Method to transmit downhole video up standard wireline cable using digital data compression techniques

• US 6,229,453 B1
• Filed: 01/26/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Maddox, Steven D., Gardner, Wallace R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Edwards, Jr., Timothy
• Application Number:
  US09/013,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 340/854.9, 340/856.3, 340/854.7, 340/855.6, 340/856.4, 348/85, 367/81, 367/68
• US Class Current: 340/853.8
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/12 Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Disclosed is a downhole video system that is suitable for use with a standard wireline transmission line, without the need for coaxial or fiber optic cable. A downhole video camera transmits a digitized video signal that may be multiplexed with orientation, sound, and other telemetry data. At the surface, an enhanced video is displayed simultaneously with processed sound to give an operator a better understanding of the conditions downhole. In addition, multiple modes are provided, including a “burst” mode to provide high resolution, full motion video, thereby circumventing the severe bandwidth limitations of standard electrical transmission lines.

Claims

1. A video system for use in a well bore, comprising:

a video camera suitable for insertion in a well bore, said video camera capable of generating a digitized signal representative of downhole images;

a sound sensor suitable for insertion in a weilbore and configured to detect sounds, said sound sensor capable of subsequent generation of an electrical signal representative of said detected sounds;

a transmission line attached to said video camera and said sound sensor, said transmission line suitable for carrying said digitized signal and said electrical signal;

a digital video compressor configured to attach to said transmission line, said video compressor being suitable for receipt of an uncompressed form of said digitized signal and further suitable for subsequent generation of a compressed form of said digitized signal, wherein said digital video compressor is programmed to utilize lossy image compression to reduce the bandwidth requirements of said digitized signal;

a video presentation device in communication with said transmission line, said video presentation device being configured to receive a signal corresponding to said digitized signal representative of said downhole images, said video presentation device in response broadcasting a visual image;

a speaker in communication with said transmission line, said speaker being configured to receive a signal corresponding to said electrical signal, said speaker in response broadcasting an audio presentation.

2. The video system of claim 1, wherein said digital video compressor is configured to use wavelet compression and wherein said sound sensor is a microphone.

3. The video system of claim 1, wherein said sound sensor detects ambient sounds and wherein said audio presentation corresponds to said ambient sounds.

4. The video system of claim 1, further comprising:

a telemetry sensor suitable for insertion in a well bore and configured to generate a telemetry data signal, said telemetry sensor being attached to said digital video compressor;

an image processor attached to said telemetry sensor and to said video camera, said image processor being programmable to alter, based upon said telemetry data signal, selected portions of said digitized signal such that upon a presentation of said digitized signal, aspects of said presentation corresponding to said selected portions are emphasized.

5. The video system of claim 4, wherein said presentation is a video presentation.

6. The video system of claim 4, wherein said presentation is a mathematical projection onto a surface.

7. The video system of claim 5, wherein said microprocessor is a means for controlling by multiple modes the transmission of downhole data to a surface location.

8. A method to transmit downhole video and sound up standard wireline cable, comprising:

(a) positioning a video detection device and a sound detection device downhole;

(b) generating a digitized signal corresponding to said video and sound data from said sound detection device;

(c) compressing said digitized signal by a lossy image technique;

(d) transmitting said digitized and compressed signal uphole;

(e) receiving said digitized and compressed signal uphole;

(f) decompressing said digitized and compressed signal uphole to yield a decompressed signal including said video and sound data; and

(g) broadcasting said decompressed signal via a data presentation device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of positioning includes providing an orientation sensor downhole, said orientation sensor generating orientation data and said step of transmitting including the transmission of said orientation data.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

(g) conditioning said second digitized signal, said sound data and said orientation data by image enhancement; and

(h) presenting for observation the resulting signal from said conditioning step.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(g) transmitting an audio signal corresponding to said sound data from an audio presentation device.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

(g) transmitting an audio signal corresponding to said sound data from an audio presentation device and transmitting a visual signal corresponding to said digitized signal from a visual presentation device.

13. A video system for use in a well bore, comprising:

a video camera suitable for insertion in a wellbore, said video camera capable of generating a digitized signal representative of downhole images;

a sound sensor suitable for insertion in a well bore and configured to detect sounds, said sound sensor capable of subsequent generation of an electrical signal representative of said detected sounds;

a transmission line attached to said video camera, said transmission line suitable for carrying said digitized signal;

a video monitor in communication with said trsssion line, said video monitor being configured to receive a signal corresponding to said digitized signal representative of said downhole images, said video monitor in response broadcasting a visual presentation; and

a speaker suitable in communication with said transmission line, said speaker being configured to receive a signal from said transmission line corresponding to said electrical signal, said speaker in response broadcasting an audio presentation.

14. The video system of claim 13, wherein said digital video compressor is configured to use wavelet compression.

15. The video system of claim 13, further comprising:

a digital video decompress configured to attach to said digital video compressor, said video decompress being suitable for receipt of said compressed form of said digitized signal and further suitable for subsequent generation of a second digitized signal, wherein said digital video compressor is configurable to utilize lossy image compression and said second digitized signal is in a decompressed form, said second digitized signal corresponding to a selected compression ratio, a selected frame rate, and a selected number of pixels;

a microprocessor suitable for attachment to said transmission line; and

controls suitable for attachment to said microprocessor, said controls for adjusting amongst said selected compression ratio, said selected frame rate, and said selected number of pixels to obtain a selected balance.

16. The video system of claims 13, wherein said sound sensor detects ambient sounds and wherein said audio presentation corresponds to said ambient sounds.

17. The video system of claim 13, further comprising:

a sound sensor suitable for insertion in a wellbore and configured to detect sounds, said sound sensor suitable for subsequent generation of an electrical sound signal representative of said detected sounds;

a multiplexer attached between said digital video compressor and said sound sensor, said multiplexer configured to multiplex said electrical sound signal and said digitized signal.

18. The video system of claim 17, wherein said sound sensor is a microphone.

19. The video system of claim 13, further comprising:

an orientation sensor configured to generate an orientation data signal, and suitable for insertion in said well bore, said orientation sensor being configured to attach to said digital video compressor.

20. The video system of claim 19, further comprising:

a digital video decompress configured to attach to said digital video compressor, said video decompress being suitable for receipt of said compressed form of said digitized signal and further suitable for subsequent generation of a second digitized signal, said second digitized signal being in a decompressed form, wherein said digital video compressor is configurable to utilize lossy image compression;

an image rotation processor attached to said digital video decompress, said image rotation sensor being programmable to combine said digitized signal and said orientation signal for video presentation; and

a video monitor attached to said image rotation processor.

21. The video system of claim 20, further comprising:

a multiplexer suitable for attachment to said digital video compressor and to said orientation sensor, said multiplexer being configured to multiplex said orientation data signal and said digitized signal, and thereafter provide a multiplexed signal comprising said orientation data signal and said digitized signal;

a demultiplexer suitable for attachment to said digital video decompress and suitable for reception of said multiplexed signal, said demultiplexer configured to demultiplex said multiplexed signal into said orientation data signal and said digitized signal.