System and method for reducing the borehole gap for downhole formation testing sensors
US8162076B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 2006 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V11/005
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A system and method for downhole measurement for use with drill strings to reduce the borehole gap with respect to sensors carried by the drill string. In one embodiment, the sensors are mounted on a surface of the directional drilling hinged pad that comes in contact with the borehole wall. The hinged pad is pressed against the borehole wall as contact is made with the wall, thereby keeping the sensors at a minimum gap with respect to the wall. In another embodiment, the hinged pad is not used for directional drilling. Therefore the hinged pad is extended outward to the wall with the minimum necessary amount of force. Activation of the hinged pad can be initiated, for example, by flow of mud in the annulus of the string or through a user-provided command. The sensors can include resistivity, density, neutron, electromagnetic, acoustic, seismic, and NMR measurement sensors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.