IP Library Granted Patent US 9,476,274
Granted Patent B2
US 9,476,274 · App. 13/511,881 · Granted Oct 25, 2016

Apparatus and system and method of measuring data in a well extending below surface

Inventors: Graham Edmonstone (Copenhagen O, DK); Pieter Karel Anton Kapteijn (Hellerup, DK)
Assignee: MAERSK OLIE OG GAS A/S
E21B23/14E21B23/10E21B44/005E21B2023/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,476,274
App. No.
13/511,881
Granted
Oct 25, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for measuring data in a well extending below surface, said system comprising a body having a longitudinal axis and a front end and a rear end; locomotion means; control means adapted to control direction and/or speed of the locomotion means; said control means being controllable from the surface. Thereby is achieved that a body may be remotely controlled from the surface e.g. the entrance of an oil well.

Claims (28)

1. A system for measuring data in a well extending below surface, said system comprising

a body configured to be propelled down the well, the body having a longitudinal axis and a front end and a rear end;

an umbrella attached to the body which extends radially outwards from the body that includes a plurality of resilient tubes attached at one end to the body that extend radially out from the body, wherein an impermeable layer is attached to the resilient tubes and extends between the tubes, wherein a number of fluid passages are contained in the umbrella in order to substantially equalize the pressure on both sides of the umbrella;

a controller configured to control direction and/or speed of the body;

wherein said controller is configured to be controlled from the surface.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising an impeller attached to the front end of the body and wherein a second end of each of the plurality of resilient tubes in contact with the well at least a part of the time when the body is contained in the well such as to stabilize the system in the well; and wherein the system further comprises driving means for driving the impeller.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a diameter of at least one fluid passage is adapted to be controlled by said controller.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is connected to the surface of the well via a well head.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller is connected to the well head via an optical fiber.

6. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the optical fiber is contained in a spool and wherein the spool is contained in the rear end of the body.

7. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the optical fiber is contained in a spool and wherein the spool is contained in the well head.

8. The system according to claim 5 , wherein an end of the optical fiber is attached to a spool of the rear end of the body and another end of the optical fiber is connected to a spool positioned at the well head.

9. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the system is adapted to release the optical fiber from the spool of the rear end of the body through passage means contained in the rear end of the body.

10. The system according to claim 5 , wherein the system further comprises a device configured to measure a length of optical fiber being released.

11. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the system further comprises a device configured to measuring a length of optical fiber being released from a spool.

12. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a thermal tagging unit.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the thermal tagging unit comprises a heater for heating the optical fiber and a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of a pre-determined length of the optical fiber.

14. The system according to claims 10 , wherein the device for measuring the length of optical fiber comprises a revolution counter over which the optical fiber passes and thereby measures the length and/or speed of the optical fiber being released.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the device for measuring the length of optical fiber further comprises a tiltmeter or a gyroscope configured to measure a direction of the body and thereby facilitating an on-going measurement of a position of the body.

16. A method of measuring data in a well extending below surface with a system comprising

providing the system according to claim 1 ;

lowering the system into the well; and

measuring data with the system.

17. An apparatus to be inserted into a well extending below surface in order to measure data in the well, said apparatus comprising

a body configured to be propelled down the well, the body having a longitudinal axis and a front end and a rear end;

an umbrella attached to the body and which extends radially outwards from the body that includes a plurality of resilient tubes attached at one end to the body that extend radially out from the body, wherein an impermeable layer is attached to the resilient tubes and extends between the tubes; and wherein a number of fluid passages are contained in the umbrella in order to substantially equate the pressure on both sides of the umbrella;

a controller configured to control direction and/or speed of the body, wherein said controller comprises an optical fiber communicatively coupled to the surface.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising an impeller and wherein a second end of each of the plurality of resilient tubes is in contact with the well at least a part of the time when the body is contained in the well such as to stabilize the system in the well; and wherein the system further comprises driving means for driving the impeller.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 8, 2020
From: MAERSK OLIE OG GAS A/S
To: TOTAL E&P DANMARK A/S
Reel/Frame 051985/0469 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 13, 2012
From: EDMONSTONE, GRAHAM; KAPTEIJN, PIETER KAREL ANTON
To: MAERSK OLIE OG GAS A/S
Reel/Frame 029465/0633 →
Priority Claims (1)
DK 2009 70223 · Nov 24, 2009 · national
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61263986 · Nov 24, 2009
Related Publication 20130025852A1 · Jan 31, 2013