Data processing and display for echo sounding data

Claim 1

A method for evaluating echo reflections produced in response to the transmission of acoustic energy down a borehole in the earth, the borehole having a tubing string therein comprising a plurality of interconnected tubing joints, comprising the steps of: detecting said reflections to produce a return signal, storing said return signal, displaying a waveform derived from said return signal on a screen, said waveform displayed along a dimension proportional to time, storing a listing of known depths for one or more fixed reflectors located in said borehole, and displaying a marker on said screen for each of said known reflectors in conjunction with said displayed waveform, each of said markers positioned along said dimension at a position corresponding to the depth in said borehole for the marker.

Claim 2

A method for evaluating echo reflections produced in response to the transmission of acoustic energy down a borehole in the earth, the borehole having a tubing string therein comprising a plurality of interconnected tubing joints, comprising the steps of: detecting said reflections to produce a return signal, storing said return signal, displaying a waveform derived from said return signal on a screen, said waveform displayed along a dimension proportional to time, storing a listing of known depths for one or more fixed reflectors located in said borehole, and displaying a marker on said screen for each of said known reflectors in conjunction with said displayed waveform, each of said markers positioned along said dimension at a position corresponding to the depth in said borehole for the marker.

Claim 3

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to said return signal, and displaying incremental depth markers on said display screen in a line essentially parallel to said displayed waveform.

Claim 4

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to said return signal, and displaying incremental depth markers on said display screen in a line essentially parallel to said displayed waveform.

Claim 5

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, and displaying said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to said return signal.

Claim 6

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, and displaying said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to said return signal.

Claim 7

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a marker which can be positioned on said waveform at any point thereof, and receiving an input from an operator, said input for moving the location of said marker along said waveform.

Claim 8

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a marker which can be positioned on said waveform at any point thereof, and receiving an input from an operator, said input for moving the location of said marker along said waveform.

Claim 10

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, processing said digital samples to detect therein an echo return from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a marker positioned on said display to indicate essentially the point of occurrence in said return signal for said detected echo return from said liquid surface, and receiving an input from an operator after said marker has been positioned on said waveform, said input for moving the location of said marker along said waveform.

Claim 11

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, processing said digital samples to detect therein an echo return from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a marker positioned on said display to indicate essentially the point of occurrence in said return signal for said detected echo return from said liquid surface, and receiving an input from an operator after said marker has been positioned on said waveform, said input for moving the location of said marker along said waveform.

Claim 12

A method for determining depth and displaying data for a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein sonic energy is transmitted down the borehole to produce echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, such as the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to said return signal, wherein said displayed waveform extends along a dimension corresponding to either travel time for said sonic energy or to depth in said borehole, processing said digital samples to detect a reflection from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a moveable marker which represents a depth location in said borehole, said marker initially positioned at a point on said display indicating said detected reflection from said liquid surface, receiving an input from an operator, said input for moving the location of said marker along said waveform, and processing said digital samples to calculate the depth in said borehole indicated by the position of said marker.

Claim 13

A method for determining depth and displaying data for a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein sonic energy is transmitted down the borehole to produce echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, such as the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to said return signal, wherein said displayed waveform extends along a dimension corresponding to either travel time for said sonic energy or to depth in said borehole, processing said digital samples to detect a reflection from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a moveable marker which represents a depth location in said borehole, said marker initially positioned at a point on said display indicating said detected reflection from said liquid surface, receiving an input from an operator, said input for moving the location of said marker along said waveform, and processing said digital samples to calculate the depth in said borehole indicated by the position of said marker.

Claim 14

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, processing said digital samples to accent said echo returns produced by said tubing collars, and displaying at least a portion of said processed digital samples on a display screen as a waveform.

Claim 15

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, processing said digital samples to accent said echo returns produced by said tubing collars, and displaying at least a portion of said processed digital samples on a display screen as a waveform.

Claim 16

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, processing said digital samples to accent said echo returns produced by said tubing collars, displaying at least a portion of said processed digital samples on a display screen as a waveform, processing said digital samples to detect said echo returns produced by said tubing collars, and producing on said displaying waveform a respective marker indicating each of said tubing collars echoes.

Claim 17

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, processing said digital samples to accent said echo returns produced by said tubing collars, displaying at least a portion of said processed digital samples on a display screen as a waveform, processing said digital samples to detect said echo returns produced by said tubing collars, and producing on said displaying waveform a respective marker indicating each of said tubing collars echoes.

Claim 18

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echoes upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: generating sonic energy and transmitting said sonic energy down said borehole to produce echoes from reflectors in said borehole, monitoring said echoes to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, processing said digital samples to detect therein an echo return from said liquid surface, and displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a marker positioned on said display screen to essentially point to the occurrence in said return signal of said detected echo return from said liquid surface.

Claim 19

A method for acquiring and displaying data associated with a borehole in the earth which has an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, wherein acoustic energy is transmitted down the borehole for producing echoes upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, in the borehole, the method comprising the steps of: generating sonic energy and transmitting said sonic energy down said borehole to produce echoes from reflectors in said borehole, monitoring said echoes to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said digital samples on a display screen as a waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, processing said digital samples to detect therein an echo return from said liquid surface, and displaying on said display screen concurrently with said waveform a marker positioned on said display screen to essentially point to the occurrence in said return signal of said detected echo return from said liquid surface.

Claim 20

A method for producing a display associated with detecting a liquid surface reflection in an echo return signal produced by transmitting sonic energy down a fluid production well having a borehole with an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, the method comprising the steps of: generating said sonic energy and transmitting said sonic energy down said borehole to produce echoes from reflectors in said borehole, monitoring said echoes to produce a first return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a first set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said first set of digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said first set of digital samples on a display screen as a first waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, processing said first set of digital samples to detect therein a plurality of first echo return pulses, each of which could possibly be from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said first waveform a plurality of markers positioned on said display screen to indicate essentially the points of occurrence in said first return signal of said detected first echo return pulses, stopping the production of liquid from said well, generating sonic energy and transmitting said energy down said borehole to produce echoes from reflectors in said borehole, monitoring said echoes to produce a second return signal, digitizing said second return signal to produce a second set of digital samples representing said second return signal, storing said second set of digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said second set of digital samples on a display screen as a second waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said second return signal, processing said second set of digital samples to detect therein a plurality of second echo return pulses, each of which could possibly be from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said second waveform a plurality of markers positioned on said display screen to indicate essentially the points of occurrence in said second return signal of said second detected echo return pulses, and deleting from said second displayed waveform all markers which have a corresponding marker, within a predetermined time period in said first waveform, wherein a remaining marker displayed in conjunction with said second waveform corresponds to the echo return pulse from said liquid surface.

Claim 21

A method for producing a display associated with detecting a liquid surface reflection in an echo return signal produced by transmitting sonic energy down a fluid production well having a borehole with an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, the method comprising the steps of: generating said sonic energy and transmitting said sonic energy down said borehole to produce echoes from reflectors in said borehole, monitoring said echoes to produce a first return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a first set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said first set of digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said first set of digital samples on a display screen as a first waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said return signal, processing said first set of digital samples to detect therein a plurality of first echo return pulses, each of which could possibly be from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said first waveform a plurality of markers positioned on said display screen to indicate essentially the points of occurrence in said first return signal of said detected first echo return pulses, stopping the production of liquid from said well, generating sonic energy and transmitting said energy down said borehole to produce echoes from reflectors in said borehole, monitoring said echoes to produce a second return signal, digitizing said second return signal to produce a second set of digital samples representing said second return signal, storing said second set of digital samples, displaying at least a portion of said second set of digital samples on a display screen as a second waveform corresponding to at least a portion of said second return signal, processing said second set of digital samples to detect therein a plurality of second echo return pulses, each of which could possibly be from said liquid surface, displaying on said display screen concurrently with said second waveform a plurality of markers positioned on said display screen to indicate essentially the points of occurrence in said second return signal of said second detected echo return pulses, and deleting from said second displayed waveform all markers which have a corresponding marker, within a predetermined time period in said first waveform, wherein a remaining marker displayed in conjunction with said second waveform corresponds to the echo return pulse from said liquid surface.

Claim 22

A method for displaying data associated with a borehole having an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar wherein an acoustic event is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples representing said return signals, processing said stored digital samples to determine the depth to the liquid surface, and displaying a schematic illustration of at least a portion of the borehole and including the determined liquid surface depth displayed in conjunction with the schematic illustration.

Claim 23

A method for displaying data associated with a borehole having an installed tubing string comprising interconnected tubing joints each having a collar wherein an acoustic event is transmitted down the borehole for producing echo returns upon encountering discontinuities, including the tubing collars and a liquid surface, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring said echo returns to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples representing said return signals, processing said stored digital samples to determine the depth to the liquid surface, and displaying a schematic illustration of at least a portion of the borehole and including the determined liquid surface depth displayed in conjunction with the schematic illustration.

Claim 38

A method for evaluating or displaying echo reflections produced in response to transmission of acoustic energy down a borehole which has a tubing string installed therein comprising a plurality of interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, a method comprising the steps of: detecting said reflections to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying said digital samples as a first waveform, processing said digital samples to enhance the reflections from said collars thereby producing a second set of digital samples, storing said second set of digital samples, and displaying at least a portion of said second set of digital samples as a waveform concurrently with the display of said first waveform.

Claim 39

A method for evaluating or displaying echo reflections produced in response to transmission of acoustic energy down a borehole which has a tubing string installed therein comprising a plurality of interconnected tubing joints each having a collar, a method comprising the steps of: detecting said reflections to produce a return signal, digitizing said return signal to produce a set of digital samples representing said return signal, storing said digital samples, displaying said digital samples as a first waveform, processing said digital samples to enhance the reflections from said collars thereby producing a second set of digital samples, storing said second set of digital samples, and displaying at least a portion of said second set of digital samples as a waveform concurrently with the display of said first waveform.