Granted Patent B2

US 12,644,345 · App. 18/852,722 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Owen Schicker (Auckland, NZ); Christopher Pell (San Luis Obispo, CA)

Assignee: IMDEX TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD

E21B17/105E21B17/1028

Abstract

Claims (41)

1 . A locator for positioning and/or stabilising a survey apparatus in a borehole comprising:

two opposing members for cooperatively coupling together around a survey apparatus, the survey apparatus comprising at least one profiled region for a locator on the survey apparatus, each opposing member comprising:

at least a first apparatus coupling, the first apparatus coupling configured to connect to a respective first apparatus coupling of the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus,

one or more bearing members for bearing against a borehole, and

wherein:

an internal profile of the at least first apparatus coupling is configured to engage with the at least one profiled region on the survey apparatus to, when one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, constrain a resultant locator on the survey apparatus longitudinally and rotationally; and

wherein the at least first coupling of at least one of the opposing members is configured with a cantilever tab to cooperatively couple to the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, wherein the cantilever tab has a back surface configured to engage with the at least one profiled region.

2 . The locator according to claim 1 wherein each opposing member comprises a second apparatus coupling, wherein the bearing members are bow springs that extend between the first and second apparatus couplings.

3 . The locator according to claim 1 comprising a second apparatus coupling on each opposing member, configured to:

connect to a respective second apparatus coupling of the corresponding opposing member and to slide longitudinally on the survey apparatus when the one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus.

4 . The locator according to claim 1 wherein:

each opposing member is integrally formed with the at least first apparatus coupling in the form of a half collar, and

when the one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member a collar is formed around the survey apparatus.

5 . The locator according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more bearing members are plates extending longitudinally on the opposing members that extend radially from the opposing members.

6 . The locator according to claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus coupling is at a first end of the locator and wherein the second end of the locator is configured to be floating with respect to the survey apparatus when installed.

7 . The locator according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing members have bearing portions to bear against the borehole.

8 . The locator according to claim 7 wherein the bearing portions are offset longitudinally.

9 . A locator member for cooperatively coupling together with an opposing locator member around a survey apparatus, the survey apparatus comprising at least one profiled region, the locator member comprising:

at least a first apparatus coupling, the first apparatus coupling configured to connect to a respective first apparatus coupling of an opposing locator member,

one or more bearing members for bearing against a borehole, and

wherein:

an internal profile of the at least first coupling is configured to engage with the at least one profiled region on the survey apparatus to, when the opposing locator member is cooperatively coupled with the opposing locator member around the survey apparatus, constrain a resultant locator on the survey apparatus longitudinally and rotationally; and

wherein the at least first coupling of at least one of the opposing members is configured with a cantilever tab to cooperatively couple to the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, wherein the cantilever tab has a back surface configured to engage with the at least one profiled region.

10 . The locator member according to claim 9 comprising a second apparatus coupling, wherein the bearing members are bow springs that extend between the first and second apparatus couplings.

11 . The locator member according to claim 9 comprising a second apparatus coupling on each opposing member, configured to:

connect to a respective second apparatus coupling of the corresponding opposing locator member and to slide longitudinally on the survey apparatus when the one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus.

12 . The locator member according to claim 9 wherein:

the opposing member is integrally formed with the at least first apparatus coupling in the form of a half collar, and configured to cooperatively couple with a corresponding opposing member so that a collar is formed around the survey apparatus.

13 . The locator member according to claim 9 , wherein the one or more bearing members are plates extending longitudinally on the opposing members that extend radially from the opposing members.

14 . The locator member according to claim 9 , wherein the first apparatus coupling is at a first end of the locator member and wherein the second end of the locator member is configured to be floating with respect to the survey tool when installed.

15 . The locator member according to claim 9 , wherein the bearing members have bearing portions to bear against the borehole.

16 . A locator for positioning and/or stabilising a survey apparatus in a borehole comprising:

two opposing members each with an apparatus coupling for cooperatively coupling together around a survey apparatus, the survey apparatus comprising at least one profiled region for a locator on the survey apparatus, each opposing member comprising:

one or more bearing members for bearing against a borehole, and

wherein:

the apparatus coupling is configured to connect to an apparatus coupling of the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, and

an internal profile of the at least first apparatus coupling is configured to engage with the at least one profiled region to, when one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, constrain a resultant locator on the survey apparatus longitudinally and rotationally,

wherein the apparatus coupling has a cantilever tab that is configured to, when one opposing member is cooperatively coupled with the corresponding opposing member:

couple to a corresponding connector on the corresponding opposing member around the survey apparatus, and

engage, through a back surface of the cantilever tab, with the profiled region on the survey apparatus to constrain the resultant locator on the survey apparatus longitudinally and rotationally.

17 . The locator according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one profiled region on the survey apparatus is a tool engagement region.

Assignments (7)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (11)