US3789936A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for simultaneously drilling and logging
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-11-04
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1991-11-04
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for simultaneously drilling and logging a bore hole employing an electric cable extending through a drill string which has a swivel at the top end and a bit secured to its lower end. The electric cable communicates with a detecting probe which is disposed adjacent the bit. This provides a continuous circuit from the formation at the bottom of the well to the surface recording instruments at the top of the well. During the simultaneous drilling and logging operations the drill string and bit rotate while the surveying cable remains non-rotative. The swivel, drill string, cable and probe are lowered together during the simultaneous drilling and logging operation.
Inventors
- 👤 I Mccullough
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:02
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/12; E21B49/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; d. means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well as drilling proceeds; e. an electric cable connected to said means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well in such a manner that said cable is nonrotatable during the drilling and surveying operations, said cable extending into said drill string near the surface of the ground, said cable extending through said drill string to a place adjacent to the drill bit, said cable being so supported as to be fed into said well along with said drill string; f. a probe secured to the lower end of said cable, said probe being positioned for direct communication with said drill bit to receive signals directly therethrough from the lower part of said drill bit; and g. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; d. means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well as drilling proceeds; e. an electric cable connected to said means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well in such a manner that said cable is nonrotatable during the drilling and surveying operations, said cable extending into said drill string near the surface of the ground, said cable extending through said drill string to a place adjacent to the drill bit, said cable being so supported as to be fed into said well along with said drill string; f. a probe secured to the lower end of said cable, said probe being positioned for direct communication with said drill bit to receive signals directly therethrough from the lower part of said drill bit; and g. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which said probe is nonrotatably supported relative to the drill string and drill bit in order that it may remain nonrotative during the drill operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A combination as defined in claim 1 in which there is a receiving means positioned adjacent to said bit for receiving said probe at the lower end of said cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; d. non-rotative means rotatably supporting said drill string at the surface of the ground; e. means for feeding said non-rotating supporting means as the drilling operation proceeds; f. an electric cable extending into said drill string near the surface, said cable extending through said drill string to a place adjacent to the drill bit, said cable extending through said non-rotatable supporting means and sealed at the place said cable extends to the exterior thereof, said cable being fed into said well during the drilling operation simultaneously with the downward feeding of said drill string by said non-rotating support means; g. a probe means secured to the lower end of sad cable; and h. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
186 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; d. non-rotative means rotatably supporting said drill string at the surface of the ground; e. means for feeding said non-rotating supporting means as the drilling operation proceeds; f. an electric cable extending into said drill string near the surface, said cable extending through said drill string to a place adjacent to the drill bit, said cable extending through said non-rotatable supporting means and sealed at the place said cable extends to the exterior thereof, said cable being fed into said well during the drilling operation simultaneously with the downward feeding of said drill string by said non-rotating support means; g. a probe means secured to the lower end of sad cable; and h. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
A combination defined in claim 4, in which said electric cable is sealed at the place said cable extends to the exterior of said non-rotatable supporting means, by a releasable seal around said cable, said seal being adapted to prevent leakage of drilling mud under pressure during the drilling operation and being releasable to allow said cable to be fed into or withdrawn from said drill string when the drilling is stopped.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of drilling a well using a conventional drill string and drill bit while simultaneously logging the well by recording at the surface of the well signals received from the bottom face of the well by a probe means disposed adjacent the drill bit, the steps including: a. positioning an electrical cable within the drill string in electrical communication with the probe means which is disposed adjacent the drill bit; b. rotating the drill string and the drill bit relative to the cable to drill the formation; c. simultaneously feeding the drill string, the drill bit, the electrical cable and the probe into the well as the drill bit removes tHe formation at the bottom of the well; and d. receiving and recording at the surface signals received by the probe and transmitted through said electrical cable, simultaneously with the drilling away of the formation at the bottom of the well.