# US 2017/0254918 A1 · Downhole tool with radial array of conformable sensors for downhole detection and imaging

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- Number: US 2017/0254918 A1
- Document ID: US20170254918A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/466,047
- Filed: 2017-03-22
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-03
- Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
- Inventors: Burkay Donderici
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254918A1

## CPC

- G01V 3/28: using induction coils
- E21B 47/007: Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing (for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09)
- E21B 47/0025: {generating an image of the borehole wall using down-hole measurements, e.g. acoustic or electric}
- G01V 3/38: Processing data, e.g. for analysis, for interpretation, for correction
- G01V 11/005: {Devices for positioning logging sondes with respect to the borehole wall (centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes E21B17/10; setting or locking tools in boreholes E21B23/00; locating objects in boreholes E21B47/09)}
- 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

## Abstract

According to aspects of the present disclosure, an example downhole tool may include tool body, a first pad radially extendable from the tool body, and a radial array of conformable sensors coupled to the first pad. At least one conformable sensor of the radial array of conformable sensors may include a first flexible material. A transmitter may be coupled to one of the tool body and the first flexible material, and a receiver may be coupled to one of the tool body and the first flexible material. At least one of the transmitter and the receiver may be coupled to the first flexible material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A downhole tool, comprising
a tool body;
a first pad radially extendable from the tool body;
a radial array of conformable sensors coupled to the first pad, wherein at least one conformable sensor of the radial array of conformable sensors comprises a first flexible material;
wherein at least a first portion of the radial array of conformable sensors functions as at least one of a first transmitter and a first receiver; and
wherein the at least one of the first transmitter and the first receiver is coupled to the first flexible material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The downhole tool of claim 1, wherein the at least a first portion of the radial array of conformable sensors functions as the first transmitter and at least a second portion of the radial array of conformable sensors functions as the first receiver, and wherein both the first transmitter and the first receiver are coupled to the first flexible material; and
the first receiver comprises at least two windings with different orientations.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising
a second pad extendable from the tool body; and
an azimuthal array of conformable sensors coupled to the second pad.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The downhole tool of one of claims 3, wherein the second pad is coupled to the first pad.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The downhole tool of claim 3, wherein the azimuthal array of conformable sensors comprises a second conformable sensor that includes
a second flexible material, wherein a first portion of the azimuthal array of conformable sensors functions as a second transmitter and a second portion of the azimuthal array of conformable sensors functions as a second receiver, and wherein the second transmitter and the second receiver are coupled to the second flexible material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The downhole tool of claim 1, further comprising a control unit comprising a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device containing a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
select a first combination of conformable sensors to collect a current response measurement with a first depth of investigation; and
select a second combination of conformable sensors to collect a current response measurement with a second depth of investigation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The downhole tool of claim 6, wherein the first combination of sensors comprises at least one of
two conformable sensors of the azimuthal array of sensors,
two conformable sensors of the radial array of sensors; and
one conformable sensor of the azimuthal array of conformable sensors and one conformable sensor of the radial array of conformable sensors.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The downhole tool of claim 6, wherein the first depth of investigation is larger than the second depth of investigation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The downhole tool of claim 8, wherein the set of instructions further causes the processor to determine a parameter of a downhole element remote from the radial array of conformable sensors and the azimuthal array of conformable sensors based, at least in part, on at least one of the current response measurement with the first depth of investigation and the current response measurement with the second depth of investigation.

### Claim 10

A method for downhole surveying or measuring, comprising
positioning a downhole tool with a radial array of conformable sensors at least partially within a borehole in a subterranean formation;
generating a first measurement with a first depth of investigation using a first combination of conformable sensors in the radial array of conformable sensors; and
generating a second measurement with a second depth of investigation using a second combination of sensors in the radial array of conformable sensors.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, further comprising coupling the radial array of conformable sensors to a first pad extendable from the downhole tool.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of one of claims 11, wherein the positioning the downhole tool with the radial array of conformable sensors at least partially within the borehole comprises positioning the downhole tool with the radial array of conformable sensors and an azimuthal array of conformable sensors within the borehole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising coupling the azimuthal array of conformable sensors to a second pad coupled to the first pad.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising generating a third measurement with a third depth of investigation using a third combination of conformable sensors in the radial and azimuthal arrays of conformable sensors.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second measurements correspond to current responses of at least one downhole element within the borehole to an electromagnetic signal generated by the conformable sensors.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, further comprising determining a parameter for a downhole element of the at least one downhole element based, at least in part, on at least one of the first and second measurements.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a first visualization of the downhole element based, at least in part, on the determined parameter.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the downhole element comprises one of a casing, a cement layer outside of the casing, a wall of the borehole, or the subterranean formation.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the downhole element is a casing, and wherein the casing comprises a casing remote from the radial and azimuthal arrays of conformable sensors.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising determining a parameter for another downhole element of the at least one downhole element based, at least in part, on at least one of the first and second measurements wherein the downhole element comprises a casing and the another downhole element comprises an another casing concentric with and outside of the casing.