Downhole reeled tubing inspection system with fiberoptic cable

• US 5,275,038 A
• Filed: 05/20/1991
• Issued: 01/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Company
• Original Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Perkins, Donald H., Sizer, Phillip S., Rademaker, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCK, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US07/702,827
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 73/151, 73/152, 166/255, 166/302, 385/101, 385/107, 385/108, 340/854.7, 340/854.9, 358/94, 358/100, 367/35, 367/86, 367/911, 181/105
• US Class Current: 73/152.02
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/203 with plural fluid passages
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 17/206 with conductors, e.g. electrical, optical
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/02 in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/002 by visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/017 Protecting measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/0175 Cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/26 using light guides for illumination G02B23/2469

Abstract

A system for the inspection of a well borehole and the formation around the borehole. The system includes a pair of concentric reeled tubings for injecting a pair of fluids into a wellbore through a wellhead, one of said fluids being an optically transparent or acoustically homogenous fluid which forms a slug of said fluid around an optical sensor which transmits signals indicative of well conditions to the surface. The other of said fluids is used to perform functions with respect to said sensor such as cooling said sensor or protect it from a corrosive environment. In addition, a fiberoptic cable construction in combination with the reel tubing is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for inspecting within a borehole comprising:

a first length of conduit extending from the surface through the borehole down into the zone where the inspection is to occur;

a second length of conduit extending from the surface through the borehole down into the zone where the inspection is to occur, said second length of conduit being smaller in diameter than the said first length and being axially positioned within said first length of conduit to define an annular space therebetween, said annular space forming a first fluid passageway and the interior of said length of second conduit forming a second fluid passageway;

a sensor mounted on the lower end of said conduits for inspecting conditions within the borehole;

means for pumping from the surface down one of the passageways through the concentric lengths of conduits into an inspection region adjacent the sensor, a first fluid which provides a medium conducive to accurate inspection of conditions within the borehole by the sensor; and

means for pumping from the surface down the other passageway a second fluid which performs an auxiliary function concerning the sensor.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second fluid is used for cooling said sensor.

3. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second fluid comprises a corrosion inhibiting fluid for protection of said sensor within the environment of the borehole.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor includes an outer housing allowing fluid flow therethrough and connected to said second fluid passageway of said second length of conduit for flow of said second fluid.

5. A system as set forth in claim 1 which also includes a fiber optic cable extending axially within said second length of conduit for conducting information between said sensor and the surface adjacent said borehole.

6. A system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fiber optic cable also includes a plurality of electrical conductors to permit the transmission of electrical power to said sensor.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a television camera and said first fluid is optically transparent to permit optical inspection of said borehole by said camera.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conduits comprise the tubing of a reeled tubing unit.

9. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a television camera, said first fluid is optically transparent to permit optical inspection of said borehole by said camera and said second fluid is circulated around the body of said camera to cool it.

10. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole, comprising:

a reeled tubing unit including a reel having a length of tubing wound thereon and an injector for inserting the tubing on the reel down into a borehole into a location at which inspection is to occur;

an inspection sensor mounted to the end of the reeled tubing to be inserted into the borehole;

a second length of tubing extending axially within said first length of tubing and also being wound on said reel the interior of said second length of tubing forming a first fluid passageway and the annular space between said first and second lengths of tubing forming a second passageway;

a first pump connected to the end of the reeled tubing located at the surface for supplying pressurized optically transparent and/or acoustically homogenous fluid to one of the passageways within said reeled tubing;

a fluid injection nozzle means mounted to the lower end of the reeled tubing and in fluid communication with said one of the passageways within the interior of the tubing for allowing a flow of fluid from within the tubing out into the borehole to produce a fluid inspection zone within the borehole in the region of the sensor and enable the sensor to accurately inspect physical conditions within the borehole;

a second pump connected to the end of the reeled tubing located at the surface for supplying a second fluid down the other of the passageways within the tubing; and

a fluid flow passageway associated with the sensor and connected to said other of the passageways for receiving the flow of the second fluid and directing it around the sensor for performing an auxiliary function concerning the sensor.

11. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 wherein said system also includes a cable extending axially through said tubing from the reeled tubing unit to the inspection sensor for conducting information therebetween.

12. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cable comprises a fiber optic strand and a pair of electrically conductive strands for the transmission of information along said cable.

13. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cable includes an external metal shield to protect said cable from damage.

14. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cable includes a plurality of electrical conductors to permit the transmission of electrical power to said sensor.

15. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cable includes:

a fiberoptic core;

a first layer of insulative material around said core;

a first plurality of strands of electrically conductive wires surrounding said insulative layer;

a second layer of insulative material surrounding said plurality of conductors; and

a second plurality of strands of electrically conductive wires surrounding said second insulative layer for providing both strength and electrical conductivity to the cable.

16. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 15 which also includes:

an elongated metal casing surrounding said second plurality of strands of electrically conductive wires.

17. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 15 wherein said fiberoptic core comprises a single fiberoptic strand.

18. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 15 wherein said fiberoptic core includes multiple strands of fiberoptic material.

19. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of the strands of said second plurality of strands is larger in diameter than the strands of said first plurality of strands.

20. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 15 wherein the strands of said second plurality of strands are spirally wrapped about said second layer of insulative material.

21. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 15 wherein said elongate metal casing is made of stainless steel.

22. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 which also includes:

means located at the surface for controlling the operation of the inspection sensor and for receiving information from the operator of said sensor; and

a fiberoptic cable extending along the length of reeled tubing for connecting said inspection sensor with said controlling and receiving means at the surface to allow communication with said sensor by an operator.

23. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 wherein said inspection sensor comprises a television camera and said first fluid is optically transparent to permit optical inspection of the borehole by said camera.

24. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second fluid is a cooling fluid to cool the sensor during its operation.

25. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 wherein said reeled tubing unit is mounted upon a truck for transportation to the location of the borehole to be inspected.

26. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 wherein said second fluid comprises a corrosion inhibiting fluid for protection of said sensor within the environment of the borehole.

27. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 wherein said sensor includes an outer housing allowing fluid flow therethrough and connected to said second fluid passageway for flow of said second fluid.

28. A system for inspecting the interior of a borehole as set forth in claim 10 which also includes a fiberoptic cable extending axially within said second length of tubing for conducting information between said sensor and the surface adjacent said borehole.