Downhole detection of cuttings
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsEmmanuel Legendre, Alexandre Abellan, Mathieu Tarrius
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes emitting, with one or more sensors of a downhole tool disposed in a borehole, an excitation signal. The method also includes detecting, with the one or more sensors, a returned signal resulting from an interaction of the excitation signal with the borehole. The method further includes estimating a noise of the returned signal. The method also includes quantifying a probability that the estimated noise is not a white noise of the borehole. The method further includes identifying drill cuttings in a predetermined location of the borehole based on said quantification.
Claims18
A method comprising:
- emitting, with one or more sensors of a downhole tool disposed in a borehole, an excitation signal;
- detecting, with the one or more sensors, a returned signal resulting from interaction of the excitation signal with the borehole;
- estimating a noise of the returned signal;
- quantifying a probability that the estimated noise is not a white noise of the borehole;
- and
- identifying drill cuttings in a predetermined location of the borehole based on said quantification.
The method according to the preceding claim, wherein identifying drill cuttings comprises comparing a variable representative of said probability to at least a predetermined threshold.
A system comprising:
- a downhole tool disposed in a borehole, comprising one or more sensors, at least one of the sensors being configured to:
- emit an excitation signal in the borehole, and
- detect a returned signal resulting from an interaction of the excitation signal with the borehole,
- a processor configured to process the returned signal to:
- estimate a noise of the returned signal,
- quantify a probability that the estimated noise is not a white noise of the borehole, and
- identify drill cuttings in a predetermined location of the borehole based on said quantification.
A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising machine readable instructions to:
- emit, with one or more sensors of a downhole tool disposed in a borehole, an excitation signal;
- detect, with the one or more sensors, a returned signal resulting from an interaction of the excitation signal with the borehole;
- estimate a noise of the returned signal,
- quantify a probability that the estimated noise is not a white noise of the borehole, and
- identify drill cuttings in a predetermined location of the borehole based on said quantification.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.