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Methods and apparatus for micro-imaging

a micro-imaging and apparatus technology, applied in the field of methods and apparatus for imaging underground formations and fluids, can solve the problems of significant changes in the formation around the borehole, mechanical damage, and all optical techniques suffer from problems, and achieve the effect of effective formation investigation

Inactive Publication Date: 2010-02-04
SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]By providing an optical probe with substantially the same diameter as the drill bit, the optical surface of the probe can be held close enough to the formation in the drilled hole that the level of degradation due to material between the probe and the formation is sufficiently low as to allow effective investigation of the formation. Drilling into the formation means that the formation ‘viewed’ by the tool is less affected by the drilling process.

Problems solved by technology

All of these optical techniques suffer from problems.
It is well known that drilling can cause significant changes in the formation around a borehole.
For example, the drilling action can cause mechanical damage, and drilling fluids can enter the formations (invasion) or cause the formations to undergo changes such swelling.
Consequently, viewing such a formation may not be a good way to understand the nature of the formation in its normal state.
Another problem is that borehole fluids, formation fluids or mudcake can coat the viewing window or get between the window and the formation and prevent an image being obtained.

Method used

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first embodiment

[0036]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a tool according to the invention. The tool comprises a tool body 10 that can be suspended in a borehole 12 by means of a wireline cable (not shown) which provides power and data communication from the surface. A pair of backup arms 14 are mounted on the tool body and can be extended to contact one side of the borehole wall 16 so as to force the tool body 10 against the opposite side of the borehole wall 18 where it is supported on pads 20.

[0037]A drive mechanism 22 comprising a motor and gear arrangement is mounted in the body 10. The drive mechanism includes a drive head 24 in which is mounted a drill and probe unit 26. The unit 26 comprises at its outer end a drill bit 28 and at its inner end an optical probe 30 formed from a sapphire fibre having an outside diameter that is substantially the same as, but no larger than that of the drill bit. The drive mechanism 24, which is provide with power and control signals from the wireline cable, operates to rotat...

second embodiment

[0044]FIGS. 5 and 6 show a tool according to the invention. Parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same numbers in the 100 series.

[0045]This second embodiment differs from the first in that the drill probe unit is replaced by a separate drill bit 128 and optical probe 130. In this case, the drive head 124 has the bit 128 and probe 130 carried separately and the drive mechanism 122 includes a translation mechanism to align one or the other with the position of the drilled hole.

[0046]In the first stage or operation, as shown in FIG. 5, the tool is positioned as before and the drive mechanism 122 operated to drill the hole with the drill bit 128. The mechanism 122 then withdraws the bit 128 from the hole and moves the drive head 124 until the optical probe 130 is aligned with the hole (FIG. 6), at which point it is inserted into the hole and the optical measurement made. The probe 130 can then be withdrawn from the hole and the tool moved to another location for fu...

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for investigating underground formations surrounding a borehole, comprises: a drill bit (28); an optical probe (30) having substantially the same outer diameter as the drill bit; a drive mechanism (22), operable to cause the drill bit to drill a hole in the formation when the apparatus is in the borehole, and to advance the optical probe into the drilled hole; and an optical system (36), arranged such that when the optical probe is in the drilled hole, light from a light source (32) is directed into the optical probe, light entering the probe from the source is directed at the formation around the drilled hole, and light entering the probe from the formation around the drilled hole is directed to a detector.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This invention relates to methods and apparatus for imaging underground formations and fluids such as are commonly encountered in the drilling of wells such as oil and gas wells. In particular, the invention provides apparatus for use as a tool for making measurements in such wells.BACKGROUND ART[0002]There are a number of techniques that have been proposed for obtaining images of underground formations around boreholes. In some of these techniques, small-scale electrical, acoustic or nuclear properties are measured and an image reconstructed from these measurements. In all of these cases, the image is inferred: it does not correspond exactly to what a person would see if viewing it directly.[0003]A number of optical techniques have also been proposed for viewing the formation surrounding a borehole. In one such technique, the borehole is filled with an optically clear fluid (water or oil), and a tool carrying a camera and light source is passed along the boreho...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): E21B47/00
CPCE21B49/10E21B47/0002E21B47/002
Inventor REZGUI, FADHEL
Owner SCHLUMBERGER TECH CORP