Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus using one or more toroids to measure formation anisotropy and/or vertical conductivity. In one embodiment, a disclosed method comprises: inducing a current to flow through a conductive surface of a tool body into a surrounding formation; measuring a lateral portion of the current flow; and calculating an anisotropy coefficient from the apparent conductivity so measured. The lateral current flow may be that portion of the current flowing through the tool body surface between two predetermined, axially spaced, circumferences of the tool. In an alternative embodiment, a disclosed logging tool comprises: a substantially cylindrical and conductive tool body, a toroidal transmitter, and a current measuring means. The current measuring means is configured to measure that portion of an induced current that radiates through a predetermined surface of the tool into the formation.

Abstract: A logging tool is disclosed having transmitting and receiving antennas to measure formation anisotropy. The antennas may preferably be combinations of toroidal, horizontal electric dipole, and horizontal magnetic dipole antennas. In one embodiment, the tool: (a) induces a current flow in the tubing or drill string traversing the formation in a borehole; (b) measures a signal difference between two receiver antennas on the drill string; (c) determines an apparent conductivity of the formation from the resistive component of the signal difference; and (d) uses the apparent conductivity to calculate an anisotropy coefficient with a knowledge of the horizontal conductivity. The tool may further determine a second apparent conductivity of the formation from the reactive component of the signal difference, and use both apparent conductivities to calculate the anisotropy coefficient and the horizontal conductivity. The vertical conductivity can also be determined from these two calculated values in the usual manner.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method of enhancing the vertical resolution of an induction tool, in a manner that may advantageously also reduce undesirable borehole and “negative resistivity” effects. In one embodiment, the method comprises: a) obtaining a vertical magnetic dipole (VMD) response signal from a transmitter-receiver array of antenna elements having magnetic dipoles oriented parallel to a tool axis; b) obtaining a horizontal magnetic dipole (HMD) response signal from a transmitter-receiver array of elements having magnetic dipoles oriented perpendicular to the tool axis; and c) combining the VMD and HMD response signals to obtain a combination response signal. When the relative weights of the VMD and HMD response signals are set as described herein, the combination response signal (and any log calculated therefrom) has a narrow, substantially rectilinear, vertical measurement profile. Further, the combination response signal is relatively insensitive to borehole effects.

Abstract: A logging tool is disclosed for measuring the resistive anisotropy of formations around a borehole. The logging tool includes a set of electrodes that contact a wall of the borehole. The set of electrodes includes a first pair of current electrodes spaced apart vertically, and a second pair of current electrodes spaced apart horizontally. Between the first and second pair of current electrodes are two or more measurement electrodes that measure a vertical axis voltage difference and a horizontal axis voltage difference caused by currents flowing between the pairs of current electrodes. A resistive anisotropy can be calculated from the measured voltage differences. A third pair of current electrodes oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first and second pair of current electrodes may be provided with corresponding measurement electrodes if it is desired to measure the biaxial resistive anisotropy of the formation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using a triad induction tool to identify the formation strike and dip angles. The method can be performed in real time. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) measuring a magnetic coupling between transmitter coils and receiver coils of a tool in the borehole; (2) obtaining from the measured coupling a strike angle between the tool and the formation; (3) applying a rotational transformation to the coupling measurements to correct for the strike angle; and (4) applying a predetermined set of rotational transformations to the coupling to determine coupling term values as a function of rotation angle. A least-squares curve fit or a Hough transform of the derivative of the coupling term values with respect to position may be used to identify the dip angle.

Abstract: A logging tool is disclosed for measuring the resistive anisotropy of formations around a borehole. The logging tool includes a set of electrodes that contact a wall of the borehole. The set of electrodes includes a first pair of current electrodes spaced apart vertically, and a second pair of current electrodes spaced apart horizontally. Between the first and second pair of current electrodes are two or more measurement electrodes that measure a vertical axis voltage difference and a horizontal axis voltage difference caused by currents flowing between the pairs of current electrodes. A resistive anisotropy can be calculated from the measured voltage differences. A third pair of current electrodes oriented perpendicularly with respect to the first and second pair of current electrodes may be provided with corresponding measurement electrodes if it is desired to measure the biaxial resistive anisotropy of the formation.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a method of enhancing the vertical resolution of an induction tool, in a manner that may advantageously also reduce undesirable borehole and “negative resistivity” effects. In one embodiment, the method comprises: a) obtaining a vertical magnetic dipole (VMD) response signal from a transmitter-receiver array of antenna elements having magnetic dipoles oriented parallel to a tool axis; b) obtaining a horizontal magnetic dipole (HMD) response signal from a transmitter-receiver array of elements having magnetic dipoles oriented perpendicular to the tool axis; and c) combining the VMD and HMD response signals to obtain a combination response signal. When the relative weights of the VMD and HMD response signals are set as described herein, the combination response signal (and any log calculated therefrom) has a narrow, substantially rectilinear, vertical measurement profile. Further, the combination response signal is relatively insensitive to borehole effects.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the determination of the dip angle of anisotropic earth formations surrounding a wellbore. Electromagnetic couplings among a plural of triad transmitters and triad receivers are measured. Each triad transmitter/receiver consists of coil windings in three mutually orthogonal axes. The transmitter coils and receiver coils are oriented such that mutually symmetrical transmitter pairs or mutually symmetrical receiver pairs are equidistant from a centrally located receiver or transmitter, respectively. The measured signals from the created couplings are used to generate initial separate estimates of the dip angle of the formation. The two discrete determination is of dip angle are then averaged to arrive at a more accurate estimate that approaches the true dip angle in the formation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the determination of the dip angle of anisotropic earth formations surrounding a wellbore. Electromagnetic couplings among a plural of triad transmitters and triad receivers are measured. Each triad transmitter/receiver consists of coil windings in three mutually orthogonal axes. The transmitter coils and receiver coils are oriented such that mutually symmetrical transmitter pairs or mutually symmetrical receiver pairs are equidistant from a centrally located receiver or transmitter, respectively. The measured signals from the created couplings are used to generate initial separate estimates of the dip angle of the formation. The two discrete determinations of dip angle are then averaged to arrive at a more accurate estimate that to approaches the true dip angle in the formation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using a triad induction tool to identify the formation strike and dip angles. The method can be performed in real time. In one embodiment, the method includes: (1) measuring a magnetic coupling between transmitter coils and receiver coils of a tool in the borehole; (2) obtaining from the measured coupling a strike angle between the tool and the formation; (3) applying a rotational transformation to the coupling measurements to correct for the strike angle; and (4) applying a predetermined set of rotational transformations to the coupling to determine coupling term values as a function of rotation angle. A least-squares curve fit or a Hough transform of the derivative of the coupling term values with respect to position may be used to identify the dip angle.

Abstract: A logging tool is disclosed having transmitting and receiving antennas to measure formation anisotropy. The antennas may preferably be combinations of toroidal, horizontal electric dipole, and horizontal magnetic dipole antennas. In one embodiment, the tool: (a) induces a current flow in the tubing or drill string traversing the formation in a borehole; (b) measures a signal difference between two receiver antennas on the drill string; (c) determines an apparent conductivity of the formation from the resistive component of the signal difference; and (d) uses the apparent conductivity to calculate an anisotropy coefficient with a knowledge of the horizontal conductivity. The tool may further determine a second apparent conductivity of the formation from the reactive component of the signal difference, and use both apparent conductivities to calculate the anisotropy coefficient and the horizontal conductivity. The vertical conductivity can also be determined from these two calculated values in the usual manner.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the determination of horizontal resistivity, vertical resistivity, dip and strike angles of anisotropic earth formations surrounding a wellbore. Electromagnetic couplings among a plural of triad transmitters and triad receivers are measured. Each triad transmitter/receiver consists of coil windings in three mutually orthogonal axes. These measured signals are used to generate initial estimates of the dip angle and strike angle of the formation as well as the anisotropy coefficient and the horizontal resistivity of the formation. An iterative algorithm is then applied using these quantities to finally arrive at more accurate estimates that approach the true values in the formation.

