US3622971A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for surveying the direction and inclination of a borehole
Assignee: ARPS CORP
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Filing: 1969-06-30
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1989-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A magnetic reference member is maintained in a stationary position within a drill during drilling operations. The reference member is released in response to temporary cessation of the drilling operations and then seeks a predetermined reference orientation. In response to resumption of drilling operations, the reference member is again clamped in a stationary position and the relative position of the drill with respect to the reference member is detected and transmitted uphole during the drilling operations.
Inventors
- 👤 Jan J Arps
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:33
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/02; E21B47/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
In a drill system, the combination comprising: a. structure defining a chamber in the region of the drill bit of said drill system, b. reference means movable within said chamber and including structure for maintaining said reference means in a preselected orientation with respect to magnetic north, c. means responsive to mudflow of said drill system for clamping said reference means in position, and d. means disposed in the region of said drill bit for detecting the relative positIons of said reference means and said drill bit while said reference means is clamped.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a drill system, the combination comprising: a. structure defining a chamber in the region of the drill bit of said drill system, b. reference means movable within said chamber and including structure for maintaining said reference means in a preselected orientation with respect to magnetic north, c. means responsive to mudflow of said drill system for clamping said reference means in position, and d. means disposed in the region of said drill bit for detecting the relative positIons of said reference means and said drill bit while said reference means is clamped.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1 and further comprising: means for telemetering indications uphole of the relative positions of said reference means and said drill bit to define the inclination and direction of said drill system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein said means for telemetering comprises mud-valve means, and means for modulating said mud-valve means in accordance with the relative positions of said reference means and said drill bit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said reference means comprises a generally spherical member with a magnetic element embedded therein and includes means to maintain said member within a preselected region of movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said reference means is suspended in quantity of liquid contained within said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said reference means includes a cutout portion within which a pin member rigidly suspended from said drill system is pivotally connected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said cutout portion is generally conical, with the end of said pin member pivotally connected at the apex of the cutout portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 4 and further comprising: a clamping member having a spherical cutout portion adapted to receive said spherical member and operable in response to changes in mudflow of said drill system for selectively abutting said spherical member in a clamping relationship.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said spherical member comprises: A plurality of electrical conductive points thereon, said clamping member including a plurality of means for sensing the position of said electrically conductive points.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for surveying the drift of a directional drill comprising: a generally spherical reference member adapted to move about a pivot relative to said drill to seek a reference orientation within said drill, means for maintaining said reference member in a stationary position within said drill during drilling operations, means for releasing said reference member in response to temporary cessation of drilling operations to enable said reference member to move relative to said drill to seek said reference orientation, and means operable during drilling operations for detecting the relative position of said reference member with respect to said drill.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for surveying the drift of a directional drill comprising: a generally spherical reference member adapted to move about a pivot relative to said drill to seek a reference orientation within said drill, means for maintaining said reference member in a stationary position within said drill during drilling operations, means for releasing said reference member in response to temporary cessation of drilling operations to enable said reference member to move relative to said drill to seek said reference orientation, and means operable during drilling operations for detecting the relative position of said reference member with respect to said drill.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system of claim 10 and further comprising: clamping means slidable within said drill and having a portion adapted to abut against said spherical reference member for maintaining said reference member in a stationary position within said drill, port means disposed uphole and downhole from said reference member for sensing variances in the mud pressure flowing through said drill, and bellows means connected to said port means for selectively moving said clamping means into and out of engagement with said spherical reference member in response to variances in the mud pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said spherical reference member includes three conductive portions on the exterior thereof, one of said conductive portions being disposed on the upper portion of said reference member and the remaining two conductive portions being disposed along lines intersecting at a right angle at said first conductive portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 12 and further comprising: a plurality of rings disposed on said clamping means for sensing the position of said conductive portions on said spherical reference member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The system of claim 10 wherein said generally spherical reference member includes a generally conical cutout portion in the lower portion thereof, a pin member rigidly connected at one end to said drill and extending into the conical-shaped cutout portion and attached at the apex thereof for pivotally supporting said spherical reference member.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of surveying The inclination of a directional drill comprising: maintaining a reference member in a stationary position within said drill during drilling operations, releasing said reference member in response to temporary cessation of drilling operations such that said reference member seeks a predetermined reference orientation relative to magnetic north, clamping in response to resumption of drilling operations said reference member in a stationary position after said reference member has reached its predetermined reference orientation, and detecting during drilling operations the relative position of said drill with respect to said reference member while said reference member is clamped in a stationary position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
The method of surveying The inclination of a directional drill comprising: maintaining a reference member in a stationary position within said drill during drilling operations, releasing said reference member in response to temporary cessation of drilling operations such that said reference member seeks a predetermined reference orientation relative to magnetic north, clamping in response to resumption of drilling operations said reference member in a stationary position after said reference member has reached its predetermined reference orientation, and detecting during drilling operations the relative position of said drill with respect to said reference member while said reference member is clamped in a stationary position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said reference member seeks said predetermined reference orientation due to the attraction of the earth''s ambient magnetic and gravitational fields.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said step of detecting comprises: detecting the position of at least three conductive portions on said reference member, and distinguishing each of said conductive portions from one another by measuring the electrical resistance provided by said conductive portions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 and further comprising: telemetering the detected relative positions of said drill with respect to said reference member uphole during drilling operations by imparting coded pulsations into the drilling mud of the drill system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 and further comprising: monitoring the variance in the mud pressure of said drill caused by initiation and cessation of drilling operations, and controlling the state of freedom of said reference member in response to variances in the mud pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a directional directional detection system for a drill, the combination comprising: a generally spherical reference member having a magnet embedded therein for seeking a reference orientation within said drill due to the attraction of the ambient magnetic field of the earth, said reference member including a plurality of conductive points distributed on the exterior surface thereof, resistance means connected to each of said conductive points, and means including a plurality of concentric conductive rings for contacting said conductive points to detect the position of said conductive points by measurements of the magnitude of said resistances.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a directional directional detection system for a drill, the combination comprising: a generally spherical reference member having a magnet embedded therein for seeking a reference orientation within said drill due to the attraction of the ambient magnetic field of the earth, said reference member including a plurality of conductive points distributed on the exterior surface thereof, resistance means connected to each of said conductive points, and means including a plurality of concentric conductive rings for contacting said conductive points to detect the position of said conductive points by measurements of the magnitude of said resistances.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination of claim 20 and wherein said means for detecting comprises: a member having a concave portion adapted to receive a portion of said spherical reference member and including said conductive rings thereon for contacting said conductive points on said spherical reference member.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 21 wherein said conductive points on said spherical reference member comprise: a first point position at he uppermost point of said spherical member and including second and third conductive points dispose along lines intersecting at a right angle at said first point position.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 21 and further comprising: multiplexor means for generating analog signals representative of the conductive rings which are in contact with said conductive points, means for converting said analog signals into digital signals, and means responsive to said digital signals for generating control signals.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 23 and further comprising: mud valve means operable in response to said control signals for transmitting mud pulses uphole representative of the position of said reference member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |