Drill string tubular with a detection system mounted therein

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303506-B2
Application number	US-201013201343-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2010
Priority date	Feb 12, 2009
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A measurement system for collecting data. The measurement system includes a tubular suspended downhole, the tubular having an outer surface and a flowbore extending therethrough, the flowbore conveying a fluid, a first recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular, a first detection system mounted in the first recess, a second recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular, and a second detection system mounted in the second recess. The second recess is offset relative to the first recess by at least one of an axial distance and a circumferential distance. The first detection system is operable to measure a portion of the data, and the second detection system operable to measure another portion of the data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A measurement system for collecting data, the measurement system comprising:
a tubular suspended downhole, the tubular comprising an outer surface and a flowbore extending therethrough, the flowbore conveying a fluid;
a first recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular;
a first detection system mounted in the first recess, the first detection system operable to measure a portion of the data and including a pressure housing configured to withstand pressure loads of drilling fluids in drilling operations;
a second recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular, the second recess offset relative to the first recess by at least one of an axial distance and a circumferential distance; and
a second detection system mounted in the second recess, the second detection system including a pressure housing and operable to measure another portion of the data,
wherein the first detection system includes a plurality of pressure housings circumferentially distributed along the first recess, each pressure housing of the plurality of pressure housings including a detector therein that is operable to measure a portion of the data.

2. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular is a drill collar and wherein the fluid is a drilling fluid.

3. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the data is radiation measurements.

4. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the second recess is axially offset and circumferentially offset relative to the first recess.

5. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein the first detection system and the second detection system are electrically coupled with components positioned uphole therefrom, the first detection system and the second detection system receiving power from one of the components and transmitting the data to another of the components.

6. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein each of the first detection system and the second detection system comprises:
a plurality of detectors, each detector comprising:
a Geiger Muller tube operable to measure radiation;
wherein the pressure housing is disposed thereabout.

7. The measurement system of claim 6 , wherein each of the first detection system and the second detection system further comprises: a cover plate coupled to the tubular, the cover plate moveable between a closed position, wherein the cover plate forms a barrier between the detectors and an annulus formed by the tubular and a formation surrounding the tubular, and an open position, wherein the detectors are accessible.

8. The measurement system of claim 7 , wherein an outer surface of the cover plate is substantially flush with the outer surface of the tubular.

9. A drill string comprising:
a drill collar comprising an outer surface and a flowbore extending therethrough, the flowbore conveying a drilling fluid;
a first tube bank formed in the outer surface of the drill collar;
a first detection system mounted in the first tube bank including a pressure housing configured to withstand pressure loads of drilling fluids in drilling operations and comprising an outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the drill collar, the first detection system operable to measure a portion of the data;
a second tube bank formed in the outer surface of the drill collar, the second tube bank offset relative to the first tube bank by at least one of an axial distance and a circumferential distance and comprising an outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the drill collar; and
a second detection system mounted in the second tube bank including a pressure housing and comprising an outer surface substantially flush with the outer surface of the drill collar, the second detection system operable to measure another portion of the data; and wherein the first and the second detection systems receive power from and transmit the data to components positioned uphole and electrically coupled thereto,
wherein the first detection system includes a plurality of pressure housings circumferentially distributed along the first tube bank, each pressure housing of the plurality of pressure housings including a detector therein that is operable to measure a portion of the data.

10. The drill string of claim 9 , wherein the data is radiation measurements.

11. The drill string of claim 9 , wherein the second tube bank is axially offset and circumferentially offset relative to the first tube bank.

12. The drill string of claim 9 , wherein each of the first detection system and the second detection system comprises:
a plurality of detectors, each detector comprising:
a Geiger Muller tube operable to measure radiation;
wherein the pressure housing is disposed thereabout.

13. The drill string of claim 12 , wherein each of the first detection system and the second detection system further comprises:
a cover plate moveable between a closed position, wherein the cover plate forms a barrier between the detectors and an annulus formed by the drill collar and a formation surrounding the drill collar, and an open position, wherein the detectors are accessible; and
wherein an outer surface of the cover plate is substantially flush with the outer surface of the drill collar.

14. A measurement system comprising:
a tubular suspended downhole and comprising an outer surface;
a first tube bank formed in the outer surface of the tubular; and
a first detection system disposed within the first tube bank, the first detection system comprising:
a plurality of detectors circumferentially distributed along the first tube bank, each detector comprising:
a Geiger Muller tube operable to measure radiation; and
a pressure housing disposed thereabout, the pressure housing configured to withstand pressure loads of drilling fluids in drilling operations; and

a cover plate coupled to the tubular, the cover plate moveable between a closed position, wherein the cover plate extends over the first tube bank forming a barrier between the circumferentially distributed detectors and an annulus formed by the tubular and a formation surrounding the tubular, and an open position, wherein the circumferentially distributed detectors are accessible.

15. The measurement system of claim 14 , wherein the Geiger Muller tubes extend axially within the first tube bank relative to the tubular.

16. The measurement system of claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the cover plate is substantially flush with the outer surface of the tubular.

17. The measurement system of claim 14 , wherein the tubular further comprises an axial extending bore through which electrical wiring extends, the electrical wiring coupled between the Geiger Muller tubes and components uphole therefrom and operable to deliver power to the Geiger Muller tubes and to transmit data from the Geiger Muller tubes.

18. The measurement system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second tube bank formed in the outer surface of the tubular, the second tube bank offset relative to the first tube bank by at least one of an axial distance and a circumferential distance; and
a second detection system disposed within the second tube bank, the second detection system substantially identical to the first detection system.

19. The measurement system of claim 1 , wherein each pressure housing of the plurality of pressure housings is coupled to and circumferentially distributed along an endcap disposed within the first recess.

Assignees

• Herrera Adan Hernandez
• Dudley James H
• Finke Michael Dewayne
• Golla Christopher Allen
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Herrera Adan Hernandez
• Dudley James H
• Finke Michael Dewayne
• Golla Christopher Allen

Classifications

• E21B47/017 Primary

  Protecting measuring instruments · CPC title

• E21B47/01 Primary

  Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like · CPC title