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US11692416

Wear resistant downhole piston

Feb 17, 2021

Anan Noel

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

NPL References not found.

2743781; May 1956; Lane; 2959225; November 1960; Roberts; 3989554; November 2, 1976; Wisler; 4015100; March 29, 1977; Gnanamuthu; 4194031; March 18, 1980; Cullum; 4690229; September 1, 1987; Raney; 4781770; November 1, 1988; Kar; 5511627; April 30, 1996; Anderson; 5535838; July 16, 1996; Keshavan; 5553678; September 10, 1996; Barr; 5819862; October 13, 1998; Matthias; 9085941; July 21, 2015; Hall et al.; 9200485; December 1, 2015; Eason; 10632713; April 28, 2020; Walker et al.; 10633924; April 28, 2020; Haugvaldstad; 20080164070; July 10, 2008; Keshavan; 20100044026; February 25, 2010; Head; 20100307838; December 9, 2010; Stevens; 20130068449; March 21, 2013; Pillai; 20130206390; August 15, 2013; Hall; 20150017394; January 15, 2015; Johnson; 20150132539; May 14, 2015; Bailey; 20150354290; December 10, 2015; Lakkashetti; 20170081944; March 23, 2017; Wang; 20180202233; July 19, 2018; Cleboski; 20180223435; August 9, 2018; Johnson; 20200332607; October 22, 2020; Panda

Foreign Citations not found.

['A piston for use in a rotary steerable system includes a body formed from a first material.', 'A sealing surface extends around the circumferential wall of the body.', 'The sealing surface is formed from a plurality of layers of a second material.', 'The second material is harder than the first material.', 'The piston can be within a downhole piston assembly that also includes a housing, and the piston being longitudinally movable in a bore in the housing.', 'A method for producing a piston includes preparing a piston formed from a first material, with the piston including a first end.', 'A sealing surface is applied to the piston using laser cladding, with the sealing surface including a second material harder than the first material.', 'The sealing surface is finished to a sealing surface diameter.']

['Description\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS', 'This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Patent Application No. 62/979,533, filed Feb. 21, 2020, which application is expressly incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety.', 'BACKGROUND\n \nRotary steerable systems (“RSS”) can include pistons that extend to engage with a wellbore wall.', 'Contact with the piston and the wellbore wall may help to change the trajectory of a bit.', 'The pistons may extend and retract through hundreds of thousands or millions of cycles during a single drilling run.', 'This may cause wear on the sealing surfaces of the pistons.', 'SUMMARY\n \nIn some embodiments, a piston for use in a downhole valve includes a body formed of a first material.', 'The body includes a first end, a second end, and a circumferential wall.', 'A sealing surface may extend around the circumferential wall.', 'The sealing surface is formed by laser cladding a second material to the body and is harder than the first material.', 'In some embodiments, the piston may be longitudinally movable in a housing bore.', 'The sealing surface may form a seal with the inner surface of the bore between the first end and the second end of the body.', 'In some embodiments, a method for manufacturing a piston includes preparing a piston having a first end.', 'The piston is formed from a first material.', 'A sealing surface is applied to the piston via laser cladding.', 'The sealing surface includes a second material that is harder than the first material.', 'The sealing surface is finished to a sealing surface diameter.', 'This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description.', 'This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.', 'Additional features and aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will be set forth herein, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such embodiments.', 'BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS', 'In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.', 'For better understanding, the like elements have been designated by like reference numbers throughout the various accompanying figures.', 'While some of the drawings may be schematic or exaggerated representations of concepts, at least some of the drawings may be drawn to scale.', 'Understanding that the drawings depict some example embodiments, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:\n \nFIG.', '1\n is a representation of a drilling system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '1\n-\n1\n is a representation of a bit and rotary steerable system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '2\n is a representation of a piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '3\n-\n1\n and \nFIG.', '3\n-\n2\n are representations of another piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '4\n is a representation of a piston receiving laser cladding, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '5\n is a representation of yet another piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '6\n is a representation of still another piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '7\n is a representation of a further piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '8\n-\n1\n is a representation of a piston assembly in the retracted position, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '8\n-\n2\n is a representation of the piston assembly of \nFIG.', '8\n-\n1\n in the extended position; and\n \nFIG.', '9\n is a representation of a method for manufacturing a piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'DETAILED DESCRIPTION', 'This disclosure generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for wear resistant pistons for use in downhole drilling operations.', 'Downhole pistons include one or more wear and/or sealing surfaces.', 'The sealing surface engages the inner surface of a housing, and may form a tolerance seal with the inner surface.', 'During operation, the sealing surface may experience wear, which may cause the seal to lose integrity and may cause the piston to lose efficiency and/or break.', 'According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a piston may include a sealing surface made from a hard material applied using laser cladding.', 'This sealing surface may have a strong bond to the sealing surface.', 'Furthermore, the sealing surface may not experience any wear over hundreds of thousands of piston cycles, or may experience reduced wear such that the operational lifetime of the piston is increased.\n \nFIG.', '1\n shows one example of a drilling system \n100\n for drilling an earth formation \n101\n to form a wellbore \n102\n.', 'The drilling system \n100\n includes a drill rig \n103\n used to turn a drilling tool assembly \n104\n which extends downward into the wellbore \n102\n.', 'The drilling tool assembly \n104\n may include a drill string \n105\n, a bottomhole assembly (“BHA”) \n106\n, and a bit \n110\n, attached to the downhole end of drill string \n105\n.', 'The drill string \n105\n may include several joints of drill pipe \n108\n connected end-to-end through tool joints \n109\n.', 'The drill string \n105\n transmits drilling fluid through a central bore and transmits rotational power from the drill rig \n103\n to the BHA \n106\n.', 'In some embodiments, the drill string \n105\n may further include additional components such as subs, pup joints, etc.', 'The drill pipe \n108\n provides a hydraulic passage through which drilling fluid is pumped from the surface.', 'The drilling fluid discharges through selected-size nozzles, jets, or other orifices in the bit \n110\n for the purposes of cooling the bit \n110\n and cutting structures thereon, and for lifting cuttings out of the wellbore \n102\n as it is being drilled.', 'The BHA \n106\n may include the bit \n110\n or other components.', 'An example BHA \n106\n may include additional or other components (e.g., coupled between to the drill string \n105\n and the bit \n110\n).', 'Examples of additional BHA components include drill collars, stabilizers, measurement-while-drilling (“MWD”) tools, logging-while-drilling (“LWD”) tools, downhole motors, underreamers, section mills, hydraulic disconnects, jars, vibration or dampening tools, other components, or combinations of the foregoing.', 'The BHA \n106\n may further include an RSS.', 'The RSS may include directional drilling tools that change a direction of the bit \n110\n, and thereby the trajectory of the wellbore.', 'At least a portion of the RSS may maintain a geostationary position relative to an absolute reference frame, such as gravity, magnetic north, and/or true north.', 'Using measurements obtained with the geostationary position, the RSS may locate the bit \n110\n, change the course of the bit \n110\n, and direct the directional drilling tools on a projected trajectory.', 'In general, the drilling system \n100\n may include other drilling components and accessories, such as special valves (e.g., kelly cocks, blowout preventers, and safety valves).', 'Additional components included in the drilling system \n100\n may be considered a part of the drilling tool assembly \n104\n, the drill string \n105\n, or a part of the BHA \n106\n depending on their locations in the drilling system \n100\n.', 'The bit \n110\n in the BHA \n106\n may be any type of bit suitable for degrading downhole materials.', 'For instance, the bit \n110\n may be a drill bit suitable for drilling the earth formation \n101\n.', 'Example types of drill bits used for drilling earth formations are fixed-cutter or drag bits.', 'In other embodiments, the bit \n110\n may be a mill used for removing metal, composite, elastomer, other materials downhole, or combinations thereof.', 'For instance, the bit \n110\n may be used with a whipstock to mill into casing \n107\n lining the wellbore \n102\n.', 'The bit \n110\n may also be a junk mill used to mill away tools, plugs, cement, other materials within the wellbore \n102\n, or combinations thereof.', 'Swarf or other cuttings formed by use of a mill may be lifted to surface, or may be allowed to fall downhole.', 'FIG.', '1\n-\n1\n is a perspective view of the downhole end of an embodiment of a bit \n110\n and connected RSS \n111\n.', 'The bit \n110\n may include a bit body \n113\n from which a plurality of blades \n115\n may protrude.', 'At least one of the blades \n115\n may have a plurality of cutting elements \n117\n connected thereto.', 'In some embodiments, at least one of the cutting elements may be a planar cutting element, such as a shear cutting element.', 'In other embodiments, at least one of the cutting elements may be a non-planar cutting element, such as a conical cutting element or a ridged cutting element.', 'The RSS \n111\n may include one or more steering devices \n119\n.', 'In some embodiments, the steering device \n119\n may include one or more pistons \n112\n that are actuatable to move in a radial direction from a longitudinal axis \n121\n of the bit \n110\n and RSS \n111\n.', 'In other embodiments, the steering device \n119\n may be or include an actuatable surface or ramp that moves in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis \n121\n.', 'The bit \n110\n and RSS \n111\n may rotate about the longitudinal axis \n121\n, and the one or more steering devices \n119\n may actuate in a timed manner with the rotation to urge the bit \n110\n in direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis \n121\n.\n \nFIG.', '2\n is a representation of a piston \n212\n for a downhole drilling system (such as the piston \n112\n shown in \nFIG.', '1\n-\n1\n), according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'The piston \n212\n may be any piston used in a downhole drilling system.', 'For example, the piston \n212\n may be the steering pad of a directional drilling system such as an RSS, or a steering pad of another tool.', 'In some examples, the piston \n212\n may be the piston in an expandable stabilizer or other expandable tool.', 'The piston \n212\n includes a body \n214\n.', 'The body \n214\n includes a first end \n216\n, a second end \n218\n, and a circumferential wall \n220\n.', 'In some embodiments, the piston \n212\n may be configured to extend in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis \n224\n (e.g., the extension axis).', 'For example, the first end \n216\n may be a contact surface, and be configured to contact a wellbore wall.', 'The piston \n212\n may extend such that the first end \n216\n moves away from a housing along the longitudinal axis \n224\n toward the wellbore wall.', 'When the first end \n216\n contacts the wellbore wall, the first end \n216\n may push against the wellbore wall, thereby causing a bit to change direction and/or inclination.', 'In some embodiments, the body \n214\n may be cylindrical.', 'Thus, the transverse cross-sectional shape of the body \n214\n may be circular.', 'In some embodiments, the body \n214\n may have a transverse cross-sectional shape that is any shape, including elliptical, triangular (3-sided), square (4-sided), pentagonal (5-sided), hexagonal (6-sided), heptagonal (7-sided), octagonal (8-sided), 9-sided, 10-sided, polygonal of any number sides, irregularly shaped, or any other shape.', 'The circumferential wall \n220\n may extend around an entirety of the body \n214\n between the first end \n216\n and the second end \n218\n.', 'Thus, regardless of the number of sides that the transverse cross-sectional shape includes, the circumferential wall \n220\n may extend around the perimeter of the body between the first end \n216\n and the second end \n218\n.', 'The piston \n212\n shown includes a sealing surface \n222\n.', 'The sealing surface \n222\n may extend around the circumferential wall \n220\n.', 'In other words, the sealing surface \n222\n may extend around the perimeter of the body \n214\n between the first end \n216\n and the second end \n218\n.', 'The sealing surface \n222\n may be applied to the body \n214\n via laser cladding.', 'In other words, the sealing surface \n222\n is formed by laser cladding a sealing surface material to the body \n214\n.', 'Connecting the sealing surface \n222\n to the body \n214\n may provide a stronger connection between the sealing surface \n222\n and the body \n214\n, which may extend the life of the sealing surface and/or allow for different materials to be used for the sealing surface \n222\n.', 'The body \n214\n may be formed from a body material (e.g., a first material).', 'The sealing surface \n222\n may be formed from a sealing surface material (e.g., a second material).', 'In some embodiments, the body material may be different from the sealing surface material.', 'The body material may be different from the sealing surface material in one or more material properties.', 'For example, the body material may be different from the sealing surface material in at least one of chemical composition, particle size, particle hardness, particle density, particle shape, particle size ratio, binder material, any other material property, and combinations thereof.', 'In some embodiments, both the body material and the sealing surface material may include tungsten carbide particles.', 'However, the body material may be different from the sealing surface material because the body material may include a different binder, different particle size, different particle size distribution, additional non-tungsten carbide particles, or other material property differences.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface material may be different from the body material in any physical or chemical property.', 'In some embodiments, the body material may be any material, including infiltrated tungsten carbide, steel alloys, nickel alloys, any other material, or combinations thereof.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface material may be any material, including sintered tungsten carbide, nickel chromium alloys, hardened steel, or combinations thereof.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface material may be a TECHNOLASE® powder from TECHNOGENIA®.', 'For example, the sealing surface material may be TECHNOLASE® 40S, TECHNOLASE® 20S, TECHNOLASE® 30S, TECHNOLASE® 50S, TECHNOLASE® 60S, or any other powder or material from TECHNOGENIA®.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface material may be harder than the body material.', 'For example, the sealing surface material may have a hardness that is greater than 20 HRC, greater than 25 HRC, greater than 30 HRC, greater than 35 HRC, greater than 40 HRC, greater than 45 HRC, or greater than 50 HRC.', 'In some embodiments, it is critical that the sealing surface material has a hardness of greater than 40 HRC to prevent wear of the sealing surface during operation.', 'Conventionally, a layer of hardfacing may be connected to the body \n214\n via braze, weld, mechanical connector, other connection mechanism, or combinations thereof.', 'However, these connections may result in the hardfacing flaking, chipping, or otherwise removing from the body.', 'This may result in reduced performance of the piston and/or cause damage to the piston or other downhole components.', 'In contrast, in some embodiments, the sealing surface material may form a plurality of layers rather than a single layer of hardfacing via braze, weld, etc.', 'In some embodiments, laser cladding of the sealing surface \n222\n to the body \n214\n may provide a stronger bond between the sealing surface material and the body material than conventional connection mechanisms.', 'In some embodiments, laser cladding may occur at a higher temperature that conventional connection mechanisms.', 'This may result in the sealing surface material bonding to the hard particles of the body material and the binder, rather than only the binder.', 'Thus, in some embodiments, laser cladding of the sealing surface \n222\n to the body \n214\n may result in the sealing surface material bonding directly to tungsten carbide particles in the body \n214\n, which may result in a strong bond between the sealing surface \n222\n and the body \n214\n, thereby reducing the flaking and/or chipping of the sealing surface \n222\n from the body \n214\n, which may extend the operational life of the piston \n212\n.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface \n222\n may extend around the circumferential wall \n220\n such that the sealing surface \n222\n is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis \n224\n (e.g., the longest axis, the extension axis).', 'In this manner, the sealing surface \n222\n may be configured to engage the inner surface of a housing.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface \n222\n may be configured to form a tolerance seal between the inner surface of the housing and the sealing surface \n222\n (e.g., a seal based on a small gap between the inner surface of the housing and the sealing surface \n222\n).', 'By forming the sealing surface \n222\n from a hard material (e.g., with a hardness of greater than 40 HRC), the sealing surface \n222\n may experience reduced wear over repeated (e.g., over 100,000) cycles of extension and retraction in the housing.', 'This may increase the operational life and/or the efficiency of the piston \n212\n.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface \n222\n may be circumferentially continuous.', 'In other words, the sealing surface \n222\n may extend around an entirety of the circumferential wall \n220\n such that there are no gaps around the circumference of the sealing surface \n222\n.', 'This may help the sealing surface \n222\n to form a seal with a housing.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface \n222\n may be longitudinally offset from the first end \n216\n and/or the second end \n218\n.', 'For example, the sealing surface \n222\n includes an outer edge \n226\n and an inner edge \n228\n.', 'The piston \n212\n has a piston length \n230\n from the first end \n216\n to the second end.', 'In some embodiments, the outer edge \n226\n of the sealing surface \n222\n is located (e.g., longitudinally offset) an outer edge distance \n232\n from the first end \n216\n.', 'In some embodiments, the outer edge distance \n232\n may be zero.', 'In other words, the outer edge \n226\n may be located at the first end \n216\n.', 'Thus, the sealing surface \n222\n may extend to the first end \n216\n, or be flush with the first end \n216\n.', 'In some embodiments, the outer edge distance \n232\n may be an outer edge percentage of the piston length \n230\n (e.g., the outer edge distance \n232\n divided by the piston length \n230\n).', 'In some embodiments, the outer edge percentage may be in a range having a lower value, an upper value, or lower and upper values including any of 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or any value therebetween.', 'For example, the outer edge percentage may be greater than 1%.', 'In another example, the outer edge percentage may be less than 90%.', 'In yet other examples, the outer edge percentage may be any value in a range between 1% and 90%.', 'In some embodiments, it may be critical that the outer edge percentage is greater than 10% to allow the sealing surface \n222\n to engage the housing in the retracted position and thereby prevent waste.', 'In some embodiments, the inner edge \n228\n may be located (e.g., longitudinally offset) an inner edge distance \n234\n from the second end \n218\n.', 'In some embodiments, the inner edge distance \n234\n may be zero.', 'In other words, the inner edge \n228\n may be located at the second end \n218\n.', 'Thus, the sealing surface \n222\n may extend to the second end \n218\n, or be flush with the second end \n218\n.', 'In some embodiments, the inner edge distance \n234\n may be an inner edge percentage of the piston length \n230\n (e.g., the inner edge distance \n234\n divided by the piston length \n230\n).', 'In some embodiments, the inner edge percentage may be in a range having a lower value, an upper value, or lower and upper values including any of 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or any value therebetween.', 'For example, the inner edge percentage may be greater than 1%.', 'In another example, the inner edge percentage may be less than 90%.', 'In yet other examples, the inner edge percentage may be any value in a range between 1% and 90%.', 'In some embodiments, it may be critical that the inner edge percentage is less than 30% to support the body \n214\n of the piston \n212\n when the piston \n212\n is in the extended position.', 'The sealing surface \n222\n includes a sealing surface length \n236\n, which may be the distance between the outer edge \n226\n and the inner edge \n228\n.', 'The sealing surface length \n236\n may be a sealing percentage of the piston length \n230\n (e.g., the sealing surface length \n236\n divided by the piston length \n230\n).', 'In some embodiments, the sealing percentage may be in a range having a lower value, an upper value, or lower and upper values including any of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, or any value therebetween.', 'For example, the sealing percentage may be greater than 5%.', 'In another example, the sealing percentage may be less than 95%.', 'In yet other examples, the sealing percentage may be any value in a range between 5% and 95%.', 'In some embodiments, it may be critical that the sealing percentage is greater than 30% to provide a seal with the inner surface of the housing.', 'The body \n214\n of the piston \n212\n has a body diameter \n238\n.', 'The sealing surface \n222\n has a sealing surface diameter \n240\n.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface diameter \n240\n may be larger than the body diameter \n238\n.', 'In other words, the sealing surface \n222\n may be applied to an outside of the body \n214\n.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface \n222\n has a diameter percentage (e.g., the sealing surface diameter \n240\n divided by the body diameter \n238\n) that is greater than 100%.', 'In some embodiments, the diameter percentage may be in a range having a lower value, an upper value, or lower and upper values including any of 101%, 102%, 103%, 104%, 105%, 106%, 107%, 108%, 109%, 110%, or any value therebetween.', 'For example, the diameter percentage may be greater than 101%.', 'In another example, the diameter percentage may be less than 110%.', 'In yet other examples, the diameter percentage may be any value in a range between 101% and 110%.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface diameter \n240\n may be equal to the body diameter \n238\n.\n \nFIG.', '3\n-\n1\n is a representation of a piston \n312\n, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface \n322\n may be applied to the body \n314\n with one or more layers \n342\n.', 'The circumferential wall \n320\n of the body \n314\n may be prepared prior to deposition of the layers \n342\n.', 'For example, the circumferential wall \n320\n of the body \n314\n may be machined (e.g., ground) to a preparation diameter.', 'A powder containing the sealing surface material may be directed to the circumferential wall and a laser may bind the powder to the body \n314\n as the sealing surface \n322\n.', 'The one or more layers \n342\n have a layer thickness \n343\n.', 'In some embodiments, the layer thickness \n343\n may be in a range having a lower value, an upper value, or lower and upper values including any of 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm, 4.5 mm, 5.0 mm, 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 9 mm, 10 mm, or any value therebetween.', 'For example, the layer thickness \n343\n may be greater than 1.0 mm.', 'In another example, the layer thickness \n343\n may be less than 10.0 mm.', 'In yet other examples, the layer thickness \n343\n may be any value in a range between 1.0 mm and 10.0 mm.', 'In the view shown in \nFIG.', '3\n-\n1\n, a single layer \n342\n of the sealing surface \n322\n has been applied to the body \n314\n.', 'In some embodiments, the single layer \n342\n may be the beginning of a plurality of layers \n342\n which may form the sealing surface \n322\n.', 'In some embodiments, the single layer \n342\n may form the entirety of the sealing surface \n322\n. \nFIG.', '3\n-\n2\n is a representation of the piston \n312\n of \nFIG.', '3\n-\n1\n that includes a sealing surface \n322\n that is formed from a plurality of layers (collectively \n342\n).', 'In some embodiments, each layer \n342\n of the plurality of layers \n342\n is formed from the same material.', 'In some embodiments, different layers \n342\n may be formed from different materials.', 'In some embodiments, the layers \n342\n may be formed longitudinally.', 'In other words, the layers \n342\n may each form a ring around the circumferential wall \n320\n.', 'Subsequent layers \n342\n may be formed longitudinally along the circumferential wall \n320\n.', 'For example, a first layer \n342\n-\n1\n may initially be deposited on the body \n314\n.', 'A second layer \n342\n-\n2\n may be deposited on the body \n314\n longitudinally offset from the first layer \n342\n-\n1\n such that the second layer \n342\n-\n2\n is longitudinally adjacent the first layer \n342\n-\n1\n on the side of the first end \n316\n.', 'A third layer \n342\n-\n3\n, fourth layer \n342\n-\n4\n, fifth layer \n342\n-\n5\n, and a plurality of other layers \n342\n may be deposited longitudinally adjacent the subsequent layers \n342\n.', 'In this manner, the sealing surface \n322\n may form a solid surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis \n324\n.', 'It should be understood that subsequent adjacent layers \n342\n may be formed in the direction of the second end \n318\n.', 'In the embodiment shown in \nFIG.', '3\n-\n1\n and \nFIG.', '3\n-\n2\n, the layers \n342\n are shown as continuous, distinct, and individual rings around the circumferential wall of the body \n314\n.', 'However, it should be understood that the sealing surface \n322\n may be formed using any layer type geometry.', 'For example, the sealing surface \n322\n may be formed from a single continuous spiral (e.g., helical) that circles the body \n314\n one or more times to form the sealing surface \n322\n.', 'In some examples, the sealing surface \n322\n may be formed from a plurality of longitudinal layers that extend along the body \n314\n parallel to the longitudinal axis \n324\n, with each layer being arranged circumferentially adjacent to the other layers.', 'In this manner, the layers may resemble strips of the sealing surface material that extend between the first end \n316\n and the second end \n318\n.\n \nFIG.', '4\n is a representation of close-up view of a piston \n412\n that is having a sealing surface \n422\n deposited on the circumferential wall \n420\n of a body \n414\n, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In the embodiment shown, a first layer \n442\n has been deposited, and a second layer is in the process of being deposited on the body \n414\n.', 'A nozzle \n444\n may be directed over the circumferential wall \n420\n.', 'The nozzle \n444\n may receive material powder \n446\n from a powder source (e.g., a powder feeder that directs powder to the nozzle).', 'The nozzle \n444\n may direct the material powder \n446\n at the circumferential wall \n420\n adjacent to the first layer \n442\n.', 'The nozzle may further direct a laser beam \n448\n (from a laser, such as a diode laser) at the material powder \n446\n.', 'The laser beam \n448\n may heat the material powder \n446\n and/or the body material of the body \n414\n at the circumferential wall \n420\n.', 'This may cause the material powder \n446\n to bond to the circumferential wall \n420\n.', 'For example, bonding of the material powder \n446\n may occur by partially or fully melting the material powder \n446\n and/or a portion of the body \n414\n at the circumferential wall \n420\n.', 'The materials of the partially or fully melted material powder \n446\n and body \n414\n may adhere (e.g., mix, sinter), and, when solidified, the material powder \n446\n may be bonded to the body \n414\n as a layer \n442\n of the sealing surface \n422\n.', 'In some embodiments, at least a portion of the material powder \n446\n may adhere to at least a portion of the first layer \n442\n.', 'In some embodiments, the body \n414\n of the piston \n412\n may be connected to a multi-axis controller, which may cause the body \n414\n to move relative to the nozzle \n444\n.', 'For example, the body \n414\n may be rotated about the longitudinal axis (e.g., longitudinal axis \n224\n of \nFIG.', '2\n) relative to the nozzle \n444\n.', 'In some embodiments, the body \n414\n may be moved longitudinally relative to the nozzle \n444\n (e.g., parallel to the longitudinal axis \n224\n toward the first end \n216\n or the second end \n218\n of \nFIG.', '2\n).', 'In some embodiments, the body \n414\n may be moved longitudinally and rotated relative to the nozzle \n444\n.', 'In some embodiments, the body \n414\n may be moved in any direction relative to the nozzle \n444\n, including perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, rotated transverse to the longitudinal axis, any other direction, and combinations thereof.', 'Thus, as the nozzle \n444\n continuously deposits material powder \n446\n and directs the laser beam \n448\n at the material powder \n446\n, a new layer may be formed adjacent to the first layer \n442\n.', 'In some embodiments, the nozzle \n444\n may move relative to the body \n414\n to deposit the layer.', 'For example, the nozzle \n444\n may be rotated, moved longitudinally, moved radially, otherwise moved or rotated, or combinations thereof, relative to the body \n414\n.\n \nFIG.', '5\n is a representation of a piston \n512\n including a plurality of sealing surfaces (collectively \n522\n), according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In the embodiment shown, the piston \n512\n includes a first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n and a second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n.', 'The first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n may be located on the body \n514\n closer to the first end \n516\n than the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n.', 'Similarly, the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n may be located on the body closer to the second end \n518\n than the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n.', 'In the embodiment shown, the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n is longitudinally offset from the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n.', 'Accordingly, the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n is separate and distinct from the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n.', 'The first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n may be separated from the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n by at least a portion of the circumferential wall \n520\n of the body \n514\n.', 'Two sealing surfaces \n522\n may increase the stability of the piston \n512\n during actuation.', 'This may help to prevent tilting or other lateral movement of the piston \n512\n relative to a housing during operation.', 'Preventing tilting and other lateral movement may help prevent binding (e.g., getting stuck) of the piston \n512\n in the housing.', 'This may improve the reliability of the piston \n512\n and/or extend the operating life of the piston \n512\n.', 'Furthermore, while the same stability benefit may be provided by a continuous sealing surface \n522\n (e.g., continuous between the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n and the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n), including two sealing surfaces may provide stability while reducing the amount of sealing surface material used, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.', 'In some embodiments, one or both of the sealing surfaces \n522\n may be circumferentially continuous.', 'A circumferentially continuous sealing surface \n522\n may not include any gaps around the circumference of the body \n514\n.', 'In some embodiments, the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n may be circumferentially continuous, and the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n may not be circumferentially continuous.', 'For example, the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n may include gaps.', 'This may help to reduce the amount of sealing surface material used, which may help to reduce manufacturing costs.', 'In this manner, the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n may provide a seal for the piston \n512\n, and the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n may help to guide and support the piston \n512\n during actuation.', 'In some embodiments, the first sealing surface \n522\n-\n1\n may be circumferentially continuous and the second sealing surface \n522\n-\n2\n may not be circumferentially continuous.\n \nFIG.', '6\n is a representation of a piston \n612\n including a piston bore \n650\n.', 'The piston bore \n650\n may extend through the body \n614\n of the piston \n612\n.', 'The piston bore \n650\n may be configured to receive a pin from a housing.', 'The pin may extend into the piston bore \n650\n.', 'During retraction (e.g., in the retracted position), the pin (shown schematically in dashed lines at position \n653\n-\n1\n) may contact a bore first end \n652\n.', 'This may help to retain the piston \n612\n in the retracted position and prevent the piston \n612\n from over-retracting.', 'During extension (e.g., in the extended position), the pin (shown schematically in dashed lines at position \n653\n-\n2\n) may contact a bore second end \n654\n.', 'This may help to retain the piston \n612\n in the extended position and prevent the piston \n612\n from over-extending.', 'The piston \n612\n shown includes a first sealing surface \n622\n-\n1\n and a second sealing surface \n622\n-\n2\n.', 'The first sealing surface \n622\n-\n1\n may be located at or near the bore first end \n652\n.', 'The second sealing surface \n622\n-\n2\n may be located at or near the bore second end \n654\n.', 'In some embodiments, the first sealing surface \n622\n-\n1\n may longitudinally extend past the bore first end \n652\n.', 'In some embodiments, the first sealing surface \n622\n-\n1\n may be offset from the bore first end \n652\n.', 'In some embodiments, the second sealing surface \n622\n-\n2\n may longitudinally extend past the bore second end \n654\n.', 'In some embodiments, the second sealing surface \n622\n-\n2\n may be offset from the bore second end \n654\n.', 'As discussed above, one or both of the first sealing surface \n622\n-\n1\n and the second sealing surface \n622\n-\n2\n may be circumferentially continuous.', 'A circumferentially continuous second sealing surface \n622\n-\n2\n may help to seal the piston bore \n650\n from drilling and/or actuation fluid that acts on the second end \n618\n to extend the piston \n612\n.', 'This may help to reduce damage to the piston \n612\n at the piston bore \n650\n and/or reduce damage to the pin that extends into the piston bore.', 'In some embodiments, a circumferentially continuous first sealing surface \n622\n-\n1\n may help to seal the piston bore \n650\n from cuttings and/or drilling fluid that may travel into the piston bore \n650\n during drilling and/or steering operations.', 'This may help to reduce wear on the piston bore \n650\n and/or the pin extending into the piston bore \n650\n, thereby increasing the operational lifetime of the piston \n612\n.\n \nFIG.', '7\n is a representation of a piston \n712\n including wear surfaces \n756\n on the first end \n716\n, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In some embodiments, the piston \n712\n may extend along the longitudinal axis \n724\n (e.g., the extension axis) such that the first end \n716\n moves out of a housing.', 'The first end \n716\n may engage a wellbore wall and impart a force against the wellbore wall to change a trajectory of the bit.', 'In some embodiments, the first end \n716\n may include one or more wear surfaces \n756\n.', 'The wear surfaces \n756\n may be formed from a wear and/or erosion resistant material to reduce wear when contacting the wellbore wall.', 'In some embodiments, the wear surfaces \n756\n may be formed by laser cladding, as discussed herein, especially with reference to \nFIG.', '3\n-\n1\n through \nFIG.', '4\n, and the associated description.', 'In this manner, the wear surfaces \n756\n may be formed with a hard material that has a high bonding strength to the body \n714\n.', 'In some embodiments, the first end \n716\n may be planar.', 'In some embodiments, the first end \n716\n may be contoured or otherwise have a shape that is not planar.', 'For example, the first end \n716\n may include a convex shape that is configured to match the profile of the wellbore wall.\n \nFIG.', '8\n-\n1\n is a representation of a piston assembly \n858\n in a retracted position, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In the retracted position shown, the piston assembly \n858\n includes a piston \n812\n inserted into the bore \n860\n of a housing \n862\n.', 'The piston \n812\n may include one or more sealing surfaces (collectively \n822\n).', 'The sealing surfaces \n822\n engage an inner surface \n864\n of the bore \n860\n.', 'In some embodiments, at least one of the sealing surfaces \n822\n may form a tolerance seal with the inner surface \n864\n of the bore \n860\n.', 'The tolerance seal between the sealing surfaces \n822\n and the inner surface \n864\n may be formed via a gap \n866\n between the outer diameter of the sealing surface (e.g., the sealing surface diameter \n240\n of \nFIG.', '2\n) and the inner diameter of the bore \n860\n.', 'In some embodiments, the gap \n866\n may be small enough that debris and/or fluid may not pass between the sealing surface \n822\n and the inner surface \n864\n.', 'For example, the gap \n866\n may be less than 1 mm, less than 0.5 mm, less than 0.1 mm, less than 0.05 mm, less than 0.04 mm, less than 0.03 mm, or less than 0.02 mm.', 'In some embodiments, a seal formed by the gap \n866\n may not require any additional sealing element, such as an O-ring or other sealing element.', 'This may increase the simplicity of the piston assembly \n858\n.', 'The extend the piston \n812\n, a force, such as fluid pressure, may be applied to the second end \n818\n of the piston \n812\n.', 'This may cause the first end \n816\n of the piston \n812\n to extend out of the housing \n862\n to the extended position shown in \nFIG.', '8\n-\n2\n.', 'In the extended position of the piston assembly \n858\n shown in \nFIG.', '8\n-\n2\n, the first end \n816\n may be extended past an outer surface \n868\n of the housing \n862\n.', 'In some embodiments, in the extended position the first sealing surface \n822\n-\n1\n may remain in the bore \n860\n.', 'Thus, at least a portion of the first sealing surface \n822\n-\n1\n may remain in contact with the inner surface \n864\n in the extended position.', 'Accordingly, the inner edge \n828\n of the first sealing surface \n822\n-\n1\n may remain in the bore \n860\n (e.g., closer to a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool than the outer surface \n868\n of the housing \n862\n).', 'In some embodiments, the first sealing surface \n822\n-\n1\n may not engage the inner surface \n864\n in the extended position.', 'In some embodiments, the second sealing surface \n822\n-\n2\n may remain in the housing \n862\n in the extended position.', 'In this manner, the second sealing surface \n822\n-\n2\n may stabilize the piston \n812\n in the housing \n862\n.', 'This may help the piston \n812\n maintain its orientation, and prevent binding, catching, tilting, or other non-desirable movement from the piston \n812\n.', 'In some embodiments, in the extended position, both the first sealing surface \n822\n-\n1\n and the second sealing surface \n822\n-\n2\n may remain in the bore \n860\n of the housing \n862\n.', 'To retract the position from the extended position shown in \nFIG.', '8\n-\n2\n to the retracted position shown in \nFIG.', '8\n-\n1\n, the fluid pressure pushing against the piston \n812\n may be reduced, and the force from the wellbore wall pushing against the first end \n816\n of the piston \n812\n may push the piston \n812\n back into the housing.', 'A single extension and retraction of the piston \n812\n may be considered a cycle.', 'While cycling of the piston \n812\n, the sealing surface \n822\n may contact the inner surface \n864\n of the bore \n860\n.', 'Repeated cycling may cause one or both of the sealing surface \n822\n and the inner surface \n864\n to experience wear.', 'In some embodiments, the inner surface \n864\n may include a hard material, such as sintered tungsten carbide.', 'As discussed above, the sealing surface \n822\n may be formed from a hard material, deposited by laser cladding.', 'Because the sealing surface \n822\n and the inner surface \n864\n are both formed from hard materials, the piston assembly \n858\n may be wear resistant.', 'For example, the piston assembly \n858\n may be able to experience 100,000 cycles, 200,000 cycles, 300,000 cycles, 400,000 cycles, 500,000 cycles, 600,000 cycles, 700,000 cycles, 800,000 cycles, 900,000 cycles, 1,000,000 cycles, or more cycles, without experiencing a reduction in diameter (e.g., mass) of the sealing surface \n822\n and/or the inner surface \n864\n.', 'In some embodiments, at least a portion of the inner surface \n864\n may have laser cladding applied to it.', 'In this manner, the inner surface \n864\n and the sealing surface \n822\n may both be formed same process and may include the same material.', 'This may further help to reduce wear on the sealing surface \n822\n and/or the inner surface \n864\n.\n \nFIG.', '9\n is a representation of a method \n970\n for manufacturing a piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'The method \n970\n may include preparing a piston at \n972\n.', 'In some embodiments, preparing the piston may include forming the piston.', 'In some embodiments, the piston may be formed by placing matrix material (such as tungsten carbide powder).', 'A binder material (e.g., an infiltrant) may be melted and allowed to flow into the matrix material.', 'Preparing the piston may further include preparing the surface of the circumferential wall of the body of the piston.', 'For example, the circumferential wall may be machined or ground to a prepared diameter.', 'The method \n970\n may further include applying a sealing surface to the piston at \n974\n.', 'The sealing surface may be applied to the piston by laser cladding.', 'Laser cladding may include applying a sealing surface material to the circumferential wall of the body.', 'A laser may partially or fully melt the sealing surface material and/or the circumferential wall of the piston, and the particles may bond to each other and the circumferential wall.', 'The sealing surface material may be harder than the matrix material bound by the binder of the piston body.', 'In some embodiments, applying the sealing surface may include applying the sealing surface in a plurality of longitudinally adjacent layers.', 'The method \n970\n may further include finishing the sealing surface to a sealing surface diameter at \n976\n.', 'In some embodiments, finishing the sealing surface may include finishing the sealing surface to a sealing surface diameter tolerance of 0.02 mm.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface diameter tolerance may be in a range having a lower value, an upper value, or lower and upper values including any of 0.1 mm, 0.09 mm, 0.08 mm, 0.07 mm, 0.06 mm, 0.05 mm, 0.04 mm, 0.03 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.01 mm, or any value therebetween.', 'For example, the sealing surface diameter tolerance may be greater than 0.01 mm.', 'In another example, the sealing surface diameter tolerance may be less than 0.1 mm.', 'In yet other examples, the sealing surface diameter tolerance may be any value in a range between 0.1 mm and 0.01 mm.', 'In some embodiments, it may be critical that the sealing surface diameter tolerance is less than or equal to 0.02 mm to enable the sealing surface to seal against the inner surface of the housing.', 'In some embodiments, the method may include using laser cladding to apply other hard or wear surfaces.', 'For example, laser cladding may be used to apply a wear surface to a contact end of the piston.', 'This may help to extend the life of the piston.', 'The embodiments of the downhole piston have been primarily described with reference to wellbore drilling operations; the downhole pistons described herein may be used in applications other than the drilling of a wellbore.', 'In other embodiments, downhole pistons according to the present disclosure may be used outside a wellbore or other downhole environment used for the exploration or production of natural resources.', 'For instance, downhole pistons of the present disclosure may be used in a borehole used for placement of utility lines.', 'Accordingly, the terms “wellbore,” “borehole” and the like should not be interpreted to limit tools, systems, assemblies, or methods of the present disclosure to any particular industry, field, or environment.', 'One or more specific embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein.', 'These described embodiments are examples of the presently disclosed techniques.', 'Additionally, in an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual embodiment may be described in the specification.', "It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous embodiment-specific decisions will be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one embodiment to another.", 'Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.', 'Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.', 'For example, any element described in relation to an embodiment herein may be combinable with any element of any other embodiment described herein.', 'Numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values stated herein are intended to include that value, and also other values that are “about” or “approximately” the stated value, as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art encompassed by embodiments of the present disclosure.', 'A stated value should therefore be interpreted broadly enough to encompass values that are at least close enough to the stated value to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result.', 'The stated values include at least the variation to be expected in a suitable manufacturing or production process, and may include values that are within 5%, within 1%, within 0.1%, or within 0.01% of a stated value.', 'A person having ordinary skill in the art should realize in view of the present disclosure that equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and that various changes, substitutions, and alterations may be made to embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.', 'Equivalent constructions, including functional “means-plus-function” clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function, including both structural equivalents that operate in the same manner, and equivalent structures that provide the same function.', 'It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke means-plus-function or other functional claiming for any claim except for those in which the words ‘means for’ appear together with an associated function.', 'Each addition, deletion, and modification to the embodiments that falls within the meaning and scope of the claims is to be embraced by the claims.', 'The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” as used herein represent an amount close to the stated amount that is within standard manufacturing or process tolerances, or which still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result.', 'For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of a stated amount.', 'Further, it should be understood that any directions or reference frames in the preceding description are merely relative directions or movements.', 'For example, any references to “up” and “down” or “above” or “below” are merely descriptive of the relative position or movement of the related elements.', 'The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics.', 'The described embodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.', 'Changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.']

['1.', 'A piston for use in a downhole tool, comprising:\na body formed of a first material, the body including a first end, a second end, and a circumferential wall;\na radially outwardly facing, circumferential sealing surface formed by laser cladding a second material to the body extending around the circumferential wall, the second material being harder than the first material, the circumferential sealing surface having a sealing surface diameter, the sealing surface diameter having a tolerance of less than or equal to 0.02 mm; and\na housing including a housing bore and an inner surface, the body being positioned at least partially in the housing bore and the circumferential sealing surface of the second material forming a tolerance seal between the inner surface and the circumferential sealing surface.', '2.', 'The piston of claim 1, wherein the first material comprises an infiltrated tungsten carbide matrix and the second material is different than the first material.', '3.', 'The piston of claim 2, wherein the infiltrated tungsten carbide matrix comprises a plurality of tungsten carbide particles and the second material is bonded to the plurality of tungsten carbide particles.', '4.', 'The piston of claim 2, wherein the second material is different from the first material in at least one of chemical composition, particle size, particle hardness, particle density, particle shape, or particle size ratio.', '5.', 'The piston of claim 1, wherein the second material is a tungsten carbide material having a hardness that is greater than 40 HRC.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n6.', 'The piston of claim 1, wherein the circumferential sealing surface includes a plurality of layers of the second material, the plurality of layers being longitudinally adjacent to and adhered to one another.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n7.', 'The piston of claim 1, wherein the body has a body diameter, and the sealing surface diameter is larger than the body diameter.', '8.', 'The piston of claim 1, wherein the first end includes a contact surface and the contact surface includes the second material.', '9.', 'A downhole piston assembly, comprising:\na piston, the piston including: a body including a first end, a second end, a circumferential wall, and an extension axis, the body having a first diameter and including a first material; and a sealing surface formed by laser cladding extending around the circumferential wall, the sealing surface being perpendicular to the extension axis, the sealing surface being a radially outwardly facing circumferential surface having a second diameter greater than the first diameter, the sealing surface having an outer edge at an outer edge distance relative to the first end of the body and having an inner edge distance relative to the second end of the body, the outer edge distance being between 10% and 50% of a length of the piston and the inner edge distance being less than 30% and greater than 0% of the length of the piston, the sealing surface including a second material, the second material being harder than the first material; and\na housing including a housing bore and an inner surface, the piston being longitudinally movable in the housing bore along the extension axis, the sealing surface forming a tolerance seal between the inner surface of the housing and the sealing surface of the second material.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n10.', 'The downhole piston assembly of claim 9, wherein the inner surface is formed from sintered tungsten carbide.', '11.', 'The downhole piston assembly of claim 9, wherein the sealing surface is a first sealing surface and further comprising a second sealing surface offset from the first sealing surface.', '12.', 'The downhole piston assembly of claim 11, the body including a piston bore transverse to the extension axis of the body, the second sealing surface being located between the piston bore and the second end.', '13.', 'The downhole piston assembly of claim 12, the housing including a pin extending at least partially into the piston bore.', '14.', 'The downhole piston assembly of claim 9, the sealing surface including at least first and second longitudinally offset sealing surfaces, with the first sealing surface being nearest the first end of the body and the second sealing surface nearest the second end of the body, the second end being radially inward relative to the first end along the extension axis, wherein the body further includes:\na piston bore transverse to the extension axis, the piston bore having a first end and a second end, the first end being longitudinally aligned with the first sealing surface, and the second end being offset from, and longitudinally outward relative to, the second sealing surface; and\na pin extending into the piston bore and which limits over extension of the piston.', '15.', 'A method for manufacturing a piston, comprising:\npreparing a piston, the piston including a first end, the piston having a body of a prepared diameter and being formed from a first material;\napplying a sealing surface to the piston using laser cladding, the sealing surface including a radially outwardly facing circumferential surface of a second material harder than the first material;\nfinishing the sealing surface to a sealing surface diameter greater than the prepared diameter, the sealing surface diameter having tolerances of less than or equal to 0.02 mm; and\nplacing the piston in a housing bore of a housing, the housing including an inner surface forming a tolerance seal with the second material of the radially outwardly facing circumferential surface.', '16.', 'The method of claim 15, further comprising applying a wear surface to the first end of the piston via laser cladding.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n17.', 'The method of claim 15, wherein preparing the piston includes forming the piston in a mold and grinding a circumferential wall of the piston to the prepared diameter.', '18.', 'The method of claim 15, wherein applying the sealing surface includes applying a plurality of layers of the second material to the piston, with the plurality of layers being adjacent and adhering to one another.']

['FIG.', '1 is a representation of a drilling system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '1-1 is a representation of a bit and rotary steerable system, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '2 is a representation of a piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '3-1 and FIG.', '3-2 are representations of another piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '4 is a representation of a piston receiving laser cladding, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '5 is a representation of yet another piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '6 is a representation of still another piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG. 7 is a representation of a further piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '8-1 is a representation of a piston assembly in the retracted position, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '8-2 is a representation of the piston assembly of FIG.', '8-1 in the extended position; and; FIG. 9 is a representation of a method for manufacturing a piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', '; FIG.', '1 shows one example of a drilling system 100 for drilling an earth formation 101 to form a wellbore 102.', 'The drilling system 100 includes a drill rig 103 used to turn a drilling tool assembly 104 which extends downward into the wellbore 102.', 'The drilling tool assembly 104 may include a drill string 105, a bottomhole assembly (“BHA”) 106, and a bit 110, attached to the downhole end of drill string 105.; FIG.', '1-1 is a perspective view of the downhole end of an embodiment of a bit 110 and connected RSS 111.', 'The bit 110 may include a bit body 113 from which a plurality of blades 115 may protrude.', 'At least one of the blades 115 may have a plurality of cutting elements 117 connected thereto.', 'In some embodiments, at least one of the cutting elements may be a planar cutting element, such as a shear cutting element.', 'In other embodiments, at least one of the cutting elements may be a non-planar cutting element, such as a conical cutting element or a ridged cutting element.', '; FIG.', '2 is a representation of a piston 212 for a downhole drilling system (such as the piston 112 shown in FIG.', '1-1)', ', according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'The piston 212 may be any piston used in a downhole drilling system.', 'For example, the piston 212 may be the steering pad of a directional drilling system such as an RSS, or a steering pad of another tool.', 'In some examples, the piston 212 may be the piston in an expandable stabilizer or other expandable tool.; FIG.', '3-1 is a representation of a piston 312, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In some embodiments, the sealing surface 322 may be applied to the body 314 with one or more layers 342.', 'The circumferential wall 320 of the body 314 may be prepared prior to deposition of the layers 342.', 'For example, the circumferential wall 320 of the body 314 may be machined (e.g., ground) to a preparation diameter.', 'A powder containing the sealing surface material may be directed to the circumferential wall and a laser may bind the powder to the body 314 as the sealing surface 322.; FIG.', '4 is a representation of close-up view of a piston 412 that is having a sealing surface 422 deposited on the circumferential wall 420 of a body 414, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In the embodiment shown, a first layer 442 has been deposited, and a second layer is in the process of being deposited on the body 414.', 'A nozzle 444 may be directed over the circumferential wall 420.', 'The nozzle 444 may receive material powder 446 from a powder source (e.g., a powder feeder that directs powder to the nozzle).', 'The nozzle 444 may direct the material powder 446 at the circumferential wall 420 adjacent to the first layer 442.; FIG.', '5 is a representation of a piston 512 including a plurality of sealing surfaces (collectively 522), according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In the embodiment shown, the piston 512 includes a first sealing surface 522-1 and a second sealing surface 522-2.', 'The first sealing surface 522-1 may be located on the body 514 closer to the first end 516 than the second sealing surface 522-2.', 'Similarly, the second sealing surface 522-2 may be located on the body closer to the second end 518 than the first sealing surface 522-1.', 'In the embodiment shown, the first sealing surface 522-1 is longitudinally offset from the second sealing surface 522-2.', 'Accordingly, the first sealing surface 522-1 is separate and distinct from the second sealing surface 522-2.', 'The first sealing surface 522-1 may be separated from the second sealing surface 522-2 by at least a portion of the circumferential wall 520 of the body 514.; FIG.', '6 is a representation of a piston 612 including a piston bore 650.', 'The piston bore 650 may extend through the body 614 of the piston 612.', 'The piston bore 650 may be configured to receive a pin from a housing.', 'The pin may extend into the piston bore 650.', 'During retraction (e.g., in the retracted position), the pin (shown schematically in dashed lines at position 653-1) may contact a bore first end 652.', 'This may help to retain the piston 612 in the retracted position and prevent the piston 612 from over-retracting.', 'During extension (e.g., in the extended position), the pin (shown schematically in dashed lines at position 653-2) may contact a bore second end 654.', 'This may help to retain the piston 612 in the extended position and prevent the piston 612 from over-extending.; FIG.', '7 is a representation of a piston 712 including wear surfaces 756 on the first end 716, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In some embodiments, the piston 712 may extend along the longitudinal axis 724 (e.g., the extension axis) such that the first end 716 moves out of a housing.', 'The first end 716 may engage a wellbore wall and impart a force against the wellbore wall to change a trajectory of the bit.', 'In some embodiments, the first end 716 may include one or more wear surfaces 756.', 'The wear surfaces 756 may be formed from a wear and/or erosion resistant material to reduce wear when contacting the wellbore wall.', 'In some embodiments, the wear surfaces 756 may be formed by laser cladding, as discussed herein, especially with reference to FIG.', '3-1 through FIG.', '4, and the associated description.', 'In this manner, the wear surfaces 756 may be formed with a hard material that has a high bonding strength to the body 714.', 'In some embodiments, the first end 716 may be planar.', 'In some embodiments, the first end 716 may be contoured or otherwise have a shape that is not planar.', 'For example, the first end 716 may include a convex shape that is configured to match the profile of the wellbore wall.; FIG.', '8-1 is a representation of a piston assembly 858 in a retracted position, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'In the retracted position shown, the piston assembly 858 includes a piston 812 inserted into the bore 860 of a housing 862.', 'The piston 812 may include one or more sealing surfaces (collectively 822).', 'The sealing surfaces 822 engage an inner surface 864 of the bore 860.', 'In some embodiments, at least one of the sealing surfaces 822 may form a tolerance seal with the inner surface 864 of the bore 860.', 'The tolerance seal between the sealing surfaces 822 and the inner surface 864 may be formed via a gap 866 between the outer diameter of the sealing surface (e.g., the sealing surface diameter 240 of FIG.', '2) and the inner diameter of the bore 860.', 'In some embodiments, the gap 866 may be small enough that debris and/or fluid may not pass between the sealing surface 822 and the inner surface 864.', 'For example, the gap 866 may be less than 1 mm, less than 0.5 mm, less than 0.1 mm, less than 0.05 mm, less than 0.04 mm, less than 0.03 mm, or less than 0.02 mm.', 'In some embodiments, a seal formed by the gap 866 may not require any additional sealing element, such as an O-ring or other sealing element.', 'This may increase the simplicity of the piston assembly 858.; FIG.', '9 is a representation of a method 970 for manufacturing a piston, according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.', 'The method 970 may include preparing a piston at 972.', 'In some embodiments, preparing the piston may include forming the piston.', 'In some embodiments, the piston may be formed by placing matrix material (such as tungsten carbide powder).', 'A binder material (e.g., an infiltrant) may be melted and allowed to flow into the matrix material.', 'Preparing the piston may further include preparing the surface of the circumferential wall of the body of the piston.', 'For example, the circumferential wall may be machined or ground to a prepared diameter.']

US11900658

Method for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images

Mar 11, 2020

Marie LeFranc, Zikri Bayraktar, Morten Kristensen, Philippe Marza, Isabelle Le Nir, Michael Prange, Josselin Kherroubi

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

Office Action issued in Norwegian Patent Application No. 20211154 dated Aug. 22, 2022, 6 pages.; Abbreviated Exam Report Under Section 18(3) dated Aug. 31, 2022, 4 pages.; Alqahtani, N. et al., “Deep Learning Convolutional Neural Networks to Predict Porous Media Properties”, SPE-191906, Presented at the SPE Asia Pacific Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition held in Brisbane, Australia, 2018, 10 pages.; Anxionnaz, H. et al., “Near-Wellbore 3D Reconstruction of Sedimentary Bodies from Borehole Electrical Images”, SPWLA 39th Annual Logging Symposium, Keystone, Colorado, USA, 1998, 14 pages.; Bahadidah, T. A. et al., “Integrating High-Resolution Multiwell Image Logs to Improve Geological Reservoir Characterization and Sequence Stratigraphy”, IPTC-18209-MS, International Petroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2014.; Curray, J. 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W.J. et al., “The characterization of trough and planar cross-bedding from borehole image logs”, Journal of Applied Geophysics, 2007, 62, pp. 178-191.; He, K. et al., “Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition”, http://arxiv.org/abs/1512.03385, 12 pages.; Krizhevsky, A. et al., “ImageNet Classification with Deep Convolutional Neural Networks”, Proceedings of the 25th International Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA., 2012, pp. 1-9.; Luthi, S. M. et al., “Models to Interpret Bedform Geometries from Cross-Bed Data”, The Journal of Geology, 1990, 98(2), pp. 171-187.; Luthi, S. M., “Sedimentary structures of clastic rocks identified from electrical borehole images”, in Geological Applications of Wireline Logs Geological Society Special Publication, 1990, 48, pp. 3-10.; Redmon, J. et al., “You Only Look Once: Unified, Real-Time Object Detection”, 2016 IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), pp. 779-788.; Ren, S. et al., “Faster R-CNN: Towards Real-Time Object Detection with Region Proposal Networks”, Proceedings of the 28th International Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems—vol. 1, Montreal, Canada, 2015, 9 pages.; Scheidegger, A.E., “On the Statistics of the Orientation of Bedding Planes, Grain Axes, and Similar Sedimentological Data”, U.S. Geological Survey Professional. Paper 525-C, 1965, pp. C164-167.; Schmidhuber, J., “Deep Learning in Neural Networks: An Overview” Neural Networks, 2015, 61, pp. 85-117.; Shrivastva, C. et al., “Reconstructing Sedimentary Depositional Environment with Borehole Imaging and Core: A Case Study from Eastern Offshore India”, IPTC12253, presented at the International Petroleum Technology Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2008, 12 pages.; Simonyan, K. et al., “Very Deep Convolutional Networks for Large-Scale Image Recognition”, ICLR 2015, 14 pages.; Szegedy, C. et. al., “Going deeper with convolutions”, Proceedings of the IEEE Conference on Computer vision and Pattern Recognition 2015, 12 pages.; Wilson, S. R. , “Controls on Sediment Distribution in the Late Permian Rangal Coal Measures of the Nebo Synclinorium”, Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy at the University of Queensland, Australia, 2017, 201 pages.; Zhang, P. Y. et al., “Deep Learning Method for Lithology Identification from Borehole Images”, 79th EAGE Conference and Exhibition, Paris, France, 2017, 5 pages.; International Search Report and Written Opinion of PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/022131 dated Jun. 15, 2020, 8 pages.; International Preliminary Report on Patentability of PCT Application No. PCT/US2020/022131 dated Sep. 23, 2021, 8 pages.; Potter, P. E. et al., “Paleocurrents and Basin Analysis”, 2nd Edition, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1977, p. 256-257.; LeCun Y., Haffner P., Bottou L. and Bengio Y. 1999. Object Recognition with Gradient-based Learning, Shape, Contour and Grouping in Computer Vision, Springer-Verlag, p. 321-323.; Miall, A.D., “Principles of Sedimentary Basin Analysis”, Springer Verlag, New York, 1984, 490p, (pp. 29-34, 151-190, 209-247).; Rubin D.M. and Carter C.L. 2005. Appendix 2. Special features, Part A. Documentation of MATLAB code, Rubin D.M. and Carter C.L. Bedforms 4.0: Matlab code for simulating bedforms and cross-beddings. USGS open-file report 2005-1272. (13 pages).; Reineck, H.-E. et al., “Depositional Sedimentary Environments, With Reference to Terrigenous Clastics”, 1980, Second, revised and updated version. Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York. 549p. (pp. 95-129, 229, 274, 277, 283, 285, 291, 297, 299, 318, 368, 394).; Taylor, T. D., 1986, Interpretation of large-scale cross-strata in a borehole-a computer simulation model: Unpub. M. Sc. Thesis, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 171 pages.; David M. Rubin and Carissa L. Carter, 2006, Bedform Sedimentology Site: Bedforms and Cross-Bedding in Animation, link is https://cmgds.marine.usgs.gov/data/seds/bedforms/credits_long.html, downloaded on Mar. 17, 2022 (3 pages).

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['Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards systems and methods for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images.', 'Embodiments may include constructing, using at least one processor, a training set of synthetic images corresponding to a borehole, wherein the training set includes one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images.', 'Embodiments may further include automatically classifying, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more individual sedimentary geometries using one or machine learning techniques.', 'Embodiments may also include automatically classifying, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more priors for depositional environments.']

['Description\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRELATED APPLICATIONS', 'This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/816,466, filed on Mar. 11, 2019; the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.', 'FILED OF THE INVENTION', 'The present disclosure relates to automatic stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images, more specifically, to a system and method for automatic stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images.', 'BACKGROUND\n \nWhen studying geological structures of sedimentary origin, outcrop exposures may be used to study and classify the geological structures.', 'The geological structures of sedimentary origin may include a sedimentary facies having a specific depositional environment, also referred to as a depositional facies.', 'The depositional facies may be interpreted qualitatively based on log shape.', 'However, this approach is often non-unique and requires supporting information from core description, regional geology, seismic attributes, and/or borehole images.', 'As a different approach, borehole images can provide additional information to better characterize depositional environments, such as the geometry of sedimentary bodies, grain size variation, and paleocurrent direction.', 'While image description approaches and manual approaches to studying the depositional facies exist, image description approaches appear to be more and more automated (i.e., dip picking, structural zonation, and structural dip removal), whereas manual approaches include sedimentological environment interpretation and sequence stratigraphy.', 'However, manual interpretation may be user biased, time consuming, and can become very challenging when dealing with highly deviated wells.', 'For example, the same sedimentary geometry observed on borehole images from wells with different well deviations and orientations can have a completely different signatures, from a regular, symmetrical sinusoid on vertical wells to very elongated patterns on horizontal wells.', 'SUMMARY\n \nThis summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description.', 'This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.', 'Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a method for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images.', 'The method may include constructing, using at least one processor, a training set of synthetic images corresponding to a borehole, wherein the training set includes one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images.', 'The method may further include automatically classifying, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more individual sedimentary geometries using one or more machine learning techniques.', 'The method may also include automatically classifying, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more priors for depositional environments.', 'One or more of the following features may be included.', 'In some embodiments, constructing a training set may include a forward model to generate the synthetic images and/or an addition of noise to the synthetic images.', 'Automatically classifying one or more individual sedimentary geometries may include applying one or more machine learning techniques.', 'Automatically classifying into priors for depositional environments may include applying one or more machine learning techniques.', 'Automatically classifying into priors may include building one or more tables of sedimentary geometry successions that represent one or more depositional environments.', 'An addition of noise may include at least one of adding one or more masking stripes on the one or more synthetic images, adding one stripe on the one or more synthetic images, adding a one-pixel stripe to the one or more synthetic images, adding white noise to the one or more synthetic images, translating patterns on the one or more synthetic images, truncating the one or more synthetic images, or adding geometric noise.', 'The method may include utilizing one or more automated individual sedimentary geometry predictions to establish a depositional environment predictor.', 'The depositional environment predictor may include a decision tree-based machine-learning, fuzzy-logic based algorithms, or a probabilistic graphical model.', 'The method may include identifying a longer than standard borehole image and applying a sliding window as a spatial sampling technique.', 'In another embodiment of the present disclosure a system for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images is provided.', 'The system may include a memory configured to store one or more borehole images and at least one processor configured to construct a training set of synthetic images corresponding to a borehole, wherein the training set includes one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images.', 'The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically classify the training set into one or more individual sedimentary geometries using one or more machine learning techniques.', 'The at least one processor may be further configured to automatically classify the training set into one or more priors for depositional environments.', 'One or more of the following features may be included.', 'In some embodiments, constructing a training set may include a forward model to generate the synthetic images and/or an addition of noise to the synthetic images.', 'Automatically classifying one or more individual sedimentary geometries may include applying one or more machine learning techniques.', 'Automatically classifying into priors for depositional environments may include applying one or more machine learning techniques.', 'Automatically classifying into priors may include building one or more tables of sedimentary geometry successions that represent one or more depositional environments.', 'An addition of noise may include at least one of adding one or more masking stripes on the one or more synthetic images, adding one stripe on the one or more synthetic images, adding a one-pixel stripe to the one or more synthetic images, adding white noise to the one or more synthetic images, translating patterns on the one or more synthetic images, truncating the one or more synthetic images, or adding geometric noise.', 'The system may include utilizing one or more automated individual sedimentary geometry predictions to establish a depositional environment predictor.', 'The depositional environment predictor may include a decision tree-based machine-learning, fuzzy-logic based algorithms, or a probabilistic graphical model.', 'The system may include identifying a longer than standard borehole image and applying a sliding window as a spatial sampling technique.', 'BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS', 'The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:\n \nFIG.', '1\n is a system in accordance with the automated interpretation process of the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '2\n is a diagram illustrating interpreted causes of steepening-upward and shallowing-upward dip trends in sedimentary strata;\n \nFIG.', '3\n is a diagram illustrating a determination of one or more paleoflow directions using down-hole scan images;\n \nFIG.', '4\n is a diagram illustrating bedform morphology and vertical sections, horizontal and vertical sections, and polar plots of cross beds and bounding-surface dip directions;\n \nFIG.', '5\n is a block diagram illustrating how different computer images are arranged according to classification parameters;\n \nFIG. \n6\n is a diagram depicting examples of various computer models with matching field examples;\n \nFIG.', '7\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of a method of automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '8\n is a diagram depicting examples of sequences of sedimentary geometries defining depositional environments;\n \nFIG.', '9\n is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a method of automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '10\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '11\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '12\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '13\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '14\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '15\n a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;\n \nFIG.', '16\n is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure; and\n \nFIG.', '17\n is a diagram depicting the LeNet-5 architecture.', 'DESCRIPTION', 'The discussion below is directed to certain implementations and/or embodiments.', 'It is to be understood that the discussion below may be used for the purpose of enabling a person with ordinary skill in the art to make and use any subject matter defined now or later by the patent “claims” found in any issued patent herein.', 'It is specifically intended that the claimed combinations of features not be limited to the implementations and illustrations contained herein, but include modified forms of those implementations including portions of the implementations and combinations of elements of different implementations as come within the scope of the following claims.', "It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made to achieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another.", 'Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.', 'Nothing in this application is considered critical or essential to the claimed invention unless explicitly indicated as being “critical” or “essential.”', 'It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms.', 'These terms may be used to distinguish one element from another.', 'For example, a first object or step could be termed a second object or step, and, similarly, a second object or step could be termed a first object or step, without departing from the scope of the disclosure.', 'The first object or step, and the second object or step, are both objects or steps, respectively, but they are not to be considered a same object or step.', 'Referring to \nFIG.', '1\n, there is shown a method for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images, referred to hereinafter as “automated interpretation process \n10\n.”', 'For the following discussion, it is intended to be understood that automated interpretation process \n10\n may be implemented in a variety of ways.', 'For example, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be implemented as a server-side process, a client-side process, or a server-side/client-side process.', 'For example, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be implemented as a purely server-side process via automated interpretation process \n10\ns\n.', 'Alternatively, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be implemented as a purely client-side process via one or more of client-side application \n10\nc\n1\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n2\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n3\n, and client-side application \n10\nc\n4\n.', 'Alternatively still, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be implemented as a server-side/client-side process via server-side automated interpretation process \n10\ns \nin combination with one or more of client-side application \n10\nc\n1\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n2\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n3\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n4\n, and client-side application \n10\nc\n5\n.', 'In such an example, at least a portion of the functionality of automated interpretation process \n10\n may be performed by automated interpretation process \n10\ns \nand at least a portion of the functionality of automated interpretation process \n10\n may be performed by one or more of client-side application \n10\nc\n1\n, \n10\nc\n2\n, \n10\nc\n3\n, \n10\nc\n4\n, and \n10\nc\n5\n.', 'Accordingly, automated interpretation process \n10\n as used in this disclosure may include any combination of automated interpretation process \n10\ns\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n1\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n2\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n3\n, client-side application \n10\nc\n4\n, and client-side application \n10\nc\n5\n.\n \nAutomated interpretation process \n10\ns \nmay be a server application and may reside on and may be executed by computing device \n12\n, which may be connected to network \n14\n (e.g., the Internet or a local area network).', 'Examples of computing device \n12\n may include, but are not limited to: a personal computer, a server computer, a series of server computers, a mini computer, a mainframe computer, or a dedicated network device.', 'The instruction sets and subroutines of automated interpretation process \n10\ns\n, which may be stored on storage device \n16\n coupled to computing device \n12\n, may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) included within computing device \n12\n.', 'Examples of storage device \n16\n may include but are not limited to: a hard disk drive; a tape drive; an optical drive; a RAID device; an NAS device, a Storage Area Network, a random access memory (RAM); a read-only memory (ROM); and all forms of flash memory storage devices.', 'Network \n14\n may be connected to one or more secondary networks (e.g., network \n18\n), examples of which may include but are not limited to: a local area network; a wide area network; or an intranet, for example.', 'The instruction sets and subroutines of client-side application \n10\nc\n1\n, \n10\nc\n2\n, \n10\nc\n3\n, \n10\nc\n4\n, \n10\nc\n5\n which may be stored on storage devices \n20\n, \n22\n, \n24\n, \n26\n, \n28\n (respectively) coupled to client electronic devices \n30\n, \n32\n, \n34\n, \n36\n, \n38\n (respectively), may be executed by one or more processors (not shown) and one or more memory architectures (not shown) incorporated into client electronic devices \n30\n, \n32\n, \n34\n, \n36\n, \n38\n (respectively).', 'Examples of storage devices \n20\n, \n22\n, \n24\n, \n26\n, \n28\n may include but are not limited to: hard disk drives; tape drives; optical drives; RAID devices; random access memories (RAM); read-only memories (ROM), and all forms of flash memory storage devices.', 'Examples of client electronic devices \n30\n, \n32\n, \n34\n, \n36\n, \n38\n may include, but are not limited to, personal computer \n30\n, \n38\n, laptop computer \n32\n, mobile computing device \n34\n, notebook computer \n36\n, a netbook computer (not shown), a server computer (not shown), an Internet of Things (IoT) device (not shown), a gaming console (not shown), a data-enabled television console (not shown), and a dedicated network device (not shown).', 'Client electronic devices \n30\n, \n32\n, \n34\n, \n36\n, \n38\n may each execute an operating system.', 'Users \n40\n, \n42\n, \n44\n, \n46\n, \n48\n may access automated interpretation process \n10\n directly through network \n14\n or through secondary network \n18\n.', 'Further, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be accessed through secondary network \n18\n via link line \n50\n.', 'The various client electronic devices (e.g., client electronic devices \n30\n, \n32\n, \n34\n, \n36\n, \n38\n) may be directly or indirectly coupled to network \n14\n (or network \n18\n).', 'For example, personal computer \n30\n is shown directly coupled to network \n14\n.', 'Further, laptop computer \n32\n is shown wirelessly coupled to network \n14\n via wireless communication channels \n52\n established between laptop computer \n32\n and wireless access point (WAP) \n54\n.', 'Similarly, mobile computing device \n34\n is shown wirelessly coupled to network \n14\n via wireless communication channel \n56\n established between mobile computing device \n34\n and cellular network/bridge \n58\n, which is shown directly coupled to network \n14\n.', 'WAP \n54\n may be, for example, an IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, Wi-Fi, and/or Bluetooth device that is capable of establishing wireless communication channel \n52\n between laptop computer \n32\n and WAP \n54\n.', 'Additionally, notebook computer \n36\n is shown directly coupled to network \n18\n via a hardwired network connection.', 'As generally discussed above, a portion and/or all of the functionality of automated interpretation process \n10\n may be provided by one or more of client side applications \n10\nc\n1\n-\n10\nc\n5\n.', 'For example, in some embodiments automated interpretation process \n10\n (and/or client-side functionality of automated interpretation process \n10\n) may be included within and/or interactive with client-side applications \n10\nc\n1\n-\n10\nc\n5\n, which may include client side electronic applications, web browsers, or another application.', 'Various additional/alternative configurations may be equally utilized.', 'Regarding specific terminology used herein, the term “bedform” refers to an overall bed geometry that exists at a given time in response to the flow (i.e., bed configuration) is composed of individual topographic elements (i.e., bed forms).', 'An ensemble of like bed configurations that can be produced by a given mean flow over a given sediment is denoted as a bed state.', 'The term bed phase may further be used to denote different kinds of bed configurations that are produced over a range of flow and sediment conditions and are closely related in geometry and dynamics.', 'The term bedform is indiscriminately used herein to denote all four aspects of the bed geometry.', 'While sedimentologists have given attention to bedforms mostly because of their role in the development of stratification in sedimentary deposits, bedforms are one of the most useful tools available for interpreting ancient sedimentary environments.', 'Further, the term ripples refers to the stronger the grain transport, the sooner the bed forms appear, and the faster they approach equilibrium.', 'These bedforms, classified as ripples, show generally triangular cross sections.', 'The region around the highest point on the ripple profile is the crest, and the region around the lowest point is the trough.', 'The upstream-facing surface of the ripple is the toss surface, the downstream-facing surface is the lee surface.', 'The average spacing of ripples is of the order of 10-20 cm, and the average height is a few centimeters.', "The term dunes refers to where at a flow velocity that's a middling fraction of a meter a second, ripples are replaced by larger bedforms called dunes.", 'Dunes are broadly similar to ripples in geometry and movement, but they are about an order of magnitude larger.', 'Additionally, cross-stratification is best defined as stratification that is locally inclined at some angle to the overall plane of stratification as a consequence of changes in the geometry of the depositional surface during deposition.', 'The best way to interpret those terms is to assume that cross-stratification is associated with the behavior of individual flow-molded geometrical elements on a transport surface within some broader flow.', 'Cross-stratification is formed by the erosion and deposition associated with a train of bed forms as the average bed elevation increases by net addition of sediment to some area of the bed.', 'They are arranged as sets of conformable laminae, planar or curving, that are separated from adjacent sets by erosional set boundaries or truncation surfaces.', 'Turning back to borehole images, sedimentary geometry on borehole images may typically be manually classified.', 'The classifications may include bed boundary, sedimentary dip, erosive surface, cross bedding, and/or deformed bed.', 'In contrast, bedform geometry interpretation from a cross-bed data appears to rarely be performed.', 'For example, when one or more bedform crests migrate in the direction of or obliquely to the sediment transport direction, the resulting sedimentary geometries on borehole images will vary considerably.', 'The geometry resulting from the change in flow direction generating different bedform shapes is also rarely interpreted.', 'Analysis of classified internal bedding dips can provide important information on sediment dispersal directions and sedimentary environments, as illustrated in \nFIG.', '2\n and \nFIG.', '3\n where \nFIG.', '2\n illustrates interpreted cause of steepening-upward and shallowing-upward dip trends in sedimentary strata and \nFIG.', '3\n illustrates determination of paleoflow directions using down-hole scan images.', 'Specifically, \nFIG.', '3\n illustrates trough cross stratification \n302\n, which includes 3D bar migration and may have low gamma ray response, blocky to fining upwards motif, sigmoidal cross beds, thin (i.e., 0.2-0.8 meter) bed sets with common basal scour, low to moderate angle dips (i.e., 10-15°) and variable dip direction (i.e., SW, S, SE).', 'Planar tabular cross stratification \n304\n may include straight crested transverse bar migration, which may include low gamma ray response, blocky to fining upwards motif, planner cross beds, high to moderate angle dip (i.e., 10-30°), 1-3 meter thick bed sets with common basal scour, and dip direction (i.e., SW).', 'Inclined heterolithic stratification (HS) \n306\n may include pointbar lateral accretion, which may include moderate gamma ray response, heterolithic and fining upwards motif, dip direction rotates counter clockwise upwards as point bar apex migrates downstream, bimodal dip (i.e., west for left bank, east for right bank) and 2-3 meter thick bed sets.', 'In some embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure, a borehole image on which one or more dips of sedimentary features (i.e., sinusoids or segments) may be required as a main input of data.', 'Further, an approach to automated dip picking on borehole images is known and is used on processed borehole images to provide necessary images to run the new automated classification.', 'A goal of the present disclosure is to include a catalog of 3D bedform geometries and to create, from the 3D models, one or more synthetic borehole images for wells with various diameters, orientations, and inclinations.', 'Regarding known methods, using cross-bed measurements to determine paleocurrent directions and depositional environments is known in the field as well as a relationship showing that cross-bedding and current ripples indicate a paleoslope.', 'These structures provide an unmistakable answer in alluvial-deltaic sandstones, as do oscillation and wave-formed ripples, which commonly strike parallel to shorelines of lakes, seas, and oceans.', 'In turbidites, ripple marks may indicate paleoslope.', 'Further, most studies of ancient marine shelf sandstones, both terrigenous and carbonate, often suggest an overall net transport down paleoslope.', 'In regards to construction of models used to interpret bedform geometries from cross-bed data, two computational approaches are known: a statistical random sampling technique over the area of the deposit and an analytical method based on topology and differential geometry.', 'For example, a computer model called RIPSYM exists that simulates the formation of cross-strata sets produced by the migration of three-dimensional large-scale ripple trains.', 'The model assumes uniform and steady sediment transport rates and the following independent variables: phase angle, crestline sinuosity, location and radius of the borehole, bedform migration velocity, length of time step, number of time steps, and number of ripple crests.', 'Further, an approach considering reconstruction of bedform geometry away from the wellbore is known, where the approach is constrained by the information available on the cylindrical borehole wall, and achieved by numerically solving an inverse problem.', 'In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, computer images may be used to build a forward model.', 'Table 1 below illustrates parameters specified for each experiment including the spacing, steepness, asymmetry, migration direction, migration speed, planform shape, and along-crest migration speed of planform sinuosities of each set of bedforms.', 'Further, table illustrates 2D and 3D dimensionality, variability, and orientation relative to transport parameters used in classifying bedforms.', 'TABLE 1\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nTwo-dimensional\n \nInvariable\n \nTransverse, oblique, and\n \n \n \n2D bedforms are\n \nInvariable bedforms are those\n \nlongitudinal\n \n \n \nstraight and parallel\n \nthat do not change in\n \nTranvserse, oblique, and\n \n \n \nin plan form; the\n \nmorphology or path of climb.', 'longitudinal cross beddding are\n \n \n \nflanks of the\n \nCross-bedding deposited by\n \nnot distinguishable unless\n \n \n \nbedforms have the\n \ninvariable 2D bedforms has\n \nbedforms are at least slightly\n \n \n \nsame strike at all\n \nbounding surfaces that are\n \n3D.\n \n \n \nlocations.', '2D\n \nparallel planes', '; their poles\n \n \n \n \nbedforms produce\n \nplot as single point.', '2D cross-bedding:\n \nVariable\n \nTransverse, oblique, and\n \n \n \ncross-bedding in\n \nVariable bedforms are those\n \nlongitudinal\n \n \n \nwhich all forests and\n \nthat change in morphology or\n \nTransverse, oblique, and\n \n \n \nbounding surfaces\n \npath of climb.', 'Variability causes\n \nlongitudinal cross-bedding\n \n \n \nhave the same strike.\n \ndispersion in the inclination of\n \nare not distinguishable unless\n \n \n \nIn plots showing the\n \nbounding surfaces.', 'Cross-\n \nbedforms are at least slightly\n \n \n \ndirection and\n \nbedding deposited by variable\n \n3D.\n \n \n \ninclination of dips of\n \n2D bedforms are bounding\n \n \n \n \ncross-beds and\n \nsurfaces with a constant strike\n \n \n \n \nbounding surfaces,\n \nbut with varying inclination;\n \n \n \n \ndips of all planes,\n \ntheir poles plot as a straight line\n \n \n \n \nplot along a single\n \nthat parallels the line of cross-\n \n \n \n \nstraight line through\n \nbed dips.', 'the center of the\n \n \n \n \n \nplot.', 'Three-dimensional\n \nInvariable\n \nPerfectly transverse\n \n \n \n3D bedforms are\n \nCross-bedding deposited by\n \nPlots of cross-bed and\n \n \n \ncurved in plan flor\n \ninvariable 3D bedforms has\n \nbounding-surface dips have\n \n \n \nor have plan-form\n \nbounding surfaces that are\n \nbilateral symmetry; the axis\n \n \n \ncomplexities such as\n \ntrough-shaped; bounding\n \nof symmetry is the same for\n \n \n \nscour pits or\n \nsurface dips in a single trough\n \nboth plots; dips directions are\n \n \n \nsuperimposed\n \n(or in identical troughs) plot\n \ndistributed unimodally.', 'bedforms with a\n \nas a nearly straight line.', 'Obilique, imperfectly\n \n \n \ndifferent trend from\n \n \ntransverse, or imperfectly\n \n \n \nthe main bedform:\n \n \nlongitudinal\n \n \n \nthe strike of the\n \n \nPlots of cross-bed and\n \n \n \nflanks varies with\n \n \nbounding-surface dips have\n \n \n \nlocation.', '3D\n \n \nbilateral symmetry; the axis\n \n \n \nbedforms produce\n \n \nof symmetry is the same for\n \n \n \n3D cross-bedding in\n \n \nboth plots; dip directions are\n \n \n \nwhich foreset and\n \n \ndistributed unimodally.', 'bounding surface\n \n \nPerfectly longitudinal\n \n \n \nstrikes vary with\n \n \nPlots of cross-bed and\n \n \n \nlocation; dips of\n \n \nbounding-surface dips have\n \n \n \nforesets do not plot\n \n \nbilateral symmetry; dip\n \n \n \nalong a single\n \n \ndirections may be distributed\n \n \n \nstraight line through\n \n \nbimodally or be unimodal as a\n \n \n \nthe center of polar\n \n \nresult of migration of the nose\n \n \n \nplots.\n \n \nof the main bedform.', 'Perfect\n \n \n \n \n \nlongitudinallity is evidenced\n \n \n \n \n \nby vertical accretion of\n \n \n \n \n \nbedforms; cross-beds dip in\n \n \n \n \n \nopposing directions on\n \n \n \n \n \nopposite flanks.', 'Variable\n \nPerfectly transverse\n \n \n \n \nBounding surfaces have\n \nSame as perfectly transverse,\n \n \n \n \ncomplex shapes produced by\n \ninvariable, 3D cross-bedding\n \n \n \n \nsuch processes as zig-zagging\n \nOblique, imperfectly\n \n \n \n \nof scour pits; dips of bounding\n \ntransverse, or imperfectly\n \n \n \n \nsurfaces plot as scatter\n \nlongitudinal\n \n \n \n \ndiagrams.', 'Same as oblique or\n \n \n \n \n \nimperfectly aligned,\n \n \n \n \n \ninvariable, 3D cross-bedding\n \n \n \n \n \nPerfectly longitudinal\n \n \n \n \n \nSame as perfectly\n \n \n \n \n \nlongitudinal, invariable, 3D\n \n \n \n \n \ncross-bedding.', 'A computer model may account for variation of bedform morphology and behavior through time.', 'A total of 75 geometric parameters may control different geometries of the bedforms.', 'Three separate computer programs were used to produce the images shown in \nFIG.', '4\n.', 'FIG.', '4\n further illustrates bedform morphology and vertical sections, horizontal and vertical sections and polar plots of cross beds and bounding-surface dip directions.', 'By varying one or more input parameters, each computer program model may model different depositional situations, as illustrated in \nFIG.', '5\n.', 'FIG.', '5\n further illustrates how the above mentioned computer program models are arranged according to classification parameters.', 'For example, a first computer program may calculate a topography of a bed surfaces and display the surface in a 3D perspective.', 'The resulting image may include both bed morphology and internal structures.', 'A second computer program may produce perspective block diagrams with horizontal sections instead of bed morphology at the top of the block.', 'Further, a third computer program may plot vectors that represent a migration of bedforms and scour pits.', 'Specifically, the third computer program may plot a direction of sediment transport represented by bedform migration azimuth.', 'It may also plot inclination of cross-bed and bounding-surface planes.', 'In regards to detecting objects in images, traditional computer vision methods may entail multiple-steps where input data is sent through a feature extraction step and then a spatial sampling may be applied, which in turn is passed through a classifier and detection output is obtained.', 'Even within this traditional computer vision methodology, a machine learning classifier, such as support vector machine or decision tree methods, may be used.', 'In addition to traditional computer vision techniques, end-to-end machine learning algorithms and deep learning methods may be used.', 'As deep learning (DL) methods became easier to implement, DL algorithms demonstrated that they could create end-to-end workflows where 2D input image data is fed in and output detection comes out all at once.', 'Further, intermediate steps such as feature extraction, spatial sampling and classification are achieved within deep artificial neural network architectures and convolutional neural networks (CNN) are leading architectures in object detection in images.', 'When CNN has been combined with a gradient-based learning method called backpropagation, it has led to a new way for efficient image classification as demonstrated with LeNet architecture (CNN-based).', 'For example, classifying hand-written digits with CNNs is illustrated in \nFIG. \n6\n along with examples of the above mentioned compute models with matching field examples.', 'CNNs may be preferred, as they tend to be easier to train than fully-connected neural networks, and various improvements to CNNs proposed as well as larger, deeper architectures for applications in various fields.', 'Regarding \nFIG.', '6\n, sets of images are provided that include one or more images of a specific rock formation with an associated computer model rendering of the specific rock formation.', 'Arizona sample \n602\n shows a structure formed by reversing ripples with modern fluvial deposits from the Colorado River, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.', 'Utah sample \n604\n shows structures including a relatively complicated cross-bedding formed by irregular, 3D dunes from eolian deposits in the Temple Cap Sandstone (Jurassic), Zion National Park, Utah.', 'Further, Utah sample \n606\n shows structures formed with along-crest-migration superimposed dunes from Navajo Sandstone (Upper Triassic and Jurassic), Zion National Park, Utah.', 'Utah sample \n608\n shows a structure produced by sinuous, out-of-phase bedform from eolian deposits in the Navajo Sandstone (Upper Triassic and Jurassic) near Snow Canyon, Utah.', 'Additionally, Utah sample \n610\n includes a structure formed by a dune with a sinuous lee slope but without scour pots in the trough from Navajo Sandstone (Upper Triassic and Jurassic), Zio National Park, Utah.', 'Per an image classification task, various milestone architectures and methods exist.', 'For example, various improvements over LeNet architecture have been introduced, such as using a rectified linear unit (ReLU) for the nonlinearity function instead of sigmoid functions, implementing dropout layers for regularization, using augmentation techniques like translation and reflection, as well as utilizing stochastic gradient descent to train the architecture.', 'Deeper architectures such as VGGnet, GoogLeNet or ResNet achieved even better performance in classification.', 'In terms of object detection and localization, CNNs play a crucial role in advancing the field.', 'CNN based architectures, R-CNN, Fast R-CNN, and Faster R-CNN consist of a region proposal algorithm and CNNs working on the proposed regions for object detection.', 'However, the main drawback is the speed of execution, which has been improved with newer versions of the algorithm.', 'Further, another important work for real-time object detection is a YOLO algorithm, which is a fully convolutional neural networks-based method and provides very fast detection at the expense of small accuracy reduction.', 'Regarding applying CNNs to borehole images, known methods include classifying three lithology groups on a limited dataset and application to greyscale micro-CT images of three different sandstones species to predict porous media properties.', 'While CNNs are the preferred choice for seismic image processing, there are not many known applications of CNNs for use with borehole images.', 'This may be because labeled datasets on borehole images are extremely expensive to obtain.', 'In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, a method of automated interpretation process \n10\n is provided.', 'Automated interpretation process \n10\n may describe a method, using machine learning algorithms, to automatically interpret bedform geometries and depositional environments from cross-bed data and sedimentary features on borehole images.', 'Automated interpretation process \n10\n may initially require construction of one or more forward models to generate one or more labeled images for each sedimentary geometry.', 'Once a training set is built, one or more DL algorithms may be used to automatically classify one or more sedimentary structures (i.e., bedform geometries) and provide priors for depositional environments.', 'Specifically, automated interpretation process \n10\n may include constructing \n702\n, using at least one processor, a training set of synthetic images corresponding to a borehole, wherein the training set includes one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images, as illustrated in \nFIG. \n7\n.', 'The training set may include one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images similar to real borehole images.', 'Further, this may include using a forward model used to generate the synthetic images, and the addition of ‘noise’ to the synthetic images to better mimic real images.', 'Automated interpretation process \n10\n may further include automatically classifying \n704\n, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more individual sedimentary geometries using one or machine learning techniques.', 'Automatically classifying one or more individual sedimentary geometries may include using one or more DL algorithm.', 'Specifically, one or more of development of specific machine learning techniques to classify the individual sedimentary structures may be included.', 'Further, automated interpretation process \n10\n may include automatically classifying \n706\n into priors for depositional environments.', 'This may include developing specific machine learning techniques to provide a prior for depositional environments.', 'Additionally, automatically classifying into priors for depositional environments may include building or more tables of sedimentary geometry successions that represent each depositional environment.', 'The tables may illustrate one or more different sequences of sedimentary geometries defining specific depositional environments.', 'Further, the creation of the tables may require extensive literature review by domain experts in order to generate a review data set.', 'The one or more tables may then be used to automatically obtain depositional environments from borehole images.', 'FIG.', '8\n illustrates sequences of sedimentary geometries defining depositional environments.', 'For example, floodplain \n802\n illustrates six layers of sedimentary geometries, including: (1) mud layer \n804\n, which may be finely laminated; (2) convolute bedding layer \n806\n, which may be comprised of finely laminated mud; (3) climbing ripple lamination layer \n808\n; (4) finely laminated mud layer \n810\n; (5) convolute bedding layer \n812\n, which may include a sandy layer; and (6) climbing ripple lamination layer \n814\n.', 'Further, point bar \n816\n may include: (1) mud layer \n818\n; (2) small ripple layer \n820\n, which may include cross-bedding; (3) climbing ripple lamination layer \n822\n; (4) horizontal lamination layer \n824\n; (5) lapse-scale cross-bedding layer \n826\n; and (6) channel last deposit layer \n828\n.', 'Additionally, levee \n830\n may include: (1) parallel bedded salty clay layer \n832\n, which may include burrows; (2) climbing ripple lamination layer \n834\n; (3) small ripple cross-bedding layer \n836\n; (4) horizontal bedding layer \n838\n; (5) large-scale cross-bedding layer \n840\n; and (6) salt and sand layer \n842\n, where the salt and sand may be poorly sorted with no internal structure and occasional ripples.', 'One or more borehole images may be required to be combined with one or more other types of measurements to more accurately define a depositional environment in an effort to provide priors for depositional environments.', 'Further, one or more automated individual sedimentary geometry predictions may be utilized to establish a depositional environment predictor.', 'The depositional environment predictor may include the following forms.', 'First, the depositional environment predictor may utilize a decision tree-based machine-learning algorithm that is trained on extensive literature review data set generated by the domain experts.', 'Once trained, decision-tree based algorithms may be very fast in inference and easy to interpret.', 'Second, one or more fuzzy-logic based algorithms may be utilized that can utilize one or more uncertainty measures created during the automated individual sedimentary prediction to construct one or more fuzzy-logic decision rules for depositional environments.', "Third, a probabilistic graphical model may be built on the domain expert's knowledge data set and utilized with one or more uncertainty estimations of the automated individual sedimentary prediction.", 'In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, automated interpretation process \n10\n may include allowing one or more borehole image interpretations to be integrated into 3D subsurface modeling.', 'Specifically, a depositional environment from dips interpreted on borehole images may be automatically estimated.', 'In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, automated interpretation process \n10\n may include automatically providing both classification of sedimentary geometries regardless of borehole deviation as well as priors for depositional environment interpretations, and their associated uncertainties using one or more machine learning techniques.', 'Regarding potential applications of automated interpretation process \n10\n, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be applied to interpretation of one or more borehole images, which may help a borehole geologist to interpret borehole images faster, to decrease user bias, and/or to add a level of interpretation to known borehole images analysis.', 'Automated interpretation process \n10\n may also be applied to 3D facies modeling where the outputs from automated interpretation process \n10\n may be used directly as input to build one or more 3D facies models.', 'Specifically, it is a crucial step to include borehole image interpretation in 3D subsurface models.', 'Further, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be used with exploration as the use of the depositional environment logs, combined with stratigraphic sequences from seismic will enhance exploration studies by facilitating identification of new drilling targets.', 'Regarding \nFIG.', '9\n, a method and system in accordance with the present disclosure is shown.', 'Forward model \n902\n may be used with training set \n904\n where individual sedimentary structures \n906\n may then be recognized.', 'Further, priors for depositional environments \n908\n may be acquired.', 'Referring back to \nFIG.', '5\n, a modification of existing computer models is provided.', 'In this example, 59 computer models may be used as a starting point.', 'These models may be selected due to the variety of the sedimentary geometries represented, and their link to real field examples, as illustrated in \nFIG.', '6\n.', 'One or more computer models may be used where the computer models include Matlab code, of which the results are illustrated in \nFIG.', '10\n and \nFIG.', '11\n.', 'FIG.', '10\n illustrates an example of automated interpretation process \n10\n with intermediate surfaces, computational of an intersection between surfaces and a vertical cylinder and creation of one or more resulting synthetic images with subsurface intersections denoted as \n1002\n and an azimuth in degrees denoted as \n1004\n.', 'FIG.', '11\n illustrates an example of automated interpretation process \n10\n with \nintermedia \nsurfaces, computation of an intersection between surfaces and a highly deviated cylinder, and creation of one or more resulting synthetic images where subsurface interactions are denoted as \n1102\n and \n1104\n and an azimuth in degrees is denoted as \n1106\n.', 'In general, the one or more computer models may include one or more of the following extract all intermediate surfaces, for each computer model, respecting rules of deposition, create a cylinder, representing a well drilled through the structures, compute intersections between the surfaces and the cylinder, and create a synthetic, oriented image representing the intersections between the surfaces and the cylinder/well.', 'In this example, a sinusoid may represent and intersection between a planar surface and a well.', 'The one or more synthetic images may represent results a borehole geologist would obtain after picking features on a real processed borehole image.', 'Referring to \nFIG.', '12\n,', 'an embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated showing creation of one or more synthetic images with various well parameters.', 'Specifically, automated interpretation process \n10\n may be trained using one or more images generated from wells with multiple deviations in an attempt to automatically recognize one or more sedimentary geometries from one or more borehole images, regardless of the borehole deviation.', 'Further, \nFIG.', '12\n illustrates use of one or more different well parameters used to generate one or more synthetic images including one or more of well orientation, well deviation, well location, and well azimuth.', 'For example, \nFIG.', '12\n includes the following parameters: (1) two different well locations in the 3D model; (2) three different well diameters (i.e., representing diameters of 4″, 8.5″ and 12.25″; (3) multiple well deviations (i.e., every 10°, from 0° to 90°); and (4) multiple well orientations (i.e., every 10°, from 0° to 360°).', 'Referring to \nFIG.', '13\n and \nFIG.', '14\n, examples of synthetic images are presented.', 'FIG.', '13\n illustrates examples of synthetic images (i.e. \n1302\n, \n1304\n, \n1306\n, \n1308\n, \n1310\n, \n1312\n and \n1314\n), generated from vertical wells and their associated 3D models.', 'FIG.', '14\n illustrates examples of synthetic images created from vertical wells in different 3D models (i.e., \n1402\n, \n1404\n, \n1406\n, \n1408\n, \n1410\n, \n1412\n, \n1414\n, \n1416\n, \n1418\n, \n1420\n, \n1422\n, \n1424\n, \n1426\n, \n1428\n, \n1430\n, \n1432\n, \n1434\n, \n1436\n, \n1438\n and \n1440\n).', 'Referring to \nFIG.', '15\n, \nFIG.', '15\n illustrates examples of synthetic images generated from \n1412\n, with a vertical well and highly deviated wells with different orientations.', 'The cylinder in the demi-sphere illustrates the orientation of the well in the model.', 'Further, the intersections between the surfaces and the cylinder/well are also represented.', 'Additionally, \nFIG.', '16\n illustrates the addition of one or more noisy images to the training set and, specifically, adding noise to the synthetic images to be closer from real images, including stripes, ‘salt’, and truncations.', 'For example, sample \n1602\n illustrates no noise.', 'Sample \n1606\n illustrates an 8.5″ hole with 50% ‘white’ noise added.', 'Sample \n1606\n illustrates a 12.25″ hole with 60% coverage with stripes like formation micro-imager (FMI) FMI images along with 40% white noise added.', 'Sample \n1608\n illustrates an 8.5″ hole with 80% coverage and stripes like FMI images.', 'Sample \n1610\n illustrates an 8.5″ hole with one white stripe (i.e., one flap/pad not working).', 'Sample \n1612\n illustrates a 12.25″ hole with 50% ‘white’ noise added.', 'Further, sample \n1614\n illustrates an 8.5″ hole with 40% ‘white’ noise added.', 'Sample \n1616\n illustrates a 12.25″ hole with 60% coverage and stripes like FMI images.', 'Additionally, sample \n1618\n illustrates a 12.25″ hole with one white stripe (i.e., one flap/pad not working).', 'Sample \n1620\n illustrates an 8.5″ hole with 80% coverage, stripes like FMI images, and 40% ‘white’ noise added.', 'Sample \n1622\n illustrates a 12.25″ hole with a 40% ‘white’ noise added.', 'Further, sample \n1624\n illustrates a truncated image.', 'To train automated interpretation process \n10\n with one or more borehole images that are as realistic as possible, noise may be added to the one or more synthetic images.', 'Different levels of noise considered may include one or more of: (1) adding one or more masking stripes on the one or more synthetic images, thus reproducing limited coverage of certain types of pad-based imaging tools with, for example, 60% coverage in 12.25″ hole diameter, or 80% coverage in 8.5″ hole diameter; (2) adding one stripe on the one or more synthetic images, which may be equivalent to one pad or one flap not functioning; (3) adding a one-pixel stripe to one or more of the one or more synthetic images, which may be equivalent to a dead button; (4) adding ‘white’ noise to the one or more synthetic images to represent discontinuous interpretation obtained when the discontinuous (i.e., segment) extraction of sedimentary surfaces is used to automatically pick one or more features on the one or more synthetic images, or results when other patterns like breakouts and fractures are present also on the borehole images where different percentages of noise may be added to the one or more synthetic images (i.e., up to 50%); (5) translating patterns on the one or more synthetic images; (6) truncating the one or more synthetic images where only a limited part of the one or more synthetic images may be observed on a real image and one or more sections may be randomly selected on the images to train automated interpretation process \n10\n with truncated images; and (7) adding geometric noise where the borehole may not be perfectly circular (i.e., ellipse), and small depth error between pad may exist.', 'In some embodiments according to the present disclosure, multiple noise levels may be combined.', 'An initial comparison demonstrates that well known machine learning methods such as support vector machines, decision trees, random forest method, and fully-connected neural networks, do not perform as well as CNN based methods in classification of synthetically generated 2D image data.', 'On one hand, data may be converted into a very long input vector, thus spatial features may not be able to be captured.', 'However, a CNN may extract one or more spatial features from 2D input images directly, as illustrated in \nFIG.', '17\n which illustrates a LeNet-5 architecture.', 'Further, using a ResNet architecture, also referred to herein as “ResNet classification module” may be the most beneficial in classification in automated interpretation process \n10\n.', 'For example, automated interpretation process \n10\n may include using one or more ResNet classification modules with different settings and combined into an ensemble method where results of multiple models are voted on, and the most voted class may be selected as the prediction providing a confidence score among all votes.', 'Automated interpretation process \n10\n may train the one or more ResNet classification modules on an 2D input image that is 40 to 200 pixels tall and 140 pixels wide.', 'Such a small window of input may enable one or more small features to be captured and becomes crucial in the application of a sliding window.', 'A sliding window may be applied as a spatial sampling method where a long borehole image is provided.', 'Further, a sliding window may include defining a step of 5 to 10 pixel.', 'At each step, a 50-pixel window of a long borehole image may be cropped around the step point.', 'This cropped image may be fed into the one or more ResNet classification models and a classification prediction may be obtained.', 'Stepping through an entire borehole image, one or more classes of which the borehole image belongs to may be determined.', 'Additionally, a more advanced method of identification and localization may be performed using the YOLO (You-Only-Look-Once) algorithm.', 'In this approach, an entire borehole image may be fed into the automated interpretation process \n10\n and the YOLO algorithm may provide one or more coordinates of individual sedimentary geometries by placing boxes around each in addition to the class labels.', 'Since the YOLO algorithm is a fully-convolutional approach (i.e., it does not utilize sliding windows explicitly), it is may be significantly faster than above described method using one or more ResNet classification models.', 'The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems and methods and according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.', 'In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s).', 'It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures.', 'For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.', 'It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.', 'The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.', 'As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.', 'It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.', 'The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.', 'The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed.', 'Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.', 'The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.', 'Although a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from the scope of the present disclosure, described herein.', 'Accordingly, such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims.', 'In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures.', 'Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.', 'It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112, paragraph 6 for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ together with an associated function.', 'Having thus described the disclosure of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.']

['1.', 'A method for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images comprising:\nconstructing, using at least one processor, a training set of images corresponding to a borehole, wherein the training set includes one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images;\nautomatically classifying, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more individual sedimentary geometries using a machine learning model that has been trained based on images generated from wells with multiple deviations to automatically recognize one or more sedimentary geometries from one or more borehole images, regardless of borehole deviation, wherein the automatically classifying comprises: identifying a longer than standard borehole image in the training set of images; and applying a sliding window as a spatial sampling technique based on the identifying the longer than standard borehole image, wherein the spatial sampling technique includes providing a plurality of cropped images, corresponding to the sliding window, from the longer than standard borehole image as inputs to the machine learning model; and\nautomatically classifying, using the at least one processor, the training set into one or more priors for depositional environments, wherein the automatically classifying into the one or more priors includes: building one or more tables of sedimentary geometry successions that represent one or more depositional environments; and automatically obtaining, using the one or more tables, depositional environments from the training set of images.', '2.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the automatically classifying into the one or more priors for the depositional environments includes applying one or more machine learning techniques.', '3.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein an addition of noise includes at least one of adding one or more masking stripes on one or more synthetic images of the synthetic images, adding one stripe on the one or more synthetic images, adding a one-pixel stripe to the one or more synthetic images, adding white noise to the one or more synthetic images, translating patterns on the one or more synthetic images, truncating the one or more synthetic images, or adding geometric noise.', '4.', 'The method of claim 1, further comprising:\nutilizing one or more automated individual sedimentary geometry predictions to establish a depositional environment predictor.', '5.', 'The method of claim 4, wherein the depositional environment predictor includes a decision tree-based machine-learning, fuzzy-logic based algorithms, or a probabilistic graphical model.', '6.', 'A system for automated stratigraphy interpretation from borehole images comprising:\na memory configured to store one or more borehole images;\nat least one processor configured to: construct a training set of images corresponding to a borehole, wherein the training set includes one or more of synthetic images, real images, and modified images; automatically classify the training set into one or more individual sedimentary geometries using a machine learning model that has been trained based on images generated from wells with multiple deviations to automatically recognize one or more sedimentary geometries from one or more borehole images, regardless of borehole deviation, wherein the automatically classifying comprises: identifying a longer than standard borehole image in the training set of images; and applying a sliding window as a spatial sampling technique based on the identifying the longer than standard borehole image, wherein the spatial sampling technique includes providing a plurality of cropped images, corresponding to the sliding window, from the longer than standard borehole image as inputs to the machine learning model; automatically classify the training set into one or more priors for depositional environments, wherein the automatically classifying into the one or more priors includes: building one or more tables of sedimentary geometry successions that represent one or more depositional environments; and automatically obtaining, using the one or more tables, depositional environments from the training set of images.', '7.', 'The system of claim 6, wherein constructing the training set includes a forward model to generate the synthetic images.', '8.', 'The method according to claim 1, wherein constructing the training set includes a forward model to generate the synthetic images.', '9.', 'The method according to claim 8 wherein constructing the training set further includes an addition of noise to the synthetic images.', '10.', 'The system of claim 7, wherein constructing the training set further includes an addition of noise to the synthetic images.', '11.', 'The system of claim 6, wherein the automatically classifying into the one or more priors for the depositional environments includes applying one or more machine learning techniques.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n12.', 'The system of claim 6, wherein an addition of noise includes at least one of adding one or more masking stripes on one or more synthetic images of the synthetic images, adding one stripe on the one or more synthetic images, adding a one-pixel stripe to the one or more synthetic images, adding white noise to the one or more synthetic images, translating patterns on the one or more synthetic images, truncating the one or more synthetic images, or adding geometric noise.', '13.', 'The system of claim 6, further comprising:\nutilizing one or more automated individual sedimentary geometry predictions to establish a depositional environment predictor.', '14.', 'The system of claim 13, wherein the depositional environment predictor includes a decision tree-based machine-learning, fuzzy-logic based algorithms, or a probabilistic graphical model.']

['FIG.', '1 is a system in accordance with the automated interpretation process of the present disclosure;; FIG.', '2 is a diagram illustrating interpreted causes of steepening-upward and shallowing-upward dip trends in sedimentary strata;; FIG.', '3 is a diagram illustrating a determination of one or more paleoflow directions using down-hole scan images;; FIG.', '4 is a diagram illustrating bedform morphology and vertical sections, horizontal and vertical sections, and polar plots of cross beds and bounding-surface dip directions;; FIG.', '5 is a block diagram illustrating how different computer images are arranged according to classification parameters;; FIG.', '6 is a diagram depicting examples of various computer models with matching field examples;; FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of a method of automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG. 8 is a diagram depicting examples of sequences of sedimentary geometries defining depositional environments;; FIG.', '9 is a block diagram depicting an embodiment of a method of automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '10 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '11 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '12 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '13 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '14 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '15 a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure;; FIG.', '16 is a diagram depicting an embodiment of an automated interpretation process in accordance with the present disclosure; and; FIG.', '17 is a diagram depicting the LeNet-5 architecture.; FIG.', '5 further illustrates how the above mentioned computer program models are arranged according to classification parameters.', 'For example, a first computer program may calculate a topography of a bed surfaces and display the surface in a 3D perspective.', 'The resulting image may include both bed morphology and internal structures.', 'A second computer program may produce perspective block diagrams with horizontal sections instead of bed morphology at the top of the block.', 'Further, a third computer program may plot vectors that represent a migration of bedforms and scour pits.', 'Specifically, the third computer program may plot a direction of sediment transport represented by bedform migration azimuth.', 'It may also plot inclination of cross-bed and bounding-surface planes.']

US11820934

Microsphere compositions and methods for production in oil-based drilling fluids

Mar 10, 2020

Anders Grinrod

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

McClements, David Julian. “Advances in fabrication of emulsions with enhanced functionality using structural design principles.” Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science, vol. 17, issue 5 (2012), pp. 235-245. (Year: 2012).

6274174; August 14, 2001; Hom-ma; 7503404; March 17, 2009; McDaniel et al.; 10584272; March 10, 2020; Grinrod; 20090205824; August 20, 2009; Sullivan et al.; 20090205829; August 20, 2009; Sullivan et al.; 20100307744; December 9, 2010; Cochet

102626399; August 2012; CN; 0970705; January 2000; EP; 0187270; November 2001; WO

No images available

['A method includes admixing an aqueous polysaccharide solution into an oleaginous base fluid, and adding a divalent ion source to produce one or more polysaccharide microspheres.']

['Description\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS', 'This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser.', 'No. 15/371,394 filed Dec. 7, 2016, now U.S. Pat.', 'No. 10,584,272B2, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/263,783 filed on Dec. 7, 2015.', 'The entire content of this application is explicitly incorporated herein by this reference.', 'BACKGROUND\n \nDuring the drilling of a wellbore, various fluids are used in the well for a variety of functions.', 'The fluids may be circulated through a drill pipe and drill bit into the wellbore, and then may subsequently flow upward through wellbore to the surface.', 'During this circulation, a drilling fluid may act to remove drill cuttings from the bottom of the hole to the surface, to suspend cuttings and weighting material when circulation is interrupted, to control subsurface pressures, to maintain the integrity of the wellbore until the well section is cased and cemented, to isolate the fluids from the formation by providing sufficient hydrostatic pressure to prevent the ingress of formation fluids into the wellbore, to cool and lubricate the drill string and bit, and/or to maximize penetration rate.', 'During drilling operations, variations in formation composition may lead to undesirable fluid loss events in which substantial amounts of wellbore fluid are lost to the formation through large or small fissures or fractures in the formation or through a highly porous rock matrix surrounding the borehole.', 'In response to various types of formation damage and fluid loss, wellbore fluids may also be circulated downhole to deliver agents to treat or mitigate such problems.', 'Treatment compositions may be water- or oil-based and may contain weighting agents, surfactants, proppants, viscosifiers, and fluid loss additives depending on the nature of the problem.', 'For example, treatments may include physical treatments that contain viscosifying agents or particulate solids that reduce the mobility of fluids into formation defects or form aggregates that obstruct fractures or pores downhole, or chemical treatments that include polymer- or gel-forming components and cements that harden or set up to produce seals downhole.', 'DETAILED DESCRIPTION', 'In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to the use of polysaccharide compositions to encapsulate various materials for delivery and controlled release of materials in various wellbore operations.', 'In one or more embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be prepared in an oleaginous base fluid and used directly or isolated and later recombined with a suitable base fluid.', 'In some embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be disrupted in response to an external stimulus or triggering event, releasing any stored materials.', 'Triggering events may include changes in temperature or pH; degradation of the polysaccharide encapsulant by enzymes, oxidants, or solvents; or physical disruption of the encapsulant, such as by shearing, grinding, pressure such as differential pressure, or crushing.', 'In one or more embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be produced using an emulsion-based assembly method that includes forming an internal phase containing a polysaccharide encapsulant in a water-in-oil or invert emulsion, followed by crosslinking the polysaccharide at the surface of microspheres.', 'In particular, when the aqueous polysaccharide solution is mixed with the oil, the solution phase may separate to produce spheres that may harden and crosslink when a divalent ion source, such as calcium, is added.', 'To this end, it is believed that adding the ion source creates ionic bonding at the surface of the water-in-oil droplets to create a hardened shell or crosslinkage.', 'Following formation of the microspheres in the emulsified wellbore fluid, the fluid may then be used in a selected wellbore operation such as drilling, drill-in operations, productions, spot treatments, etc.', 'In some embodiments, the polysaccharide microspheres may be isolated from an emulsion, and combined with a separate wellbore fluid or stored for future use.', 'In some embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be used as a carrier for an oil-soluble additive in an oil-based fluid.', 'For example, an aqueous solution of polysaccharide is mixed with the oil-soluble additive and crosslinked prior to or soon after mixing with the oil-based wellbore fluid in order to trap the oil-soluble additive in the forming microsphere.', 'In one embodiment, polysaccharide microspheres of the present disclosure may be present cross linked and/or in a discrete particulate state rather than dissolved in the bulk solution as may be found in standard polymer solutions.', 'The oil-soluble additive may then be released at a later time by disrupting the polysaccharide microsphere according to methods of the present disclosure at a designated time into the surrounding fluids.', 'In some embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be used as a carrier for time-release of chemical additives such as crosslinking agents for components present in a wellbore fluid, rheological modifiers, or polymer-forming species such as silicates or silylated polymers.', 'Polysaccharide microspheres in accordance with the present disclosure may be used for a variety of downhole applications including delivering fluid loss additives, film-formers, bridging agents, and creation of downhole structures.', 'Once formed, polysaccharide microspheres may be isolated and added to various treatment fluid compositions.', 'Treatment fluids may be aqueous or non-aqueous, and may be selected based on the treatment desired and on the specific polysaccharide used in formation of the microspheres.', 'Once crosslinked, polysaccharide microspheres may be filtered from the solution in some embodiments and dried using standard filter and drying equipment.', 'In some embodiments, a continuous mix process may be selected and equipment may be sized and scaled accordingly.', 'For example, in a lab scale embodiment, a polysaccharide is dissolved and hydrated in a blender.', 'The resulting viscous fluid is agitated continuously, and then introduced into an oleaginous base fluid.', 'The viscous polysaccharide solution may then separate into an internal phase of distinct domains or microspheres within the fluid.', 'The ongoing agitation prevents gravity-based settling or agglomeration until an added crosslinker reacts with the polysaccharide solution to produce hardened microspheres.', 'Polysaccharide microspheres in accordance with the present disclosure may be used to stabilize emulsions in some embodiments.', 'For example, a polysaccharide encapsulant may produce a hardened layer around an aqueous internal phase that capable of maintaining emulsion stability, particularly in applications where the surfactant becomes unstable or degrades prematurely.', 'In some embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres present in a circulating wellbore fluid may form a filter cake in the formation.', 'For example, polysaccharide microspheres may be deposited as the fluid accumulates on the walls of a wellbore as a filter cake in some embodiments.', 'After deposition into a filtercake, the polysaccharide microspheres may be degraded using the appropriate stimuli and release chemical agents to perform a number of functions depending on the particular wellbore operation, such as aiding filter cake degradation or strengthening the filter cake.', 'Polysaccharide Encapsulant', 'In one or more embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be produced from a number of polysaccharide encapsulants.', 'Polysaccharide encapsulants in some embodiments may be polysaccharides that are crosslinked through ionic or covalent bonding to a crosslinking agent.', 'In or more embodiments, polysaccharide encapsulants may include alginates, guars, guar derivatives such as hydropropyl guar (HPG), carboxymethyl guar (CMG), and carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar (CMHPG).', 'Polysaccharide encapsulants may also include gums such as xanthan gum, diutan gum, and scleroglucan, cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) or hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose (CMHEC), or the like.', 'Polysaccharide encapsulants may be combined with a crosslinker in some embodiments that facilitate intermolecular and intramolecular association of polysaccharide chains at the surface of a forming microsphere.', 'Suitable crosslinkers may include polyvalent ions such as borates, or metal cations such as calcium, magnesium, chromium, iron, aluminum, titanium, antimony, and zirconium, or mixtures of polyvalent ions.', 'In some embodiments, the crosslinker may be isolated from the polysaccharide encapsulant, depending on the application.', 'For example, adding crosslinkers to a fluid may augment the viscosity and it may be desirable in some instances to delay such a reaction in order to decrease the pumping pressure required for delivery.', 'In another embodiment, pH may be used to control the formation of ionic bonding between a polysaccharide encapsulant and a crosslinker.', 'In such an arrangement, an emulsion containing a polysaccharide encapsulant in the aqueous phase may be kept at a low pH in order to protonate functional groups responsible for interacting with the crosslinker.', 'When formation of the polysaccharide microspheres is desired, the pH may be then increased through the addition of a pH modifier such as a base or other buffering compound.', 'In particular embodiments, the polysaccharide microspheres may be designed such that an encapsulated reagent is released when exposed to shear forces, such as those that occur during injection of a wellbore fluid downhole.', 'For example, an encapsulated reagent may be injected into a wellbore and as the wellbore fluid containing the encapsulated reagent is exposed to shear forces that occur as the fluid exits an opening in a tubular, drill string, or drill bit, the shear forces may disrupt the encapsulating material and release the reagent into the surrounding fluid.', 'Thus, the release and delivery of an encapsulated reagent may be obtained by tuning the shear pressure of the fluid injection in the wellbore.', 'In one or more embodiments, the average particle size of the polysaccharide microspheres may range from a lower limit of 1 μm, 5 μm, and 10 μm, to an upper limit of 30 μm, 50 μm, and 100 μm, where the average particle size may range from any lower limit to any upper limit.', 'Average particle size may be determined using a number of methods including light scattering, laser diffraction, sieve analysis, and the like.', 'In one or more embodiments, a polysaccharide encapsulant may be used to prepare an aqueous solution prior to crosslinking that may be combined with various additives that become entrained in the solution and later within the formed microsphere after crosslinking.', 'Polysaccharide encapsulant solutions may be prepared at a concentration that ranges from 0.2 to 10.0 weight percent of aqueous solution in some embodiments, and from 1 to 8 weight percent in other embodiments.', 'In one or more embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be prepared to encapsulate additives and/or solvents, which are then delivered to a selected location downhole.', 'In some embodiments, materials encapsulated in the polysaccharide microspheres may be released when activated at the bit when shear or pressure drop disrupts the microspheres.', 'For example, an encapsulated component may be injected into a wellbore and shear forces that occur as the fluid exits an opening in a tubular, drill string, or drill bit, may disrupt the polysaccharide microspheres and release the encapsulated component.', 'Shear forces are closely related to the pressure drop experienced by a wellbore fluid passing through constrictions in various pumps, pipes, and drill-bits that may be present during a particular wellbore operation.', "This phenomenon is also known as the Venturi effect, which describes the physical process in which a fluid's velocity increases as it passes through a constriction to satisfy the principle of continuity, while its pressure decreases to satisfy the principle of conservation of mechanical energy.", 'The greater the pressure differential between two particular stages that a wellbore fluid passes through (e.g., a change in diameter of a length of pipe or tubing), the greater the proportional pressure drop and shear force the fluid experiences.', 'For example, shear forces may be highest when a fluid passes through narrow openings or nozzles on a drill bit or a port of completion string downhole.', 'Thus, targeted delivery of the encapsulated materials may be achieved in some embodiments by tuning the durability of polysaccharide microspheres through concentration or crosslinking chemistry, by adjusting the pumping pressure of the wellbore fluids, or the opening sizes of the tools through which fluids are injected.', 'In one or more embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be designed such that the coating ruptures when exposed to shear forces that may range from 10,000 to 30,000 s\n−1 \nin some embodiments, or from 12,000 to 25,000 s\n−1 \nin other embodiments.', 'Breaker Agents', 'In some embodiments, degradation of polysaccharide microspheres may be initiated or accelerated by contact with a breaking agent that disrupts the crosslinks within the polysaccharide layer forming the microspheres, or degrades the backbone chain of the polysaccharide encapsulant.', 'In one or more embodiments, a breaking agent may include acids such as organic acids such as acetic acid and formic acid, or mineral acids such as phosphoric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, perchloric acid, and the like.', 'In some embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may be injected with a delayed acid source that produces acid at a time period after combination, which may allow materials encapsulated in the microspheres to be delivered to greater depths in the wellbore and/or into the formation.', 'Delayed acid sources may hydrolyze to form acids in situ, for example, by hydrolysis of an ester or anhydride to produce an organic acid.', 'Illustrative examples of delayed acid sources in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure include esters of carboxylic acids, anhydrides of carboxylic acids, esters of phosphonic acid, esters of sulfonic acid and other similar hydrolyzable compounds that are known to those skilled in the art.', 'In some embodiments, a delayed acid source may include an ester that hydrolyzes to produce the corresponding carboxylic acid.', 'Suitable esters may include formic or acetic acid ester of a C\n4\n-C\n30 \nalcohol, which may be mono- or polyhydric.', 'In one or more embodiments, a delayed acid source may include an aliphatic polyester such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polymers or co-polymers of esters that include, for example, substituted and unsubstituted polylactide, polyglycolide, polylactic acid, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polyglycolic acid, poly(ε-caprolactone), and the like.', 'In some embodiments, internal breakers in accordance with the present disclosure may contain one or more selected from homo- or copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid as well as compounds containing hydroxy, phenoxy, carboxylic, hydroxycarboxylic or phenoxycarboxylic moieties.', 'In some embodiments, chelating agents may be introduced into a fluid containing polysaccharide microspheres in order to trigger degradation by sequestering ionic species crosslinking the polysaccharide chains on the surfaces of the microspheres.', 'Chelating agents suitable for use in the breaker fluids of the present disclosure may include polydentate chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethyl)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid, 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraceticacid, cyclohexanediaminete-traacetic acid, triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid, N-(2-Hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N′,N′-triacetic acid, glutamic-N,N-diacetic acid, ethylene-diamine tetra-methylene sulfonic acid, diethylene-triamine penta-methylene sulfonic acid, amino tri-methylene sulfonic acid, ethylene-diamine tetra-methylene phosphonic acid, diethylene-triamine penta-methylene phosphonic acid, amino tri-methylene phosphonic acid, and mixtures thereof.', 'Such chelating agents may include potassium or sodium salts thereof in some embodiments.', 'However, this list is not intended to have any limitation on the chelating agents (or salt types) suitable for use in the embodiments disclosed herein.', 'In one or more embodiments, polysaccharide microspheres may also be degraded by adding an enzyme to degrade glycosidic linkages in the constituent polysaccharide.', 'Natural polymer degrading enzymes in accordance with the present disclosure may be selected from, for example, carbohydrases, amylases, pullulanases, and cellulases.', 'In some embodiments, the enzyme may be selected from endo-amylase, exo-amylase, isoamylase, glucosidase, amylo-glucosidase, malto-hydrolase, maltosidase, isomalto-hydrolase, malto-hexaosidase, or alginate lyase.', 'One skilled in the art would appreciate that selection of an enzyme may depend on various factors such as the type of polymeric additive used in the wellbore fluid being degraded, the temperature of the wellbore, and the pH of wellbore fluid.', 'Wellbore Fluids\n \nWellbore fluids may contain a base fluid that is entirely aqueous base or contains a full or partial oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion.', 'In some embodiments, the wellbore fluid may be any water-based fluid that is compatible with the accretion inhibiting compositions disclosed herein.', 'In some embodiments, the fluid may include at least one of fresh water, mixtures of water and water soluble organic compounds and mixtures thereof.', 'Wellbore fluids in accordance with the present disclosure may also include oleaginous base fluids such as natural or synthetic oils, including diesel oil, mineral oil, hydrogenated and unhydrogenated olefins including polyalpha olefins, linear and branch olefins and the like, polydiorganosiloxanes, siloxanes, or organosiloxanes, esters of fatty acids, specifically straight chain, branched and cyclical alkyl ethers of fatty acids, mixtures thereof, and similar compounds known to one of skill in the art.', 'In various embodiments, the wellbore fluid may contain a brine such as seawater, aqueous solutions wherein the salt concentration is less than that of sea water, or aqueous solutions wherein the salt concentration is greater than that of sea water.', 'Salts that may be found in seawater include, but are not limited to, sodium, calcium, aluminum, magnesium, potassium, strontium, lithium, and salts of chlorides, bromides, carbonates, iodides, chlorates, bromates, formates, nitrates, oxides, sulfates, phosphates, silicates and fluorides.', 'Salts that may be incorporated in a given brine include any one or more of those present in natural seawater or any other organic or inorganic dissolved salts.', 'Additionally, brines that may be used in the drilling fluids disclosed herein may be natural or synthetic, with synthetic brines tending to be much simpler in constitution.', 'One of ordinary skill would appreciate that the above salts may be present in the base fluid or may be added according to the method disclosed herein.', 'Further, the amount of the aqueous based continuous phase should be sufficient to form a water based drilling fluid.', 'This amount may range from nearly 100% of the wellbore fluid to less than 30% of the wellbore fluid by volume.', 'In some embodiments, the aqueous based continuous phase may constitute from about 95 to about 30% by volume or from about 90 to about 40% by volume of the wellbore fluid.', 'EXAMPLE', 'A method may be shown for producing polysaccharide microspheres in an invert emulsion in accordance with the present disclosure.', 'A 2% by weight solution of sodium alginate was prepared and mixed into a divalent cation-free brine.', 'The mixture was then emulsified into a mineral oil base fluid.', 'Next, the alginate in the dispersed aqueous phase was crosslinked by adding a dilute calcium chloride solution.', 'Upon addition of a the calcium chloride to the invert emulsion, the water droplets crosslinked almost instantaneously, and the internal aqueous phase droplets became encapsulated in a relatively mechanically strong microsphere.', 'Formation of microspheres was verified by optical microscopy.', 'Although the preceding description has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, it extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.']

