Patent Publication Number: US-2013234702-A1

Title: Atomic magnetometers for use in the oil service industry

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/715,541 filed Mar. 2, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/156,966 filed Mar. 3, 2009. The disclosures of both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to estimating a property of an earth formation. More particularly, the present invention relates to techniques for more accurately measuring signals from the earth formation that provide information about a property of the earth formation. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Exploration and production of hydrocarbons or geothermal energy requires that accurate and precise measurements be performed on earth formations, which may contain reservoirs of the hydrocarbons or geothermal energy. Some of these measurements are performed at the surface of the earth and may be referred to as surveys. Other measurements are generally performed in boreholes penetrating the earth formations. The process of performing these measurements in boreholes is called “well logging.” 
     In one example of well logging, a logging tool, used to perform the measurements, is lowered into a borehole and supported by a wireline. The logging tool contains various components that perform the measurements and record or transmit data associated with the measurements. 
     Various types of measurements can be performed in a borehole. One type of measurement is known as a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement. In conventional NMR logging, a strong magnet is used to polarize nuclei in the formation. A series of radio frequency (RF) pulses are then transmitted into the formation to tip the angular momentum of the nuclei. Between pulses, the nuclei precess and transmit signals, known as NMR signals. From the amplitude and decay of these signals, information can be gained about at least one property of the formation. The NMR signals are typically received with a receiver coil by inducing a voltage and/or current in the coil. 
     The frequency of the RF pulses can be varied to measure a property of the earth formation at various distances into the earth formation. Using too low a frequency, though, can result in weak NMR signals being induced in the receiver coil. The weak NMR signals can be noisy having a low signal to noise ratio. Noisy signals can be difficult to interpret and extract information related to the property under investigation because the noise can mask important information in the signal. 
     In another type of NMR measurement, known as one variant of earth&#39;s field NMR, the earth&#39;s magnetic field may be used to polarize the nuclei under investigation. The earth&#39;s magnetic field, though, is generally weak and the resulting NMR signals induced in the receiver coil can also be weak. As with low frequency NMR signals, earth&#39;s field NMR signals can be noisy and difficult to interpret. 
     Some types of surface surveys of earth formations require measuring a magnetic field. Because of the distance from the formation to surface survey equipment, especially if the survey equipment is airborne, the magnetic fields of interest may be very weak. As with weak NMR signals, conventional magnetometers may provide a noisy and difficult to interpret signals. 
     Therefore, what are needed are techniques for measuring weak electromagnetic signals and, in particular, weak magnetic fields for exploration of hydrocarbon-bearing earth formations or geothermal energy. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for estimating a property of a formation fluid in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a chamber disposed in the borehole and configured to hold a sample of the formation fluid; an atomic magnetometer configured to obtain a measurement of a magnetic field emitted by the sample of the formation fluid; and an instrument configured to estimate the property using the measurement. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of estimating a property of a formation fluid in a borehole penetrating the earth includes conveying an atomic magnetometer and a chamber in the borehole; holding a sample of the formation fluid in the chamber; obtaining a measurement of a magnetic field emitted by the sample of the formation fluid using the atomic magnetometer; and estimating the property using the measurement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a logging tool disposed in a borehole penetrating an earth formation; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B , collectively referred to as  FIG. 2 , depict aspects of an instrument and an atomic magnetometer disposed at the logging tool; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a survey instrument and the atomic magnetometer disposed in an aircraft flying above an earth formation; 
         FIG. 4  depicts aspects of an atomic magnetometer; 
         FIG. 5  depicts aspects of using the atomic magnetometer for navigation of the logging tool; 
         FIG. 6  depicts aspects of using the atomic magnetometer for telemetry between the logging tool and the surface of the earth; and 
         FIG. 7  presents one example of a method for estimating a property of the earth formation using the atomic magnetometer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed are embodiments of techniques for estimating a property of an earth formation. The techniques, which include apparatus and method, call for measuring a magnetic field related to the property using an atomic magnetometer. The atomic magnetometer is very sensitive and has sensitivity that is comparable or even exceeds low-temperature superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID). The noise of the atomic magnetometer is down to one femtoTesla/sqrt(Hz) or less, thus, accounting for the high sensitivity. In one embodiment, the atomic magnetometer exhibited magnetic field sensitivity of 0.5 fT/√Hz. 
     In one embodiment, the atomic magnetometer works by measuring the precession of electron spins in a magnetic field in a spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) regime. The electron spins are in an alkali-metal vapor such as cesium contained in a glass cell. An infrared laser illuminates the glass cell and a photodetector receives light that passes through the cell. When the alkalai-metal vapor is not exposed to a magnetic field, the laser light passes straight through the atoms of the alkali-metal vapor. When the alkalai-metal vapor is in the presence of a magnetic field, though, the alignment of the atoms of the alkalai-metal vapor changes. The changed alignment of the atoms allows the atoms to absorb an amount of light proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. The photodetector measures the change in the transmitted light and relates the change to the strength of the magnetic field. In other embodiments, the atomic magnetometer can operate outside of the SERF regime. In addition, in other embodiments, a measurement of polarization rotation of the transmitted light or a measurement of a modulation frequency of the transmitted light can be used to measure the strength of the magnetic field. 
     Reference may now be had to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a logging tool  10  disposed in a borehole  2  penetrating the earth  3 . Within the earth  3  is a formation  4  that includes formation layers  4 A- 4 C. The logging tool  10  is conveyed through the borehole  2  by an armored wireline  5 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the logging tool  10  includes an extraction device  12  configured to extract a fluid  7  from the formation  4 . The logging tool  10  includes an instrument  6 . The instrument  6  includes a component used to perform a measurement of a property of the formation  4  or the formation fluid  7 . Coupled to the instrument  6  is an atomic magnetometer  8 . The atomic magnetometer  8  is configured to detect and/or measure a magnetic field, which provides information to estimate the property of the formation  4  or of the formation fluid  7 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the instrument  6  can also include electronic circuitry for processing, recording, or transmitting measurements performed by the instrument  6  in conjunction with the atomic magnetometer  8 . The wireline  5  is one example of a component of a telemetry system used to communicate information, such as the measurements, to a processing system  9  at the surface of the earth  3 . The processing system  9  is configured to receive data related to the measurements and to process the data to provide output to an operator or petroanalyst. The operator or petroanalyst can use the output on which to base drilling and completion decisions. 
     The instrument  6  can be configured to perform various types of measurements either individually or in combination. In one embodiment, the instrument  6  can be configured to perform earth&#39;s field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. For example, referring to  FIG. 2A , the instrument  6  can include a transmitter coil  20  for transmitting a series of radio frequency (RF) pulses  21  into the formation  4 . The RF pulses  21  tilt the angular momentum or spins of the nuclei in the formation  4  away from a relaxed state aligned with the earth&#39;s magnetic field. Between the RF pulses  21 , the nuclei precess to the relaxed state and emit NMR signals  22 . The NMR signals  22  are related to a property of the formation  4 . Thus, measurements of the NMR signals  22  can be used to estimate the property of the formation  4 . In accordance with the teachings herein, the atomic magnetometer  8  is used to receive and measure the NMR signals  22 . 
     Another method of performing earth&#39;s field NMR is by polarizing the atomic nuclei in the formation  4  by applying a constant magnetic field for a time and then switching this field suddenly (i.e., non-adiabatically) off Once the field is switched off, the nuclear magnetization precesses around the earth&#39;s magnetic field and relaxes towards the equilibrium magnetization that is parallel to the earth&#39;s magnetic field. The lateral and longitudinal magnetization components may be detected by the atomic magnetometer  8  (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,368). The atomic magnetometer  8  can not only be used in earth&#39;s field NMR but in any NMR measurements where the Larmor frequency range is within a frequency range that can be measured by the atomic magnetometer  8  that is selected for the particular NMR measurements. 
     In another embodiment, the instrument  6  and the atomic magnetometer  8  are used to perform nuclear quadrupole resonance (NQR) measurements. NQR measurements are applicable to nuclei having an electric quadrupole moment. In NQR applications, the measurement frequency depends on the electric quadrupole moment of the nuclei and the electric field gradient at the position of these quadrupole nuclei. The atomic magnetometer  8  receives and measures the resulting NQR signals from the nuclei. 
