Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for predicting physical characteristics of a physical environment using a physical characterization model trained based on simulated states of a modeled physical environment. A physical characterization model can be generated based on a plurality of simulated states of a modeled physical environment. Specifically, the physical characterization model can be trained by mapping simulated spatial properties of the modeled physical environment temporally across the plurality of simulated states of the modeled physical environment. Further, input state data describing one or more input states of a physical environment can be received. One or more physical characteristics of the physical environment can be predicted by applying the physical characterization model to the one or more input states of the physical environment.

A measurement is made of a formation containing a flood front with a downhole electromagnetic sensor. A parameter of a cross-bedding model is calculated by fitting the measurement to the cross-bedding model. A rock petrophysical parameter is calculated using the cross-bedding model. The cross-bedding model is updated using the rock petrophysical parameter. The updated cross-bedding model is used to make an operational decision.

An electronics module or “puck” is positioned in a recess formed in the outer surface of a downhole tool. The puck body includes a flange segment having a first outer diameter, and an adjacent seal-engaging segment having an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the flange segment. An annular seal is disposed about the seal-engaging segment and seals between the puck and the perimeter wall of the recess. A cover ring is disposed over an intermediate segment of the puck body, capturing the seal between the cover and the flange segment. A retainer ring is employed to selectively engage and disengage the perimeter wall of the recess, retaining the puck, seal and covering ring in the recess. A method for installation and removal of the puck is disclosed.

Methods to estimate formation slowness from multi-borehole modes and multi-mode dispersion estimation systems are presented. The method includes obtaining waveform data of a plurality of waves traversing through a downhole formation, wherein each wave of the plurality of waves has a different threshold cutoff frequency, and performing a multimode dispersion analysis of the waveform data to generate a semblance map of the wave comprising the plurality of waves. The method also includes obtaining a slowness dispersion of a wave of the plurality of waves, and determining a formation type of the wave based on one or more properties of the plurality of waves. The method further includes determining an initial body wave slowness estimate of the wave, generating a modeling of the wave, and reducing a mismatch between the modeling of the wave and the slowness dispersion of the wave to improve the modeling of the wave.

An integrated data recorder may be positioned within a slot in a tool. The integrated data recorder includes a sensor package that includes one or more drilling dynamics sensors, a processor in data communication with the one or more drilling dynamics sensors, a memory module in data communication with the one or more drilling dynamics sensors, a wireless communications module in data communication with the processor, and an electrical energy source in electrical communication with the memory module, the one or more drilling dynamics sensors, and the processor.

A method including obtaining, by a computer processor, at least one key log in each of a set of training wells located, at least partially, within a hydrocarbon reservoir, identifying a target formation bounding surface in each of the set of training wells, and generating an initial depth surface for the target formation bounding surface from the target formation bounding surface in each of the set of training wells. The method further including, determining from the initial depth surface an initial depth estimate of the target formation bounding surface at a location of a current well, forming an objective function based, at least in part on a correlation between each key log in each of the set of training wells, and each corresponding key log in the current well, and optimizing the objective function by varying a depth shift between each of the set of training wells and the current well, to determine an optimum depth shift that produces an extremum of the objective function. The method still further including combining the initial depth estimate of the target formation bounding surface at the location of the current well with the optimum depth shift to produce a final depth estimate of the target formation bounding surface at the location of the current well.

An innovative apparatus and computer implemented methods to obtain values for a set of scalars corresponding to each force and displacement, which may be obtained from acoustical signals captured by sensors of a drill bit while drilling, in a material of known mechanical properties, such as a cement from casing the well, such that the application and use of the scalars in relation to measurements of the mechanics while drilling, such as the acceleration of the bit and motion of the bit captured by sensors such as accelerometers, allow for absolute values of mechanical rock properties to be obtained in rock formations, being drilled through, with otherwise unknown mechanical properties prior to drilling.

A method of determining the depth of a sidewall core sample taken from a borehole relative to a reference log of the borehole. The method includes obtaining a reference log recorded on a reference log depth scale and a borehole image log recorded on a borehole image log depth scale of a portion of the borehole from which the sidewall core sample has been taken. The method further includes generating a calibrated borehole image log from the borehole image log and the reference log and identifying a candidate sidewall core image artifact in the calibrated borehole image log. The method also includes assigning a confidence value for the candidate sidewall core image artifact based on a characteristic of the candidate sidewall core image artifact, and determining, using the confidence value, a probability that the sidewall core sample was collected at a certain depth on the reference log depth scale.

A system for collecting subsurface formation data in a petroleum exploration environment includes a drilling tool and a subsurface formation data hub. A drilling tool may include drill pipe, a geophone, a drilling hammer, and a drill bit. The subsurface formation data hub may comprise a seismic data processor and a user interface. The seismic data processor may be operable to drive the drilling hammer at a frequency and an energy, synchronize the geophone to sense seismic vibration at a frequency, and determine subsurface formation properties. The user interface may be operable to display subsurface formation data. A method of collecting subsurface formation data in a petroleum exploration environment may include defining a drilling hammer frequency and energy, synchronizing a geophone to sense seismic vibration at a frequency, generating an impact in the petroleum exploration environment, receiving a returning seismic vibration at the geophone, and collecting subsurface formation data.

A logging-while-drilling (LWD) tool for use within a formation. The LWD tool may include a transmitter, a receiver, and an acoustic isolator. The transmitter may be operable to transmit an acoustic signal into the formation. The receiver may be operable to receive an acoustic response from the formation. The acoustic isolator may be positioned longitudinally between the transmitter and the receiver to reduce a transfer of acoustic energy between the transmitter and the receiver through the LWD tool. The acoustic isolator may include annular chambers formed in a body of the acoustic isolator and positioned along a longitudinal axis of the acoustic isolator.