Methods and apparatus for borehole sensing including downhole tension sensing

• US 7,894,297 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Yamate, Tsutomu, Kamata, Masahiro, Nutt, Les
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/682,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20070165487A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,449 Days
• Field of Search: 367/25, 367/35, 367/57, 367/82, 367/188, 166/66, 166/77.51, 166/301, 175/45
• US Class Current: 367/25
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 31/18 gripping externally, e.g. overshot
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/40 specially adapted for well-logging
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/42 using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice versa G01V1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/6163 Electromagnetic

Abstract

The present disclosure provides, among other things, apparatuses and methods for sensing subsurface data. One embodiment comprises borehole conveyance system tool, the borehole conveyance system tool comprising a conveyance, a sensor array disposed on the conveyance, and an acquisition electronics section disposed on the conveyance distal of the sensor array. One embodiment includes at least one downhole tension sensor to help indicate when a tool is stuck and what part of the tool is stuck.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a borehole conveyance system tool, the borehole conveyance system tool comprising;

a conveyance;

a sensor array disposed on the conveyance;

an acquisition electronics section disposed on the conveyance distal of the sensor array; and

a downhole tension meter capable of reporting a measured tension uphole;

wherein an outermost diameter of the sensor array is less than an outermost diameter of the acquisition electronics section.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition electronics section comprises a logging head, telemetry electronics, and acquisition electronics.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the logging head comprises a weak point and a tension meter, the tension meter capable of reporting a measured tension.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of spaced acoustic receivers.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor array comprises a distal end of the conveyance.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyance is a wire line cable and wherein each acoustic receiver is packaged in a shuttle, the shuttle being approximately flush with an outer diameter of the wire line cable.

7. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the conveyance is a wire line cable and wherein each acoustic receiver is embedded in the wire line cable.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the downhole tension meter is disposed between the sensor array and the acquisition electronics section.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a weak point disposed between the sensor array and the acquisition electronics section.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of acoustic receivers, and further comprising a tension meter, capable of reporting a measured tension, disposed between at least one adjacent pair of acoustic receivers.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of acoustic receivers, and further comprising a tension meter, the tension meter capable of reporting a measured tension, disposed between each adjacent pair of acoustic receivers.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a weak point disposed between each adjacent pair of acoustic receivers.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor array comprises a plurality of acoustic receivers, each acoustic receiver attached to another adjacent acoustic receiver by an interconnect cable, the interconnect cable comprising a weak point and a tension meter.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance comprises a wireline logging cable.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a hollow fishing tool, the hollow fishing tool comprising an internal passage capable of sliding over the conveyance and over the sensor array, the hollow fishing tool comprising a grabbing mechanism for grabbing the acquisition electronics section.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the hollow fishing tool is attached to a distal end of a drillpipe.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the grabbing mechanism comprises barbed teeth configured to grab a logging head of the acquisition electronics section.

18. A method, comprising:

conveying a seismic sensing tool into a borehole, the seismic sensing tool comprising a sensor array and an acquisition electronics section disposed distal of the of sensor array;

weighing down the sensor array with the acquisition electronics section; and

sensing tension between the sensor array and the acquisition electronics section with a downhole tension meter located local to the sensor array and acquisition electronics section wherein an outermost diameter of the sensor array is less than an outermost diameter of the acquisition electronics section.

19. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

reporting a tension measurement value uphole from the tension meter.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

sensing tension between sensors of the sensor array with one or more downhole tension meters located between adjacent sensors;

reporting a tension measurement value uphole from the one or more tension meters.

21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

feeding a fishing tool over a conveyance of the seismic sensing tool;

sliding the fishing tool over the sensor array;

grabbing a head of the acquisition electronics section with the fishing tool;

retrieving the acquisition electronics section.

22. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

breaking a weak point between the sensor array section and the distal acquisition electronics section;

conveying a fishing tool to the acquisition electronics section;

grabbing a head of the acquisition electronics section with the fishing tool;

retrieving the acquisition electronics section.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

an acoustic logging tool, the acoustic logging tool comprising;

a conveyance;

an acquisition electronics section disposed on the conveyance;

a sensor array disposed on the conveyance;

at least one tension meter capable of measuring and reporting a tension value local to the acquisition electronics section and the sensor array wherein an outermost diameter of the sensor array is less than an outermost diameter of the acquisition electronics section.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the at least one tension meter comprises a tension meter between the acquisition electronics section and the sensor array.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the at least one tension meter comprises a tension meter between one or more sensors of the sensor array.

26. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the at least one tension meter comprises a tension meter at a logging head of the acquisition electronics section.

27. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the acquisition electronics section is arranged distal to the sensor array.