     In the embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the instrument  6  is configured to measure a property of the formation fluid  7 . The formation fluid  7  is extracted from the formation  4  and channeled to the instrument  6  where NMR measurements are performed on the fluid  7 . The instrument  6  in this embodiment includes components  23  configured to polarize and encode the fluid  7  prior to the fluid  7  emitting NMR signals  22 . The instrument  6  can also include shields  24  to shield the instrument  6  from the earth&#39;s magnetic field. In one embodiment, Helmholtz coils can be used. The shields  24  would be active shields in this case. After being polarized and encoded (using audio frequency or radio frequency electromagnetic pulses), the fluid  7  enters a chamber  25  adjacent to the atomic magnetometer  8 , which measures the NMR signals  22  emitted by the fluid  7 . The NMR signals  22  are used to estimate a property of the formation fluid  7 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the instrument  6  and the magnetometer  8  used for performing a survey of the formation  4  from above, such as from the surface of the earth  3  or in an aircraft. In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the instrument  6  and the atomic magnetometer  8  are disposed in an aircraft denoted as a carrier  30 . Other non-limiting embodiments of the carrier  30  include a vehicle and a vessel. During performance of a survey, the atomic magnetometer  8  measures the magnetic field to which the atomic magnetometer  8  is exposed. The magnetic field is influenced by the formation  4  below. The instrument  6  can record the measurements performed by the atomic magnetometer  8  and associate each measurement with a location at which the measurement was performed. Thus, with the measurement and location data, a survey map of the formation  4  can be produced. In this case, the property of the formation  4  is the size and location of the formation  4 . The survey map can also include any magnetic anomalies that were recorded. The magnetic anomalies can reflect changes in the composition of the formation  4 . 
       FIG. 4  depicts aspects of the atomic magnetometer  8 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the atomic magnetometer  8  includes a glass cell  40  filled with an alkalai-metal vapor  41 . A heater  42  provides heat to the vapor  41  to keep the vapor  41  in a vapor state. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the atomic magnetometer  8  includes an optical pumping laser  43  to spin-polarize the atoms of the vapor  41 . Orthogonal to optical pumping laser  43  is a probe laser  44  for detecting/measuring precession of the nuclear spins of the atoms of the vapor  41  in the presence of a magnetic field. A photodetector  45  having at least one channel receives light from the probe laser  44  that passes through the glass cell  40  and vapor  41 . The photodetector  45  provides an output signal  46  related to the amount of light the photodetector  45  measures. Thus, the output signal is correlated to the strength of the magnetic field measured by the atomic magnetometer  8 . Surrounding at least the glass cell  40  is shielding  47  to shield the vapor  41  from external magnetic fields such as the earth&#39;s magnetic field. In one embodiment, the shielding  47  can be provided by Helmholtz coils that produce a counteracting magnetic field. 
     The atomic magnetometer  8  can be built in various ways. In one way, the atomic magnetometer  8  is assembled from a plurality of relatively large discrete components. In another way, the atomic magnetometer  8  is fabricated on at least one silicon substrate or chip using fabrication techniques used to fabricate semiconductor devices and circuitry. Such fabrication techniques include photolithography and micromachining In one embodiment, the atomic magnetometer  8  is built from at least one component that is a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS). In another embodiment, the entire atomic magnetometer  8  is built as a MEMS. One advantage of the atomic magnetometer  8  built on a chip is that many can be used to perform the same function with the outputs averaged to produce one output signal having a high signal-to-noise ratio. 
     The atomic magnetometer  8  can also be used to perform other logging functions such as navigation and telemetry.  FIG. 5  depicts aspects of using the atomic magnetometer  8  for navigation. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the atomic magnetometer  8  is shown disposed in the logging tool  10 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the atomic magnetometer  8  is not shielded from the earth&#39;s magnetic field  50  and provides a vector measurement of the earth&#39;s magnetic field. From the vector measurement, an orientation of the logging tool  10  with respect to the earth&#39;s magnetic field can be determined. 
     In general, the atomic magnetometer  8  provides a scalar measurement or the total magnitude of a magnetic field. However, a technique can be used to convert a scalar atomic magnetometer  8  into a vector atomic magnetometer  8  (i.e., an atomic magnetometer that measures directional components of the magnetic field). The technique is based on a phenomenon that if a small biasing field is applied to the atomic magnetometer  8  in a certain direction while the main magnetic field to be measured is also applied, then the change in the overall magnetic field magnitude is linear in the projection of the bias magnetic field on the main magnetic field. In addition, the change in the overall magnetic field is only quadratic, and may be assumed negligible in some instances, in the projection on the orthogonal plane. The technique, therefore, in one embodiment, applies three orthogonal bias magnetic fields consecutively and performs three consecutive associated measurements of the magnitude of the overall magnetic field to construct the three-dimensional magnetic field vector. 
