US4711122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible mud excluder for borehole televiewer
Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
•
Filing: 1986-08-21
•
Granted: 1987-12-08
•
Expires: 2006-08-21
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is an improved mud excluder fitted around a rotating acoustic transducer of a borehole televiewer to exclude mud from the borehole televiewer. This mud excluder has: (a) a flexible casing means attached to the borehole televiewer to form a fluid cavity adjacent to the rotating acoustic transducer, (b) an acoustically transparent fluid located within the fluid cavity, (c) an acoustic window means opposite the transducer and adjacent to the fluid cavity, and (d) a pressure compensating means within the fluid cavity to equalize the pressure within the fluid cavity with the pressure on the outside of the flexible casing means.
Inventors
- 👤 Jorg A. Angehrn
- 👤 Dennis J. Fischer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 02:45
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/002; E21B47/0025; G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/40; G01V1/52; E21B47/08; E21B47/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A mud excluder fitted around a rotating acoustic transducer of a borehole televiewer to exclude mud from said borehole televiewer, wherein said mud excluder comprises: (a) a flexible casing means attached to said borehole televiewer to form a fluid cavity adjacent to said rotating acoustic transducer; (b) an acoustically transparent fluid located within said fluid cavity; (c) an acoustic window means opposite said transducer and adjacent to said fluid cavity; and (d) a pressure compensating means within the fluid cavity to equalize the pressure within said fluid cavity with the pressure on the outside of said flexible casing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A mud excluder fitted around a rotating acoustic transducer of a borehole televiewer to exclude mud from said borehole televiewer, wherein said mud excluder comprises: (a) a flexible casing means attached to said borehole televiewer to form a fluid cavity adjacent to said rotating acoustic transducer; (b) an acoustically transparent fluid located within said fluid cavity; (c) an acoustic window means opposite said transducer and adjacent to said fluid cavity; and (d) a pressure compensating means within the fluid cavity to equalize the pressure within said fluid cavity with the pressure on the outside of said flexible casing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mud excluder according to claim 1 wherein said flexible casing means is made of a synthetic rubber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mud excluder according to claim 2 wherein said flexible casing means is molded from a synthetic rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mud excluder according to claim 1 wherein said acoustic window means is made of a vulcanized synthetic rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mud excluder according to claim 1 wherein said pressure compensating means comprises a bladder located between the flexible casing means and the borehole televiewer, wherein said bladder is externally open to the mud.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A mud excluder according to claim 5 wherein said bladder is made of rubber tubing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A mud excluder fitted around a rotating acoustic transducer of a borehole televiewer, wherein said mud excluder comprises: (a) a flexible casing means attached to said borehole televiewer to form a fluid cavity adjacent to said rotating acoustic transducer, wherein said flexible casing means is molded from a synthetic rubber; (b) brine located within said fluid cavity; (c) an acoustic window means opposite said transducer and adjacent to said fluid cavity, wherein said acoustic window means is made of a vulcanized synthetic rubber; and (d) a pressure compensating means within the fluid cavity to equalize the pressure within said fluid cavity with the pressure on the outside of said flexible casing means, wherein said pressure compensating means comprises a bladder located between the flexible casing means and the borehole televiewer, wherein said bladder is externally open to the mud, and wherein said bladder is made of rubber tubing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
A mud excluder fitted around a rotating acoustic transducer of a borehole televiewer, wherein said mud excluder comprises: (a) a flexible casing means attached to said borehole televiewer to form a fluid cavity adjacent to said rotating acoustic transducer, wherein said flexible casing means is molded from a synthetic rubber; (b) brine located within said fluid cavity; (c) an acoustic window means opposite said transducer and adjacent to said fluid cavity, wherein said acoustic window means is made of a vulcanized synthetic rubber; and (d) a pressure compensating means within the fluid cavity to equalize the pressure within said fluid cavity with the pressure on the outside of said flexible casing means, wherein said pressure compensating means comprises a bladder located between the flexible casing means and the borehole televiewer, wherein said bladder is externally open to the mud, and wherein said bladder is made of rubber tubing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3502169A
Cited
US3464513A
Cited
US3596582A
Cited
US3550075A
Cited
US3668619A
Cited
US4382290A
Cited
US4524324A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-12-07 | 1991-06-08 | 1991-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-12-07 | 1995-06-08 | 1995-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-12-07 | 1999-06-08 | 1999-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |