Multiple gamma controller assembly

Abstract

An improved gamma controller assembly to facilitate reliable downhole measurement of naturally occurring radiation is disclosed. The gamma controller assembly includes multiple gamma sensors, a micro-controller, memory, and input / output ports among other components. The multiple gamma sensors detect radiation and output pulses that are received by the microcontroller. The sensor data can be checked, selected, and averaged by the microcontroller, and sent uphole to another microcontroller or computer that can then further process, communicate, and display the data. The sensor data can be averaged and stored to memory or stored as independent values to memory. The gamma controller assembly can be configured to run algorithms that detect if one gamma controller appears to be malfunctioning and, if an apparent malfunction has occurred, adjust the sensor data that is being sent uphole.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 174,700, filed on Feb. 6, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61 / 835,188 filed on Jun. 14, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 61 / 886,509 filed on Oct. 3, 2013, each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to downhole radiation measurement assemblies.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Downhole radiation measurement assemblies have been used in drilling operations for some time. In downhole drilling it is useful identify sub-surface rock formations and customize drilling assemblies and drilling methods to suit a particular geological formation. This can be useful when, for example, a drilling rig has been configured to be effective for a particular type of rock formation and characteristics of the rock formation change as the wel...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention provides an improved gamma controller assembly to facilitate reliable measurement of naturally occurring radiation emitted from geological formations downhole. Radiation measurements are taken by multiple gamma sensors that are part of the improved gamma controller assembly. When the gamma sensors detect radiation they transmit pulses to a microcontroller that interprets and checks the measurements and then sends them uphole. In an alternate embodiment the microcontroller also writes the measurements to memory downhole. Once sent uphole, the measurements can be further processed and communicated to determine and display the make-up of geological formations downhole. The gamma controller assembly includes multiple gamma sensors, one or more microcontrollers, memory for storing the program run by the gamma controller assembly and for logging gamma sensor data, and input / output ports among other components. Gamma sensor data from multiple gamma sensors can be selected or averaged by the microcontroller and stored to memory or stored as independently logged values to memory. The sensor data can then be sent uphole to another microcontroller or computer based system that can then further process, communicate, and display the data. The gamma controller assembly is configured to run algorithms that detect if one gamma controller appears to be malfunctioning, and if the apparent malfunction has occurred, the assembly can be configured to communicate only the data from the correctly functioning sensors uphole. In another embodiment the gamma controller assembly can send all sensor data uphole and communicate what data is trusted and what data is not trusted. Once uphole, the gamma sensor data can then be further communicated to another microcontroller or computer based system for additional evaluation, processing, storage, or display.

Problems solved by technology

Radiation measurement assemblies can experience harsh vibrations and temperatures as well as other environmental conditions during the installation process, when taking radiation measurements, while sitting downhole, and also during retrieval.

Over time drilling operations have seen drilling to greater depths, causing radiation measurement assemblies to experience increasingly harsher environments.

In addition, many of the radiation measurement sensors can be particularly sensitive and malfunction in response to vibration, harsh temperatures, and other environmental factors.

Vibration factors can be particularly problematic for radiation measurement sensors used in downhole radiation measurement assemblies.

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