US2016108721A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for investigating a borehole with a caliper

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Assignee: LOADTEST INCPriority: Dec 16, 2005Filed: Dec 22, 2015Published: Apr 21, 2016
Est. expiryDec 16, 2025(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John A. Hayes
E02D 1/02E21B 47/085G01V 1/46E21B 47/01E21B 47/082E21B 47/08
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Claims

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a caliper and method for mapping the dimensions and topography of a formation such as the sidewall of a borehole. Examples of formations in which embodiments of the invention can be used include, but are not limited to, an oil, gas, pile borehole or barrette that has been drilled or excavated into the earth.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for investigating a formation, comprising:
 a caliper adapted to be lowered into a formation such that an axis of the caliper is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the formation,   wherein the caliper comprises:
 a transmitter for transmitting a transmitted pulse signal; 
 a detector for detecting a reflected pulse signal, 
 wherein the reflected pulse signal is the transmitted pulse signal reflected from a target location on a surface of the formation onto which the transmitted pulse signal is incident; 
 a means for determining the time interval between the transmission of the transmitted pulse signal and the detection of the reflected pulse signal, 
 wherein the distance from the transmitter to the target location on the surface of the formation and back to the detector is the time interval between the transmission of the transmitted pulse signal and the detection of the reflected pulse signal times the speed of the first pulse signal; and 
 a means for rotating the transmitter and the detector with respect to the axis of the caliper, 
 wherein rotation of the transmitter and the detector causes the target location on the surface of the formation onto which the transmitted pulse signal is incident to rotate with respect to the axis of the caliper. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the formation is a borehole.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according  1 , further comprising:
 a means for raising and lowering the caliper in the formation,   wherein raising and lowering the caliper in the formation causes the target location on the surface of the formation to raise and lower, respectively.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a means for controlling the rotation of the transmitter and detector and the raising and lowering of the caliper such that the first pulse signal is incident on a plurality of target locations on the surface of the formation; and   a means for producing a representation of a portion of the formation corresponding to the plurality of target locations on the surface of the formation onto which the transmitter signal is incident.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 one or more guide cables for guiding the caliper as the caliper is raised and/or lowered in the formation,   wherein the one or more guide cables allow the position of the caliper to be controlled as the caliper is raised and/or lowered in the formation.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transmitter comprises a laser light source.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the transmitter comprises a sonar head.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the one or more guide cables are weighted to fall plumb into the formation.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein at least one of the one or more guide cables is weighted with an inclinometer for providing an output signal indicative of the orientation of the at least one guide cable.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a means for raising and/or lowering the caliper up and down the at least one of the one or more guide cables by gripping on the at least one guide cable.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the caliper is attached to at least one of the one or more guide cables, and   wherein the means for raising and lowering the caliper comprises:
 a means for raising and lowering the at least one guide cable attached to the caliper such that raising and lowering the at least one guide cable attached to the caliper raises and lowers the caliper. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the means for raising and lowering the caliper comprises:   a cable attached to the caliper.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein one or more of the one or more guide cables and the cable comprise:   a conductor for transmitting commands and/or power to the caliper and for receiving data back from caliper.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the caliper further comprises:
 a compass. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the caliper further comprises:
 a gyroscopic stabilizer. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a means for determining the speed of the transmitted pulse signal.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 ,
 wherein the means for determining the speed of the transmitted pulse signal comprises an object a known distance from the transmitter, and   wherein the speed of the transmitted pulse signal is the distance from the transmitter to the object and back to the detector divided by the time interval between the transmission of the transmitted pulse signal and the detection of the reflected pulse signal from the object.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the sonar head transmits in the range 50 kHz-300 kHz.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein the sonar head transmits in the range 500 kHz-800kHz.   
     
     
         20 . A method for investigating a formation, comprising:
 positioning a caliper into a formation such that an axis of the caliper is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the formation;   transmitting a transmitted pulse signal from a transmitter on the caliper;   detecting a reflected pulse signal with a detector on the caliper,   wherein the reflected pulse signal is the transmitted pulse signal reflected from a target location on a surface of the formation onto which the transmitted pulse signal is incident;   determining the time interval between the transmission of the transmitted pulse signal and the detection of the reflected pulse signal,   wherein the distance from the transmitter to the target location on the surface of the formation and back to the detector is the time interval between the transmission of the transmitted pulse signal and the detection of the reflected pulse signal times the speed of the first pulse signal; and   rotating the transmitter and the detector with respect to the axis of the caliper,   wherein rotation of the transmitter and the detector causes the target location on the surface of the formation onto which the transmitted pulse signal is incident to rotate with respect to the axis of the caliper.

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