US4894534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Logging apparatus and method
Assignee: Baroid Technology Inc
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Filing: 1987-01-16
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Granted: 1990-01-16
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Expires: 2007-01-16
Abstract
Abstract Downhole measuring apparatus includes a gamma radiation source and at least two pairs of radiation detectors carried by a housing so that radiation may be emitted from the source and scattered by the environment of the housing and detected by the detectors. Each pair of detectors is arranged so that its detectors are positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and each pair of detectors, in combination with the radiation source, forms a different geometrical configuration so that, in general, the radiation counts obtained by the different pairs of detectors will not be redundant. The output signals from the detectors may be processed to provide data signals indicative of the radiation counts experienced by the detectors, and which may then be used to simultaneously obtain values for two or more downhole parameters. The addition of each new, independent pair of detectors permits the simultaneous solution of an additional downhole parameter.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Paske
- 👤 Richard F. Roesler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:44
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/04; G01V5/08; G01V5/12; G01V5/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for measuring downhole parameters in a borehole, comprising: a. a generally elongate housing having a longitudinal axis; b. a source of gamma radiation carried by said housing so that radiation from said source may be emitted outside said housing; and c. radiation detection means carried by said housing and comprising first and second pairs of detectors, said first pair of detectors including first and second detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing, and said second pair of detectors including third and fourth detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing such that the configuration of the combination of said first pair of detectors and said radiation source is different from the configuration of the combination of said second pair of detectors and said radiation source; d. said detectors being for sensing radiation from the environment of said housing due to radiation emitted from said radiation source and interacting with said environment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for measuring downhole parameters in a borehole, comprising: a. a generally elongate housing having a longitudinal axis; b. a source of gamma radiation carried by said housing so that radiation from said source may be emitted outside said housing; and c. radiation detection means carried by said housing and comprising first and second pairs of detectors, said first pair of detectors including first and second detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing, and said second pair of detectors including third and fourth detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing such that the configuration of the combination of said first pair of detectors and said radiation source is different from the configuration of the combination of said second pair of detectors and said radiation source; d. said detectors being for sensing radiation from the environment of said housing due to radiation emitted from said radiation source and interacting with said environment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising signal processing means for providing data signals which are indicative of the radiation count rates of said detectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 2 whereby said signal processing means combines output signals from two of said detectors to provide a single data signal indicative of the count rates of said two detectors operating as a single detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second pairs of detectors are positioned at different axial displacements along said longitudinal axis relative to said radiation source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second detectors are positioned symmetrically relative to said radiation source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second detectors are positioned asymmetrically relative to said radiation source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said first detector is circumferentially aligned about said longitudinal axis of said housing at an azimuthal angle of zero degrees relative to the position of said radiation source, and said second detector is so aligned at an azimuthal angle of 180° relative to said radiation source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said detection means comprises at least one additional such pair of detectors including detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposed on opposite sides of said housing longitudinal axis and in a unique configuration relative to said radiation source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is positioned within said borehole by means of a pipe string.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is supported in said borehole by flexible line means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for logging a borehole and providing simultaneous measurement for at least two parameters of the borehole environment, comprising: a. a generally elongate housing having a longitudinal axis; b. a source of gamma radiation carried by said housing so that radiation from said source may be emitted outside said housing; and c. radiation detection means carried by said housing and comprising first and second pairs of detectors, said first pair of detectors including first and second detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing, and said second pair of detectors including third and fourth detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing such that the configuration of the combination of said first pair of detectors and said radiation source is different from the configuration of the combination of said second pair of detectors and said radiation source; d. said detectors being for sensing radiation due to said radiation source and scattered by fluid in said borehole and by the underground formation adjacent thereto at the level of said housing so as to provide simultaneous measurement for at least two parameters of the borehole environment.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for logging a borehole and providing simultaneous measurement for at least two parameters of the borehole environment, comprising: a. a generally elongate housing having a longitudinal axis; b. a source of gamma radiation carried by said housing so that radiation from said source may be emitted outside said housing; and c. radiation detection means carried by said housing and comprising first and second pairs of detectors, said first pair of detectors including first and second detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing, and said second pair of detectors including third and fourth detectors positioned diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis of said housing such that the configuration of the combination of said first pair of detectors and said radiation source is different from the configuration of the combination of said second pair of detectors and said radiation source; d. said detectors being for sensing radiation due to said radiation source and scattered by fluid in said borehole and by the underground formation adjacent thereto at the level of said housing so as to provide simultaneous measurement for at least two parameters of the borehole environment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system as defined in claim 11 further comprising signal processing means for providing data signals which are indicative of the radiation count rates of said detectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system as defined in claim 12 whereby said signal processing means combines output signals from two of said detectors to provide a single data signal indicative of the count rates of said two detectors operating as a single detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second pairs of detectors are positioned at different axial displacements along said longitudinal axis relative to said radiation source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second detectors are positioned symmetrically relative to said radiation source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second detectors are positioned asymmetrically relative to said radiation source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as defined in claim 16 wherein said first detector is circumferentially aligned about said longitudinal axis of said housing at an azimuthal angle of zero degrees relative to the position of said radiation source, and said second detector is so aligned at an azimuthal angle of 180° relative to said radiation source.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said detection or means comprises at least one additional such pair of detectors including detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposed on opposite sides of said housing longitudinal axis and in a unique configuration relative to said radiation source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 11 included in a drill string so that scattered radiation may be detected by said detectors in a measuring-while-drilling mode.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said housing is supported in said borehole by a wireline.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of logging a borehole to simultaneously obtain data to determine at least two downhole parameters associated with such borehole, comprising the following steps: a. providing a generally elongate housing, having a longitudinal axis, and carrying a source of gamma radiation positioned on the housing so that, when the housing is located within the borehole, radiation from the source may disperse to and interact with fluid in the borehole and with the underground formation at the level of the housing; b. providing first and second pairs of radiation detectors carried by the housing, with the first detector pair including first and second detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the second detector pair including third and fourth detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and such that the geometric configuration of the combination of the first detector pair and the radiation source is different from the geometric configuration of the combination of the second detector pair and the radiation source; and c. positioning the housing within the borehole, and, with said detectors, sensing radiation reaching the detectors from the formation at the level of the housing and from the fluid in the borehole, and generating data signals indicative of the radiation counts obtained by the detectors in response to the radiation incident thereon.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
235 words
A method of logging a borehole to simultaneously obtain data to determine at least two downhole parameters associated with such borehole, comprising the following steps: a. providing a generally elongate housing, having a longitudinal axis, and carrying a source of gamma radiation positioned on the housing so that, when the housing is located within the borehole, radiation from the source may disperse to and interact with fluid in the borehole and with the underground formation at the level of the housing; b. providing first and second pairs of radiation detectors carried by the housing, with the first detector pair including first and second detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and the second detector pair including third and fourth detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposite each other on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and such that the geometric configuration of the combination of the first detector pair and the radiation source is different from the geometric configuration of the combination of the second detector pair and the radiation source; and c. positioning the housing within the borehole, and, with said detectors, sensing radiation reaching the detectors from the formation at the level of the housing and from the fluid in the borehole, and generating data signals indicative of the radiation counts obtained by the detectors in response to the radiation incident thereon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the step of positioning the housing within the borehole is carried out by means of a wireline extending to the surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the housing is included in a drill string and the logging procedure is carried out in a measuring-while-drilling mode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the housing is rotated relative to the borehole while the detectors are so sensing radiation to provide detector output signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as defined in claim 21 further comprising the steps of combining output signals from two detectors to produce a single data signal indicative of the radiation sensed by the combination of these two detectors, and combining output signals from the remaining two detectors to produce a single data signal indicative of the radiation sensed by the combination of these remaining two detectors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the first and second detectors are provided at a different axial displacement relative to the radiation source compared to the axle displacement of the third and fourth detectors relative to the radiation source.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the first and second detectors are provided positioned symmetrically relative to the radiation source.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the first and second detectors are provided positioned asymmetrically relative to the radiation source.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 28 wherein the first detector is positioned circumferentially aligned about the longitudinal axis of the housing at an azimuthal angle of zero degrees relative to the position of the radiation source, and the second detector is so aligned at an azimuthal angle of 180° relative to the position of the radiation source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as defined in claim 21 further including the step of providing at least one additional pair of detectors including detectors positioned mutually diametrically opposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing and combining with the radiation source in a geometric configuration different from the geometric configurations of the combinations of the first detector pair with the radiation source and the second detector pair with the radiation source, and processing the output signals from the additional detectors to produce data signals indicative of the radiation sensed by these detectors.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 21 including the step of determining the density of the borehole fluid as one of the downhole parameters.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 21 including the step of determining the bulk density of the formation at the level of the housing as one of the downhole parameters.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 21 including the step of determining a transverse dimension of the borehole at the level of the housing as one of the downhole parameters.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as defined in claim 21 comprising the additional step of obtaining the average density of the environment of the housing from the radiation count rates of the detectors.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-15 | 1993-07-17 | 1994-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-15 | 1997-07-17 | 1998-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-15 | 2001-07-17 | 2002-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |