Patent ID: 8302687
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: E21B,G01V

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for investigating an earth formation, the apparatus comprising: a) at least one wired drill pipe capable of telemetry for transmitting and receiving data; b) a drill bit coupled to a terminal end of the wired drill pipe; c) an array of spaced electrodes mounted on the wired drill pipe and adapted to sense transient streaming potential DC voltage signals; d) high impedance voltage measurement circuits associated with the array of electrodes; and e) a processor which receives signals indicative of the transient streaming potential DC voltage signals sensed by the array of electrodes and the processor uses the signals indicative of the transient streaming potential DC voltage signals to generate a plurality of indications of formation permeability along a length of a bore drilled by the drill bit; wherein the processor is telemetry coupled to the wired drill pipe so as to transmit and receive data.