Well logging fiber optic communication system

Claim 2

A well logging system for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) a communication cable having fiber optic means therein for conducting light signals therethrough, (b) a tool including a sonde connected to one end of said cable, (c) means in said tool for measuring characteristics of earth formations in the borehole, converting the measurements into modulated light signals, and launching said modulated light signals into said fiber optic means in said cable, (d) a rotatable winch drum supporting said cable at the upper end of the borehole, and for lowering and raising said cable and tool into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of said winch drum, (e) transducer means mounted on said drum for rotation therewith and coupled to the end of said cable opposite said tool, for receiving said optical signals and converting them into electrical signals representative of said earth formation measurements, (f) a receiver mounted outside said drum, and (g) means for transmitting said electrical signals from said transducer means to said receiver for conveying the information carried by said modulated light signals out of said rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said means for transmitting said electrical signals comprises electrical slip rings.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said receiver further comprises a transceiver and said transducer means further comprises means for converting other electrical signals into modulated light signals and launching the light signals into said fiber optic means in said cable for transmission to said tool.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein said transducer means is mounted within said drum.

Claim 6

A well logging system for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) a communication cable having fiber optic means therein for conducting light signals therethrough, (b) a tool including a sonde connected to one end of said cable, (c) means in said tool for measuring characteristics of earth formations in the borehole, converting the measurements into modulated light signals, and launching said modulated light signals into said fiber optic means in said cable, (d) a rotatable winch drum supporting said cable at the upper end of the borehole for lowering and raising said cable and tool into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of said winch drum, (e) transducer means mounted within said drum for rotation therewith and coupled to the end of said cable opposite said tool for (i) receiving said optical signals and converting them into electrical signals representative of said earth formation measurements, and (ii) converting other electrical signals into modulated light signals and launching them into said fiber optic means in said cable for transmission to said tool, (f) a transceiver mounted outside said drum, and (g) electrical slip rings for transmitting said electrical signals between said transducer means and said transceiver for conveying the information carried or to be carried by said light signals into and out of said rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 7

A well logging system for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) a communication cable having fiber optic means therein for conducting light signals therethrough, (b) a tool including a sonde connected to one end of said cable, (c) means in said tool for measuring characteristics of earth formations in the borehole, converting the measurements into modulated light signals, and launching said modulated light signals into said fiber optic means in said cable, (d) a rotatable winch drum supporting said cable at the upper end of the borehole for lowering and raising said cable and tool into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of said winch drum, (e) transducer means mounted within said drum for rotation therewith and coupled to the end of said cable opposite said tool for (i) receiving said optical signals and converting them into electrical signals representative of said earth formation measurements, and (ii) converting other electrical signals into modulated light signals and launching them into said fiber optic means in said cable for transmission to said tool, (f) a transceiver mounted outside said drum, and (g) electrical slip rings for transmitting said electrical signals between said transducer means and said transceiver for conveying the information carried or to be carried by said light signals into and out of said rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 8

A winch unit for ue in measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) a rotatable winch drum for supporting a communication cable containing one or more optical fibers, (b) electro-optical transducer means mounted on said drum for rotation therewith, (c) coupling means on said transducer means for coupling thereto at least one optical fiber in such a communication cable, (d) said transducer means including means for receiving modulated optical signals from such an optical fiber and converting them into electrical signals, and (e) means for transmitting said electrical signals from said transducer means out of said drum to convey the information carried by such modulated light signals out of said rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 9

A winch unit for ue in measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) a rotatable winch drum for supporting a communication cable containing one or more optical fibers, (b) electro-optical transducer means mounted on said drum for rotation therewith, (c) coupling means on said transducer means for coupling thereto at least one optical fiber in such a communication cable, (d) said transducer means including means for receiving modulated optical signals from such an optical fiber and converting them into electrical signals, and (e) means for transmitting said electrical signals from said transducer means out of said drum to convey the information carried by such modulated light signals out of said rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 6 wherein said means for transmitting said electrical signals comprises electrical slip rings.

Claim 11

The structure of claim 6 wherein said transducer means further comprises means for converting other electrical signals into modulated light signals and launching the light signals into such a fiber optic containing cable for transmission therethrough; and further comprising means for receiving said other electrical signals and conveying said other electrical signals to said transducer means.

Claim 12

A well logging method for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) supporting a well logging cable containing fiber optic means on a rotatable winch drum for lowering and raising the cable into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of the winch drum, (b) launching modulated light signals representative of characteristics of the earth formations into the end of the fiber optic means opposite the drum, (c) receiving the modulated light signals from the fiber optic means in a transducer mounted on the drum and converting them on the drum into electrical signals representative of the earth formation measurements, and (d) transmitting the electrical signals from the drum to a receiver mounted outside the drum to convey the information carried by the modulated light signals out of the rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 13

A well logging method for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) supporting a well logging cable containing fiber optic means on a rotatable winch drum for lowering and raising the cable into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of the winch drum, (b) launching modulated light signals representative of characteristics of the earth formations into the end of the fiber optic means opposite the drum, (c) receiving the modulated light signals from the fiber optic means in a transducer mounted on the drum and converting them on the drum into electrical signals representative of the earth formation measurements, and (d) transmitting the electrical signals from the drum to a receiver mounted outside the drum to convey the information carried by the modulated light signals out of the rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting the electrical signals through electrical slip rings.

Claim 15

The method of claim 9 further comprising converting other electrical signals into light signals on the drum and launching the light signals into the fiber optic means for transmission to the end thereof opposite the drum.

Claim 16

A well logging method for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) supporting a well logging cable containing fiber optic means on a rotatable winch drum for lowering and raising the cable into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of the winch drum, (b) launching modulated light signals representative of characteristics of the earth formations into the end of the fiber optic means opposite the drum, (c) receiving the modulated light signals from the fiber optic means in a transducer mounted on the drum and converting them on the drum into electrical signals representative of the earth formation measurements, (d) converting other electrical signals into light signals on the drum and launching the light signals into the fiber optic means for transmission to the end thereof opposite the drum, and (e) transmitting the electrical signals through electrical slip rings between the drum and a transceiver mounted outside the drum to convey the information carried by the light signals into and out of the rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.

Claim 17

A well logging method for measuring characteristics of earth formations in a borehole, comprising: (a) supporting a well logging cable containing fiber optic means on a rotatable winch drum for lowering and raising the cable into and out of the borehole in response to rotation of the winch drum, (b) launching modulated light signals representative of characteristics of the earth formations into the end of the fiber optic means opposite the drum, (c) receiving the modulated light signals from the fiber optic means in a transducer mounted on the drum and converting them on the drum into electrical signals representative of the earth formation measurements, (d) converting other electrical signals into light signals on the drum and launching the light signals into the fiber optic means for transmission to the end thereof opposite the drum, and (e) transmitting the electrical signals through electrical slip rings between the drum and a transceiver mounted outside the drum to convey the information carried by the light signals into and out of the rotatable winch drum without the use of optical slip rings.