Conoco Inc.

Jack H Cole

John S Gergely

Mark P DiStefano

Marvin E Janda

C Michael Swindoll

Delbert W Fair

Dennis R Wilson

Larry K Moran

Wilbur J Myers

Robert T Baumel

John B Sinton

Wilber R Moyer

Paul L Buller

John E Strecker

Richard K Thomson

A system for centralizing casing pipe in a wellbore includes lateral pistons in the side wall of the casing string which are movable by forces applied to their inner end, from a retracted position within the maximum exterior profile of the casing pipe string to a predetermined extended position which will move the casing pipe string toward a central position in the borehole. Various well operations can be performed using the pistons in addition to the centralizing function.

Apparatus and method for centralizing pipe in a wellbore

The present invention relates to an improved downhole seismic source with an epicyclic eccentric weight system for the simultaneous generation of elliptically polarized shear wave seismic energy and compression wave seismic energy coupled into a borehole. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing and a drive means or electric motor disposed in the housing which provides rotational output to an epicyclic eccentric weight system also disposed in the housing. Expandable tapered wedging collars are used to firmly secure the motor and the epicyclic eccentric weight systems within the housing. A flexible shaft interconnects the centerline of the epicyclic cylindrical roller and the motor whereby the roller receives the rotational output from the motor. The shaft rotates in one direction and the roller rotates in the opposite direction thereby producing an epicyclic motion.

Downhole epicyclic motion orbital seismic source

The present invention relates to an improved downhole seismic source for the simultaneous generation of elliptically polarized shear wave seismic energy and compression wave seismic energy coupled into a borehole. The source of the present invention is capable of receiving several kilowatts of energy downhole to depths of several thousand feet. An orbital vibrator, energized by a hydraulic power means is disposed within a housing. The orbital vibrator imparts an orbital motion which generates seismic wave energy in the borehole. A cable supports the hydraulic power means and the orbital vibrator at selected positions along the borehole for coupling of the seismic wave energy into the borehole.

Downhole hydraulic rotary seismic source

A downhole electro-hydraulic vertical shear wave seismic source places the reaction mass internal to the source cylindrical housing and isolates the actuator from the wellbore fluid and pressure. The clamping system of this source uses two serrated pads radiused to match the inside diameter of the casing. Hydraulic cylinders which are retracted by internal compact stacks of spring washers are used for actuating the serrated pads. A device for keeping the reaction mass in a 'floating' position with actuator piston centered within the actuator cylinder is provided by suspending the reaction mass from a compact and soft urethane spring. A threaded guide rod passing vertically through this spring allows spring compression to be adjusted until the actuator piston is precisely centered with no differential hydraulic pressure across the piston.

Downhole electro-hydraulic vertical shear wave seismic source

A method and apparatus by which elastic properties of rock formations are determined includes a downhole logging device which has two internal accelerometers mounted within to measure the acceleration of the device. A reference displacement of the device is determined by measuring the acceleration outside the borehole while the device is suspended in air. The output of the accelerometers is measured in the borehole. Integrating the acceleration outputs of these accelerometers twice yields the displacement in the borehole. Changes in the displacement of the device are indicative of various elastic properties of formations surrounding the borehole. Using two accelerometers to determine displacement allows the continuous logging of Young's modulus and other elastic properties of rocks surrounding a well bore. In an alternate embodiment, geophones are used to measure the velocity of the device and their outputs are integrated once to yield displacement.

Method and apparatus for the downhole measurement of elastic rock

The invention relates to an apparatus for grouting holes in the ground to prevent a contaminated zone within the ground from contaminating other zones in the ground. In particular, the grouting apparatus is adapted to follow the hole previously formed in the ground and not detour therefrom forming a separate hole which will be grouted in lieu of the previously formed hole. When the grouting apparatus reaches the bottom of the hole, grouting material is expelled from the lower end thereof. The apparatus is thereafter withdrawn as the grouting material fills the vacated hole. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tubular segments connected together to form a pipestring. At the bottom end of the string, there is attached a tip assembly. The tip assembly comprises an outer tubular sleeve and an internal telescoping tubular sleeve. The internal tubular sleeve includes a pointed tip with a shoulder having a larger diameter than the internal tubular sleeve and at least one port along the tubular sleeve for allowing passage of the grouting material out of the string.