       FIG. 6  depicts aspects of using the atomic magnetometer  8  for telemetry between the logging tool  10  and the processing system  9 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the logging tool  10  is disposed at a drill string and configured for logging-while-drilling (LWD). Referring to  FIG. 6 , a telemetry system  60  includes one atomic magnetometer  8  disposed at or near the surface of the earth  3  for receiving a signal  61  having a magnetic component that includes data to be transmitted to the processing system  9 . The telemetry system  60  can also include a second atomic magnetometer  8 , which in this instance is disposed at the logging tool  10 . The second atomic magnetometer  8  can receive a signal  62  having a magnetic component that includes instructions to be transmitted from the processing system  9  to the logging tool  10 . The telemetry system  60  of  FIG. 6  also includes transmitters  63  and  64  configured to transmit signals  61  and  62 , respectively. One advantage of the telemetry system  60  is that the atomic magnetometer  8  is very sensitive to the magnetic component of electromagnetic waves as opposed to a receiver in a conventional electromagnetic telemetry system, which can have difficulty receiving an electromagnetic signal from a logging tool disposed in a borehole. 
       FIG. 7  presents one example of a method  70  for estimating a property of the formation  4  using the atomic magnetometer  8 . The method  70  calls for (step  71 ) conveying the instrument  6  and the atomic magnetometer  8  using a carrier such as the logging tool  10 . Thus, the instrument  6  and the atomic magnetometer  8  may be conveyed in the borehole  2  penetrating the earth formation  4  or conveyed over the surface of the earth  3 . The carrier can also be another type of carrier such as the aircraft  30 . Further, the method  70  calls for (step  72 ) measuring a strength of a magnetic field with the atomic magnetometer  8  wherein the strength of the magnetic field is related to the property. 
     In support of the teachings herein, various analysis components may be used, including a digital and/or an analog system. For example, the instrument  6  or the processing system  9  can include the digital and/or analog system. The system may have components such as a processor, storage media, memory, input, output, communications link (wired, wireless, pulsed mud, optical or other), user interfaces, software programs, signal processors (digital or analog) and other such components (such as discrete or integrated semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, inductors and others) to provide for operation and analyses of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein in any of several manners well-appreciated in the art. It is considered that these teachings may be, but need not be, implemented in conjunction with a set of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, including memory (ROMs, RAMs), optical (CD-ROMs), or magnetic (disks, hard drives), or any other type that when executed causes a computer to implement the method of the present invention. These instructions may provide for equipment operation, control, data collection and analysis and other functions deemed relevant by a system designer, owner, user or other such personnel, in addition to the functions described in this disclosure. 
     Further, various other components may be included and called upon for providing for aspects of the teachings herein. For example, sample tubing, sample chamber, power supply (e.g., at least one of a generator, a remote supply and a battery), vacuum supply, pressure supply, cooling component, heating component, motive force (such as a translational force, propulsional force or a rotational force), magnet, electromagnet, sensor, electrode, transmitter, receiver, transceiver, antenna, controller, optical unit, electrical unit or electromechanical unit may be included in support of the various aspects discussed herein or in support of other functions beyond this disclosure. 
     The term “carrier” as used herein means any vehicle, vessel, aircraft, device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member that may be used to convey, house, support or otherwise facilitate the use of another device, device component, combination of devices, media and/or member. The logging tool  10  is one non-limiting example of a carrier. Other exemplary non-limiting carriers include drill strings of the coiled tube type, of the jointed pipe type and any combination or portion thereof. Other carrier examples include casing pipes, wirelines, wireline sondes, slickline sondes, drop shots, bottom-hole-assemblies, drill string inserts, modules, internal housings and substrate portions thereof. 
     Elements of the embodiments have been introduced with either the articles “a” or “an.” The articles are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “including” and “having” and their derivatives are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the elements listed. The conjunction “or” when used with a list of at least two terms is intended to mean any term or combination of terms. 
     It will be recognized that the various components or technologies may provide certain necessary or beneficial functionality or features. Accordingly, these functions and features as may be needed in support of the appended claims and variations thereof, are recognized as being inherently included as a part of the teachings herein and a part of the invention disclosed. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.