Borehole strainmeter

• US 5,585,555 A
• Filed: 01/24/1995
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geokon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Geokon Incorporated
• Inventors: McRae, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Application Number:
  US08/377,184
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 73/151, 73/152, 73/768, 73/775, 73/781, 73/783, 73/784, 73/786, 73/803, 73/866.5, 166/66, 166/255.1, 166/250.01, 33/544, 33/544.3, 33/544.5, 33/544.6, 33/542.1
• US Class Current: 73/152.17
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/04115 using radial pistons
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/007 Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/30 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. mechanical strain gauge

Abstract

A recoverable, multiple position borehole strainmeter is provided. The strainmeter includes at least two anchors having pistons for releasably engaging the borehole whereby to mount the strainmeter in the borehole. A pneumatic actuator for controllably, independently actuating the pistons to engage the borehole is provided. A biasing mechanism prevents the pistons from engaging the borehole when the pistons are not being actuated by the actuator, and a relative displacement sensor senses changes in relative displacement between adjacent anchors whereby to monitor relative mass displacement axially along the borehole between the anchors.

Claims

1. A recoverable multiple position borehole strainmeter comprising, in combination, at least two anchors including respective sets of pistons for releasably engaging a borehole to releasably mount said anchors in said borehole in spaced-apart relationship to each other, actuation means for controllably actuating said sets of pistons to engage said borehole, said actuation means being adapted to permit each set of pistons to be independently actuable, said actuation means being controlled by control means outside said borehole, biasing means for preventing said sets of pistons from engaging said borehole when said sets of pistons are not being actuated by said actuation means, and sensing means for sensing changes in relative displacement between said two anchors whereby to monitor relative mass displacement axially along the borehole between said anchors;

wherein said actuation means includes means for controllably supplying gas under pressure to said anchors for actuating said sets of pistons to engage said borehole.

2. A strainmeter according to claim 1, and further comprising, at least one rod for interconnecting said two anchors and said sensing means.

3. A strainmeter according to claim 2, wherein said sensor means includes at least one transducer means connected to said at east one rod for measuring relative displacement between said anchors.

4. A strainmeter according to claim 3, wherein said sensor means includes a shaft tension spring for applying a tensile force to the connecting rod when said transducer means is positioned within a desired operating range.

5. A strainmeter according to claim 4, wherein said spring has a spring rate adapted to make said tensile force greater than gravitational force acting on the rod, whereby to permit said rod to remain oriented in said borehole so as to increase measurement accuracy of said strainmeter.

6. A strainmeter according to claim 1, wherein each said anchor comprises an internal cavity, each set of pistons comprises at least one pair of opposing locking pistons slidably mounted in a respective internal cavity of said anchors, and said anchors comprise openings adapted to permit said locking pistons to extend therefrom to engage said borehole when actuated by said actuation means.

7. A strainmeter according to claim 6, wherein said actuation means includes means for controllably supplying the internal cavities of said anchors with said pressurized gas whereby to force said locking pistons to extend from said openings.

8. A strainmeter according to claim 7, wherein said actuation means also comprises means for controllably, independently releasing said gas from said internal cavities.

9. A strainmeter according to claim 6, wherein said biasing means comprises a return spring connecting each said pair of locking pistons, said return spring being adapted to provide a contraction force to said locking pistons to prevent said locking pistons from engaging said borehole when not being actuated by said actuation means.

10. A strainmeter according to claim 1, wherein each said anchor comprises an internal cavity, each said set of pistons comprises two pairs of opposing locking pistons slidably mounted in said internal cavities of said anchor, and said anchors comprise openings adapted to permit said locking pistons to extend therefrom to engage said borehole when actuated by said actuation means.

11. A strainmeter according to claim 10, wherein said actuation means includes a controllable supply of pressurized gas for supplying said gas to a manifold, and separate gas flow control means for independently, controllably supplying each said internal cavity with said gas whereby to permit independent actuation of each set of locking pistons.

12. A strainmeter according to claim 1, further comprising, readout means for displaying an indication of said relative displacement, and wherein said sensing means is adapted to transmit information related to said indication to said readout means via radio waves.

13. A strainmeter according to claim 1, wherein said strainmeter is adapted to permit said strainmeter to be entirely assembled outside said borehole.

14. A strainmeter according to claim 1, wherein said actuation means includes a plurality of inflation tubes for supplying said gas to said anchors, and at least one of said anchors includes a plurality of channels adapted for confining said tubes therein.

15. A strainmeter according to claim 1, further comprising, means for pulling at least one of said anchors toward another of said anchors.

16. A recoverable multiple position borehole strainmeter, comprising in combination:

a. a plurality of anchors, each of said anchors including an internal cavity, and piston means slidably mounted in said cavity for releasably engaging a borehole whereby to releasably mount said anchors in said borehole in spaced-apart relationship to each other;

b. pneumatic actuation means for controllably actuating said piston means to engage said borehole, said actuation means including at least one supply of pressurized gas and a plurality of separate means for controllably, independently supplying said gas to the internal cavities of said anchors whereby to permit controllable, independent actuation of said piston means, said separate means being controlled by means outside said borehole;

c. biasing means for preventing said piston means from engaging said borehole when said piston means are not being actuated by said actuation means; and

d. transducer means for sensing changes in relative displacement between adjacent ones of said anchors whereby to monitor relative mass displacement axially along the borehole among said anchors.

17. A strainmeter according to claim 16, and further comprising, readout means for displaying an indication of said relative displacement.

18. A strainmeter according to claim 16, wherein said actuation means comprises means for controllably, independently releasing said gas from said internal cavities.