Ansgar Baule

Real-time Transmission of High Resolution Images

Abstract Recent advances in high-resolution imaging are well perceived by the oilfield industry as an aid to refine reservoir characterization. The availability of high resolution image data in real-time allows for improved decision making and more optimal wellbore placement when navigating through the reservoir. However, the transmission of high resolution image data to surface is limited by the bandwidth offered by mud pulse telemetry systems. This paper describes a new concept for transmitting imaging data to surface in real-time. The concept includes a highly flexible and effective compression scheme that can be used for all currently available and future telemetry systems. Image transmission parameters can be modified via downlink commands at any time without interruption of the drilling process. In this way, image parameters can be optimally adjusted to suit the available telemetry rates and proportion of the bandwith dedicated to image transmission. This flexibility allows customization of the real-time imaging service to optimize the geosteering process and the ability to provide high resolution data over specific zones of interest. The relationship of pixel size, telemetry rate and the real-time image parameters of latency and redundancy are discussed with reference to real-time resistivity images from field measurements transmitted at different telemetry rates and the corresponding memory images.