Methods and devices for real-time formation imaging through measurement while drilling telemetry

An apparatus for creating an image of a formation surrounding a borehole in substantially real-time at the surface while drilling the borehole, said apparatus comprising:

• a) a downhole data sensor located at a predetermined position in a drill string;
• b) downhole position means for determining at least one toolface position of said data sensor;
• c) downhole synchronizing means for synchronizing data measurements with toolface positions;
• d) downhole first recording means for recording a plurality of data measurements made at a plurality of toolface positions, said first recording means being coupled to said data sensor;
• e) downhole compression means for compressing at least some of said data measurements, said compression means being coupled to said recording means;
• f) downhole measurement-while-drilling (MWD) telemetry means for transmitting compressed data measurements to the surface without associated toolface position data;
• g) surface apparatus distance measurement means for determining a location of said data sensor in the borehole;
• h) surface receiving means for receiving compressed data measurements;
• i) first surface means for associating at last some of said compressed data measurements with predetermined toolface positions;
• and
• j) second surface means for associating said at least some of said compressed data measurements with distance.

A method for associating data measurements with a first number of predetermined sequential toolface positions in a measurement while drilling tool during the drilling of a wellbore, said method comprising:

• a) determining a first toolface position;
• b) recording sequential data measurements at a constant predetermined rate until the first toolface position is again determined;
• c) counting the number of recorded sequential data measurements to determine a number M;
• d) dividing the number M by the first number of predetermined sequential toolface positions to determine a quotient N which is substantially greater than one:
• e) selecting approximately every Nth one of the sequential data measurements recorded as being respectively associated with a corresponding one of the first number of predetermined sequential toolface positions.

A method for associating data measurements with a first number of predetermined sequential toolface positions in a measurement while drilling tool during the drilling of a wellbore, said method comprising:

• a) determining a first toolface position;
• b) recording sequential data measurements and toolface positions at a constant predetermined rate for a constant predetermined time, such that said recorded toolface positions number substantially more than said first number of predetermined sequential toolface positions;
• c) associating each recorded data measurement with a corresponding recorded toolface position;
• d) comparing the recorded toolface positions with the predetermined toolface positions;
• and
• e) selecting the recorded data measurements which are associated with recorded toolface positions corresponding to predetermined toolface positions.