Patent · US Expired

Signal processing to enable utilization of a rig reference sensor with a drill bit seismic source

US5050130A · kind A · utility

16Cited by
6References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 9, 1990
Grant dateSep 17, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 9, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01V2210/161
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for providing while drilling information on a subterranean geologic formation (28) includes a drilling rig (12) and a rotary drill bit (18) attached to the drilling rig (12) for providing seismic waves as it drills in the earth (16). Geophones (20) are spaced from the rotary drill bit (18) in the earth (16) and receive indirect seismic wave paths (26) and seismic wave paths (30) reflected from the subterranean geologic formation (28) the seismic waves provided by the drill bit (18). A reference sensor (24) is located on the drilling rig (12). The seismic signals sensed by the reference sensor (24) and by the geophones (20) are cross-correlated to separate the drill bit generated signals from interference signals by combining the reference signals and the signals received by the geophones (20). The cross-correlated reference signals and the signals received by the geophones (20) are separated into a first group of the drill bit generated seismic signals travelling to the geophones (20) in direct paths and a second group of the drill bit generated seismic signals travelling to the geophones (20) in paths reflected from the subterranean geologic formation (28). The c…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.