Reconfigurable well logging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9880313-B2
Application number	US-201514936889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

A system and apparatus for configuring a well logging assembly having an elongate sub with a bore therethrough, a leading end connection and a trailing end connection, a plurality of sets of recesses in an exterior wall of the sub to receive a plurality of sets of inserts, each having a threaded exterior surface, a plurality of internally threaded retainer rings, and a plurality of well logging devices securable to the exterior wall of the sub using the retainer rings to threadably engage the inserts received in the recesses. The system enables convenient configuration and reconfiguration of the well logging assembly by enabling convenient securing of a first well logging instrument to the sub at a variety of spacings from a second well logging instrument to provide a variety of depths of investigation into a geologic formation penetrated by a drill string containing the well logging assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a sub having an exterior wall and two or more sets of recesses in the exterior wall, wherein each set of recesses is spaced along a longitudinal axis of the sub and each recess within any particular set of recesses is angularly distributed about the axis relative to other recesses of that particular set of recesses;
two or more sets of inserts receivable into the recesses, each of the inserts having external threads;
one or more well logging devices, each well logging device having a first end adjacent one set of the two or more sets of recesses, a second end adjacent another set of the two or more sets of recesses, and a bore to receive the sub; and
one or more pairs of retainer rings, each retainer ring having internal threads that are complementary to the external threads of the inserts;
wherein one pair member of any given pair of retainer rings threadably engages a first set of the two or more sets of inserts to secure the first end of any particular well logging device to the sub and the other pair member of that given pair of retainer rings threadably engages a second set of the two or more sets of inserts to secure the second end of that particular well logging device to the sub.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more well logging devices comprises at least two well logging devices, and at least one of the at least two well logging devices is a first transceiver and at least one other of the at least two well logging devices is a second transceiver.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein any particular one of the one or more well logging devices is selected from a group consisting of a transceiver, a transmitter, a receiver, an antenna, an electrode, a transducer, a nuclear source, and a nuclear detector.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a passageway within the sub and an electrically conductive wire disposed in the passageway and connected to at least one of the one or more well logging devices secured to the sub.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power source to provide electrical power to at least one of the one or more well logging devices.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the electrical power source is selected from a group consisting of a battery, a generator, and a fuel cell.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor in communication with at least one of the one or more well logging devices.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the two or more sets of recesses comprises at least three sets of recesses and the spacing between any two sets of recesses is unequal.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein any particular insert has an angular span of 180 degrees or less.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the retainer rings has a lip and each of the well logging devices has a shoulder, and wherein, for a particular retainer ring, well logging device, and insert combination, the lip of the retainer ring overlaps the shoulder of the well logging device when the retainer ring is threadedly engaged with the insert.

11. A method, comprising:
providing a sub having an exterior wall and two or more sets of recesses in the exterior wall, wherein each set of recesses is spaced along a longitudinal axis of the sub and each recess within any particular set of recesses is angularly distributed about the axis relative to other recesses of that particular set of recesses;
inserting two or more sets of inserts into the recesses, each of the inserts having external threads;
positioning one or more well logging devices on the sub, each well logging device having a first end adjacent one set of the two or more sets of recesses, a second end adjacent another set of the two or more sets of recesses, and a bore to receive the sub;
providing one or more pairs of retainer rings, each retainer ring having internal threads that are complementary to the external threads of the inserts; and
for one pair member of any given pair of retainer rings, threadably engaging a first set of the two or more sets of inserts to secure the first end of any particular well logging device to the sub and, for the other pair member of that given pair of retainer rings, threadably engaging a second set of the two or more sets of inserts to secure the second end of that particular well logging device to the sub.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more well logging devices comprises at least two well logging devices, and further comprising making a first set of measurements with the at least two well logging devices positioned in a first configuration.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising repositioning the at least two well logging devices into a second configuration different from the first configuration, and making a second set of measurements with the second configuration.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the depth of investigation for the first configuration is different from the depth of investigation of the second configuration.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising running the sub in a wellbore and making measurements with the one or more well logging devices.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising repositioning at least one of the one or more well logging devices while at a well site.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the repositioning of any particular well logging device comprises:
disengaging the associated retainer ring pair of any well logging device, if any, that obstructs the movement of the well logging device being repositioned;
removing each obstructing well logging device, if any, from the travel path of the well logging device being repositioned;
disengaging the associated retainer ring pair of the well logging device being repositioned;
moving the well logging device being repositioned to its new position;
securing the repositioned well logging device by engaging its associated retainer ring pair with two sets of inserts associated with the new position; and
securing each obstructing well logging device that is to remain on the sub, if any, by engaging its associated retainer ring pair with two sets of inserts associated with a reconfiguration position of the obstructing well logging device.

Assignees

• Oliden Tech Llc
• China Nat Petroleum Corp

Inventors

• Okonkwo Chidiebele Gabriel
• Li Qiming
• Li Anzong
• Li Chuanwei
• Zhu Jun

Classifications

• G01V3/30

  operating with electromagnetic waves · CPC title

• Y10T29/49826

  Assembling or joining · CPC title

• G01V3/28 Primary

  using induction coils · CPC title

• G01V3/20

  operating with propagation of electric current · CPC title

• G01V13/00

  Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices covered by groups G01V1/00 – G01V11/00 · CPC title