Patent ID: 9103192
Filing Date: 2015-08-11
Classification: E21B,G01V

Abstract:
1. A method for steering a drill bit within a pay zone in a lateral well, the method comprising: receiving acoustic signature data from a downhole processor assembly, wherein the acoustic signature data comprises an amplitude spectrum and one or more acoustic characteristics evaluated from an acoustic signal provided by a sensor arranged adjacent to a drill bit and generated in real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with encountered rock in the lateral well during drilling; comparing the received real-time acoustic signature data to predetermined acoustic signatures determined for a plurality of rock samples; identifying a lithology type of the rock being encountered by the drill bit based on the comparison; and steering the drill bit in a predefined direction, in real-time, based on the identified lithology type of the rock, for maintaining the drill bit within the pay zone of the lateral well.