Apparatus and method for syncronized formation measurement

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for minimizing movement of a drill string during MWD with vibration-sensitive instruments comprising conveying a drill string into a borehole with a sensor mounted on the drill string for sensing a parameter of interest of a formation. A clocked controller is disposed on the drill string for controlling timing of the sensor; and a second clocked controller is disposed at a surface location. During drilling operations, the clocked controllers are synchronized such that the surface controller is performing certain tasks in timed sequence with the sensor even though the surface controller is not connected to the sensor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for MWD comprising: 
 (a) a drill string;    (b) a sensor mounted on the drill string for sensing a parameter of interest of a formation;    (c) a first clocked controller disposed on the drill string for controlling operations of the sensor; and    (d) a second clocked controller disposed at a surface location, the second clocked controller capable of synchronizing with the first clocked controller.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the drill string is selected from a group consisting of (i) a jointed drill pipe and (ii) a coiled tubing.  
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a NMR sensor.  
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first clocked controller initiates and terminates operation of the NMR sensor over predetermined time intervals.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the second clocked controller is synchronized with the first clocked controller.  
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the second clocked controller further comprises an output device for providing an output indicative of operation of the NMR sensor to operating personnel.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the output device is selected from a group consisting of (i) a monitor, (ii) an audible alarm, and (iii) a timing gauge.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the second clocked controller further comprises a transmitter for sending a start command at a start of said predetermined time intervals to the first clocked controller having a receiver for receiving the start command.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising an extendable probe mounted on the drill string and having a port in fluid communication with the sensor and formation, and a pump disposed in the drill string for urging formation fluid into the port.  
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a sample chamber mounted on the drill string, wherein the sample chamber is in fluid communication with the port such that the formation fluid entering the port is transferred to the sample chamber.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is operatively associated with the sample chamber and formation fluid contained in the sample chamber includes a characteristic indicative of the formation parameter of interest.  
     
     
         12 . A method for MWD comprising: 
 (a) conveying a drill string into a well borehole;    (b) operating a sensor for determining a parameter of interest of a formation traversed by the borehole with a sensor mounted on the drill string;    (c) controlling operation of the sensor with a first clocked controller disposed on the drill string; and    (d) synchronizing a second clocked controller disposed at a surface location with the first clocked controller.    
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is conveyed on a drill string is selected from a group consisting of (i) a jointed drill pipe and (ii) a coiled tubing.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein sensing a parameter of interest is performed using a NMR device.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the parameter of interest is selected from a group consisting of (i) a longitudinal relaxation time; (ii) transverse relaxation time; (iii) porosity; (iv) pore-size distribution; (v) hydrocarbon identification; (vi) acoustic velocity; (vii) formation pressure; and (viii) dielectric constant of formation fluid.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 12 , further comprising initiating and terminating operation of the sensor over predetermined time intervals.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising synchronizing the second clocked controller with the first clocked controller.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the second clocked controller further comprises an output device, the method further comprising providing an output indicative of operations of the sensor using the output device.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein using the output device is selected from a group consisting of (i) using a monitor, (ii) using an audible alarm, and (iii) using a timing gauge.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the second clocked controller further comprises a transmitter, the first clocked controller further comprises a receiver, the method further comprising using the transmitter to send a start command at a start of the predetermined time intervals to the receiver, receiving the start command at the receiver, and initiating operation of the sensor using the start command.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein the drill string includes an extendable probe having a port operatively associated with the sensor and a pump, the method further comprising extending the probe until the port is in fluid communication with the formation and urging formation fluid into the port using the pump.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein the drill string includes a sample chamber operatively associated with the pump and port, the method further comprising transferring formation from the port to the sample chamber and sensing the parameter of interest using the fluid contained in the sample chamber