Abstract: A tool for use in a borehole in a geological formation may include a chassis, a drill collar surrounding the chassis, a port plug coupled between the drill collar and the chassis, RF antennas carried by the drill collar, and a multi-chip module (MCM) electronics package(s). The electronics package(s) may include a hermetically sealed electronics housing positioned between the chassis and the drill collar, a substrate within the electronics housing, RF transmitter circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one first RF antenna to transmit RF signals into the geological formation, and RF receiver circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one second RF antenna to receive RF signals from the geological formation. Furthermore, an electronics housing mount may couple the electronics housing with the port plug, and the electronics housing mount may have a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the port plug.

Abstract: A tool for use in a borehole in a geological formation may include a chassis, a drill collar surrounding the chassis, a port plug coupled between the drill collar and the chassis, RF antennas carried by the drill collar, and a multi-chip module (MCM) electronics package(s). The electronics package(s) may include a hermetically sealed electronics housing positioned between the chassis and the drill collar, a substrate within the electronics housing, RF transmitter circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one first RF antenna to transmit RF signals into the geological formation, and RF receiver circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one second RF antenna to receive RF signals from the geological formation. Furthermore, an electronics housing mount may couple the electronics housing with the port plug, and the electronics housing mount may have a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the port plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a kick in a wellbore using acoustic transducers. In one embodiment, a system for detecting a kick in a wellbore includes a drill string having a plurality of sections of drill pipes and a plurality of kick detection subs disposed between the sections of drill pipes. Each of the kick detection subs includes an acoustic transducer and kick detection circuitry coupled to the acoustic transducer. The kick detection circuitry is configured to detect gas bubbles in the wellbore based on acoustic signals received by the acoustic transducer. The kick detection circuitry is also configured to determine whether a kick is present in the wellbore based on the detected gas bubbles. The kick detection circuitry is further configured to transmit information indicating whether a kick is present to the surface.

Abstract: A tool is for use in a borehole during drilling with a drilling fluid circulating in the borehole. The tool may include a housing, a plurality of spaced apart radio frequency (RF) transmitters carried by the housing, spaced apart RF receivers carried by the housing, and a controller to communicate with the plurality of transmitters and the receivers. The controller may, at a given depth within the borehole, determine attenuation resistivity measurements and phase-shift resistivity measurements both corresponding to different radial distances from the borehole. The controller may also determine when a fracture has occurred in the geological formation at the given depth allowing the drilling fluid to intrude into the geological formation based upon the attenuation resistivity measurements and the phase-shift resistivity measurements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for antenna transmitter health determinations and borehole compensation for an electromagnetic measurement tools are provided. The input current to an antenna transmitter of an electromagnetic measurement tool may be measured using a current measurement circuit. An output voltage proportional to the input current may be provided and compared to a threshold to determine the health of the antenna transmitter. A replacement borehole compensation matrix for calculating a combined attenuation measurement may be selected based on an identified unhealthy antenna transmitter.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus may include first and second tubular members joined together in end-to-end relation, the first tubular member having a reduced outer diameter end portion. The wellbore apparatus may further include a removable modular antenna assembly comprising a cylindrical dielectric housing removably positioned on the reduced outer diameter end portion of the first tubular member, at least one antenna coil carried by the cylindrical dielectric housing, and a first electrical connector coupled to the at least one antenna coil. The wellbore apparatus may also include resistivity processing circuitry coupled to the first electrical connector to determine an electrical resistivity of a wellbore based upon the at least one antenna coil.

Abstract: The method of a mud cake thickness determination provides sending short high-frequency signals into a formation from at least two positions located at different distances from the mud cake and recording arrival times of reflected echo signals. The mud cake thickness is determined based on the time measured.

Abstract: A pressure response to low frequency harmonic pressure oscillations generated in a borehole by at least one oscillation source is registered by at least one acoustic sensor. A phase shift of stationary pressure oscillations registered by the acoustic sensor relatively to the low frequency harmonic pressure oscillations of the oscillation source and a ratio between an amplitude of the stationary pressure oscillations registered by the acoustic sensor and an amplitude of the low frequency harmonic pressure oscillations of the oscillation source are determined. A thickness of a mudcake is determined and based on the results a cake piezoconductivity or a fluid mobility or both are determined.

Abstract: At least one acoustic sensor registers a pressure response to a low-frequency non-oscillating pressure signal generated in a borehole by at least one source. At least one characteristic of a transient process of pressure change is determined from the registered signal. A thickness of a mudcake is determined. Then, based on the values received, a mudcake piezoconductivity or a fluid mobility or both are determined.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus may include first and second tubular members aligned in end-to-end relation, and an antenna assembly coupled to at least one of the first and second tubular members. The antenna assembly may include a cylindrical housing having a circumferential recess therein, a rigid insulating support ring carried by the cylindrical housing in the circumferential recess, an antenna coil carried by the rigid insulating support ring, and an electrical connector coupled to the antenna coil. The wellbore apparatus may include resistivity processing circuitry coupled to the electrical connector to determine an electrical resistivity of a wellbore based upon the antenna coil.

Abstract: One or more embodiments and methods of analyzing a formation sample with in a coring tool are disclosed herein. The methods and embodiments may include extracting a first core from a sidewall of a wellbore with a coring tool at a first depth, ultrasonically measuring a sound speed of the first core, transmitting the ultrasonically measured sound speed of the first core to a surface display unit, analyzing the ultrasonically measured sound speed in real time, determining the quality of the first core, extracting a second core at the first depth if the first core is determined to be low quality, and extracting the second core at a second depth if the core first is determined to be high quality.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a kick in a wellbore using acoustic transducers. In one embodiment, a system for detecting a kick in a wellbore includes a drill string having a plurality of sections of drill pipes and a plurality of kick detection subs disposed between the sections of drill pipes. Each of the kick detection subs includes an acoustic transducer and kick detection circuitry coupled to the acoustic transducer. The kick detection circuitry is configured to detect gas bubbles in the wellbore based on acoustic signals received by the acoustic transducer. The kick detection circuitry is also configured to determine whether a kick is present in the wellbore based on the detected gas bubbles. The kick detection circuitry is further configured to transmit information indicating whether a kick is present to the surface.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus may include first and second tubular members joined together in end-to-end relation, the first tubular member having a reduced outer diameter end portion. The wellbore apparatus may further include a removable modular antenna assembly comprising a cylindrical dielectric housing removably positioned on the reduced outer diameter end portion of the first tubular member, at least one antenna coil carried by the cylindrical dielectric housing, and a first electrical connector coupled to the at least one antenna coil. The wellbore apparatus may also include resistivity processing circuitry coupled to the first electrical connector to determine an electrical resistivity of a wellbore based upon the at least one antenna coil.

Abstract: A system and method collects at least one measurement within a borehole formed in a formation. The system and method provides a drill collar made of a non-conductive or substantially non-conductive composite material positioned within the borehole. A downhole component is capable of collecting at least one measurement and is embedded within the composite material of the drill collar. The at least one measurement collectable by the downhole component is related to the borehole or the formation about the borehole.

Abstract: A drill string caliper includes a mandrel configured to be coupled within a drill string. At least one laterally extensible arm is coupled to an exterior of the mandrel. A biasing device is configured to urge the at least one arm into contact with a wall of a wellbore. A sensor is configured to generate an output signal corresponding to a lateral extent of the at least one arm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control a formation testing operation based on a mudcake leakage are disclosed. A disclosed example method for use with a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore comprises measuring a property of a mudcake layer at a first location in a wellbore, determining a value representative of an estimated leakage through the mudcake layer based on the property, and determining, based on the value, whether to continue a formation testing operation.

Abstract: Acoustic communication apparatus for use with downhole tools are described. An example acoustic communication apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a first acoustic transducer to generate first acoustic signals. The first acoustic transducer is mounted in an interior of a first drill collar to transmit the first acoustic signals via at least a portion of a body of a drillstring or a mud channel within the drillstring to a second drill collar. Additionally, the example acoustic communication apparatus includes a first receiver mounted to the first drill collar to receive second acoustic signals transmitted from the second drill collar.

Abstract: A downhole tool for subsurface disposal is provided. The tool comprises an elongated tool body, an enclosure attached to an exterior surface of the tool body. The enclosure comprises at least one transducer disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure, and an electronics board coupled to and disposed adjacent to the at least one transducer. The enclosure also defines an internal cavity, and the internal cavity contains a fluid for insulating the at least one transducer from a downhole environment. The fluid is in direct contact with the at least one transducer and the electronics board.

Abstract: A downhole tool for subsurface disposal is provided. The tool comprises an elongated tool body, an enclosure attached to an exterior surface of the tool body. The enclosure comprises at least one transducer disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure, and an electronics board coupled to and disposed adjacent to the at least one transducer. The enclosure also defines an internal cavity, and the internal cavity contains a fluid for insulating the at least one transducer from a downhole environment. The fluid is in direct contact with the at least one transducer and the electronics board.

Abstract: An enclosure for housing a transducer and electronics for disposal on a downhole tool. A transducer is disposed at an angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the enclosure, wherein the enclosure contains a fluid surrounding the transducer. Enclosures also include transducers linked to motor means for selective rotation of the transducers within the enclosure. Enclosures with transducer arrays for phased or targeted signal transmission/detection.