Abstract: A method and system for environmental monitoring of logging-while-drilling (LWD) components. In one embodiment the system includes a formation sensor configured to generate a signal related to a property of a surrounding rock formation, and a first environmental sensor fastened to the formation sensor and configured to generate a signal related to a first environmental condition experienced by the first environmental sensor. The formation sensor and first environmental sensor may be contained in a package of an LWD tool.

Abstract: A database system may include a storage device to store a plurality of database tables. At least a portion of the database tables may be column-partitioned. The database system may also include a processor in communication with the storage device and a row-column subsystem executable by the processor to receive a request to locate a row of a column-partitioned database table. The row in the request may be used to provide a response to a query. The row-column subsystem may be further executable to determine if referenced column values of the requested row are stored in a cache associated with the row-column subsystem. The row-column subsystem may be further executable to retrieve the referenced column values of the row in the request from the cache in response to the determination that the column values are in the cache. The row-column subsystem may be further executable to provide the referenced column values for evaluation with respect to query conditions of the query.

Abstract: A logging while drilling (LWD) tool can include a shock mounted sensor package with thermal isolation. For example, a LWD tool can include a pressure housing surrounding a cavity. A sensor package that includes at least one end connection can be coupled within the cavity. The LWD tool can also include a support structure coupled to the pressure housing and supporting the end connection of the sensor package. The support structure is configured to provide damping along at least one of the axial, radial, and azimuthal axes. The end connection is configured to inhibit thermal conductivity between the support structure and the sensor package.

Abstract: A method and system for environmental monitoring of logging-while-drilling (LWD) components. In one embodiment the system includes a formation sensor configured to generate a signal related to a property of a surrounding rock formation, and a first environmental sensor fastened to the formation sensor and configured to generate a signal related to a first environmental condition experienced by the first environmental sensor. The formation sensor and first environmental sensor may be contained in a package of an LWD tool.

Abstract: A wet-connect can include a radial array of contacts that are electrically isolated from each other. The wet-connect can include a male connector and a female connector. The contacts are placed at spaced distances from each other around the outside diameter of the male connector and the inside diameter of the female connector. Because the contacts are spaced around the radius of the connectors, the length of the wet-connect does not have to depend upon the number of contacts provided by the wet-connect. This in turn can reduce the length of the wet-connect, making the wet-connect less susceptible to breakage or misalignment and/or allowing the wet-connect to be manufactured using less material.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing an azimuthally sensitive resistivity logging tool are disclosed. One such method involves transmitting a primary magnetic field from one or more coils placed on a drill collar and receiving several electrical signals, where each of the electrical signals is received from a respective one of several sensors. The sensors are distributed around a circumference of a drill collar, and an axis of at least one of the sensors is perpendicular to an axis of the drill collar. Each of the electrical signals indicates a respective magnitude of a measurement of a reflected magnetic field, where the reflected magnetic field is reflected from an anomalous geological formation. The method calculates a vector measurement of the reflected magnetic field, based upon the electrical signals.

Abstract: A rugged scintillation crystal assembly includes several scintillator crystals, which are optically coupled to each other by resilient optical-coupling material such as silicone pads and/or grease. The scintillator crystals are configured to collectively emit optical signals. Such a stack may combine the advantages of both a long form-factor for the overall assembly with the ruggedness of the assembly's component short crystals.

Abstract: A logging while drilling (LWD) tool can include a shock mounted sensor package with thermal isolation. For example, a LWD tool can include a pressure housing surrounding a cavity. A sensor package that includes at least one end connection can be coupled within the cavity. The LWD tool can also include a support structure coupled to the pressure housing and supporting the end connection of the sensor package. The support structure is configured to provide damping along at least one of the axial, radial, and azimuthal axes. The end connection is configured to inhibit thermal conductivity between the support structure and the sensor package.

Abstract: A rugged scintillation crystal assembly includes several scintillator crystals, which are optically coupled to each other by resilient optical-coupling material such as silicone pads and/or grease. The scintillator crystals are configured to collectively emit optical signals. Such a stack may combine the advantages of both a long form-factor for the overall assembly with the ruggedness of the assembly's component short crystals.

Abstract: Various techniques for generating a polar display include a method, which involves receiving information identifying a formation property of an anomaly within a geologic formation from a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool that includes several sensors. The formation property is identified by at least one magnitude and at least one distance. The formation property is also identified relative to a corresponding property of the geologic formation. The method also involves receiving information identifying an azimuthal angle from the MWD tool, where the azimuthal angle relates a position of the anomalous formation to a position of a first sensor. The method then generates a graphic, based upon the at least one magnitude and the at least one distance and the azimuthal angle, and displays the graphic on a polar display, in which a center of the polar display corresponds to a location of the borehole in which the MWD tool is located.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing a directional radiation detection tool are disclosed. One such method involves receiving outputs from several radiation sensors (e.g., gamma ray sensors), which are each facing a different direction. The received outputs are then combined, such that a directional error in one of the outputs is reduced, based upon another one of the outputs.

Abstract: A wet-connect can include a radial array of contacts that are electrically isolated from each other. The wet-connect can include a male connector and a female connector. The contacts are placed at spaced distances from each other around the outside diameter of the male connector and the inside diameter of the female connector. Because the contacts are spaced around the radius of the connectors, the length of the wet-connect does not have to depend upon the number of contacts provided by the wet-connect. This in turn can reduce the length of the wet-connect, making the wet-connect less susceptible to breakage or misalignment and/or allowing the wet-connect to be manufactured using less material.

Abstract: Various techniques for generating a polar display include a method, which involves receiving information identifying a formation property of an anomaly within a geologic formation from a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tool that includes several sensors. The formation property is identified by at least one magnitude and at least one distance. The formation property is also identified relative to a corresponding property of the geologic formation. The method also involves receiving information identifying an azimuthal angle from the MWD tool, where the azimuthal angle relates a position of the anomalous formation to a position of a first sensor. The method then generates a graphic, based upon the at least one magnitude and the at least one distance and the azimuthal angle, and displays the graphic on a polar display, in which a center of the polar display corresponds to a location of the borehole in which the MWD tool is located.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and database system for performing a request on a table associated with an index are disclosed. A database contains a table, an index, and a partition elimination list and accepts a query. A table has one or more rows stored in one or more partitions. The index contains index entries, each of which references a row in a partition, where the row is in the table. The query has a first and a second condition. The partition elimination list is populated with partitions based on the first condition of the query. Only index entries that are identified by the request because of the second condition and that reference partitions that are not eliminated by the partition elimination list are read.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing an azimuthally sensitive resistivity logging tool are disclosed. One such method involves transmitting a primary magnetic field from one or more coils placed on a drill collar and receiving several electrical signals, where each of the electrical signals is received from a respective one of several sensors. The sensors are distributed around a circumference of a drill collar, and an axis of at least one of the sensors is perpendicular to an axis of the drill collar. Each of the electrical signals indicates a respective magnitude of a measurement of a reflected magnetic field, where the reflected magnetic field is reflected from an anomalous geological formation. The method calculates a vector measurement of the reflected magnetic field, based upon the electrical signals.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing an azimuthally sensitive resistivity logging tool are disclosed. One such method involves transmitting a primary magnetic field from one or more coils placed on a drill collar and receiving several electrical signals, where each of the electrical signals is received from a respective one of several sensors. The sensors are distributed around a circumference of a drill collar, and an axis of at least one of the sensors is perpendicular to an axis of the drill collar. Each of the electrical signals indicates a respective magnitude of a measurement of a reflected magnetic field, where the reflected magnetic field is reflected from an anomalous geological formation. The method calculates a vector measurement of the reflected magnetic field, based upon the electrical signals.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing a directional radiation detection tool are disclosed. One such method involves receiving outputs from several radiation sensors (e.g., gamma ray sensors), which are each facing a different direction. The received outputs are then combined, such that a directional error in one of the outputs is reduced, based upon another one of the outputs.

Abstract: In a relational database system, data is logically represented as a single table, but physically stored as a plurality of overlapping partitions. In some embodiments, the table is created by an instruction defining the table's structure and specifying a plurality of partitions in which to store duplicate copies of some data and in some embodiments, the table is accessed without referencing the overlapping partitions.

Abstract: A database management system receives a request to perform an operation on a set of target data and, at some point after it begins executing that operation, places a lock on the target data to prevent concurrent execution of other operations on the target data. In some embodiments, the system receives an instruction from a user to perform a data-definition operation on a set of target data; places an initial lock on the target data at a level that allows at least one concurrent operation on the target data; begins executing the operation; and then places a final lock on the target data at a level that excludes all other concurrent operations on the target data.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for implementing an azimuthally sensitive resistivity logging tool are disclosed. One such method involves transmitting a primary magnetic field from one or more coils placed on a drill collar and receiving several electrical signals, where each of the electrical signals is received from a respective one of several sensors. The sensors are distributed around a circumference of a drill collar, and an axis of at least one of the sensors is perpendicular to an axis of the drill collar. Each of the electrical signals indicates a respective magnitude of a measurement of a reflected magnetic field, where the reflected magnetic field is reflected from an anomalous geological formation. The method calculates a vector measurement of the reflected magnetic field, based upon the electrical signals.