['1.', 'A method comprising:\ndispersing an aqueous polysaccharide solution into an oleaginous base fluid; and\nadding a divalent ion source to produce one or more polysaccharide microspheres within the oleaginous base fluid, wherein the oleaginous base fluid is an oil-based mud; and wherein the polysaccharide microspheres contain an oil-soluble additive; wherein the oil-soluble additive comprises crosslinking agents, rheological modifiers, a polymer-forming species, or a combination thereof.', '2.', 'The method of claim 1, further comprising dispersing the oil-soluble additive within the aqueous polysaccharide solution prior to dispersing the aqueous polysaccharide solution into the oleaginous base fluid.', '3.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the crosslinking agent is mixed with the aqueous polysaccharide solution prior to dispersing the aqueous polysaccharide solution into the oleaginous base fluid.', '4.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the crosslinking agent is mixed with the aqueous polysaccharide solution after dispersing the aqueous polysaccharide solution into the oleaginous base fluid.', '5.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the aqueous polysaccharide solution contains a polysaccharide at a concentration of 1 to 8 weight percent of the aqueous solution.', '6.', 'The method of claim 1, further comprising isolating the one or more polysaccharide microspheres and combining the isolated one or more polysaccharide microspheres with a wellbore fluid.', '7.', 'The method of claim 6, wherein the wellbore fluid is an aqueous fluid or an oil-in-water emulsion.', '8.', 'The method of claim 6, wherein the wellbore fluid is an oleaginous fluid or an invert emulsion.', '9.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the polysaccharide is alginate.', '10.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the adding the divalent ion source causes crosslinking of the polysaccharide in the aqueous polysaccharide solution.', '11.', 'The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer-forming species are selected from a group of silicates and silylated polymers.']

['No Captions Available']

US11931822

System and methodology for welding

Oct 19, 2020

Hongfa Huang

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

"Extended European Search Report issued in European Patent Application No. 18888887.9 dated Nov. 9, (...TRUNCATED)

"RE20832; August 1938; Wells; 2191783; February 1940; Wells; 2286075; June 1942; Evans; 2789004; Apr(...TRUNCATED)

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"['A technique facilitates a welding operation in a variety of difficult environments, including dow(...TRUNCATED)

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS', 'This application is a (...TRUNCATED)

"['1.', 'A system, comprising:\\na welding tool having: a tool housing; a thermite mixture contained(...TRUNCATED)

"['FIG.', '1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a well string carrying a welding tool down(...TRUNCATED)

US11899243

System and method for joining fiber optic cables

Apr 25, 2022

Zhanke Liu, Mark Oettli, Shrividya Sridharan

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

"International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in International Patent application PCT/US20(...TRUNCATED)

"4580874; April 8, 1986; Winter; 4585287; April 29, 1986; Ramsey et al.; 6099170; August 8, 2000; Sa(...TRUNCATED)

0926519; July 2005; EP

"https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/b3/32/6f/861c12eb380e58/US11899243-20240213-D00000.png,(...TRUNCATED)

"['A method for joining fiber optic cables includes sliding a sleeve over a first fiber optic cable,(...TRUNCATED)

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nBACKGROUND\\n \\nThe subject matter disclosed herein relates to s(...TRUNCATED)

"['1.', 'A method for joining fiber optic cables, comprising:\\nsliding a sleeve over a first fiber (...TRUNCATED)

"['FIG.', '1 is a schematic diagram of a wellbore site employing fiber optic-connected tools, in acc(...TRUNCATED)

US11697986

Power management at a wellsite

Sep 4, 2020

Shunfeng Zheng

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

"Pavkovic et al., “Oil drilling rig diesel power-plant fuel efficiency improvement potentials thro(...TRUNCATED)

"4483362; November 20, 1984; Luginbuhl; 4593763; June 10, 1986; Burke; 6639331; October 28, 2003; Sc(...TRUNCATED)

"2003286901; October 2003; JP; 2018201118; November 2018; WO; 2018213925; November 2018; WO; 2019084(...TRUNCATED)

"https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/75/33/03/47e4897dacc9e6/US11697986-20230711-D00000.png,(...TRUNCATED)

"['Apparatus and methods for managing power at a wellsite.', 'An example apparatus may include a wel(...TRUNCATED)

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nBACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE\\n \\nWells are generally drilled in(...TRUNCATED)

"['1.', 'A well construction system comprising:\\nwell construction equipment operable to construct,(...TRUNCATED)

"['FIG.', '1 is a schematic view of at least a portion of an example implementation of apparatus acc(...TRUNCATED)

US11727191

Process for highlighting text with varied orientation

May 21, 2020

Mohit Sajwan

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

"Nov. 10, 2021_International Search Report and Written Opinion for the equivalent PCT/US20/033906 da(...TRUNCATED)

"6230171; May 8, 2001; Pacifici et al.; 7966623; June 21, 2011; Chandra; 9224061; December 29, 2015;(...TRUNCATED)

1995037116; February 1995; JP

"https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/41/ac/8a/2c0582ca6ae624/US11727191-20230815-D00000.png,(...TRUNCATED)

"['A computer-implemented method and apparatus for highlighting text in an image disposed in a marku(...TRUNCATED)

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nCROSS REFERENCE PARAGRAPH\\n \\nThis application claims the benef(...TRUNCATED)

"['1.', 'A computer-implemented method for highlighting text in an image disposed in a markup langua(...TRUNCATED)

"['FIG.', '1 is a block diagram of an example hardware and software environment for a data processin(...TRUNCATED)

US11933127

System and method for controlled downhole chemical release

Oct 9, 2020

Richard Morrison, Sascha Trummer

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

"International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued in International Patent application PCT/20(...TRUNCATED)

"5778978; July 14, 1998; Crow; 6543544; April 8, 2003; Schultz et al.; 7967067; June 28, 2011; Irani(...TRUNCATED)

Foreign Citations not found.

"https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/12/ed/be/c606b761cc7a03/US11933127-20240319-D00000.png,(...TRUNCATED)

"['A technique facilitates precision fluid conveyance and placement to one or more desired locations(...TRUNCATED)

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION', 'The present document is(...TRUNCATED)

"['1.', 'A system for use in a well, comprising:\\na well string having well equipment coupled to co(...TRUNCATED)

"['FIG.', '1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a downhole fluid conveyance and placement (...TRUNCATED)

USD1016958

Shaped charge frame

Sep 11, 2020

Andrew Prisbell, Todd Busch, Atsushi Nakano, Erick Lowe

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

"“Stimulation-Optimized Shaped Charges” [online]. slb.com. [Retrieved on Oct. 2, 2023]. Retrieve(...TRUNCATED)

"2062974; December 1936; Lane; D126856; April 1941; Ricou; 2252270; August 1941; Miller; 3067679; De(...TRUNCATED)

"2532088; January 2005; CA; 3044516; July 2018; CA; 2244095; January 1997; CN; 101575965; November 2(...TRUNCATED)

"https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/8c/af/9f/1de570bbc14d3f/USD1016958-20240305-D00000.png,(...TRUNCATED)

['No Abstract Available']

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n \\nFIG.', '1\\n is an isometric view of the first embodiment of (...TRUNCATED)

['The ornamental design for a shaped charge frame, as shown and described.']

"['FIG.', '1 is an isometric view of the first embodiment of a shaped charge frame at a first top an(...TRUNCATED)

US11933133

Combined actuation of slips and packer sealing element

Oct 20, 2020

Farhan Ahmed Omer, Susan Wu, Thomas Eric Dudley, Yiming Fan, Weiming Lan, Nitin Verroju

SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

"International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT Application PCT/US2020/056406 dated F(...TRUNCATED)

"2057859; October 1936; Thaheld; 3000443; September 1961; Thompson; 4757860; July 19, 1988; Reimert;(...TRUNCATED)

2308138; June 1997; GB; 158674; January 2016; RU; 2674781; December 2018; RU

"https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/4e/f8/76/dbf86db2c03dcd/US11933133-20240319-D00000.png,(...TRUNCATED)

"['A technique facilitates actuation of a packer to a sealing and gripping position along a borehole(...TRUNCATED)

"['Description\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS\\n \\nThe present documen(...TRUNCATED)

"['1.', 'A system for use in a well, comprising:\\na well string having a packer mounted along the w(...TRUNCATED)

"['FIG.', '1 is a schematic illustration of an example of a packer positioned along a well string lo(...TRUNCATED)