Reeled tubing support for downhole equipment module

• US 5,419,188 A
• Filed: 05/20/1991
• Issued: 05/30/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Goiffon, John J., Rademaker, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Tom
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brock, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US07/703,287
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 73/151, 73/152, 166/255, 166/302, 385/101, 385/107, 385/108, 340/854.7, 340/854.9, 358/99, 358/100, 367/35, 367/86, 367/911, 181/105
• US Class Current: 73/152.54
• 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 47/002 by visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves

Abstract

A system for the inspection of a well borehole and the formation around the borehole. The system includes a sealed tubing at the lower end of which is mounted a fiberoptic telemetry module which receives various sensor modules for transmissions of sensed information to the surface. The modular telemetry link and sensor include fluid passageways through which fluid pumped from the surface down the sealed tubing may pass to create a region of optically clear and/or acoustically homogenous fluid in the borehole in the vicinity of the modular telemetry link and sensor. The passage of fluid through the passageways in the modular equipment may also serve to cool the circuits thereof.

Claims

1. A system for use in monitoring conditions within a borehole, comprising:

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

a telemetry link module mounted on the lower end of the conduit for transmitting information to the surface, said telemetry link module having means positioned at its lower end for receiving a sensor module and coupling information produced by said sensor module into said telemetry link;

a communication cable connected between the telemetry link and the surface extending through the length of conduit;

means for pumping from the surface down the conduit into the monitoring region adjacent the telemetry link a fluid which provides a medium conducive to accurate inspection of the conditions within the borehole by the sensor module;

a sensor module couple to the receiving means of said telemetry link module, said sensor module including an outer housing, an inner equipment chamber and a passageway therebetween coupled for fluid communication with a passageway within said telemetry link module and receiving the flow of fluid pumped from the surface to cool said sensor module; and

of tubular struts attached to the end of said outer housing of said sensor module opposite said telemetry link module, each of said struts having one end in fluid communication with the passageway within said sensor module housing and the other end open to discharge fluid flowing therethrough into the borehole being inspected.

2. A system for use in monitoring conditions within a borehole, comprising:

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

a telemetry link module mounted on the lower end of the conduit for transmitting information to the surface, said telemetry link module having means positioned at its lower end for receiving a sensor module and coupling information produced by said sensor module into said telemetry link;

a communications cable connected between the telemetry link and the surface extending through the length of conduit;

means for pumping from the surface down the conduit into the monitoring region adjacent the telemetry link a fluid which provides a medium conducive to accurate inspection of the conditions within the borehole by the sensor module;

a sensor module coupled to the receiving means of said telemetry link module, said sensor module including an outer housing, an inner equipment chamber and a passageway therebetween coupled for fluid communication with a passageway within said telemetry link module and receiving the flow of fluid pumped from the surface to cool said sensor module;

a plurality of tubular struts, attached to the end of said outer housing of said sensor module opposite said telemetry link module, each of said struts having one end in fluid communication with the passageway within said sensor module housing and the other end open to discharge fluid flowing therethrough into the borehole being inspected; and

wherein said sensor module comprises a television camera and which also includes a pressurized lamp chamber positioned between said tubular struts, said chamber having transparent windows therein and containing a lamp for illumination of the walls of the borehole being inspected.

3. A system for use in 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 to a location at which inspection is to occur;

a telemetry link module mounted to the end of the reeled tubing to be inserted into the borehole, said telemetry link being capable of receiving a sensor coupled to the lower end thereof and receiving data from said sensor and transmitting it to the surface;

a fiberoptic cable connected between said telemetry link module and monitoring equipment at the surface;

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

means for passing said fluid through said telemetry link module to cool the circuits therein and then to the interior of said borehole to provide an optically clear and/or acoustically homogenous region within the borehole in the region of the sensor and enable the sensor to accurately inspect physical conditions within the borehole;

wherein said telemetry link module includes an outer housing, an inner equipment chamber, and a passageway therebetween for receiving said flow of fluid therethrough for the cooling of equipment therein and said passageway is connected to said reeled tubing to receive the flow of fluid pumped from the surface; and

a sensor module coupled to the lower end of said telemetry link module, said sensor module including an outer housing, an inner equipment chamber and a passageway therebetween coupled for fluid communication with the passageway within said telemetry link module and receiving the flow of fluid pumped from the surface to cool said sensor module, said outer housing of said sensor module having attached to the end thereof opposite said telemetry link module a plurality of tubular struts extending from said sensor module, each of said struts having one end in fluid communication with the passageway within said sensor module housing and the other end open to discharge fluid flowing therethrough into the borehole being inspected.

4. A system for use in 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 to a location at which inspection is to occur;

a telemetry link module mounted to the end of the reeled tubing to be inserted into the borehole, said telemetry link being capable of receiving a sensor coupled to the lower end thereof and receiving data from said sensor and transmitting it to the surface;

a fiberoptic cable connected between said telemetry link module and monitoring equipment at the surface;

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

means for passing said fluid through said telemetry link module to cool the circuits therein and then to the interior of said borehole to provide an optically clear and/or acoustically homogenous region within the borehole in the region of the sensor and enable the sensor to accurately inspect physical conditions within the borehole;

wherein said telemetry link module includes an outer housing, an inner equipment chamber, and a passageway therebetween for receiving said flow of fluid therethrough for the cooling of equipment therein and said passageway is connected to said reeled tubing to receive the flow of fluid pumped from the surface;

a sensor module coupled to the lower end of said telemetry link module, said sensor module including an outer housing, an inner equipment chamber and a passageway therebetween coupled for fluid communication with the passageway within said telemetry link module and receiving the flow of fluid pumped from the surface to cool said sensor module, said outer housing of said sensor module having attached to the end thereof opposite said telemetry link module a plurality of tubular struts extending from said sensor module, each of said struts having one end in fluid communication with the passageway within said sensor module housing and the other end open to discharge fluid flowing therethrough into the borehole being inspected; and

wherein said sensor module comprises a television camera and which also includes a pressurized lamp chamber positioned between said tubular struts, said chamber having transparent windows therein and containing a lamp for illumination of the walls of the borehole being inspected.