Method and apparatus for installing electronic equipment below soft earth surface layer

• US 6,325,161 B1
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Petroleum Geo-Services, Inc. (PGS ASA)
• Original Assignee: Petroleum Geo-Services, Inc. (PGS ASA)
• Inventors: Havig, Sven O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BATES, ZAKIYA W
• Application Number:
  US09/170,413
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 175/40, 175/45, 166/250.01, 166/65.1, 166/66, 166/285, 166/153
• US Class Current: 175/40
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/01 Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/017 Protecting measuring instruments
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/107 using acoustic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/16 Receiving elements for seismic signals; Arrangements or adaptations of receiving elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/184 Multi-component geophones
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/52 Structural details
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/005 Devices for positioning logging sondes with respect to the borehole wall centralising devices for drilling rods or pipes E21B17/10; setting or locking tools in boreholes E21B23/00; locating objects in boreholes E21B47/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/612 Previously recorded data, e.g. time-lapse or 4D

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring production mineral reservoirs, the method comprising: permanently installing a geophone in a borehole; generating a first set of seismic waves; receiving a first set of seismic data with the geophone; recording the first set of data of said receiving a first set of seismic data; generating a second set of seismic waves after sufficient time has passed for conditions in the reservoir to have changed from the generating a first set of seismic waves; receiving a second set of seismic data with the geophone; and recording the second set of seismic data of said receiving a second set of seismic data. A method and apparatus for installing instruments below the surface of the earth, the method comprising: drilling a borehole with a drill apparatus inserting an instrument in the borehole; and permanently fixing the instruments in the borehole. An instrument for receiving seismic data, the instrument comprising: a geophone component which operates in an X-direction; a geophone component which operates in an Y-direction; a geophone component which operates in a Z-direction; and a housing for the geophone components which is permanently fixed in a borehole.

Claims

1. A method for installing a seismic instrument below the surface of the earth, the method comprising:

drilling a deep borehole in the earth;

attaching the seismic instrument to a pipe string;

inserting the pipe string into the deep borehole so that the pipe string extends nearly to the bottom of the deep borehole; and

cementing the pipe string and the seismic instrument in the deep borehole by pumping concrete into the deep borehole through the inside of the pipe string so that the concrete fills the inside of the pipe string and flows out a hole at the bottom of the pipe string and up the borehole and around the seismic instrument.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step, after pumping concrete into the deep borehole, of moving a plug down the pipe string to force the concrete out of the pipe string so that the interior of the pipe string above the plug is not filled with concrete.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of placing a second seismic instrument into the pipe string.

4. A method for installing an instrument below the surface of the earth, the method comprising:

drilling a deep borehole in the earth;

attaching the instrument to a pipe string having an upper portion and a lower portion, the instrument being attached to the lower portion of the pipe string;

inserting the pipe string into the deep borehole;

fixing the lower portion of the pipe string and the instrument in the deep borehole;

detaching the upper portion of the pipe string; and

covering the lower portion of the pipe string and the borehole over with earth to insulate the instrument from vibrations generated at and above the surface of the earth.