The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 14, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1997
Stanley R Thomas, Houston, TX (US);
Gary A Hazen, Houston, TX (US);
Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for navigating a tool string down a subsurface borehole to its intended location while simultaneously measuring or sensing the borehole environment, electrically, acoustically, mechanically, or by nuclear means, for a characteristic parameter. The hole-finder apparatus incorporating a locally flexible body adapted for attachment to the tool string. As the tool string is navigated through the borehole, the flexible body provides extreme local flexibility to lessen the likelihood of jamming the tool string while tripping down the borehole by providing a lateral force at the obstruction. The hole-finder apparatus further including a sensor or probe measuring means attached to or within the tip of the flexible body for measuring the characteristic parameter. With the sensor or measurement means disposed at the tip of the apparatus, the sense point is moved to the bottom of the tool string to provide borehole characteristic measurements having little effect on, or momentary influence from, the formation without impeding the apparatus' hole-finding capability. In addition, data representative of the borehole or formation characteristic parameter is communicated from the apparatus to a distant point by wiring.