US3876016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and system for determining the position of an acoustic generator in a borehole
Assignee: Hughes Tool Co
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Filing: 1973-06-25
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-06-25
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a method and system for determining the position of a drill bit employed in drilling a borehole in the formations through employment of an acoustic vibration oscillator adapted to be operated by fluid pumped down a tubing or drill string and acoustically coupled with a cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole. In operation, fluid is pumped down the drill string to the oscillator located near the drill bit to generate acoustic vibrations which are detected at the surface by a plurality of spaced detectors. The outputs of the detectors are recorded and the waveforms of the outputs recorded are compared to determine the phase differences of the acoustic signal arriving at the plurality of detectors for determining the position of the drill bit. Detection may be carried out while the drill bit is being rotated or rotation of the drill string may be temporarily halted when making seismic recordings whereby the position of the osillator and hence the position of the bit may be determined continuously or at discrete intervals as the borehole is drilled. This method and system may also be used for surveying a hole which has been previously drilled.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon B Stinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:25
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/02; E21B7/00; E21B7/24; G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/40; G01V1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of determining the position of an acoustic generator in a borehole: fluidically generatign, generating fluid pumped down the borehole, an acoustic signal in the borehole; said acoustic signal generated having predominantly a single frequency; at the surface, simultaneously detecting said signal at a plurality of different positions spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase differences in the signals detected at said different postions; recording the signal detected at each position; and comparing the waveforms of the signals recorded to determine phase differences of the signals detected at said different postions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of determining the position of an acoustic generator in a borehole: fluidically generatign, generating fluid pumped down the borehole, an acoustic signal in the borehole; said acoustic signal generated having predominantly a single frequency; at the surface, simultaneously detecting said signal at a plurality of different positions spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase differences in the signals detected at said different postions; recording the signal detected at each position; and comparing the waveforms of the signals recorded to determine phase differences of the signals detected at said different postions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the signal generated has a continuous waveform.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said acoustical signal is generated by the step of: diverting at least a portion of the fluid flowing down the borehole into two channels; switching alternatively fluid flow from one channel to another to generate out-of-phase outputs; inverting the phase of one output to match the phase of the other output.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said signal is detected at a minimum of five different positions at the surface of the earth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a rotary method of drilling a borehole in the earth in which a drill bit is suspended from a drill string and rotated while circulating a drilling fluid through the drill string, drill bit, and up the annulus between the drill bit and borehole and wherein an acoustic vibration oscillator is operated near the bottom of the borehole to produce a waveform of acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency in the borehole fluid, said acoustic vibration oscillator being adapted to be operated by a portion of the fluid pumped down the drill string and having an output to be acoustically coupled with a selected acoustic cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole, the method of determining the position of the drill bit, comprising the steps of: at the surface, simultaneously detecting the waveform of acoustic vibrations at a plurality of different positions spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase differences in the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at said different positions; recording the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at each position; and comparing the waveforms recorded to determine phase differences of the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at said different positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a rotary method of drilling a borehole in the earth in which a drill bit is suspended from a drill string and rotated while circulating a drilling fluid through the drill string, drill bit, and up the annulus between the drill bit and borehole and wherein an acoustic vibration oscillator is operated near the bottom of the borehole to produce a waveform of acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency in the borehole fluid, said acoustic vibration oscillator being adapted to be operated by a portion of the fluid pumped down the drill string and having an output to be acoustically coupled with a selected acoustic cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole, the method of determining the position of the drill bit, comprising the steps of: at the surface, simultaneously detecting the waveform of acoustic vibrations at a plurality of different positions spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase differences in the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at said different positions; recording the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at each position; and comparing the waveforms recorded to determine phase differences of the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at said different positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said acoustic vibration oscillator is operated and the waveform of acoustic vibrations produced are detected at the surface by said detecting means while the drill bit is rotated for drilling purposes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 5 comprising the step of: stopping the rotation of the drill bit while the waveform of acoustic vibrations produced are detected at the surface by said detecting means. recording the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at each position; and comparing the waveforms recorded to determine phase differences of the waveform of acoustic vibrations detected at said different positions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for surveying a borehole, comprising: an acoustic vibration oscillator capable of generating acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency and adapted to be operated by fluid pumped down a conduit and having an output to be acousticaly coupled with an acoustic cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole; means for positioning the oscillator in the borehole; means for pumping fluid down the conduit to the oscillator to generate acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency; a plurality of acoustic vibration detecting means located at different positions on the surface of the earth and spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase differences in the acoustic vibrations arriving at said different positions; and recording means for recording said phase differences.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
125 words
A system for surveying a borehole, comprising: an acoustic vibration oscillator capable of generating acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency and adapted to be operated by fluid pumped down a conduit and having an output to be acousticaly coupled with an acoustic cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole; means for positioning the oscillator in the borehole; means for pumping fluid down the conduit to the oscillator to generate acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency; a plurality of acoustic vibration detecting means located at different positions on the surface of the earth and spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase differences in the acoustic vibrations arriving at said different positions; and recording means for recording said phase differences.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 8, wherein said recording means records waveforms of the detected acoustic vibrations and means for comparing the waveforms of the acoustic vibrations recorded are provided to determine said phase differences.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a rotary drilling system wherein a drill bit is suspended from a drill string and rotated while circulating a drill fluid through the drill string, drill bit, and up the annuls between the drill bit and borehole and wherein an acoustic vibration oscillator is operated near the bottom of the borehole to produce acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency in the borehole fluid, said acoustic vibration oscillator being adapted to be operted by the fluid pumped down the drill string and having an output to be acoustically coupled with an acoustic cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole, the combination therewith of: a plurality of acoustic vibration detecing means located at different positions at the surface of the earth and spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase difference in the acoustic vibrations detected at said plurality of different positions; and recording means for recording the acoustic vibrations detected by said plurality of detecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a rotary drilling system wherein a drill bit is suspended from a drill string and rotated while circulating a drill fluid through the drill string, drill bit, and up the annuls between the drill bit and borehole and wherein an acoustic vibration oscillator is operated near the bottom of the borehole to produce acoustic vibrations of predominantly a single frequency in the borehole fluid, said acoustic vibration oscillator being adapted to be operted by the fluid pumped down the drill string and having an output to be acoustically coupled with an acoustic cavity, a portion of which is defined by the walls of the borehole, the combination therewith of: a plurality of acoustic vibration detecing means located at different positions at the surface of the earth and spaced apart sufficient to obtain phase difference in the acoustic vibrations detected at said plurality of different positions; and recording means for recording the acoustic vibrations detected by said plurality of detecting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 10, comprising: means for comparing the acoustic vibrations recorded to determine phase differences in the acoustic vibrations as detected by said plurality of spaced detecting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |