Abstract:
A controllable seismic source is used in a seismic-while-drilling system for obtaining VSP data. Coded information is sent downhole about the signal generated by said controllable source. The information about the seismic source is used for reconstructing the source waveform and processing the VSP data. Optionally, a reference signal measured at one depth of the BHA is used for processing of signals at subsequent depths.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/746,072, filed Dec. 24, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,274,990. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an improved method of determining, while drilling in the earth with a drill bit, the positions of geologic formations in the earth. More particularly, it relates to a method for improving the quality of a reference signal. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventional reflection seismology utilizes surface sources and receivers to detect reflections from subsurface impedance contrasts. The obtained image often suffers in spatial accuracy, resolution and coherence due to the long travel paths between source, reflector, and receiver. In particular, due to the two way passage of seismic signals through a highly absorptive near surface weathered layer with a low, laterally varying velocity, subsurface images are poor quality. To overcome this difficulty, a technique commonly known as vertical seismic profiling (VSP) was developed to image the subsurface in the vicinity of a borehole. With VSP, a surface seismic source is used and signals are received at a single downhole receiver or an array of downhole receivers. This is repeated for different depths of the receiver (or receiver array). In offset VSP, a plurality of spaced apart sources are sequentially activated, enabling imaging of a larger range of distances than is possible with a single source 
   In reverse VSPs, the positions of the source and receivers are interchanged, i.e., a downhole source is used and recording is done at a surface receiver or array of receivers. A particular example of such a system is one developed by Western Atlas International Inc. and used with the service mark TOMEX®. In this, the drillbit itself is used as the seismic source. One of the problems with using a drillbit as a seismic source is that the source is not repeatable. As would be known to those versed in the art, analysis of VSP data preferably uses of a repeatable source so that any waveforms changes in the VSP data may be attributable to formation properties. With the drillbit as a seismic source, this is difficult. Hence it would be desirable to properly compensate for source variations prior to analysis of the VSP data. 
   A problem with proper compensation for source variations is that telemetry capability in a drilling environment is extremely limited, so that sending the characterizing information about the source wavelet to the surface is not possible. U.S. Pat. No. 6,078,868 to Dubinsky, having the same assignee as the present application and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference, teaches a method for making seismic while drilling (SWD) measurements in which a reference signal downhole near the drill bit is analyzed, and information about the signal is sent to the surface using a limited number of transmission bits. In one embodiment, a library of anticipated drill bit wavelets is stored in memory downhole and in memory at the surface. This library of anticipated drill bit wavelets is based on long term experience (several years) as well as theoretical considerations in collecting drill bit signals downhole and, in fact, could also be considered a data base of these collected drill bit signals. The best matching wavelet is identified by the processor downhole and then a code identifying the wavelet and a scaling factor are sent to the surface. At the surface, the best matching wavelet is retrieved based on the code received and then a reconstructed signal is created using the retrieved wavelet and the scaling factor. In another embodiment, key characteristics of the signal such as central frequency, frequency band, etc., are calculated downhole and transmitted to the surface. These key characteristics are then used to reconstruct the reference signal which is then used for correlation of surface detected signals. Once this correlation is done, the data are analyzed at the surface using known techniques. 
   The Dubinsky patent addresses the problem of telemetry of source wavelets to the surface in the context of a reverse VSP. The present invention is a modification of the apparatus and method of Dubinsky in the context of a conventional VSP, i.e., source at the surface and receiver downhole. There are other differences between the method and apparatus of the present invention and the teachings of Dubinsky. These are discussed below. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a system and method of seismic surveying of an earth formation, a seismic wave is generated using a controllable source at a first location for propagating a seismic wave through said earth formation. A downhole receiver is used for receiving a first signal indicative of the propagating seismic wave. A second signal indicative of a character of the generated seismic wave is transmitted to the downhole location. The first signal is then processed using the second signal. The first location may be at or proximate to the surface of a body of water of land. Alternatively, the first location may be in a preexisting wellbore. The method received signal may be a direct signal or a reflected signal. Compressional or shear seismic signals may be generated. 
   The second signal may be a parameter of the control signal for the controllable source. Alternatively, the second signal is based at least in part on a signal measured by a reference detector proximate to the source location. The source may be a swept frequency source. Alternatively, the source may be an airgun array. Using measurements made at different depths, an attenuation factor may be derived from the direct arrival. When measurements are made at a plurality of depths, a vertical seismic profile (VSP) may be obtained. 
   In another embodiment of the invention, a seismic wave is generated at or near a surface location. Signals received by a receiver on a bottomhole assembly (BHA) at a shallow depth define a reference wavelet. This reference wavelet is then used for determining arrival times of direct signals at increasing depths of the BHA. The reference wavelet may be updated at each depth. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention is best understood with reference to the accompanying figures in which like numerals refer to like elements, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  (Prior Art) shows a measurement-while-drilling device suitable for use with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the arrangement of source and sensors for the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  (Prior Art) shows an example of a vertical seismic profile; 
       FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of processing carried out with one embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a frequency spectrum of the output of a swept frequency source; 
       FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the layout for a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of a drilling system  10  with a drillstring  20  carrying a drilling assembly  90  (also referred to as the bottom hole assembly, or “BHA”) conveyed in a “wellbore” or “borehole”  26  for drilling the wellbore. The drilling system  10  includes a conventional derrick  11  erected on a floor  12  which supports a rotary table  14  that is rotated by a prime mover such as an electric motor (not shown) at a desired rotational speed. The drillstring  20  includes a tubing such as a drill pipe  22  or a coiled-tubing extending downward from the surface into the borehole  26 . The drillstring  20  is pushed into the wellbore  26  when a drill pipe  22  is used as the tubing. For coiled-tubing applications, a tubing injector, such as an injector (not shown), however, is used to move the tubing from a source thereof, such as a reel (not shown), to the wellbore  26 . The drill bit  50  attached to the end of the drillstring breaks up the geological formations when it is rotated to drill the borehole  26 . If a drill pipe  22  is used, the drillstring  20  is coupled to a drawworks  30  via a kelly joint  21 , swivel  28 , and line  29  through a pulley  23 . During drilling operations, the drawworks  30  is operated to control the weight on bit, which is an important parameter that affects the rate of penetration. The operation of the drawworks is well known in the art and is thus not described in detail herein. 
   During drilling operations, a suitable drilling fluid  31  from a mud pit (source)  32  is circulated under pressure through a channel in the drillstring  20  by a mud pump  34 . The drilling fluid passes from the mud pump  34  into the drillstring  20  via a desurger (not shown), fluid line  28  and kelly joint  21 . The drilling fluid  31  is discharged at the borehole bottom  51  through an opening in the drill bit  50 . The drilling fluid  31  circulates uphole through the annular space  27  between the drillstring  20  and the borehole  26  and returns to the mud pit  32  via a return line  35 . The drilling fluid acts to lubricate the drill bit  50  and to carry borehole cutting or chips away from the drill bit  50 . A sensor S 1  placed in the line  38  can provide information about the fluid flow rate. A surface torque sensor S 2  and a sensor S 3  associated with the drillstring  20  respectively provide information about the torque and rotational speed of the drillstring. Additionally, a sensor (not shown) associated with line  29  is used to provide the hook load of the drillstring  20 . 
   In one embodiment of the invention, the drill bit  50  is rotated by only rotating the drill pipe  22 . In another embodiment of the invention, a downhole motor  55  (mud motor) is disposed in the drilling assembly  90  to rotate the drill bit  50  and the drill pipe  22  is rotated usually to supplement the rotational power, if required, and to effect changes in the drilling direction. 
