System and method for detecting drilling events using an opto-analytical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945181-B2
Application number	US-201214424106-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 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 at an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining a drilling characteristic based on the received electromagnetic radiation, and detecting an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for drilling a wellbore, comprising:
drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool;
receiving, at an integrated computational element of an opto-analytical device within the drilling tool, electromagnetic radiation directed from a source of the electromagnetic radiation by a channel formed in the drilling tool;
transmitting a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using the integrated computational element;
determining a drilling characteristic associated with drilling the wellbore based on an intensity of the transmitted portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using a processing unit of the opto-analytical device; and
detecting an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising modifying drilling the wellbore based on the detected event.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising emitting electromagnetic radiation from the drilling tool, wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from heat of the drilling tool.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drilling characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the formation, a temperature of the drilling tool, a temperature of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a porosity of the formation, a density of the formation, a chemical composition of the formation, a chemical composition of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a pH of the fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, and a material state of the formation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting a presence of a natural gas reservoir based on a determination of a concentration of natural gas.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting a change in formation composition based on a determination of formation properties.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting a phase change of the formation based on a determination of material state of the formation.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the event associated with drilling the wellbore comprises detecting wear of the drilling tool based on a determination of a temperature of the drilling tool.

10. A downhole drilling system comprising:
a downhole drilling tool configured to drill a wellbore in a formation, the downhole drilling tool including:
a channel formed in the drilling tool; and
an opto-analytical device at a proximal end of the channel, the opto-analytical device configured to:
receive, at an integrated computational element of the opto-analytical device, electromagnetic radiation directed from a source of the electromagnetic radiation by the channel;
transmit a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using the integrated computational element; and
determine a drilling characteristic associated with drilling the wellbore based on an intensity of the transmitted portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using a processing unit of the opto-analytical device;

wherein the drilling tool is further configured to detect an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the drilling tool includes the electromagnetic radiation source, the electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; and
the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from heat of the drilling tool.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the drilling characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the formation, a temperature of the drilling tool, a temperature of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a porosity of the formation, a density of the formation, a chemical composition of the formation, a chemical composition of fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, a pH of the fluids between the drilling tool and the formation, and a material state of the formation.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect a presence of a natural gas reservoir based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of a concentration of natural gas.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect a change in formation composition based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of formation properties.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect a phase change of the formation based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of material state of the formation.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein, to detect the event associated with drilling the wellbore, the drilling tool is configured to detect wear of the drilling tool based on a determination, by the opto-analytical device, of a temperature of the drilling tool.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the opto-analytical device is further configured to cause a modification of the drilling of the wellbore based on the detected event.

19. 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;
a channel formed in the drill bit; and
an opto-analytical device integrated with the bit body at a proximal end of the channel, the opto-analytical device configured to:
receive, at an integrated computational element of the opto-analytical device, electromagnetic radiation directed from a source of the electromagnetic radiation by the channel;
transmit a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using the integrated computational element; and
determine a drilling characteristic associated with drilling the wellbore based on an intensity of the transmitted portion of the received electromagnetic radiation using a processing unit of the opto-analytical device;

wherein the drill bit is configured to detect an event associated with drilling a wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

20. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein:
the drill bit includes the electromagnetic radiation source, the electromagnetic radiation source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; and
the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from the emitted electromagnetic radiation.

21. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein the received electromagnetic radiation is derived from heat of the drill bit.

22. The drill bit of claim 19 , wherein the drilling characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a temperature of the formation, a temperature of the drill bit, a temperature of fluids between the drill bit and the formation, a porosity of the formation, a density of the formation, a chemical composition of the formation, a chemical composition of fluids between the drill bit and the formation, a pH of the fluids between the dri

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

• E21B49/005

  Testing the nature of borehole walls or the formation by using drilling mud or cutting data · CPC title

• E21B49/003

  by analysing drilling variables or conditions (E21B49/005 takes precedence; systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions E21B44/00) · CPC title

• E21B7/00 Primary

  Special methods or apparatus for drilling · CPC title

• E21B12/02

  Wear indicators · CPC title

• E21B10/602 Primary

  the bit being a rotary drag type bit with blades · CPC title