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US5960371A
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US
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Method of determining dips and azimuths of fractures from borehole images
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-04
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Granted: 1999-09-28
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Expires: 2017-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A borehole image interpretation method that utilizes a Hough transform technique is described. The method can detect planar structures such as fractures and formation beddings in the borehole, as well as geometric patterns such as elliptical vugs.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoki Saito
- 👤 Nicholas N. Bennett
- 👤 Robert Burridge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/40; G01V1/44; G01V1/48; G01V1/50; G01V11/00; G06; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/40; G06V10/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for detecting planar structures such as fractures and formation beddings in a borehole, as well as geometric patterns such as elliptical vugs from a borehole image using a Hough transform technique, comprising the steps of: a) detecting edges and their associated slopes in a borehole image to obtain edge slope/orientation information; b) preparing an accumulator array by specifying its ranges and array size; and c) using said edge slope/orientation information for further constraining the Hough transform.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method for detecting planar structures such as fractures and formation beddings in a borehole, as well as geometric patterns such as elliptical vugs from a borehole image using a Hough transform technique, comprising the steps of: a) detecting edges and their associated slopes in a borehole image to obtain edge slope/orientation information; b) preparing an accumulator array by specifying its ranges and array size; and c) using said edge slope/orientation information for further constraining the Hough transform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of: d) tracing a curve for each detected edge, as a function of depth of said borehole; and e) incrementing a content of each array intersecting the curve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method in accordance with claim 2, further comprising the step of: f) repeating accumulation using a bow-tie technique.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising the step of: g) smoothing said accumulator array using an Averaged Shifted Histograms (ASH) method.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising the step of: h) detecting local maxima beyond a given threshold of the accumulator array, wherein a detected number of sinusoids can be specified.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising the steps of: i) removing edge data corresponding to the detected sinusoids; j) preparing an accumulator array for ellipses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in accordance with claim 6, further comprising the steps of: k) tracing a curve for each remaining edge point; and l) incrementing a content of each array element intersecting said curve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method in accordance with claim 7, further comprising the step of: m) applying said bow-tie technique again.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of: n) smoothing said accumulator array by an ASH procedure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising the step of: o) detecting local maxima beyond a threshold in the accumulator array.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method in accordance with claim 10, further comprising the step of: p) iterating said method further to detect any remaining geometric shapes in the borehole image.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of: q) interpreting image information.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for detecting planar structures such as fractures and formation beddings in a borehole, as well as geometric patterns such as elliptical vugs from a borehole image using a Hough transform technique, comprising the steps of: a) detecting edges and their associated slopes in a borehole image to obtain edge slope/orientation information; b) preparing an accumulator array by specifying its ranges and array size; c) tracing a curve for each detected edge, as a function of depth of said borehole; and d) incrementing a content of each array intersecting the curve.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for detecting planar structures such as fractures and formation beddings in a borehole, as well as geometric patterns such as elliptical vugs from a borehole image using a Hough transform technique, comprising the steps of: a) detecting edges and their associated slopes in a borehole image to obtain edge slope/orientation information; b) preparing an accumulator array by specifying its ranges and array size; c) tracing a curve for each detected edge, as a function of depth of said borehole; and d) incrementing a content of each array intersecting the curve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3069654A
Cited
US5162994A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |