IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,473,791
Granted Patent B2
US 12,473,791 · App. 17/555,327 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Visualization of fish while fishing in a wellbore

Inventors: Philippe Quero (Houston, TX); Carlos Torres (Neiva, CO)
Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
E21B31/18E21B31/03
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,473,791
App. No.
17/555,327
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for retrieving a fish from a wellbore. A method includes introducing a specialized fishing tool into the wellbore. The specialized fishing tool includes a fishing subassembly comprising a nonreflective interior, a shroud coupled to the fishing subassembly, and a camera disposed at least partially within the shroud and configured to view the interior of the fishing subassembly. The specialized fishing tool is conveyed downhole in the wellbore to a location of the fish. The fish is visualized with the camera. The fish is coupled to the fishing subassembly, and the fish is retrieved from the wellbore.

Claims (35)

1 . A specialized fishing tool comprising:

a fishing subassembly comprising a nonreflective interior and a fishing mechanism selected from the group consisting of an overshot tool, a flow-activated overshot tool, a mechanical overshot tool, a centralizer tool, a pulling tool, a jar tool, a hammer tool, a running tool, and any combination thereof,

a shroud coupled to the fishing subassembly, and

a camera disposed at least partially within the shroud and configured to view the nonreflective interior of the fishing subassembly.

2 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 1 , further comprising at least one light.

3 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 2 , wherein the light's brightness is controlled via a control signal conveyed from an operator.

4 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 1 , further comprising an annular space between the shroud and the camera configured to allow fluid flow therethrough.

5 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 1 , wherein the camera is selected from the group consisting of a camera with down view capability, a camera with flowthrough capability, a camera without flowthrough capability, and any combination thereof.

6 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 1 , wherein the camera is controlled via a control signal conveyed from an operator.

7 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 1 , wherein the shroud comprises a material selected from the group consisting of steel, stainless steel, a nickel-chromium alloy, plastic, aluminum, nickel, carbon fiber, fiberglass, alloys thereof, and any combination thereof.

8 . The specialized fishing tool of claim 1 , wherein the nonreflective interior of the fishing subassembly comprises a nonreflective paint.

9 . A method for retrieving a fish from a wellbore, the method comprising: introducing a specialized fishing tool into the wellbore, the specialized fishing tool comprising:

a fishing subassembly comprising a nonreflective interior,

a shroud coupled to the fishing subassembly, and

a camera disposed at least partially within the shroud and configured to view the nonreflective interior of the fishing subassembly,

conveying the specialized fishing tool downhole in the wellbore to a location of the fish,

visualizing the fish with the camera,

coupling the fish to the fishing subassembly, and

retrieving the fish from the wellbore.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fish is contacted with a fluid ejected from the specialized fishing tool prior to coupling the fish to the fishing subassembly.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fish is visualized by the camera as it is being retrieved from the wellbore.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein there is no prior operation to send a camera to visualize the fish prior to the introducing the specialized fishing tool into the wellbore.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the specialized fishing tool further comprises at least one light.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the light's brightness is controlled via a control signal conveyed from an operator.

15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the camera is controlled via a control signal conveyed from an operator.

16 . A system for retrieving a fish from a wellbore, the system comprising:

a specialized fishing tool comprising:

a fishing subassembly comprising a nonreflective interior and a fishing mechanism selected from the group consisting of an overshot tool, a flow-activated overshot tool, a mechanical overshot tool, a centralizer tool, a pulling tool, a jar tool, a hammer tool, a running tool, and any combination thereof,

a shroud coupled to the fishing subassembly, and

a camera disposed at least partially within the shroud and configured to view the interior of the fishing subassembly, and

a top tool assembly coupled to the shroud.

17 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a wireline coupled to the top tool assembly.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the specialized fishing tool further comprises at least one light, and wherein the light's brightness is controlled via a control signal conveyed from an operator.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the camera is controlled via a control signal conveyed from an operator.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the camera is selected from the group consisting of a camera with down view capability, a camera with flowthrough capability, a camera without flowthrough capability, and any combination thereof.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 26, 2021
From: QUERO, PHILIPPE; TORRES, CARLOS
To: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058476/0994 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230193715A1 · Jun 22, 2023
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