Apparatus and method for determining drilling fluid acoustic properties
US7587936B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 1, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 22, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B47/085
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Aspects of this invention include a downhole tool having first and second radially offset ultrasonic standoff sensors and a controller including instructions to determine at least one of a drilling fluid acoustic velocity and a drilling fluid attenuation coefficient from the reflected waveforms received at the standoff sensors. The drilling fluid acoustic velocity may be determined via processing the time delay between arrivals of a predetermined wellbore reflection component at the first and second sensors. The drilling fluid attenuation coefficient may be determined via processing amplitudes of the predetermined wellbore reflection coefficients. The invention advantageously enables the acoustic velocity and attenuation coefficient of drilling fluid in the borehole annulus to be determined in substantially real-time.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.