US4168747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus using flexible hose in logging highly deviated or very hot earth boreholes
Assignee: Western Atlas International Inc
•
Filing: 1977-09-02
•
Granted: 1979-09-25
•
Expires: 1997-09-02
Abstract
Abstract After drilling an earth borehole, the drill pipe and drill bit are removed from the borehole and the drill pipe is reinserted into the borehole. A flexible hose such as a fire hose, and having a retro-nozzle at its lower end, is then pumped down through the interior of the drill pipe and a portion of the hose is pumped out through the end of the drill pipe for a desired distance. A well logging instrument is pumped through the flexible hose which extends down past the bottom of the drill pipe and well logging operations are performed through the flexible hose. In very hot wells, the drilling mud or other circulating fluid can continue to be pumped through the flexible hose to provide cooling of the well logging instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur H. Youmans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:36
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B36/00; E21B36/001; E21B23/00; E21B23/08; E21B47/00; E21B47/01; E21B47/017; E21B47/0175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: a string of drill pipe positioned within an earth borehole extending from the earth's surface to a point in the borehole positioning a lower extremity of said drill pipe intermediate the earth's surface and the bottom of said borehole; a seating nipple having an internal tapered surface attached to said lower extremity of said drill pipe; a length of flexible, high-temperature hose having a retro-nozzle at its one end and an expanded portion member forming a tapered surface sized to mate with said internal tapered surface of said seating nipple at its second end; means at the earth surface for pumping fluid through said hose and said nozzle to thereby move said hose through said drill pipe and out through said lower extremity of said drill pipe until said tapered surface engages said seating nipple at said lower extremity of said drill pipe; means for causing a well logging instrument to traverse the interior of said flexible hose for providing indications functionally related to the subsurface formations surrounding said flexible hose; and means at the earth surface for pumping a fluid through said flexible hose while said logging instrument is caused to traverse the interior of said flexible hose for providing a continuous cooling of said logging instrument.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
219 words
A system for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: a string of drill pipe positioned within an earth borehole extending from the earth's surface to a point in the borehole positioning a lower extremity of said drill pipe intermediate the earth's surface and the bottom of said borehole; a seating nipple having an internal tapered surface attached to said lower extremity of said drill pipe; a length of flexible, high-temperature hose having a retro-nozzle at its one end and an expanded portion member forming a tapered surface sized to mate with said internal tapered surface of said seating nipple at its second end; means at the earth surface for pumping fluid through said hose and said nozzle to thereby move said hose through said drill pipe and out through said lower extremity of said drill pipe until said tapered surface engages said seating nipple at said lower extremity of said drill pipe; means for causing a well logging instrument to traverse the interior of said flexible hose for providing indications functionally related to the subsurface formations surrounding said flexible hose; and means at the earth surface for pumping a fluid through said flexible hose while said logging instrument is caused to traverse the interior of said flexible hose for providing a continuous cooling of said logging instrument.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said flexible hose is comprised of a collapsible woven fabric material.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: a string of metal conduit positioned within an earth borehole extending from the earth's surface to a point in the borehole positioning a lower extremity of said conduit intermediate the earth's surface and the bottom of said borehole; a length of flexible, high-temperature hose; means at the earth surface for pumping fluid through said hose to thereby move said hose through said conduit and out through said lower extremity of said conduit until said hose is positioned outside of said conduit and within the earth borehole with one hose extremity connected to said lower extremity of said conduit; means for causing a well logging instrument of a type designed for operation within a non-metallic casing to traverse the interior of said flexible hose; and means for causing a continuous flow of fluid through said hose during said logging instrument traverse thereof for cooling said logging instrument.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: a string of metal conduit positioned within an earth borehole extending from the earth's surface to a point in the borehole positioning a lower extremity of said conduit intermediate the earth's surface and the bottom of said borehole; a length of flexible, high-temperature hose; means at the earth surface for pumping fluid through said hose to thereby move said hose through said conduit and out through said lower extremity of said conduit until said hose is positioned outside of said conduit and within the earth borehole with one hose extremity connected to said lower extremity of said conduit; means for causing a well logging instrument of a type designed for operation within a non-metallic casing to traverse the interior of said flexible hose; and means for causing a continuous flow of fluid through said hose during said logging instrument traverse thereof for cooling said logging instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 3 wherein said flexible hose is comprised of a collapsible woven fabric material.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: running a string of drill pipe into an earth borehole; positioning a lower extremity of said drill pipe at a point in the borehole intermediate the earth's surface and the bottom of the borehole; pumping a length of flexible, high-temperature hose through said drill pipe and out said lower extremity of said drill pipe; engaging one extremity of said hose with said lower extremity of said drill pipe; causing a well logging instrument to traverse at least a portion of said flexible hose; pumping a cooling fluid through said flexible hose while said well logging instrument is within the interior of said hose; and transmitting signals to a surface location functionally related to geological characteristics of said earth formations.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
130 words
A method for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: running a string of drill pipe into an earth borehole; positioning a lower extremity of said drill pipe at a point in the borehole intermediate the earth's surface and the bottom of the borehole; pumping a length of flexible, high-temperature hose through said drill pipe and out said lower extremity of said drill pipe; engaging one extremity of said hose with said lower extremity of said drill pipe; causing a well logging instrument to traverse at least a portion of said flexible hose; pumping a cooling fluid through said flexible hose while said well logging instrument is within the interior of said hose; and transmitting signals to a surface location functionally related to geological characteristics of said earth formations.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for logging the formations surrounding an elevated temperature earth borehole, comprising: pumping a length of high-temperature, flexible hose through a metal conduit in said borehole and out through an extremity of said metal conduit to position said length of hose between said lower extremity of said conduit and the bottom of said borehole; causing a well logging instrument to traverse at least a portion of said flexible hose thereby performing said logging of the formations surrounding said flexible hose; and circulating fluid through said flexible hose while said logging is being performed to provide cooling of said logging instrument.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for logging the formations surrounding an elevated temperature earth borehole, comprising: pumping a length of high-temperature, flexible hose through a metal conduit in said borehole and out through an extremity of said metal conduit to position said length of hose between said lower extremity of said conduit and the bottom of said borehole; causing a well logging instrument to traverse at least a portion of said flexible hose thereby performing said logging of the formations surrounding said flexible hose; and circulating fluid through said flexible hose while said logging is being performed to provide cooling of said logging instrument.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein said flexible hose is comprised of a collapsible woven fabric material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2852230A
Cited
US3467196A
Cited
US3401749A
Cited
US3394760A
Cited
US3920076A
Cited
US4064939A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-09-24 | 1983-03-26 | 1983-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-24 | 1987-03-26 | 1987-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-24 | 1991-03-26 | 1991-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |