Patent ID: 7040169

Claim:
A method for predicting attenuation in real time, at the rig site, using a portable continuous wave technology (CWT) tool, which method comprises: a) Collecting cuttings at selected intervals while drilling; b) Using the CWT tool to obtain amplitude spectra as a function of frequency for each cutting; c) Identifying (f peak ) i the maximum height of each amplitude peak i; d) Measuring (Δf i ) @(halfpeak) , the width at half of each amplitude peak divided by 2; e) Determining Quality Factor Q i , using the equation: Q i = ( f peak ) i ( Δ ⁢ ⁢ f ) i ⁢ @ ⁢ halfpeak ; and f) Predicting attenuation as the inverse of Q i Attenuation = 1 Q i .