Borehole clamping systems and methods of operating the same

Abstract

A borehole clamping system is provided. The borehole clamping system includes: (a) a pressure actuated clamp for clamping a sensor assembly in a borehole; (b) a fluid control unit configured for use within the borehole, the fluid control unit providing a fluid to the pressure actuated clamp, and controlling a pressure of the fluid; and (c) a surface electrical control unit for controlling flow of the fluid.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A borehole clamping system comprising:
 a pressure actuated clamp for clamping a sensor assembly in a borehole;   a fluid control unit configured for use within the borehole, the fluid control unit providing a fluid to the pressure actuated clamp, and controlling a pressure of the fluid;   a surface electrical control unit for controlling flow of the fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is an incompressible fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid is a hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 1  wherein the surface electrical control unit controls flow of the fluid through the operation of one or more valves included in the fluid control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 1  wherein pressure used to operate the pressure actuated clamp is provided via wellbore pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid control unit includes a pressure converter for increasing a pressure used to actuate the pressure actuated clamp. 
     
     
         7 . A method of operating a clamping system within a borehole, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a pressure actuated clamp for clamping a sensor assembly in a borehole;   (b) providing a fluid to the pressure actuated clamp, and controlling a pressure of the fluid, via a fluid control unit included within the borehole; and   (c) controlling, via a surface electrical control unit, flow of the fluid from the fluid control unit to the pressure actuated clamp.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the surface electrical control unit controls flow of the fluid from the fluid control unit to the pressure actuated clamp through the operation of one or more valves included in the fluid control unit. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein pressure used to operate the pressure actuated clamp is provided via wellbore pressure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the fluid control unit includes a pressure converter for increasing a pressure used to actuate the pressure actuated clamp. 
     
     
         11 . A borehole clamping system comprising:
 a pressure actuated clamp for clamping a sensor assembly in a borehole, the pressure actuated clamp configured to be operated using wellbore pressure.   
     
     
         12 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 11  further comprising a fluid control unit configured for use within the borehole, the fluid control unit providing a fluid to the pressure actuated clamp, and controlling a pressure of the fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 12  wherein the fluid control unit includes a pressure converter for increasing a pressure used to actuate the pressure actuated clamp. 
     
     
         14 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 12  further comprising a surface electrical control unit for controlling flow of the fluid. 
     
     
         15 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 14  wherein the surface electrical control unit controls flow of the fluid through the operation of one or more valves included in the fluid control unit. 
     
     
         16 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 12  wherein the fluid is an incompressible fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The borehole clamping system of  claim 12  wherein the fluid is a hydraulic fluid. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a clamping system within a borehole, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a pressure actuated clamp for clamping a sensor assembly in a borehole; and   (b) operating the pressure actuated clamp via wellbore pressure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of providing a fluid to the pressure actuated clamp, and controlling a pressure of the fluid, via a fluid control unit included within the borehole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of controlling, via a surface electrical control unit, flow of the fluid from the fluid control unit to the pressure actuated clamp. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the surface electrical control unit controls flow of the fluid from the fluid control unit to the pressure actuated clamp through the operation of one or more valves included in the fluid control unit. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the fluid control unit includes a pressure converter for increasing a pressure used to actuate the pressure actuated clamp.