Method of sealing holes in the ground

This invention relates to a device for cleaning and decontaminating rods, shafts or other long tubular materials. In particular, the device cleans and decontaminates rods that are used in downhole remediation tasks that might otherwise transfer contaminants out of the ground. The device scrubs, washes, rinses and dries the outer surface of the rod while recovering the wash and rinse fluids and any soil or other debris scrubbed from the surface of the rods. In one variation, the rinse fluid is recycled for use as wash fluid to conserve fluids used in the field.

Shaft cleaning and decontamination apparatus

The present invention relates to methods of seismic exploration utilizing vibrationally generated, elliptically polarized shear waves in an earth medium for subsequent detection of one or more dimensions of orthogonal particle motion. The invention relies upon a shear wave source of a type which couples a continually rotating longitudinal force into an earth medium thereby to propagate an elliptically polarized shear wave for refraction, reflection or subsurface detection, various forms of exploration being well within the capabilities.

Method of seismic exploration using elliptically polarized shear waves

A method and apparatus for providing shear waves in a marine environment in which a shear wave source penetrates the surface sediment of a water bottom. The shear wave generating source includes an actuator/reaction mass system mounted inside a structural ring of a housing section. A cross-shaped structure at the top of the apparatus serves as a passive reaction mass and as a moment arm support for reversibly motor driven propellers enclosed in shrouds at the outer ends of the structure. A thruster system provides dynamic positioning. The cross-shaped structure and housing section are connected by a structurally stiff member, such as a vertical tube. Pistons provide actuation against a reaction mass located within the housing structure, and motion of the housing structure generates shear waves which propagate in the subsurface formations.

Deep penetrating shear-wave seismic vibratory source for use in marine

The method and apparatus for providing elliptical polarized shear waves in a marine environment in which a shear wave source penetrates the surface sediment of a water bottom includes dual actuator/reaction mass system mounted inside a structural ring of a conical housing section. A cross shaped structure at the top of the apparatus serves as a passive reaction mass and as a moment arm support for reversibly motor driven propellers enclosed in shrouds at the outer ends of the cross shaped structure. A thruster system provides dynamic positioning. The cross shaped structure and housing section are connected by a structurally stiff member, such as a vertical tube. Pistons provide actuation of two reaction masses located within the housing structure, and the motions of the reaction masses generate shear waves which propagate in the subsurface formations.

Multi-component seismic vibratory source for use in marine environments

A downhole seismic shear wave source is used to generate seismic shear waves a downhole environment. At least one double headed piston rod with a third piston on the center of the rod slides laterally in the downhole tool. Each end piston head is connected to a rolling diaphragm that is secured at its edges around the periphery of the piston receiving cavity. The cavity is filled with a low viscosity non-conducting oil. A servovalve is connected to opposite sides of the center piston head to produce low frequency vibration of the source generator. A veed target rod extends between the end piston heads, past a pair of eddy current transducers (ECTs) to monitor movement of the generator and provide feedback control to the servovalve. A second downhole seismic shear wave source contains a continuous vibrator ring replaces the diaphragm/oil system and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) replaces the eddy current transducers as the feedback signal generator.

Electro-hydraulic dipole vibrator

Apparatus for carrying and positioning seismic detector equipment down a cased borehole and which includes a three component signal detector, azimuth sensing equipment and a particular type of borehole clamping arrangement that includes a combination of serrated locking pads, a contact rod and an inflatable bladder functioning in three point contact. An apparatus results that assures an improved form of three component geophone array that is lighter, easier handled and more reliably clamped within a borehole while having the additional azimuth sensing capability.

Sidewall locking downhole seismic signal detector

Apparatus for generating a controlled parameter elliptically polarized shear wave into an earth medium. The apparatus consists of a baseplate for engagement with the earth medium in omni-directionally resistant manner and a reaction mass and actuator assembly affixed thereto and energizable to impart reciprocal lateral forces to the baseplate that exert a predetermined resultant force at a controlled rate of rotation.

Apparatus for generating elliptically polarized shear waves

The present invention relates to a method for generation of elliptically polarized shear waves in an earth medium using two shear wave vibrators engaged to the earth medium in cross-polarized attitude and driven at sweep rates having variable phase displacement.

Apparatus for inducing elliptically polarized shear waves in an earth

An apparatus for supporting a seismic transducer under water adjacent a towing vessel includes an elongated substantially rigid towing arm. A lower connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting a lower end thereof to the transducer. An upper connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting an upper end thereof to the vessel. The upper connector assembly includes a first pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to be lowered into the body of water. The upper connector assembly further includes a torsional support structure for resisting rotation of the towing arm about a longitudinal axis thereof. Preferably the upper connector assembly also includes a second pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to move laterally relative to the towing vessel.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Jack H Cole