Patent ID: 6768106
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
A method for determining a characteristic of a mud mixture surrounding a drilling tool within an inclined borehole in which a drilling tool is conveyed, comprising:defining a cross-section of said tool which is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of said tool; determining a bottom contact point of said gross-section of said tool which contacts said inclined borehole as said tool rotates in said borehole; separating said cross-section into at least two segments, where one of said segments is called a bottom segment of said borehole which includes said bottom contact point of said cross-section of said tool which said inclined borehole; turning said tool in said borehole; applying energy into said borehole from an energy source disposed in said tool, as said tool is turning in said borehole; recording measurement signals received at a sensor disposed in said tool from circumferentially spaced locations round said borehole, where said measurement signals are in response to returning energy which results from the interaction of the applied energy with said mud mixture and the formation; deriving a density measurement from said measurement signals; associating said density measurement with a particular segment during the time such signals are produced in response to energy returning from said mud mixture and the formation as said tool is turning in said borehole; deriving an indication of a cuttings build-up or a kick condition based on a comparison between said density measurements associated with at least two segments of said borehole.