Wireline logging in horizontal wells

1 . A wellbore logging system, comprising:

a wireline extending from a surface location into a wellbore;

a sonde coupled the wireline in the wellbore, the sonde including at least one logging instrument for detecting one or more properties of the wellbore or a geologic formation penetrated by the wellbore, as a function of depth; and

a canopy coupled to the sonde, the canopy comprising:

a central shaft;

a plurality of ribs pivotally coupled to the central shaft and pivotable between a retracted configuration and a radially extended configuration with respect to the central shaft;

a plurality of flexible panels constructed of a flexible material and circumferentially spanning between each of the plurality of ribs to circumscribe the central shaft, the flexible panels extendable with the plurality of ribs pivoting to the radially extended configuration to thereby expand the canopy into a convex shape circumscribing the central shaft; and

an actuator operably coupled to the wireline and the plurality of ribs, the actuator responsive to a signal transmitted through the wireline to move the plurality of ribs from the retracted configuration to the radially extended configuration.

2 . The logging system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of biasing members coupled between the central shaft and the plurality of ribs to bias the plurality of ribs toward the radially extended configuration.

3 . The logging system of claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism operable to maintain the plurality of ribs in the retracted configuration against a first bias of the biasing members, and wherein the actuator is operably coupled to the locking mechanism to release the plurality of ribs to extend radially under the first bias of the biasing members.

4 . The logging system of claim 3 , further comprising a piston operably coupled to the actuator to move along the central shaft and thereby disengage the locking mechanism to release the plurality of ribs.

5 . The logging system of claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes an electric motor operably coupled to the piston to move the piston in a first direction to disengage the locking mechanism, and to move the piston in a second direction to retract the plurality of ribs and to reengage the locking mechanism.

6 . The logging system of claim 1 , wherein the flexible panels are constructed of an elastomeric material including one or more ports defined therethrough.

7 . The logging system of claim 1 , further comprising a wheel rotatably coupled to a free end of each of the plurality of ribs.

8 . The logging system of claim 1 , further comprising a caliper operably coupled to each rib of the plurality of ribs, the caliper operable to detect an extension distance of said each rib of the plurality of ribs to which the caliper is coupled and operable to transmit a first signal indicative of the extension distance through the wireline.

9 . The logging system of claim 1 , further comprising a pump fluidly coupled between a source of carrier fluid and the wellbore, the pump operable to pump the carrier fluid into the wellbore to impinge on the canopy and advance the sonde in the wellbore.

10 . A logging tool comprising:

a sonde including a connector for coupling the sonde to a wireline, the sonde operable to detect one or more properties of a wellbore or a geologic formation penetrated by the wellbore, as a function of depth;

a central shaft fixedly coupled to the sonde;

a plurality of ribs pivotally coupled to the central shaft and pivotable between a retracted configuration and a radially extended configuration with respect to the central shaft;

a plurality of flexible panels constructed of a flexible material and circumferentially spanning between each of the plurality of ribs to circumscribe the central shaft, the flexible panels extendable with the plurality of ribs pivoting to the radially extended configuration to thereby expand a canopy coupled to the sonde into a convex shape circumscribing the central shaft; and

an actuator operably coupled to the plurality of ribs to move the plurality of ribs from the retracted configuration to the radially extended configuration.

11 . The logging tool of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of flexible panels includes at least one port defined therein for passage of a carrier fluid therethrough in the wellbore.

12 . The logging tool of claim 10 , further comprising:

at least one biasing member coupled between the central shaft and the plurality of ribs to bias the plurality of ribs toward the radially extended configuration; and

a locking mechanism selectively maintaining the plurality of ribs in the retracted configuration against a first bias of the at least one biasing member.

13 . The logging tool of claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes an electric motor operably coupled to a piston to move the piston in a first direction to disengage the locking mechanism, and to move the piston in a second direction to retract the plurality of ribs and to reengage the locking mechanism.