   In one embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the mud motor  55  is coupled to the drill bit  50  via a drive shaft (not shown) disposed in a bearing assembly  57 . The mud motor rotates the drill bit  50  when the drilling fluid  31  passes through the mud motor  55  under pressure. The bearing assembly  57  supports the radial and axial forces of the drill bit. A stabilizer  58  coupled to the bearing assembly  57  acts as a centralizer for the lowermost portion of the mud motor assembly. 
   In one embodiment of the invention, a drilling sensor module  59  is placed near the drill bit  50 . The drilling sensor module contains sensors, circuitry and processing software and algorithms relating to the dynamic drilling parameters. Such parameters can include bit bounce, stick-slip of the drilling assembly, backward rotation, torque, shocks, borehole and annulus pressure, acceleration measurements and other measurements of the drill bit condition. A suitable telemetry or communication sub  72  using, for example, two-way telemetry, is also provided as illustrated in the drilling assembly  90 . The drilling sensor module processes the sensor information and transmits it to the surface control unit  40  via the telemetry system  72 . 
   The communication sub  72 , a power unit  78  and an MWD tool  79  are all connected in tandem with the drillstring  20 . Flex subs, for example, are used in connecting the MWD tool  79  in the drilling assembly  90 . Such subs and tools form the bottom hole drilling assembly  90  between the drillstring  20  and the drill bit  50 . The drilling assembly  90  makes various measurements including the pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance measurements while the borehole  26  is being drilled. The communication sub  72  obtains the signals and measurements and transfers the signals, using two-way telemetry, for example, to be processed on the surface. Alternatively, the signals can be processed using a downhole processor at a suitable location (not shown) in the drilling assembly  90 . 
   The surface control unit or processor  40  also receives signals from other downhole sensors and devices and signals from sensors S 1 -S 3  and other sensors used in the system  10  and processes such signals according to programmed instructions provided to the surface control unit  40 . The surface control unit  40  displays desired drilling parameters and other information on a display/monitor  42  utilized by an operator to control the drilling operations. The surface control unit  40  can include a computer or a microprocessor-based processing system, memory for storing programs or models and data, a recorder for recording data, and other peripherals. The control unit  40  can be adapted to activate alarms  44  when certain unsafe or undesirable operating conditions occur. 
   The apparatus for use with the present invention also includes a downhole processor that may be positioned at any suitable location within or near the bottom hole assembly. The use of the processor is described below. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an example is shown of source and receiver configurations for the method of the present invention. Shown is a drillbit  50  near the bottom of a borehole  26 ′. A surface seismic source is denoted by S and a reference receiver at the surface is denoted by R 1 . A downhole receiver is denoted by  53 , while  55  shows an exemplary raypath for seismic waves originating at the source S and received by the receiver  53 . The receiver  53  is usually in a fixed relation to the drillbit in the bottom hole assembly. Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a raypath  55 ′ from the source S to another position  53 ′ near the bottom of the borehole. This other position  53 ′ could correspond to a second receiver in one embodiment of the invention wherein a plurality of seismic receivers are used downhole. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the position  53 ′ corresponds to another position of the receiver  53  when the drillbit and the BHA are at a different depth. 
   Raypaths  55  and  55 ′ are shown as curved. This ray-bending commonly happens due to the fact that the velocity of propagation of seismic waves in the earth generally increases with depth. Also shown in  FIG. 2  is a reflected ray  61  corresponding to seismic waves that have been produced by the source, reflected by an interface such as  63 , and received by the receiver at  53 . 
   An example of a VSP that would be recorded by such an arrangement is shown in  FIG. 3 . The vertical axis  121  corresponds to depth while the horizontal axis  123  corresponds to time. The exemplary data in  FIG. 3  was obtained using a wireline for deployment of the receivers. Measurements were made at a large number of depths, providing the large number of seismic traces shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Even to an untrained observer, several points are apparent in  FIG. 3 . One point of interest is the direct compressional wave (P-wave) arrival denoted by  101 . This corresponds to energy that has generally propagated into the earth formation as a P-wave. Also apparent in  FIG. 3  is a direct shear wave (S-wave) arrival denoted by  103 . Since S-waves have a lower velocity of propagation than P-waves, their arrival times are later than the arrival times of P-waves. 
   Both the compressional and shear wave direct arrivals are of interest since they are indicative of the type of rock through which the waves have propagated. To one skilled in the art, other visual information is seen in  FIG. 3 . An example of this is denoted by  105  and corresponds to energy that is reflected from a deeper horizon, such as  63  in  FIG. 2  and moves up the borehole. Consequently, the “moveout” of this is opposite too the moveout of the direct arrivals (P- or S-). Such reflections are an important part of the analysis of VSP data since they provide the ability to look ahead of the drillbit. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention is shown. A surface signal is generated  203 . As in any VSP acquisition, there are a number of choices available for sources used in data acquisition. Broadly speaking, there are two types of sources: impulsive, and non-impulsive. In a marine environment, a commonly used impulsive source is an airgun or an airgun array. An airgun is a device with relatively low energy (in contrast to high energy explosive sources such as dynamite). Low energy sources such as airguns are used for several reasons, including reduced injury to marine life, and for safety issues. A single airgun produces an air bubble that produces continued pulsing and is hence not desirable for VSP data acquisition: the continued oscillations result in a fairly narrow spectral bandwidth that makes it difficult to accurately pick the arrival time of a seismic signal. For this reason, air gun arrays with a reasonably broad bandwidth are commonly used in marine data acquisition. With the use of air gun arrays comes the flexibility of spectrally tuning the air gun array to obtain a desirable bandwidth and to maximize the signal level at the receiver. An example of a tunable airgun array is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,858 to Dragoset. 
   A non impulsive source that has been used for marine seismic data acquisition is a marine vibrator. Marine vibrators have a long history in seismic data acquisition. More recent developments, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,668 to Sallas include the a tunable array of marine vibrators. In vibratory surveys, the source sends out a low power swept-frequency signal with a duration of the order of ten to twenty seconds. The received signal is cross-correlated with the the sweep signal (or a signal related to the sweep signal) to recover the impulse response of the earth. Processing of marine vibratory data in conventional surface seismic data acquisition requires a Doppler compensation for the motion of the source. This is not a problem with VSP data acquisition carried out at a fixed source location. However, if an offset-VSP survey is carried out with a moving source, Doppler correction is necessary. Doppler compensation methods have been discussed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,235 to Dragoset et. al. 
   Use of vibrators as a seismic source for land seismic surveys has an equally long history. U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,968 to Broding and U.S. Pat. No. 3,727,717 to Miller disclose the use of vibrators with vertical motion suitable for use as compressional wave sources. U.S. Pat. No. 3,159,232 to Fair discloses the use of a horizontal vibrator for generation of shear wave energy. 
   A common characteristic of the sources described above is that the output signal is controllable in terms of directionality and, particularly, the frequency spectrum. In this sense, the seismic sources are controllable. The ability to control the spectral characteristics is used in one embodiment of the invention discussed below. 
   The downhole detectors used in the present invention typically include one or more of hydrophones, geophones, or accelerometers. Hydrophones are sensitive to pressure variations and as such, do not require coupling to the earth formation. The performance of the other sensors (geophones and accelerometers) is improved if there is good coupling with the earth formation. When these sensors are on the BHA, coupling may be difficult to achieve. In one embodiment of the invention, the downhole detectors are mounted on a non-rotating sleeve that may be clamped to the borehole wall. Such a non-rotating sleeve is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,542 to Kruspe et al., having the same assignee as the present invention and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. When used for shear-wave VSPs, it is particularly important to have sensors that are responsive to horizontal motion, i.e., x- and y-component geophones or accelerometers (in a vertical borehole) since a vertically propagating shear wave has little or no vertical motion. When a P-wave VSP is being conducted, it is not necessary to have the sensors in a fixed position. Hydrophones are omnidirectional in their sensitivity and can be used on a rotating sensor for receiving P-wave signals downhole. 
