one triad of orthogonal transmit antennas and at least one triad of orthogonal receive antennas.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the set of robust signals includes an additional robust signal having a ratio between a sum of cross-coupling components Vxz+Vzx or Vyz+Vzy and a weighted or unweighted sum of orthogonal direct coupling components.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the additional robust signal is expressible as

S
5

=

1
+

V
xz

+

V
zx

1
2

⁢

V
xx

+

1
2

⁢

V
yy

Assignees

• WU Hsu hsiang
• Donderici Burkay
• Bittar Michael S
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Wu Hsu-Hsiang
• Donderici Burkay
• Bittar Michael S

Classifications

• G01B7/004

  for measuring coordinates of points · CPC title

• G01B5/004

  for measuring coordinates of points · CPC title

• E21B47/09 Primary

  Locating or determining the position of objects in boreholes or wells {, e.g. the position of an extending arm}; Identifying the free or blocked portions of pipes · CPC title

• G01V3/38 Primary

  Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction · CPC title

• G01V3/28

  using induction coils · CPC title