US3771118A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Borehole orientation tool
Assignee: Sperry Sun Well Surveying Co
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Filing: 1969-11-21
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1989-11-21
Abstract
Abstract The particular embodiment described herein as illustrative of one form of the invention utilizes a device for detecting the angular position and directional orientation of a housing within a wellbore and for generating a signal indicative of such information for transmission to the earth''s surface.
Inventors
- 👤 H Lichte
- 👤 J Lindsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:01
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/02; E21B47/024; E21B47/022; E21B47/0236; E21B47/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A wellbore apparatus including a housing and having means for measuring a parameter of the positional attitude of the housing in the wellbore, which means comprises: a surface oriented member mounted for movement in said housing; means on said surface oriented member for providing a first reference marker indicative of the position of said member; means on said housing for providing a second reference marker indicative of a parameter of the attitude of said housing; means for cyclically scanning said first and second reference markers and for generating periodic signals indicative of the relative positions of said first and second reference markers, said reference markers and scanning means including a light source, light admitting means, and light sensitive means for providing an electrical signal in response to movement to said light source past said light admitting means; and a pulse source and a pulse counter wherein said light sensitive means provides a first gate signal in response to the movement of said light source past said first reference marker for starting the pulse counter and a second gate signal in response to the movement of said light source past said second reference marker for stopping the pulse counter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A wellbore apparatus including a housing and having means for measuring a parameter of the positional attitude of the housing in the wellbore, which means comprises: a surface oriented member mounted for movement in said housing; means on said surface oriented member for providing a first reference marker indicative of the position of said member; means on said housing for providing a second reference marker indicative of a parameter of the attitude of said housing; means for cyclically scanning said first and second reference markers and for generating periodic signals indicative of the relative positions of said first and second reference markers, said reference markers and scanning means including a light source, light admitting means, and light sensitive means for providing an electrical signal in response to movement to said light source past said light admitting means; and a pulse source and a pulse counter wherein said light sensitive means provides a first gate signal in response to the movement of said light source past said first reference marker for starting the pulse counter and a second gate signal in response to the movement of said light source past said second reference marker for stopping the pulse counter.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for detecting and indicating the positional attitude of an apparatus within a wellbore comprising: a housing having first and second instrument means for detecting the angular attitude of said housing; said first and second instrument means each having a pendulous member oriented with the earth''s surface and a reference marker on said housing; cyclic scanning means for detecting the position of said pendulous member and said reference marker during each scanning cycle; and means for providing electrical gate signals in timed proportion to the angular distance between the pendulous member and said reference marker.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for detecting and indicating the positional attitude of an apparatus within a wellbore comprising: a housing having first and second instrument means for detecting the angular attitude of said housing; said first and second instrument means each having a pendulous member oriented with the earth''s surface and a reference marker on said housing; cyclic scanning means for detecting the position of said pendulous member and said reference marker during each scanning cycle; and means for providing electrical gate signals in timed proportion to the angular distance between the pendulous member and said reference marker.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said scanning means includes light source means, and light sensitive means for detecting changes in the position of said pendulous member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 2 and further including a third instrument means having an azimuth oriented member and an azimuth reference marker, cyclic scanning means for detecting the position of said azimuth oriented member and said azimuth reference marker during each scanning cycle, and means for providing electrical gate signals in timed proportion to the angular distance between the azimuth oriented member and the azimuth reference marker.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4 and further including means for counting the timed relation between said gate signals and for storing information indicative of such timed relation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5 and further including means for providing pulses in multiples of 36 for each Scanning cycle wherein said gate signals start and stop the passage of said pulses to said counting means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 and further including means for combining the information derived from said instrument means for providing accurate measurements of the attitude of said housing with respect to the earth''s surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a position sensing and indicating system for determining the orientation of a borehole: a housing arranged for suspension in a borehole on a cable; a first angle detecting unit in said housing for detecting the angular disposition of said housing in a first plane; a second angle detecting unit in said housing for detecting the angular disposition of said housing in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane; electrical means for scanning each of said units to determine the angular disposition of such respective units relative to a fixed reference and for generating output signals indicative of the angular relationship between the disposition of such units and the fixed reference; and means for electrically receiving and storing said output signals to make subsequent calculations based thereon determinative of the orientation of said housing and borehole in relation to the earth''s surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a position sensing and indicating system for determining the orientation of a borehole: a housing arranged for suspension in a borehole on a cable; a first angle detecting unit in said housing for detecting the angular disposition of said housing in a first plane; a second angle detecting unit in said housing for detecting the angular disposition of said housing in a second plane perpendicular to said first plane; electrical means for scanning each of said units to determine the angular disposition of such respective units relative to a fixed reference and for generating output signals indicative of the angular relationship between the disposition of such units and the fixed reference; and means for electrically receiving and storing said output signals to make subsequent calculations based thereon determinative of the orientation of said housing and borehole in relation to the earth''s surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of determining the positional attitude of a borehole comprising the steps of: passing an instrument housing into the borehole on a single conductor cable; measuring a parameter of the inclination of such housing in a first plane; measuring a parameter of the inclination of such housing in a second plane; detecting a parameter of the direction of inclination of such housing in a borehole; providing signals indicative of such parameters to the earth''s surface over the single conductor cable; combining the parameters of inclination in relation to the planes of measurement; and applying such parameter of direction to the combined parameters of inclination to determine the true positional attitude of such borehole.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of determining the positional attitude of a borehole comprising the steps of: passing an instrument housing into the borehole on a single conductor cable; measuring a parameter of the inclination of such housing in a first plane; measuring a parameter of the inclination of such housing in a second plane; detecting a parameter of the direction of inclination of such housing in a borehole; providing signals indicative of such parameters to the earth''s surface over the single conductor cable; combining the parameters of inclination in relation to the planes of measurement; and applying such parameter of direction to the combined parameters of inclination to determine the true positional attitude of such borehole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9 and further including the steps of providing pulses in timed proportion to the measured parameters counting such pulses, storing data indicative of such counted pulses, and transmitting such stored data to the surface prior to combining and applying such parameters.
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) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |