Abstract: A method for drilling a well includes applying a current across a drill collar that surrounds an internal magnetometer. The current travels across the drill collar and along one or more other current paths to return to the drill collar. The method also includes using the magnetometer to measure magnetic fields due to the current being applied across the drill collar and the current across one or more other current paths while the drill collar is disposed at a first angle of rotation and rotating the drill collar to a second angle of rotation. The method further includes measuring the magnetic fields using the internal magnetometer while the drill collar is disposed at the second angle of rotation and determining a relationship between the current across the drill collar and a portion of the magnetic fields due to the current across the drill collar measurable by the internal magnetometer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for making directional measurements toward a formation of different resistivity that is proximate to the borehole, but which is not penetrated by the borehole. The methods and apparatus include the use of at least one insulated gap and at least one magnetometer positioned within a non-magnetic housing that is disposed within a non-magnetic tubular. An electric current is applied across the insulated gap, which results in current leaking into the surrounding formations. When a formation of contrasting resistivity is proximate to the logging apparatus, the magnetometer detects a secondary magnetic field due to the contrasting formation. The direction of the secondary magnetic field can be used to determine the direction to the contrasting formation. The magnitude of the secondary magnetic field can be used to determine the distance position to the contrasting formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for making directional measurements toward a formation of different resistivity that is proximate to the borehole, but which is not penetrated by the borehole. The disclosed methods and apparatus include the use of at least one insulated gap and at least one magnetometer positioned within a non-magnetic housing that is disposed within a non-magnetic tubular. An electric current is applied across the insulated gap, which results in current leaking into the surrounding formations. When a formation of contrasting resistivity is proximate to the logging apparatus, the magnetometer detects a secondary magnetic due to the contrasting formation. The direction of the secondary magnetic field can be used to determine the direction to the contrasting formation. The magnitude of the secondary magnetic field can be used to determine the distance position to the contrasting formation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improved acquisition of magnetic field data for magnetic ranging while drilling are provided. In one embodiment, such a system may include a borehole assembly and data processing circuitry. The borehole assembly may include an electric current driving tool configured to cause a current to flow across a drill collar of the borehole assembly and an internal magnetometer disposed within the drill collar and between the insulated gap and an end of the borehole assembly, which may be configured to measure magnetic field signals that penetrate the drill collar.

Abstract: The invention includes a wireless communication circuit and a method of communicating with wireless signals that feature a tank circuit having an inductor connected in parallel with a capacitor circuit. The capacitor circuit includes a pair of capacitors coupled in series. Each of the capacitors is connected in common to ground and has a capacitive value associated. A feedback network is connected to selectively bias the tank circuit to produce a signal having an amplitude. The amplitude of the signal is a function of a ratio of the capacitive values associated with the capacitor circuit. The frequency of the signal is defined by the inductor and the capacitor circuit. The tank circuit is multifunctional in that it may be biased to function as a transmitter and a receiver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for extracting formation properties from formation logging data is disclosed. A method includes obtaining a deconvolution filter; and processing the formation logging data using the deconvolution filter to produce estimates of the formation properties. The estimates of the formation properties may be further processed with a diffusion filter, which may be an anisotropic diffusion filter. A system for extracting formation properties from formation logging data includes a central processing unit and a memory, wherein the memory stores a program having instructions for performing a method that includes designing a deconvolution filter; and processing the formation logging data using the deconvolution filter to produce estimates of the formation properties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are useful for decomposing a complex distribution of data by modeling the complex distribution as a sum of discrete simple distributions, and processing the simple distributions independently. The independent processing enables the complex distribution to be reconstructed without the simple distributions that are concluded to be spurious. The simple distributions preferably include one or more statistical distributions that are subject to being characterized by a reduced data set for efficient communication and reconstruction of the complex distribution. The modeling and processing steps preferably employ one or more evolutionary algorithms.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for determining a physical characteristic or property associated with each of a plurality of layers of laminated formation traversed by a wellbore, wherein the laminated formation includes thin beds. The method includes providing one or more high resolution logs of a formation property for the laminated formation. From this log, the bed boundaries are detected and more particularly, the individual beds disposed between the boundaries. Then, the facies for each of the plurality of the beds detected is identified, using one or more high resolution logs of the laminated formation. Each of the identified facies is then defined. This includes importing volumetric descriptions for each of the facies and assigning one of the volumetric descriptions to each of a plurality of the beds detected, wherein each of the volumetric descriptions assigned to a bed is derived from a bed having the same facies.

Abstract: The invention includes a wireless communication circuit and a method of communicating with wireless signals that feature a tank circuit having an inductor connected in parallel with a capacitor circuit. The capacitor circuit includes a pair of capacitors coupled in series. Each of the capacitors is connected in common to ground and has a capacitive value associated. A feedback network is connected to selectively bias the tank circuit to produce a signal having an amplitude. The amplitude of the signal is a function of a ratio of the capacitive values associated with the capacitor circuit. The frequency of the signal is defined by the inductor and the capacitor circuit. The tank circuit is multifunctional in that it may be biased to function as a transmitter and a receiver.