Patent US4009613A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4009613A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for indicating at the surface the measurement of a downhole condition
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-07-24
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Granted: 1977-03-01
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Expires: 1995-07-24
Abstract
Abstract A sensor carried by a pipe string measures a downhole condition. After a delay, a signal is transmitted to the surface. The delay is proportional to the measurement and can be measured in time, in revolutions of the pipe string, or in the volume of fluid pumped during the delay.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Jeter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:24
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/06; E21B47/02; E21B47/022; E21B47/0236; E21B47/12; E21B47/14; E21B47/18; E21B47/20; E21B47/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of indicating at the earth surface the measurement of a condition in an earth borehole in which a pipe string is situated comprising the steps of; measuring the condition, sending a signal to the surface after a delay that is proportional to the measurement and measuring the delay in terms of the amount of movement of at least one material moving within the pipe string outer surface envelope.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of indicating at the earth surface the measurement of a condition in an earth borehole in which a pipe string is situated comprising the steps of; measuring the condition, sending a signal to the surface after a delay that is proportional to the measurement and measuring the delay in terms of the amount of movement of at least one material moving within the pipe string outer surface envelope.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 in which the material is fluid moving in the pipe string bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 in which the movement is revolutions of the pipe string.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of indicating at the earth surface the evaluation of a condition in an earth borehole with a pipe string positioned therein comprising the steps of; providing a first signal having a characteristic proportional to the measurement of the condition, sending a second signal to the surface after a delay that is proportional to the characteristic and synchronizing the surface and downhole delay measurements by movement of materials within the pipe string outer surface envelope.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of indicating at the earth surface the evaluation of a condition in an earth borehole with a pipe string positioned therein comprising the steps of; providing a first signal having a characteristic proportional to the measurement of the condition, sending a second signal to the surface after a delay that is proportional to the characteristic and synchronizing the surface and downhole delay measurements by movement of materials within the pipe string outer surface envelope.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of indicating at the surface the measurement of a downhole condition comprising displacing fluid from a container through a flow-restriction at a known rate, measuring the downhole condition, limting the displacement of fluid to an amount proportional to the measurement, and sending a signal to the surface when said amount has been displaced.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of indicating at the surface the measurement of a downhole condition comprising displacing fluid from a container through a flow-restriction at a known rate, measuring the downhole condition, limting the displacement of fluid to an amount proportional to the measurement, and sending a signal to the surface when said amount has been displaced.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus carried by a pipe string for indicating at the earth surface the measurement of an earth borehole condition comprising; means for measuring the condition, means for transmitting a signal to the surface, means to detect movement of materials within the pipe string outer surface envelope, and means responsive to said measuring means and to said detecting means for delaying the transmission of the signal until an amount of movement is detected that is proportional to the measurement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus carried by a pipe string for indicating at the earth surface the measurement of an earth borehole condition comprising; means for measuring the condition, means for transmitting a signal to the surface, means to detect movement of materials within the pipe string outer surface envelope, and means responsive to said measuring means and to said detecting means for delaying the transmission of the signal until an amount of movement is detected that is proportional to the measurement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the movement is revolutions of the pipe string.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
The apparatus of claim 7 in which the delaying means includes means providing a first signal having a characteristic that varies at a known rate per revolution of the pipe string, means providing a second signal having a characteristic with a magnitude that is proportional to the measurement of the condition and means to compare the first and second signals to actuate the surface detectable signal when the varying characteistic of the first signal reaches a predetermined proportionate amount of the second signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 in which the movement is fluid moving through the pipe string bore.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the delaying means includes means providing a first signal having a characteristic that varies at a known rate per unit volume of fluid moving in the pipe string, means providing a second signal having a characteristic with a magnitude that is proportional to the measurement of the condition and means to compare the first and second signals to actuate the surface detectable signal when the varying characteristic of the first signal reaches a predetermined proportionate amount of the second signal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of indicaing at the earth surface the measurement of a condition in an earth borehole in which a pipe string is situated comprising the steps of; providing a first signal that changes from a known value at a surface measureable rate proportional to the rate of movement of material within the pipe string outer surface envelope, providing a second signal proportional to the value of the condition, comparing the first and second signals, and sending a signal to the surface when the two signals reach a preselected relationship to indicate at the surface the measurement of the condition.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of indicaing at the earth surface the measurement of a condition in an earth borehole in which a pipe string is situated comprising the steps of; providing a first signal that changes from a known value at a surface measureable rate proportional to the rate of movement of material within the pipe string outer surface envelope, providing a second signal proportional to the value of the condition, comparing the first and second signals, and sending a signal to the surface when the two signals reach a preselected relationship to indicate at the surface the measurement of the condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 in which the movement is rotation of the pipe string.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 11 in which the first signal changes value at a predetermined rate with respect to the flow rate of fluid moving through the pipe string.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for measuring from the earth surface a condition in an earth borehole with a pipe string positoned therein comprising; means providing a first signal that changes in value from a known amount at a rate proportional to the rate of movement of materials within the pipe string outer surface envelope, means providing a second signal proportional to the condition to be measured, means for comparing the two signals, and means for creating a surface detectable signal when the two signals have a preselected relationship to indicate at the surface the measurement of the condition.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for measuring from the earth surface a condition in an earth borehole with a pipe string positoned therein comprising; means providing a first signal that changes in value from a known amount at a rate proportional to the rate of movement of materials within the pipe string outer surface envelope, means providing a second signal proportional to the condition to be measured, means for comparing the two signals, and means for creating a surface detectable signal when the two signals have a preselected relationship to indicate at the surface the measurement of the condition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which the means for providing the first signal includes means for changing the value of the first signal at a given amount for each revolution of the drill string.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 14 in which the means for providing the first signal includes means for changing the value of the first signal at a rate proportional to the rate of movement of fluid through the drill string.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for measuring from the surface a downhole condition in a well bore with a pipe string positioned therein, comprising sensor means having a movable element that will assume a position responsive to the measurement of the downhole condition, means providing a first signal that changes at a known rate from a preselected original value, means responsive to the position of the movable element providing a second signal proportional to the value of the downhole condition, means for comparing the two signals, and means for sending a signal to the surface when the two signals reach a preselected relationship.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus for measuring from the surface a downhole condition in a well bore with a pipe string positioned therein, comprising sensor means having a movable element that will assume a position responsive to the measurement of the downhole condition, means providing a first signal that changes at a known rate from a preselected original value, means responsive to the position of the movable element providing a second signal proportional to the value of the downhole condition, means for comparing the two signals, and means for sending a signal to the surface when the two signals reach a preselected relationship.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which the movable element is a pendulum and the sensor includes means mounting the pendulum to pivot around a horizontal axis so that the pendulum will swing to the low side of the well bore and assume an angle with the axis of the pipe string equal to the inclination thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 18 in which the means providing the second signal includes an electrical circuit having a resistive element and contact means carried by the pendulum in engagement with the resistive element and movable along the element to cause the signal provided by the circuit to be proportional to the angle between the pendulum and the longitudinal axis of the pipe string.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which the movable element is a compass needle and the condition measured is the azimuthal direction in which the pipe string extends.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17 in which the movable element moves in response to variations in temperature.
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) | 1980-02-29 | 1980-08-30 | 1981-03-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-02-29 | 1984-08-30 | 1985-03-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-02-29 | 1988-08-30 | 1989-03-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |