Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole

Claim 2

Apparatus for transporting and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body dimensioned to be positioned in a borehole; means carried by said body to at least substantially contact the borehole wall around substantially the entire circumference thereof to form a piston relationship between said transporter body and the borehole; and means for moving fluid past said transporter body to create a differential fluid pressure across said means forming said piston relationship to thereby cause the transporter body to move in the borehole.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means forming a piston relationship with the borehole is expandable and contractable.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means forming a piston relationship with the borehole is in the form of a flexible container affixed to the exterior circumferential surface of said body.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 including pump means carried by said body by which fluid may be forced into said annular flexible container to expand the container.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pump means is reversible whereby fluid may be forced into said annular flexible container to expand the container or withdrawn so as to collapse the container.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said flexible container is of elastomeric material.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said fluid moving means moves fluid through at least a portion of said body.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 1 in which said means affixed to the external surface of said body forming a piston relationship with the borehole includes at least one circumferential flexible cup means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 1 including: an instrument housing having measuring and/or logging equipment therein, the instrument housing having a diameter less than the diameter of the borehole permitting free movement within the borehole; and means connecting said transporter body to said instrument housing.

Claim 11

Cableless apparatus for making measurements in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of diameter less that of the borehole; means to propel the body forwardly and rearwardly in the borehole fluid; an energy storage means within the transporter body connected to said propulsion means; at least one measuring instrument carried by said transporter body providing a recorded measurement signal; means to actuate said propulsion means to move said body forwardly and downwardly in the borehole; and means to actuate said propulsion means to move said body rearwardly and upwardly in the borehole.

Claim 12

Cableless apparatus for making measurements in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of diameter less that of the borehole; means to propel the body forwardly and rearwardly in the borehole fluid; an energy storage means within the transporter body connected to said propulsion means; at least one measuring instrument carried by said transporter body providing a recorded measurement signal; means to actuate said propulsion means to move said body forwardly and downwardly in the borehole; and means to actuate said propulsion means to move said body rearwardly and upwardly in the borehole.

Claim 13

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: an elongated transporter body; means carried by said body to cause the rotation thereof in the borehole; and means of non-rotatably attaching a cable to the rearward end of said body.

Claim 14

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: an elongated transporter body; means carried by said body to cause the rotation thereof in the borehole; and means of non-rotatably attaching a cable to the rearward end of said body.

Claim 15

A cableless apparatus for making measurements in a borehole according to claim 11 wherein said reversing means is a pressure indicator carried by said transporter body providing a reversing signal when a preselected pressure is reached.

Claim 16

A cableless apparatus for making measurements in a borehole according to claim 11 wherein said reversing means includes a magnitometer carried by said transporter body and including a coil situated at the earth's surface with the borehole as an axis and means to impart a low frequency signal to said coil to provide a signal detectable by said magnitometer.

Claim 17

A cableless apparatus for making measurements in a borehole according to claim 11 wherein said reversing means includes a microphone carried by said transporter body and means for generating a high intensity sound in the borehole at the earth's surface.

Claim 18

A cableless apparatus according to claim 11 including memory means carried by said transporter body for storing signals derived from said measuring instruments, and means at the earth's surface connectable to said transporter to receive and record information from said memory means.

Claim 19

A cableless apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the borehole has lengths of casing therein secured to each other by casing collars to form a casing string and including a casing locator instrument carried by said transporter body for providing signals indicative of the presence of casing collars; means to record said collar location signals; and means to correlate said collar location signals with said measurement signal.

Claim 20

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body dimensioned to be received in a borehole and having a forward and rearward end; means to propel said body in the borehole fluid; a cable extending from said transporter body to the earth's surface; means of carrying an additional length of cable with said body; and means of releasing said additional length of cable whereby said body may move forward for a distance equal to the length of said additional cable without pulling the cable extending to the earth's surface with it.

Claim 21

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body dimensioned to be received in a borehole and having a forward and rearward end; means to propel said body in the borehole fluid; a cable extending from said transporter body to the earth's surface; means of carrying an additional length of cable with said body; and means of releasing said additional length of cable whereby said body may move forward for a distance equal to the length of said additional cable without pulling the cable extending to the earth's surface with it.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 17 including: a cable storage housing having a diameter less than the borehole, said additional length of cable being stored within said housing, the housing having a forward and rearward end, said cable extending to the earth's surface being secured to the storage housing rearward end; and means of connecting the forward end of the cable housing to said transporter body.

Claim 23

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of normal diameter less than the borehole, the transporter body carrying a plurality of subsurface sensors; electric powered means of propelling said transporter body through the fluid with the borehole; a cable extending from said transporter body to the earth's surface, the cable being formed at least in part by a plurality of information carrying conductors; and means of controllably switching said plurality of information carrying conductors from one mode in which different conductors connect different said subsurface sensors to logging electronics at the earth's surface; and in another mode in which said information carrying conductors are in parallel and connected to carry electrical energy from the earth's surface to said electric powered means of propelling said transporter body.

Claim 24

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of normal diameter less than the borehole, the transporter body carrying a plurality of subsurface sensors; electric powered means of propelling said transporter body through the fluid with the borehole; a cable extending from said transporter body to the earth's surface, the cable being formed at least in part by a plurality of information carrying conductors; and means of controllably switching said plurality of information carrying conductors from one mode in which different conductors connect different said subsurface sensors to logging electronics at the earth's surface; and in another mode in which said information carrying conductors are in parallel and connected to carry electrical energy from the earth's surface to said electric powered means of propelling said transporter body.

Claim 25

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of normal diameter less than the borehole; a cable attached to said transporter body extending to the earth's surface; means within said transporter of propelling it within said borehole by reaction with the fluid in the borehole; and means of retarding the rotation of the transporter body as it advances in the borehole.

Claim 26

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of normal diameter less than the borehole; a cable attached to said transporter body extending to the earth's surface; means within said transporter of propelling it within said borehole by reaction with the fluid in the borehole; and means of retarding the rotation of the transporter body as it advances in the borehole.

Claim 27

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of normal diameter less than that of a borehole; a lightweight cable affixed to said body and extending to the earth's surface, the cable being of specific gravity not substantially greater than the borehole fluid; and means carried by said body of providing a positive motive force for moving said body and for pulling said cable within the borehole.

Claim 28

Apparatus for transporting measuring and/or logging equipment in a borehole having fluid therein, comprising: a transporter body of normal diameter less than that of a borehole; a lightweight cable affixed to said body and extending to the earth's surface, the cable being of specific gravity not substantially greater than the borehole fluid; and means carried by said body of providing a positive motive force for moving said body and for pulling said cable within the borehole.