Abstract: An induction logging sonde is disclosed for detecting the resistive properties of formations traversed by a wellbore. The transmitting and receiving circuitry of the induction sonde comprises triads of orthogonally wound transmitters and receivers that are capable of being driven in such a fashion as to electrically rotate the coils to emulate coils that are either perpendicular or parallel to the bedding planes in a dipping formation. These rotations can be varied at any depth by using the information of the dip and strike angles obtained from a pulsed method of operation of the sonde. Once the dip angle and strike angles are ascertained, the electronic rotation is chosen to orient the coils parallel to the bedding planes, thereby producing logs which are devoid of horns, while at the same time producing regional dip and strike angles. In addition, the electronic rotation is also chosen to orient the coils perpendicular to the bedding planes to measure electrical anisotropy.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the vertical resolution of a nuclear well logging tool is set forth. A detector of nuclear radiation is moved along a well borehole to produce measurement data r(z) as a function of depth in the borehole. The data r(z) and a system response function g(z) are transformed into spatial frequency domain (f) counterparts of r(z) and g(z), the counterparts being R(f) and G(f). A window W(f) in the spatial frequency domain based on the function R(f) is defined. That smoothly eliminates the high frequency noise. A new profile function P(f) is obtained by dividing the filtered R(f) by the function G(f) to deconvolve R(f). The inverse Fourier transform of P(f) yields a vertically enhanced profile p(z) in the depth domain.

Abstract: An improved system for measuring dielectric properties of fluids in an oil well, utilizing the well casing as a waveguide for certain electromagnetic signals. A production logging tool in accordance with the invention includes a cylindrical mandrel sheathed by a housing. Transmitting and receiving coils are contained in annular grooves defined in the mandrel. In operation, the tool is suspended by a wireline logging cable within the casing of a producing well. The transmitting coils generate magnetic fields and azimuthal electric fields, which induce voltages in the receiving coils. These voltages are affected by the dielectric properties of fluids in the casing, and the voltages may be interpreted to determine dielectric properties such as water resistivity, dielectric permittivity, water hold-up, water cut, and water salinity.

Abstract: A logging apparatus for measurement of earth formation resistivity is disclosed. The apparatus includes an elongated sonde having an insulated section and an electrically isolated conductive pad mounted for lateral extension into contact with a borehole wall. The electrically isolated conductive pad includes a plurality of current electrodes disposed longitudinally along the pad and a return electrode disposed on the reverse face thereof. A focussing section is utilized to provide varying depths of investigation by electrode current to preferably permit measurement of earth formation resistivity in the mudcake, flush zone, and uninvaded formation. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conductive pad includes a pair of hingeably mounted sections which permit the apparatus to accommodate varying radii of curvature of boreholes.

Abstract: The transmitter and receiver coils (35,40) in an electromagnetic dipmeter (10) are separated by a finite spacing (L) to remove borehole positional effects. Dip and strike are then determined with the same methods available for zero spacing devices by pulsing the transmitter signal.

Abstract: A coil array which is installed on a MWD drill collar for use in a resistivity logging system. The drill collar is provided with upper and lower coil support rings. These are toroids which support individual coil segments, and are connected by suitable magnetic shorting bars. The coil segments and shorting bars inscribe a specified solid angle or azimuthal extent. By connecting the outputs of the several coils through a combining circuit, the coils on a single coil form can be connected in series additive, or subtractive relationship. Through the use of two such coil forms with aligned coils on each, an azimuthally oriented window is thereby defined. By proper switching multiple azimuthally oriented windows can be made operative so that there is an azimuthal orientation to the current flow pattern relative to the MWD resistivity logging tool.

Abstract: High resolution induction logs (28) are obtained through borehole casing (15) by magnetically saturating the casing (15), logging with a tool (10) having different transmitter (35a, 35b)-to-receiver (40) coil spacings, and determining the formation (30) conductivities as a function of the coil spacings, coil frequency, and phase difference between the signals at these spacings. The logging is preferably done at an intermediate frequency which gives good resolution but is little affected by the saturated casing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for electrically investigating a borehole are described. Tool mounted pads are provided, each with a plurality of small measure electrodes from which individually measurable survey currents are injected toward the wall of the borehole. The measure electrodes are arranged in an array in which the measure electrodes are so placed at intervals along at least a circumferential direction (about the borehole axis) as to inject survey currents into the borehole wall segments which overlap with each other to a predetermined extent as the tool is moved along the borehole. The measure electrodes are made small to enable a detailed electrical investigation over a circumferentially contiguous segment of the borehole so as to obtain indications of the stratigraphy of the formation near the borehole wall as well as fractures and their orientations.