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of drilling a well using a conventional drill string and drill bit while simultaneously logging the well by recording at the surface of the well signals received from the bottom face of the well by a probe means disposed adjacent the drill bit, the steps including: a. positioning an electrical cable within the drill string in electrical communication with the probe means which is disposed adjacent the drill bit; b. rotating the drill string and the drill bit relative to the cable to drill the formation; c. simultaneously feeding the drill string, the drill bit, the electrical cable and the probe into the well as the drill bit removes tHe formation at the bottom of the well; and d. receiving and recording at the surface signals received by the probe and transmitted through said electrical cable, simultaneously with the drilling away of the formation at the bottom of the well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method comprising the steps of claim 6 which also includes positioning the probe relative to the drill bit so that it contacts and receives signals from the formation at the bottom face of the well and transmitting such signals through the cable and recording the same at the surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method comprising the steps of claim 7 which also includes electrically insulating the probe from the drill string and the drill bit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. a probe coupled for rotation with and insulated from said drill bit and said drill string, said probe being coupled with said drill bit so that during the drilling operation the lower extremity of said probe contacts the formation at the bottom of the well; d. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; e. means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well as drilling proceeds; f. an electric cabl extending into said drill string near the surface of the ground, said cable extending through said drill string to a position adjacent said probe, said cable being sealed at the place the cable enters the drill string and being so supported as to be fed into said well along with said drill string; g. coupling means for electrically coupling said probe and said cable; and h. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
204 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. a probe coupled for rotation with and insulated from said drill bit and said drill string, said probe being coupled with said drill bit so that during the drilling operation the lower extremity of said probe contacts the formation at the bottom of the well; d. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; e. means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well as drilling proceeds; f. an electric cabl extending into said drill string near the surface of the ground, said cable extending through said drill string to a position adjacent said probe, said cable being sealed at the place the cable enters the drill string and being so supported as to be fed into said well along with said drill string; g. coupling means for electrically coupling said probe and said cable; and h. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 9 in which said probe comprises means for drilling the formation at the bottom face of the well bore.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A combination as defined in claim 9 in which said probe is coupled with said drill bit so that during the drilling operation the lower extremity of the probe contacts the formation at the bottom face of the well simultaneously with the drill bit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
A combination as defined in claim 9 in which said coupling means comprises at least one non-rotative electrical contact carried by said cable which is adapted to interengage a rotating electric contact means carried by said probe as said drill string rotates.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
68 words
A combination defined in claim 9 in which said electric cable is sealed at the place said cable extends into said drill string by a releasable seal around said cable, said seal being adapted to prevent leakage of drilling mud under pressure during the drilling operation and being releasable to allow said cable to be fed into or withdraw from said drill string when the drilling is stopped.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A combination defined in claim 9 in which said probe is provided with means for obtaining a core sample during the drilling operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. a probe coupled for rotation with and insulated fro said drill bit and said drill string and any fluid in said bit and said drill pipe; d. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; e. means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well as drilling proceeds; f. an electric cable extending into said drill string near the surface of the ground, said cable extending through said drill string to a position adjacent said probe, said cable being sealed at the place the cable enters the drill string and being so supported as to be fed into said well along with said drill string; g. coupling means for electrically coupling said probe and said cable, said coupling means permitting said cable to remain non-rotative while said bit and probe rotate; and h. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
200 words
Apparatus for simultaneous drilling and logging, the combination including: a. a drill string adapted to extend into a well being drilled; b. a drill bit secured to the lower end of said drill string; c. a probe coupled for rotation with and insulated fro said drill bit and said drill string and any fluid in said bit and said drill pipe; d. means for rotating said drill string and said drill bit; e. means for supporting and feeding said drill string into the well as drilling proceeds; f. an electric cable extending into said drill string near the surface of the ground, said cable extending through said drill string to a position adjacent said probe, said cable being sealed at the place the cable enters the drill string and being so supported as to be fed into said well along with said drill string; g. coupling means for electrically coupling said probe and said cable, said coupling means permitting said cable to remain non-rotative while said bit and probe rotate; and h. signal receiving and recording means connected to said cable at the surface of the ground whereby well logging signals may be recorded while said well is being drilled.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as defined in claim 15 in which said probe means is provided with means for obtaining a core sampling during the drilling operation.
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) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |