# US 2016/0259082 A1 · Apparatus and method of processing multi-component induction data

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- Number: US 2016/0259082 A1
- Document ID: US20160259082A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/029,162
- Filed: 2013-10-30
- Published: 2016-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-30
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc
- Inventors: Luis Emilio San Martin; Junsheng Hou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160259082A1

## CPC

- G01V 3/28: using induction coils
- E21B 47/026: of penetrated ground layers
- E21B 49/00: Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
- G01N 27/041: {of a solid body}
- G01V 3/26: operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified either by the surrounding earth formation or by the detecting device (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/30)
- G01V 3/38: Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction
- G01D 21/00: Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
- G01N 23/22: by measuring secondary emission from the material
- G06F 17/40: Data acquisition and logging (for input to computer G06F3/00)
- G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
- G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G01D: MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE; ARRANGEMENTS FOR MEASURING TWO OR MORE VARIABLES NOT COVERED IN A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS; TARIFF METERING APPARATUS; MEASURING OR TESTING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to utilize signals acquired from a multi-component induction tool operating in a wellbore. The acquired signals can be correlated to apparent conductivity of a formation and mapped to components of an apparent conductivity tensor. For each receiver array operated by the multi-component induction tool, a combination of these components from the acquired signals can be generated. Combinations generated from different receivers of the multi-component induction tool can be mixed together. From such combinations, data, with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore, can be generated. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
acquiring signals generated from operating a multi-component induction tool in a wellbore, the multi-component induction tool having a plurality of receiver arrays;
generating under control of a processor, for each receiver array at a fixed frequency, one or more combinations of components from the acquired signals, the components corresponding to components of an apparent conductivity tensor;
mixing together, under control of the processor, combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays; and
generating, under control of the processor, data, with respect to evaluation of a formation around the wellbore, from the mixing together combinations.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:
acquiring signals generated from operating the multi-component induction tool at multiple subarrays and a number of different frequencies;
generating, for each receiver array at each frequency, a combination of components from the acquired signals, the components corresponding to components of an apparent conductivity tensor;
mixing together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays at the different frequencies; and
generating data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore, from the mixed together combinations.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes:
performing the acquiring signals and the generating the combinations for a number of different locations to which the multi-component induction tool is disposed along the borehole; and
mixing together the combinations from the different locations.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating combinations of components includes, for each receiver array and each frequency, generating aZZ+bXX+cYY with a, b, and c being numerical coefficients or generating dIJ+e JI, IJ and being different components of the apparent conductivity tensor with d and e being numerical coefficients.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore includes performing vertical-resolution matching based on the mixed together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, herein gene ting data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore includes:
separating the combination of components for each receiver array into two sets based on a distance of each receiver array from a transmitter array from which the acquiring signals is based, one set of the two sets having combinations of components from receiver arrays categorized as short arrays and the other set of the two sets having combinations of components from receiver arrays categorized as deeper arrays relative to the short arrays; and
using the combination of components for each receiver array in an inversion process, in which data from the combinations of components of the short arrays is used as constraints in inverting the combinations of components of the deeper arrays.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes applying filters to the combinations of components from the receiver arrays, the filters being weights generated from generating an apparent conductivity of a radial-direction focusing log.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7; wherein the generating data from the mixed together combinations includes using filter weights from a library/look-up table for different background conductivities.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, wherein the method includes selecting a format of the combination of components based on a specific feature of the formation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the specific feature is anisotropy, bed boundaries, or fractures.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring signals generated from operating the multi-component induction tool includes acquiring signals from a plurality of receiver triads disposed axially on the multi-component induction tool in response to a transmitter triad disposed axially on the multi-component induction tool generating probe signals, the receiver triads at different distances from the transmitter triad.

### Claim 12

A machine-readable storage device having instructions stored thereon, which, when performed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, the operations comprising:
acquiring signals generated from operating a multi-component induction tool in a wellbore, the multi-component induction tool having a plurality of receiver arrays;
generating under control of a processor, for each receiver array at a fixed frequency, one or more combinations of components from the acquired signals, the components corresponding to components of an apparent conductivity tensor;
mixing together, under control of the processor, combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays; and
generating, under control of the processor, data, with respect to evaluation of a formation around the wellbore, from the mixing together combinations.

### Claim 13

A system comprising:
a tool structure, the tool structure being a multi-component induction tool structure having a transmitter array and a plurality of receiver arrays, the multi-component induction tool structure capable of operating in a wellbore; and
a processing unit structured to:
acquire signals from the tool structure;
generate; under control of a processor, for each receiver array at a fixed frequency, one or more combinations of components from the acquired signals, the components corresponding to components of an apparent conductivity tensor;
mix together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays; and
generate data, with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore, from the mixed together combinations.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is structured to:
acquire signals from the tool structure at a number of different frequencies;
generate, for each receiver array at each frequency, a combination of components from the acquired signals, the components corresponding to components of an apparent conductivity tensor;
mix together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays at the different frequencies; and
generate data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore, from the mixed together combinations.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is structured to:
perform the acquisition of the signals and the generation of the combinations for a number of different locations to which the tool can be disposed along the borehole; and
mix together the combinations from the different locations.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein generation of combinations of components includes, for each receiver array, generation of aZZ+bXX+cYY with a, b, and c being numerical coefficients or generation of dIJ+e JI, IJ and JI being different components of the apparent conductivity tensor and d and e being numerical coefficients.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein generation of data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore includes performance of vertical-resolution matching/enhancement based on the mixed together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays operated at multiple frequencies.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein generation of data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore includes:
separation of the combination of components for each receiver array into two sets based on a distance of each receiver array from a transmitter array from which the acquiring signals is based, one set of the two sets having combinations of components from receiver arrays categorized as short arrays and the other set of the two sets having combinations of components from receiver arrays categorized as deeper arrays relative to the short arrays; and
use of the combination of components for each receiver array in an inversion process, in which data from the combinations or inversion of components of the short arrays is used as constraints in inversion of the combinations of components of the deeper arrays.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is structured to apply filters to the combinations of components from the receiver arrays, the filters being weights generated from generation of an apparent conductivity of a radial-direction focusing log.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The system of claim 19, wherein the system includes a library/look-up table for different background conductivities such that generation of data from the mixed together combinations includes use of filter weights from the library/look-up table.

### Claim 21 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the processing unit is structured to select a format of the combination of components based on a targeted specific feature of the formation.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system of claim 21, wherein the targeted specific feature is anisotropy, bed boundaries, or fractures.

### Claim 23 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein each receiver array is a receiver triad disposed axially on the tool structure and the transmitter array is a transmitter triad disposed axially on the tool structure, the each receiver arrays disposed at different distances from the transmitter triad.

### Claim 24 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the instructions include:
acquiring signals generated from operating the multi-component induction tool at multiple subarrays and a number of different frequencies;
generating, for each receiver array at each frequency, a combination of components from the acquired signals, the components corresponding to components of an apparent conductivity tensor;
mixing together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays at the different frequencies; and
generating data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore; from the mixed together combinations.

### Claim 25 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the instructions include:
performing the acquiring signals and the generating the combinations for a number of different locations to which the multi-component induction tool disposed along the borehole; and
mixing together the combinations from the different locations.

### Claim 26 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein generating combinations of components includes, for each receiver array and each frequency, generating aZZ+bXX+cYY with a, b, and c being numerical coefficients or generating dIJ+e JI, IJ and JI being different components of the apparent conductivity tensor with d and e being numerical coefficients.

### Claim 27 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein generating data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore includes performing vertical-resolution matching based on the mixed together combinations measured from the plurality of receiver arrays.

### Claim 28 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device claim 12, wherein generating data with respect to evaluation of formation around the wellbore includes:
separating the combination of components for each receiver array into two sets based on a distance of each receiver array from a transmitter array from which the acquitting signals is based, one set of the two sets having combinations of components from receiver arrays categorized as short arrays and the other set of the two sets having combinations of components from receiver arrays categorized as deeper arrays relative to the short arrays; and
using the combination of components for each receiver array in an inversion process, in which data from the combinations of components of the short arrays is used as constraints in inverting the combinations of components of the deeper arrays.

### Claim 29 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the instructions include applying filters to the combinations of components from the receiver arrays, the filters being weights generated from generating an apparent conductivity of a radial-direction focusing log.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 29, wherein the generating data from the mixed together combinations includes using filter weights from a library/look-up table for different background conductivities.

### Claim 31 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein the instructions include selecting a format of the combination of components based on a specific feature of the formation.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 31, wherein the specific feature is anisotropy, bed boundaties, or fractures.

### Claim 33 (depends on 12)

The machine-readable storage device of claim 12, wherein acquiring signals generated from operating the multi-component induction tool includes acquiring signals from a plurality of receiver triads disposed axially on the multi-component induction tool in response to a transmitter triad disposed axially on the multi-component induction tool generating probe signals, the receiver triads at different distances from the transmitter triad.