Well surveying instrument and method

Claim 2

receiving reflected acoustic energy. 7. Method according to claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.including orienting said generating point with respect to

Claim 3

north. .[.8. Method according to claim 1, wherein said radiant energy is light..]. .[.9. Method according to claim 8, including receiving reflected light to make a photograph..]. .[.10. Method according to claim 9, including orienting said generating point with respect to north..]. .[.11. Method according to claim 1 wherein radiant energy is projected into said cavity in at least two directions..]. .[.12. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an intermediate section swivelly connected for horizontal rotation and an elongated lower section pivotally connected with said intermediate section of said instrument for movement in a plane transverse to the horizontal, a source of radiant energy in said lower section, and receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy..]. .[.13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said energy source includes means for discharging a discrete quantity of radiation flotation material into said cavity, and said receiving means includes means for sensing radiations..]. .[.14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including means for rotating said upper

Claim 4

section about the axis of said borehole..]. 15. Apparatus .[.according to claim 12, wherein.]. .Iadd.for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an intermediate section swivelly connected for horizontal rotation and an elongated lower section pivotally connected with said intermediate section of said instrument for movement in a plane transverse to the horizontal, a source of radiant energy in said lower section, .Iaddend.said energy source .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.acoustic energy generating means for producing a beam of acoustic energy, and .Iadd. receiving means in said instrument, .Iaddend.said receiving means .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.means in said lower section for

Claim 5

sensing reflected acoustic energy. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said beam is directed along a path coincident with the longitudinal axis of

Claim 6

said lower section. 17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said beam is directed along a path angularly intersecting the longitudinal axis of

Claim 7

said lower section. 18. Apparatus according to claim 15, including means

Claim 8

for rotating said upper section about the axis of said borehole. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, including orienting means for

Claim 9

controlling said rotating means as a function of north. 20. Apparatus according to claim 18, including orienting means for controlling said rotating means as a function of north. .[.21. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said energy source generates an output of light rays, and said receiving means includes a camera responsive to said light rays..]. .[.22. Apparatus according to claim 21, including means for rotating said upper section about the axis of said borehole..]. .[.23. Apparatus according to claim 22, including orienting means for controlling said

Claim 10

rotating means as a function of north..]. 24. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an intermediate section swivelly connected for horizontal rotation and an elongated lower section pivotally connected with said intermediate section of said instrument for movement in a plane transverse to the horizontal, means in said lower section for radiating energy therefrom toward the cavity in a plurality of directions, and

Claim 11

receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy. 25. Method of investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising establishing a pivot point in said cavity at a selected location on the vertical axis of said borehole, establishing a generating point pivotally movable in said cavity relative said pivot point, projecting radioactive energy into said cavity from said generating point by discharging a discrete quantity of radioactive flotation material from said generating point into said cavity, and

Claim 12

sensing radiations emanating from said discharged material. 26. Method according to claim 24, wherein said borehole is lined by a casing extending from said borehole into said cavity, and said radioactive material floats upward in said cavity about the exterior

Claim 13

surface of said casing. 27. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an elongated lower section pivotally connected with an upper section of said instrument, means for rotating said upper section about the axis of the borehole, a source of radiant energy in said lower section, said energy source including means for discharging a discrete quantity of radiation flotation material into said cavity, and receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy including

Claim 14

means for sensing radiations. 28. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an elongated lower section pivotally connected with an upper section of said instrument, means for rotating said upper section about the axis of the borehole, a source of radiant energy in said lower section, said energy source including acoustic energy generating means for producing a beam of acoustic energy, receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy including means in said lower section for sensing reflected acoustic energy, and means for positioning said lower section, at selected angles with respect

Claim 15

to the longitudinal axis of said upper section. 29. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an elongated lower section pivotally connected with an upper section of said instrument, means for rotating said upper section about the axis of the borehole, a source of radiant energy in said lower section, said energy source penetrating an output of light rays, receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy including a camera responsive to said light rays, and orienting means for controlling said rotating means as a function of north. .Iadd. 30. An apparatus for investigating the size and shape characteristics of a subsurface earth cavity penetrated by a borehole comprising an instrument having an intermediate section and an elongated lower section, said instrument being capable of being lowered through the borehole so that said intermediate section thereof at least partially enters the cavity, said intermediate section being swivelly supported for rotation about an axis which is generally parallel with the borehole axis; means for pivotally connecting said lower section to said intermediate section so that said lower section is pivotable in generally vertical planes relative to said intermediate section about a generally horizontal axis; drive means for pivoting said lower section relative to said intermediate section; at least one acoustic energy generating means in said lower section for transmitting acoustic energy in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said lower section toward wall and roof portions of the cavity as said lower section is pivoted about said generally horizontal axis; and means in said lower section for receiving reflected acoustic energy, whereby said instrument can be selectively rotated and said lower section pivoted to direct acoustic energy toward, and receive reflected acoustic energy from, substantially all portions of said cavity. .Iaddend.