US3590940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Well-logging apparatus
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1969-05-26
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-05-26
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a well tool having a rotating transducer is moved through a well bore. The transducer is repetitively energized to emit acoustic energy into the media surrounding the well too, which energy is reflected off of various circumferential portions of the well bore wall and returned to the rotating transducer. An electrical signal pulse is developed in response to each burst of reflected energy received by the transducer and this pulse, along with an electrical sync pulse representative of the time at which the transducer is energized, is transmitted to the surface of the earth. At the surface of the earth, the time relationship of the sync and signal pulses to one another is measured to provide information concerning the average well bore radius or diameter, well bore eccentricity, as well as information as to the authenticity of these caliper measurements. To provide this information, the time spacing between the sync and signal pulses is converted to an amplitude signal. This amplitude signal is then filtered to provide an average radius measurement and the maximum and minimum amplitude levels of this amplitude signal per revolution or so of the rotating transducer are measured to provide maximum and minimum radius measurements. To check the authenticity of these measurements, circuits are provided for determining if there is a signal pulse for every sync pulse.
Inventors
- 👤 Geary L Leger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:21
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/08; E21B47/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
In well bore radius measuring apparatus of the type where a well tool emits energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receives energy reflected back from a well bore wall and produces electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received, apparatus for processing said pulses to provide radius measurements, comprising: means responsive to each energy emitted pulse for generating a delayed pulse a given time interval after each energy-emitting pulse; means for producing a pulse of constant current having a time duration representative of the time interval between each delayed pulse and a subsequent received energy pulse; means for integrating said current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy emitted and energy received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; and means responsive to each energy emitted pulse for resetting said integrating means to an initial reference voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
In well bore radius measuring apparatus of the type where a well tool emits energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receives energy reflected back from a well bore wall and produces electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received, apparatus for processing said pulses to provide radius measurements, comprising: means responsive to each energy emitted pulse for generating a delayed pulse a given time interval after each energy-emitting pulse; means for producing a pulse of constant current having a time duration representative of the time interval between each delayed pulse and a subsequent received energy pulse; means for integrating said current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy emitted and energy received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; and means responsive to each energy emitted pulse for resetting said integrating means to an initial reference voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said constant current pulse producing means includes a first bistable means adapted to be set and reset by said delayed and energy received pulses, and constant-current means gated by one output of said bistable means for producing said constant-current pulse; and further including means for checking the authenticity of said radius measurements, including gated bistable means adapted to be set and reset by selected outputs of said first bistable means and gated by said energy emitted pulse whereby a selected output of said gated bistable means will assume a given state whenever an energy-received pulse is missed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resetting means includes means for comparing the output voltage of said integrating means with said initial reference voltage and supplying current to the input of said integrating means of an opposite polarity from said current pulse until said integrating means output voltage is substantially equal to said initial reference voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further including means responsive to the energy received pulses for transferring the voltage output of said integrating means to a storage means for subsequent use in providing well bore raDius indications.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 4 and further including means responsive to said stored integrator output voltage for measuring one of the maximum or minimum amplitude levels of said stored output voltage over a selected time interval to thereby obtain a measure of the maximum or minimum radius of a well bore over a selected well bore interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means responsive to each energy-emitted pulse for generating a delayed pulse a given time interval after each energy-emitting pulse; means for producing a pulse of constant current having a time duration representative of the time interval between each delayed pulse and a subsequent received energy pulse; means for integrating said current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; and means responsive to each energy-emitted pulse for resetting said integrating means to an initial reference voltage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
188 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means responsive to each energy-emitted pulse for generating a delayed pulse a given time interval after each energy-emitting pulse; means for producing a pulse of constant current having a time duration representative of the time interval between each delayed pulse and a subsequent received energy pulse; means for integrating said current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; and means responsive to each energy-emitted pulse for resetting said integrating means to an initial reference voltage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
In well bore radius measuring apparatus of the type where a well tool emits energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receives energy reflected back from a well bore wall and produces electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received, apparatus for processing said pulses to provide radius measurements, comprising: means responsive to said pulses for generating a constant-current pulse having a time duration representative of the time relationship of said energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to one another; means for integrating each constant-current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; and means for periodically resetting said integrating means including means for comparing the output voltage of said integrating means with a reference voltage and supplying current to the input of said integrating means of an opposite polarity from said current pulse until said integrating means output voltage is substantially equal to said reference voltage to thereby reset said integrating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
In well bore radius measuring apparatus of the type where a well tool emits energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receives energy reflected back from a well bore wall and produces electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received, apparatus for processing said pulses to provide radius measurements, comprising: means responsive to said pulses for generating a constant-current pulse having a time duration representative of the time relationship of said energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to one another; means for integrating each constant-current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; and means for periodically resetting said integrating means including means for comparing the output voltage of said integrating means with a reference voltage and supplying current to the input of said integrating means of an opposite polarity from said current pulse until said integrating means output voltage is substantially equal to said reference voltage to thereby reset said integrating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means responsive to said pulses for generating a constant-current pulse having a time duration representative of the time relationship of said energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to one another; means for integrating each constant-current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; means for periodically resetting said integrating means including means for comparing the output voltage of said integrating means with a reference voltage and supplying current to the input of said integrating means of an opposite polarity from said current pulse until said integrating means output voltage is substantially equal to said reference voltage to thereby reset said integrating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
212 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means responsive to said pulses for generating a constant-current pulse having a time duration representative of the time relationship of said energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to one another; means for integrating each constant-current pulse to produce an output voltage representative of the time spacing between successive energy-emitted and energy-received pulses to thereby produce a measure of the radius of a well bore; means for periodically resetting said integrating means including means for comparing the output voltage of said integrating means with a reference voltage and supplying current to the input of said integrating means of an opposite polarity from said current pulse until said integrating means output voltage is substantially equal to said reference voltage to thereby reset said integrating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
184 words
In well bore radius measuring apparatus of the type where a well tool emits energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receives energy reflected back from a well bore wall and produces electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received, apparatus for processing said pulses to provide radius measurements, comprising: means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative thereof; means for measuring one of the maximum or minimum amplitude levels of said output signal to provide a measure of the maximum radius of a well bore, said maximum or minimum measuring means including storage means, means for maintaining the voltage stored by said storage means substantially equal to one of the highest or lowest amplitude levels of said output signal; and means for repetitively resetting said storage means maximum or minimum to an initial reference amplitude at selected time intervals so that said stored voltage will reflect the maximum or minimum well bore radius over a selected well bore interval.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
184 words
In well bore radius measuring apparatus of the type where a well tool emits energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receives energy reflected back from a well bore wall and produces electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received, apparatus for processing said pulses to provide radius measurements, comprising: means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative thereof; means for measuring one of the maximum or minimum amplitude levels of said output signal to provide a measure of the maximum radius of a well bore, said maximum or minimum measuring means including storage means, means for maintaining the voltage stored by said storage means substantially equal to one of the highest or lowest amplitude levels of said output signal; and means for repetitively resetting said storage means maximum or minimum to an initial reference amplitude at selected time intervals so that said stored voltage will reflect the maximum or minimum well bore radius over a selected well bore interval.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative thereof; means for measuring the maximum amplitude level of said output signal to provide a measure of the maximum radius of a well bore, said maximum measuring means including storage means, means for maintaining the voltage stored by said storage means substantially equal to the highest amplitude level of said output signal; and means for repetitively resetting said storage means to an initial reference amplitude at selected time intervals which intervals are at least as great as the time for said transducer means to make one complete revolution around a well bore so that a measure of the maximum well bore radius per approximate revolution of the transducer means can be obtained.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative thereof; means for measuring the maximum amplitude level of said output signal to provide a measure of the maximum radius of a well bore, said maximum measuring means including storage means, means for maintaining the voltage stored by said storage means substantially equal to the highest amplitude level of said output signal; and means for repetitively resetting said storage means to an initial reference amplitude at selected time intervals which intervals are at least as great as the time for said transducer means to make one complete revolution around a well bore so that a measure of the maximum well bore radius per approximate revolution of the transducer means can be obtained.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said maintaining means of said maximum amplitude measuring means includes polarity-sensitive means for supplying current to said storage means when the voltage stored by said storage means is less than the amplitude level of said output signal to thereby cause said storage means to charge up to approximately the amplitude level of said output signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for measuring the maximum amplitude level to provide a measure of the maximum well bore radius further includes means synchronized with said resetting means for repetitively sampling the voltage stored by said storage means at a time prior to the reset of said storage means to thereby provide an indication of the maximum well bore radius.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative thereof; means for measuring the minimum amplitude level of said output signal to provide a measure of the minimum radius of a well bore, said minimum measuring means including storage means, means for maintaining the voltage stored by said storage means substantially equal to the lowest amplitude level of said output signal; and means for repetitively resetting said storage means to an initial reference amplitude at selected time intervals which intervals are at least as great as the time for said transducer means to make one complete revolution around a well bore so that a measure of the minimum well bore radius per approximate revolution of the transducer means can be obtained.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
228 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical pulses representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative thereof; means for measuring the minimum amplitude level of said output signal to provide a measure of the minimum radius of a well bore, said minimum measuring means including storage means, means for maintaining the voltage stored by said storage means substantially equal to the lowest amplitude level of said output signal; and means for repetitively resetting said storage means to an initial reference amplitude at selected time intervals which intervals are at least as great as the time for said transducer means to make one complete revolution around a well bore so that a measure of the minimum well bore radius per approximate revolution of the transducer means can be obtained.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said maintaining means of said minimum amplitude measuring means includes polarity-sensitive means for drawing charge from said storage means when the voltage stored by said storage means is greater than the amplitude level of said output signal to thereby cause said storage means to discharge to approximately the amplitude level of said output signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for measuring the minimum amplitude level to provide a measure of the minimum well bore radius further includes means synchronized with said resetting means for repetitively sampling the voltage stored by said storage means at a time prior to the reset of said storage means to thereby provide an indication of the minimum well bore radius.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical signals representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative of the radius of a well bore; scale selection means for attenuating said output radius signal by a selected amount and subtracting a selected voltage from said output radius signal to produce a scale selected output signal; and means for recording said scale selected output signal whereby the selected attenuation and subtraction voltage will determine the particular scale to which the radius measurements are recorded.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for measuring the radius of a well bore, comprising: a well tool having transducer means for directionally emitting energy into a media surrounding said well tool and receiving energy reflected back from a well bore wall, means for rotating said transducer means so that said emitted energy will be sequentially directed at various circumferential portions of a well bore wall, circuit means for repetitively energizing said transducer means to emit energy and developing electrical signals representative of the times at which energy is emitted and received by said transducer means; means for measuring the time separation between each set of said energy-emitting and energy-received electrical signals and providing an output signal whose amplitude is representative of the radius of a well bore; scale selection means for attenuating said output radius signal by a selected amount and subtracting a selected voltage from said output radius signal to produce a scale selected output signal; and means for recording said scale selected output signal whereby the selected attenuation and subtraction voltage will determine the particular scale to which the radius measurements are recorded.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |