Wellbore Imaging Apparatus for Accurate Fish Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wellbore servicing methods face challenges in accurately identifying and retrieving 'fish' (undesirable objects) due to lead impression blocks incurring nicks, scratches, and obfuscating impressions, especially in drilling mud environments, which hinders efficient and economical recovery operations.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with a base and actuatable members, driven by mechanisms and equipped with sensors, forms a representation of objects within the wellbore by axially displacing the members to provide clear and accurate impressions for selecting appropriate fishing tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lead impression blocks are used to identify fish in wellbore, then an imprint representation can be obtained, but the blocks incur nicks, scratches, and obfuscating impressions that reduce identification accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical lead impression block system with an electronic imaging system comprising a camera and light source. This substitution eliminates the physical contact and deformation issues inherent in lead blocks, providing clear digital images without nicks, scratches, or obfuscating impressions that compromise identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating a physical imprint copy with lead blocks that degrades over time, the patent creates a digital image copy using a camera. This digital copy can be stored, analyzed, and reused without degradation, maintaining high identification accuracy across multiple uses and eliminating the reliability issues of physical impression blocks.
2Measurement precision
If lead impression blocks are used in drilling mud environments, then fish identification can be attempted, but the drilling mud obfuscates the impressions further hindering identification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical impression block system with an optical imaging system that captures images through the drilling mud environment. The camera and light source can penetrate the mud without being affected by it, eliminating the obfuscation problem that plagues physical impression blocks when used in drilling mud.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital imaging system creates a visual copy of the fish that can be obtained without physical contact, thereby avoiding the interference of drilling mud that contaminates and obfuscates physical impression blocks. The digital copy remains clear and analyzable despite the presence of drilling mud in the wellbore environment.
3Productivity
If traditional fishing tool selection is made based on lead impression block interpretation, then fish recovery can be attempted, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual interpretation process of lead impression blocks with automated digital image analysis. The camera captures images that can be immediately viewed and analyzed, eliminating the time-consuming process of interpreting physical impressions and enabling faster fishing tool selection and deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital image copy provides immediate visual information about the fish that can be quickly analyzed and compared against known fish types. This eliminates the time required to physically interpret impression block markings, significantly reducing identification time and improving overall fish recovery efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for imaging objects present in a wellbore is provided. The method and apparatus use a plurality of actuatable members which can be axially displaced to form an image of the object and use an actuatable member displacement sensor to detect the displacement of the actuatable members.