US 9,513,372 B2Granted

Automatic processing of ultrasonic data

AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation

InventorsHenri-Pierre Valero, Adam Pedrycz, Takeo Fujihara

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Abstract

An example method for automatically characterizing an echo contained in an ultrasonic signal generated with an ultrasonic transducer can include receiving data corresponding to the ultrasonic signal, calculating an energy ratio of the ultrasonic signal and localizing the echo using the energy ratio. The method can include windowing a portion of the ultrasonic signal around the localized echo and calculating a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and a Hilbert envelop of the windowed portion. The method can include estimating M echo parameters from the FFT and the Hilbert envelope of the windowed portion, where each of the M parameter vectors includes a plurality of echo parameters, calculating M parametric echo models based on each of the M echo parameter vectors and iteratively minimizing a difference between the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal and a sum of the M parametric echo models.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method to image a formation by automatically characterizing an echo contained in an ultrasonic signal, the ultrasonic signal being generated with an ultrasonic transducer, the method comprising:

a. receiving data corresponding to the ultrasonic signal with the ultrasonic transducer of a downhole acoustic tool;
b. calculating an energy ratio of the ultrasonic signal and localizing the echo contained in the ultrasonic signal using the energy ratio;
comprising;
b1. calculating an energy ratio function of the ultrasonic signal, wherein the energy ratio function is
E
x
=
a
1
(
∑
i
=
x
+
1
x
+
L
⁢
⁢
E
i
∑
i
=
x
-
L
x
-
1
⁢
⁢
E
i
)
/
(
1
+
a
2
⁢
E
total
)
,
where Ex is energy at a given data point, a1 and a2 are energy adjustment factors, L is a window length,
∑
i
=
x
+
1
x
+
L
⁢
⁢
E
i
is signal energy,
∑
i
=
x
-
L
x
-
1
⁢
⁢
E
i
is noise energy and Etotal is total energy;
and
b2. identifying a maximum value of the energy ratio function of the ultrasonic signal, wherein the maximum value corresponds to an approximate location of the echo contained in the ultrasonic signal;
c. windowing a portion of the ultrasonic signal around the localized echo;
d. calculating a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and a Hilbert envelop of the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal;
e. estimating M echo parameter vectors from the FFT and the Hilbert envelope of the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal, wherein each of the M echo parameter vectors comprises a plurality of echo parameters;
f. calculating M parametric echo models based on each of the M echo parameter vectors;
and
g. iteratively minimizing a difference between the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal and a sum of the M parametric echo models;
transmitting parameters from the M parametric echo models for use in characterizing the formation.

83 more elements

A system to image a formation by automatically characterizing an echo contained in an ultrasonic signal of a downhole acoustic tool, comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer configured to generate and receive an ultrasonic signal;
and
a control unit comprising at least one processor and a memory, wherein the control unit is configured to:
a. receive data corresponding to the ultrasonic signal from the ultrasonic transducer;
b. calculate an energy ratio of the ultrasonic signal and localize an echo contained in the ultrasonic signal using the energy ratio, the energy ratio comprising;
b1. calculating an energy ratio function of the ultrasonic signal, wherein the energy ratio function is
E
x
=
a
1
(
∑
i
=
x
+
1
x
+
L
⁢
⁢
E
i
∑
i
=
x
-
L
x
-
1
⁢
⁢
E
i
)
/
(
1
+
a
2
⁢
E
total
)
,
where Ex is energy at a given data point, a1 and a2 are energy adjustment factors, L is a window length,
∑
i
=
x
+
1
x
+
L
⁢
⁢
E
i
is signal energy,
∑
i
=
x
-
L
x
-
1
⁢
⁢
E
i
is noise energy and Etotal is total energy;
and
b2. identifying a maximum value of the energy ratio function of the ultrasonic signal, wherein the maximum value corresponds to an approximate location of the echo contained in the ultrasonic signal;
c. window a portion of the ultrasonic signal around the localized echo;
d. calculate a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and a Hilbert envelop of the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal;
e. estimate M echo parameter vectors from the FFT and the Hilbert envelope of the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal, wherein each of the M echo parameter vectors comprises a plurality of echo parameters;
f. calculate M parametric echo models based on each of the M echo parameter vectors;
and
g. iteratively minimize a difference between the windowed portion of the ultrasonic signal and a sum of the M parametric echo models;
transmitting parameters from the M parametric echo models for use in characterizing the formation.

85 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/943,791Filed 17 Jul 2013 · us provisional application
Priority: 22 Jan 2013
Published: US 2014/0204700 A124 Jul 2014
Granted: 6 Dec 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G01S 15/006
Systems using the reflection or reradiation of acoustic waves, e.g. sonar systems: theoretical aspects
G01N 29/07
Analysing solids: by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
G01N 29/4472
Processing the detected response signal , e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor: mathematical theories or simulation
G01N 29/46
Processing the detected response signal , e.g. electronic circuits specially adapted therefor: by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or…