US3789292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of accurately measuring, depthwise, well casing collars for interpretative purposes
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
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Filing: 1972-04-03
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Granted: 1974-01-29
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Expires: 1992-04-03
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for accurately measuring differential distances along a cased well bore penetrating an earth formation by measuring, depthwise, the location of enlarged collars of the casings, using a sensor movably positioned within a mapping sonde traversing a well bore. The sensor is movably attached to the sonde through a transporting assembly; say, consisting of an endless belt driven between two sheaves, and controlled uphole by circuitry at the earth''s surface, so as to indicate the location, depthwise, of at least two consecutively located collars of the casings, while the sonde is held stationary within the well bore. Through interpretation of the recorded results, differential movement of subterranean strata adjacent to the map casing can be inferred. Further, as unstable subterranean strata conditions are indicated, preventive measures, such as water flooding, can be undertaken prior to the occurrence of visual evidence, at the earth''s surface, of the unstable conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 E Bottoms
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/18; G01V3/26; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/09; E21B47/092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
The method of accurately measuring incremental distances along a well casing of a borehole penetrating an earth formation comprising: a. positioning within said well casing at a series of logging positions, a mapping sonde havIng a casing-joint sensor movably attached thereto, b. while the mapping sonde is stationary at each of said selected logging positions, traversing a casing-joint sensor relative to both the sonde and the well casing along a logging path having segments in close proximity to two adjacent consecutively positioned joints of said well casing, said two adjacent casing joints defining an incremental section of said well casing, and c. generating electrical characteristics indicative of the separate depth locations of said two adjacent positioned casing joints so as to indicate, accurately, the true length of said incremental section of well casing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
133 words
The method of accurately measuring incremental distances along a well casing of a borehole penetrating an earth formation comprising: a. positioning within said well casing at a series of logging positions, a mapping sonde havIng a casing-joint sensor movably attached thereto, b. while the mapping sonde is stationary at each of said selected logging positions, traversing a casing-joint sensor relative to both the sonde and the well casing along a logging path having segments in close proximity to two adjacent consecutively positioned joints of said well casing, said two adjacent casing joints defining an incremental section of said well casing, and c. generating electrical characteristics indicative of the separate depth locations of said two adjacent positioned casing joints so as to indicate, accurately, the true length of said incremental section of well casing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 with the additional step of: d. determining incremental distance variation, if any, between (i) the true length of the incremental section of well casing as determined by step (c), above and (ii) a standard unstressed length for the same section, said variation indicating a zone of unstable subterranean stratum adjacent to the well casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method in accordance with claim 2 with the additional step of: e. stabilizing said indicated zones of unstable strata by passing fluid through said well bore into said indicated zones, at depth, in sufficient quantity so as to minimize incremental movement of said strata relative to the earth''s surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method in accordance with claim 3 in which said stabilizing fluid is water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a well casing logging system including a mapping sonde, a cable attached to said sonde, and drive means attached uphole to said cable for positioning said sonde series of mapping stations along a well casing of a borehole penetrating an earth formation in which said sonde utilizes a casing-joint sensor for detecting the location of casing joints of said well casing by means of magnetic field variations which are used to generate recordable signals, the improvement comprising: a. means for traversing said casing-joint sensor relative to both said mapping sonde and said well casing along a mapping path having segments in close proximity to two consecutively located casing joints of said well casing while said mapping sonde and said cable attached thereto are stationary within said well casing, and b. control logic means operatively attached to said sensor moving means and said drive means for said mapping sonde for controlling, independently, movement of said sensor and said mapping sonde relative to said well casing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a well casing logging system including a mapping sonde, a cable attached to said sonde, and drive means attached uphole to said cable for positioning said sonde series of mapping stations along a well casing of a borehole penetrating an earth formation in which said sonde utilizes a casing-joint sensor for detecting the location of casing joints of said well casing by means of magnetic field variations which are used to generate recordable signals, the improvement comprising: a. means for traversing said casing-joint sensor relative to both said mapping sonde and said well casing along a mapping path having segments in close proximity to two consecutively located casing joints of said well casing while said mapping sonde and said cable attached thereto are stationary within said well casing, and b. control logic means operatively attached to said sensor moving means and said drive means for said mapping sonde for controlling, independently, movement of said sensor and said mapping sonde relative to said well casing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
The improvement of claim 5 in which (a) includes: i. sheave means rotatably attached to said mapping sonde and including endless belt means rotatably attached to said sheave means, and said endless belt means also being fixedly attached at a segment thereof to said casing-joint sensor, ii. means for driving said sheave means in rotation so as to cause rectilinear movement of said casing-joint sensor along said mapping path in close proximity to said two consecutively located casing joints, and iii. downhole position translating means operatively attached to said sheave means for determining the extent of travel of said sensor and said endless belt means, said drive means and downhole position translating means being operatively connected uphole to said control logic means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of accurately measuring incremental distances along a well casing of a borehole penetrating an earth formation, comprising: a. positioning at a series of logging stations within said borehole, a mapping sonde by means of selective movement of a cable attached at one end to the sonde and extending along said borehole to an uphole terminous position adjacent the earth''s surface. b. while the cable and mapping sonde remain stationary at each of said series of logging stations, traversing a casing-joint sensor movably attached relative to said mapping sonde relative to both said mapping sonde and said well casing along a mapping path having segments in close proximity of at least two consecutively Located casing joints of said well casing, said two consecutively located casing joints defining an incremental section of said well casing, and c. when said casing-joint sensor is located in close proximity of each of said two casing joints, generating an electrical characteristic indicative of the depth location thereof so as to indicate, accurately, the true length of said incremental section of said well casing.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
179 words
The method of accurately measuring incremental distances along a well casing of a borehole penetrating an earth formation, comprising: a. positioning at a series of logging stations within said borehole, a mapping sonde by means of selective movement of a cable attached at one end to the sonde and extending along said borehole to an uphole terminous position adjacent the earth''s surface. b. while the cable and mapping sonde remain stationary at each of said series of logging stations, traversing a casing-joint sensor movably attached relative to said mapping sonde relative to both said mapping sonde and said well casing along a mapping path having segments in close proximity of at least two consecutively Located casing joints of said well casing, said two consecutively located casing joints defining an incremental section of said well casing, and c. when said casing-joint sensor is located in close proximity of each of said two casing joints, generating an electrical characteristic indicative of the depth location thereof so as to indicate, accurately, the true length of said incremental section of said well casing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 7 further characterized by determining the next adjacent logging station by: d. while said sonde and cable remain stationary, traversing in a reverse direction said casing-joint sensor along said mapping path to an intermediate depth position between said two previously located casing joints, e. then causing the mapping sonde and cable to be drawn through the borehole in a forward direction, f. when said sensor is in close proximity to last mapped casing joint, terminating said forward movement of said mapping sonde and cable whereby the logging sonde is positioned at the next adjacent logging station.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE685151C
Cited
US3434046A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |