US3704749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for tool orientation in a bore hole
Assignee: NL Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-05-06
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Granted: 1972-12-05
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Expires: 1991-05-06
Abstract
Abstract An orienting device for a gun or jet perforator or the like to permit setting at a selected angle to a ferrous element such as an adjacent casing string, comprising an exciter coil producing an alternating electromagnetic field and a pair of receiver coils longitudinally spaced from the exciter coils, the disposition of the receiver coils being such that the voltages induced therein vary differentially with the angle presented by the ferrous element by reason of the distortion of the otherwise axially symmetrical field. Electronic means are provided to convert the differential voltages to a pulsed signal which is received at the surface and caused to register the orientation angle. Motor means are provided to rotate the device. All operating power, control signals, and information signals are transmitted by a single conductor cable serving also to suspend the device.
Inventors
- 👤 James D Estes
- 👤 Kirby De Gough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:45
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/02; E21B47/024; E21B43/00; E21B43/11; E21B43/119
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A device for sub-surface emplacement in a bore hole adjacent to a ferrous element for determining the orientation of said element with respect to said device comprising: an exciter coil producing an electromagnetic field in the region surrounding said coil, said field having axial symmetry in the absence of said element but having axial asymmetry in the presence of said element; a reference coil longitudinally spaced from said exciter coil and adapted for the production of an induced voltage from said field; a sensor coil adjacent said reference coil likewise adapted for the production of an induced voltage from said field, said sensor coil being positioned non-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said exciter coil; means for rotating said device in said bore hole; means for determining the ratio of said induced voltage in said sensor coil to said induced voltage from said reference coil as a function of the angular orientation of said device with respect to said ferrous element.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A device for sub-surface emplacement in a bore hole adjacent to a ferrous element for determining the orientation of said element with respect to said device comprising: an exciter coil producing an electromagnetic field in the region surrounding said coil, said field having axial symmetry in the absence of said element but having axial asymmetry in the presence of said element; a reference coil longitudinally spaced from said exciter coil and adapted for the production of an induced voltage from said field; a sensor coil adjacent said reference coil likewise adapted for the production of an induced voltage from said field, said sensor coil being positioned non-symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis of said exciter coil; means for rotating said device in said bore hole; means for determining the ratio of said induced voltage in said sensor coil to said induced voltage from said reference coil as a function of the angular orientation of said device with respect to said ferrous element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reference coil is coaxial with said exciter coil and said sensor coil is positioned at an angle to the axis of said exciter coil and said reference coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reference coil and said sensor coil are spaced from the axis of said exciter coil and each has its axis parallel to the axis of said exciter coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said reference coil and said sensor coil are each spaced from the axis of said exciter coil and wherein each has its axis positioned at a like angle from said exciter coil axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
131 words
An orientatable perforating device for subsurface use and adapted to perforate in a preselected orientation comprising, in combination: positioning means; rotating motor means attacHed to said positioning means; exciter coil means likewise attached to said positioning means, said exciter coil means producing an electromagnetic field which is axially symmetrical with respect to said device when in an isotropic environment; receiver means longitudinally spaced from said exciter coil means and rotatable by said motor means, said receiver means comprising an electromagnetic field sensor responsive to the magnitude and the configuration of said electromagnetic field, said sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of said magnitude and said configuration; means for transmitting said signal to the surface; perforating means actuatable from said surface and carried by said device and rotated by said motor means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
An orientatable perforating device for subsurface use and adapted to perforate in a preselected orientation comprising, in combination: positioning means; rotating motor means attacHed to said positioning means; exciter coil means likewise attached to said positioning means, said exciter coil means producing an electromagnetic field which is axially symmetrical with respect to said device when in an isotropic environment; receiver means longitudinally spaced from said exciter coil means and rotatable by said motor means, said receiver means comprising an electromagnetic field sensor responsive to the magnitude and the configuration of said electromagnetic field, said sensor providing an electrical signal indicative of said magnitude and said configuration; means for transmitting said signal to the surface; perforating means actuatable from said surface and carried by said device and rotated by said motor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device in accordance with claim 5 in which said receiver means comprises a reference coil and a sensor coil, each adapted for the production of an induced voltage from said field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device in accordance with claim 5 in which said sensor is a magnetometer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
200 words
An orientatable perforating device for subsurface use and adapted to perforate in a preselected orientation comprising, in combination, positioning means; rotating motor means attached to said positioning means; exciter coil means likewise attached to said positioning means, said exciter coil means producing an electromagnetic field which is axially symmetrical with respect to said device when in an isotropic environment; receiver coil means longitudinally spaced from said exciter coil means and rotatable by said rotor means and including a reference coil capable of producing an induced voltage from said electromagnetic field and a sensor coil means capable of producing an induced voltage from said field, said sensor coil means having its axis oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said device so that when said field is axially non-symmetrical, the voltage induced in said sensor coil varies with its relative orientation with respect to said non-symmetrical field; means responsive to the ratio of the induced voltage in said sensor coil to the induced voltage in said reference coil and producing a signal indicative of said ratio which is transmitted to the surface; perforating means actuatable from said surface and carried by said device and rotated by said motor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
200 words
An orientatable perforating device for subsurface use and adapted to perforate in a preselected orientation comprising, in combination, positioning means; rotating motor means attached to said positioning means; exciter coil means likewise attached to said positioning means, said exciter coil means producing an electromagnetic field which is axially symmetrical with respect to said device when in an isotropic environment; receiver coil means longitudinally spaced from said exciter coil means and rotatable by said rotor means and including a reference coil capable of producing an induced voltage from said electromagnetic field and a sensor coil means capable of producing an induced voltage from said field, said sensor coil means having its axis oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said device so that when said field is axially non-symmetrical, the voltage induced in said sensor coil varies with its relative orientation with respect to said non-symmetrical field; means responsive to the ratio of the induced voltage in said sensor coil to the induced voltage in said reference coil and producing a signal indicative of said ratio which is transmitted to the surface; perforating means actuatable from said surface and carried by said device and rotated by said motor means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for orienting an actuatable subsurface device in a bore hole containing a first casing string and a second casing string, to a preselected orientation comprising: positioning in said first casing string a source of electromagnetic flux normally axially symmetric with said first casing string but asymmetrically distorted by the presence of said second casing string; positioning a rotatable receiver means longitudinally spaced from said source within said first casing string, said receiver means being responsive to the magnitude and the configuration of said electromagnetic flux and providing an electrical signal indicative of said configuration; transmitting said signal to said surface; rotating said receiver means so as to cause a registration at said surface of its orientation with respect to said second casing string; rotating said sub-surface actuatable device into said preselected position; subsequently actuating said device.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
138 words
A method for orienting an actuatable subsurface device in a bore hole containing a first casing string and a second casing string, to a preselected orientation comprising: positioning in said first casing string a source of electromagnetic flux normally axially symmetric with said first casing string but asymmetrically distorted by the presence of said second casing string; positioning a rotatable receiver means longitudinally spaced from said source within said first casing string, said receiver means being responsive to the magnitude and the configuration of said electromagnetic flux and providing an electrical signal indicative of said configuration; transmitting said signal to said surface; rotating said receiver means so as to cause a registration at said surface of its orientation with respect to said second casing string; rotating said sub-surface actuatable device into said preselected position; subsequently actuating said device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said device is a perforator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said source of electromagnetic flux is placed in said second casing string, and said rotatable receiver means is not necessarily longitudinally spaced from said source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said receiver means comprises a reference coil capable of producing an induced voltage from said electromagnetic flux and a sensor coil means capable of producing an induced voltage from said flux, said sensor coil means having its axis oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said casing string.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance wIth claim 12 wherein said device is a perforator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said receiver means is a magnetometer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said device is a perforator.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-12-05 | 1976-06-05 | 1976-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-12-05 | 1980-06-05 | 1980-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-12-05 | 1984-06-05 | 1984-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |