Method and apparatus for running and retrieving logging instruments in highly deviated well bores

{
  "publication_number": "US4082144A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Method and apparatus for running and retrieving logging instruments in highly deviated well bores",
  "abstract": "The system consists of means for running a logging instrument and a long semi-rigid extension on a logging cable through open-ended drill pipe. A head on the upper end of the extension conforms sufficiently close to the inside diameter of the drill pipe that pump pressure down the drill pipe develops thrust across the head to push the extension and logging instrument down the well bore. A catcher sub at the lower end of the drill pipe prevents the extension from being pumped out the bottom of the drill pipe. As the extension and logging instrument are pulled back into the drill pipe by the logging cable, well bore measurements are made and recorded over the interval below the bottom of the drill pipe. The extension consists of a number of sections that are joined together on top of the instrument as the instrument is lowered into the drill pipe on the logging cable, the extension sections each having a slot along their entire length in order that the extension will fit around the logging cable. In one embodiment, the extensions are formed of a threaded steel insert connected to a dissimilar metal, for example, aluminum, by a special welding technique in order to enable the entire extension system to be lighter weight and thus supportable by the logging cable. A cable tension adapter sub at the uppermost top extension causes fluid ports to be rerouted to enable free fluid movement downward through the cable tension adapter sub and restricted movement in the upward direction. This minimizes swab load when logging out of a well.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: attaching a well logging instrument to a well logging cable; attaching a plurality of tubular extensions to each other end to end, the lower one of said extensions being connected to said instrument, each of said extensions having a slot along its entire length to allow said cable to be placed within said extensions as said extensions are being connected together; and causing said instrument and said plurality of extensions to traverse said borehole and to log at least a portion of the formations surrounding said borehole.",
    "2. A method for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: running a string of drill pipe within an earth borehole; attaching a well logging instrument to a well logging cable; attaching a plurality of tubular extensions to each other end to end, the lower one of said extensions being connected to said instrument, each of said extensions having a slot along its entire length to allow said cable to be placed within said extensions as said extensions are being connected together; lowering said instrument and said plurality of extensions through said drill pipe until said instrument and at least some of said extensions have passed out through the bottom of said drill pipe; and causing said instrument and said plurality of extensions to traverse said borehole and to log at least a portion of the formations surrounding said borehole.",
    "3. A method for logging the formations surrounding an earth borehole, comprising: running a string of drill pipe within an earth borehole, the lower end of said drill pipe having a catcher sub attached thereto; attaching a well logging instrument to a well logging cable; attaching a plurality of tubular extensions to each other end to end, the lower one of said extensions being connected to said instrument, each of said extensions having a slot along its entire length to allow said cable to be placed within said extensions as said extensions are being connected together, the upper end of the uppermost extension having a head sub with an enlarged section sized larger than the exit opening of said catcher sub; lowering said instrument and said plurality of extensions through said drill pipe until said head sub engages said catcher sub; and raising said extensions and said instrument to log a portion of the formations surrounding the earth borehole beneath the catcher sub.",
    "4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said instrument and said extensions are lowered by gravity.",
    "5. The method according to claim 3 wherein said instrument and said extensions are lowered by pumping fluid down the drill pipe.",
    "6. A tubular extension member for use in traversing an earth borehole, comprising: a cylindrical tube having first and second ends, one of its said ends having an L-shaped member and a first external threaded member intermediate said L-shaped member and said tube, the other of said ends having a U-shaped member and a second external threaded member intermediate said U-shaped member and said tube; and a groove extending between the outermost limits of said L-shaped and U-shaped members, through each of said external threaded members, and along the length of said cylindrical tube, whereby said tube can be placed in an encircling manner around a well logging cable.",
    "7. A system for joining together a pair of tubular extension members in accordance with claim 6, being characterized by the L-shaped member of one of said tubular members being mated with the U-shaped member of the other of said tubular members and being further characterized by the addition of a split collar having a groove along its length and internal threads therein to threadedly engage the external threads intermediate the L-shaped member on one of the tubes while encircling said mated L-shaped and U-shaped members."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates generally to a system for logging earth boreholes and specifically to a system which utilizes means to assist a well logging instrument to traverse highly deviated earth boreholes.\n\nIt has become relatively common within the last few years to drill wells in the search for oil and gas and the like with a portion of the bore deviating from the usual vertical orientation thereof. The deviation or inclination may extend for a considerable distance at angles ranging to 70°, sometimes returning to the usual vertical orientation. In some instances, such boreholes might even extend past 90° from the vertical and actually be extending in the \"up\" direction for some distance.\n\nIt is also well known in the art of drilling such wells to attempt the logging of the formations surrounding such boreholes with logging instruments run into the well bore on a wireline and/or cable to perform various operations. Such tools usually depend upon the force of gravity to permit positioning of the well tools at the desired formation in the well bore.\n\nManifestly, the relatively horizontal angle of the deviated portion of the well bore will not permit the wireline-actuated tools to move into the lower portion of the well bore since the friction of the well tool in the deviated portion works against the force of gravity. Thus, it has become essential to provide some means of causing the well logging instrument to pass through the deviated portions of the well bore.",
  "cpc": [
    "E21B 23/14",
    "E21B 17/003",
    "E21B 23/08",
    "E21B 34/066"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E21B 17/00",
    "E21B 23/08",
    "E21B 23/14",
    "E21B 34/06"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Dresser Industries Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Gerald L. Marquis"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1976-11-01",
  "publication_date": "1978-04-04",
  "grant_date": "1978-04-04",
  "priority_date": "1976-11-01",
  "application_number": "US-73774876-A",
  "family_id": "24965149",
  "cited_by_count": 100,
  "citations": [
    "US3073388A",
    "US3358765A",
    "US3461978A"
  ]
}