   Another consideration is that with swept frequency sources, the response of the downhole x- and y-sensors to an arriving a shear wave signal will depend upon the orientation of the sensors. If the sensors are rotating with the BHA, it is necessary to know the orientation of the sensors during the data acquisition. This can be done using magnetometers and/or accelerometers. The received signals must be corrected (using a straightforward rotation of coordinates) for the orientation prior to further processing and this capability is part of the downhole processor. On the other hand, if the sensors are on a non-rotating sleeve, this continuous correction is not needed. 
   It should be noted that with a source at the surface and downhole detectors, the number of parameters needed to characterize the source wavelet (and the possible suite of possible wavelet shapes) is less than for the problem addressed by Dubinsky. In Dubinsky, the drillbit itself acts as a seismic source, and even in the simplest situations, the output seismic signals are dependent upon many parameters such as the earth formations being drilled, the weight on bit, the torque applied at the drill string. The source wavelet would be further dependent upon the drilling mode (possible whirl, sticking of the drillbit, etc.). On the other hand, the receiver for the present invention is in a much more noisy environment due to its proximity to the drillbit. In one embodiment of the present invention, an attenuator is used for attenuating noise 
   Returning to  FIG. 2 , activation of the source results in propagation of a seismic waves into the earth formation (as depicted by the rays  55 ,  55 ′, and  61 ). The resulting data are received by the downhole detector(s) and may be stored on a suitable memory device downhole. A reference detector R 1  may be used to measure the downgoing signal, and key characteristics of the generated signal are transmitted downhole  205 . This telemetry may be accomplished, for example, by using mud pulse telemetry such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,138 to Gruenhagen. When a reference detector is used in land VSP surveys, it could be a buried detector (geophone, hydrophone or accelerometer). When a reference detector is used in marine VSP surveys, it could be a hydrophone within the water layer, or it could be a detector buried in the sub-bottom. 
   With a swept frequency source, the most commonly used sweep is a linear sweep in which the instantaneous frequency is given by an expression of the form:
 
ω=ω 0   +At   (1)
 
where ω 0  is the initial angular frequency, ω is the frequency at time t, and A is the rate of change of the angular frequency with time. The amplitude of the sweep typically includes a middle portion where the amplitude is uniform, and an earlier and later taper to zero amplitude. This is illustrated schematically in  FIG. 5 .
 
   When a linear frequency sweep is used, the key characteristics of the source signal that are transmitted downhole are the initial frequency ω 0 , the sweep rate A and the duration of the sweep. Those versed in the art would recognize that essentially the same information could be conveyed by the total time of the sweep, and the initial and ending frequencies. Other equivalent formulations may also be used. In addition, the key characteristics would include information pertaining to the amplitude taper rate from  FIG. 5 . The point to note is that the source signal can be characterized by a limited number of characteristics, so that transmitting the information downhole is feasible within the limited telemetry capabilities of the telemetry system. 
   Once this key information about the source characteristics has been transmitted downhole, the downhole processor can reconstruct the source signal. Another piece of information that is transmitted downhole is the start time of the signal. In one embodiment of the invention, a rubidium clock is used for maintaining synchronization between the surface seismic source and the downhole processor. Such a rubidium clock is disclosed in a U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,105 to DiFoggio et al. having the same assignee as the present invention and the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. 
   Those versed in the art would recognize that the earth is a dissipative medium that selectively absorbs higher frequencies. A commonly used model characterizes the earth by a quality factor Q. The quality factor may be a slowly varying function of depth depending upon the formation lithology and fluid content. With such a model, the propagation wave number of a seismic wave propagating in the z-direction can be written as: 
                   k   z     =     (       ω   V     +     i   ⁢           ⁢   α       )             (   2   )               
where k z  is the wave number, ω is the angular frequency, V is the phase velocity, and α is the attenuation factor. The attenuation factor a is related to the quality factor Q by
 
                 α   =       ω     2   ⁢           ⁢   QV       .             (   3   )               
A commonly used approximation relates the velocity V to a reference velocity V r  at angular frequency ω r  by a relation of the form:
 
                     V   r     V     ≅     1   -       1     π   ⁢           ⁢   Q       ⁢     ln   ⁡     (     ω     ω   r       )                   (   4   )               
Using eqns (2)-(4) and the key characteristics of the source signal transmitted downhole, the waveform of the seismic signal can be reconstructed. The time of source activation is used to define the window for analysis  211  of the data downhole. The reconstructed waveform may be used as a filter for processing the recorded data  209  for further analysis  213  using known methods for processing the VSP data.
 
   Using the concepts discussed above, an exemplary use of the invention is discussed next with reference to  FIG. 6 . In a VSP-type measurement, a seismic signal generated by a reproducible standard surface seismic source  301  like an air gun or a vibrator is recorded while drilling by means of multiple downhole acoustic sensitive sensors (geophones, accelerometers, hydrophones). The source wavelet is registered on the surface by means of a near-source receiver  303 . In  FIG. 6 , the receiver  305  is shown on the surface of the earth, but it could be buried (in land), in the water or in the sub-bottom (for marine recording). 
   Starting at an initial depth such as  305  while drilling ahead, the seismic signal generated by the source may be recorded. This may be done at a shallow depth and within an acoustic “silent” environment so that the wavelet is a fair representation of the outgoing signal from the source. From the known source wavelet (either predetermined, or telemetered downhole) an attenuation factor a for the raypath  351  may be determined. 
   At the next depth level  307 , a second measurement cycle is performed. Due to the greater depth and the increased noise level caused by the drilling process, the signal is much more attenuated and distorted at this level than when the receiver is at  305 . Now the previously identified wavelet from depth  305  nay be used to determine the first arrival time of the new measurement cycle by means of cross-correlation or similar techniques. The wavelet is then identified within the seismic trace of the actual measurement based on the received signal following the first arrival time. In one embodiment of the invention, an attenuation factor a is determined from a comparison of the wavelet derived at  305  and the wavelet at depth  307 . The attenuation factor may be considered to be a parameter characteristic of the earth formation. 
   The process described above is then repeated at other depths such as  309  . . .  311  so that first arrival times and attenuation factors can be obtained using wavelets measured at shallower depths 
   The process of determining first arrival times is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , at the initial depth  401 , the reference wavelet (signal) is determined  411 . An initial value of a may also be determined at this point. This reference wavelet is then used, at the next depth  403 , to determine a first arrival time  405 . Once the arrival time at depth  403  is established, by proper windowing an updated wavelet  407  is obtained. If the drilling of the well is continued  409 , the process is repeated starting at  403  with the updated wavelet  407  serving as the new reference wavelet  411 . An attenuation factor a may also be determined  413 . As would be known to those versed in the art, in most cases of practical interest, the direct arrival occurs within ten seconds of activation of a seismic source at the surface. 
   In an alternate embodiment of the invention, an average value of α may be determined at each depth using telemetered information from the surface about the source signal. Using such telemetered information for determining an average value of α avoids problems that may occur when noisy wavelets at successive depths are used for determining an incremental value of α. 
   The present invention has been described in the context of VSP data acquisition in which a seismic source is at or near a surface location. However, the invention could also be used when the seismic source is located in a preexisting wellbore. With such an arrangement, crosswell measurements could be made during the process of drilling a wellbore. Based on these crosswell measurements, the position of the wellbore being drilled from a preexisting wellbore can be determined and, based on the determined distance, the drilling direction of the wellbore can be controlled. 
   While the foregoing disclosure is directed to the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such variations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims be embraced by the foregoing disclosure.