US5790185A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video inspection or logging tool
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-06
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Granted: 1998-08-04
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Expires: 2016-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A video logging tool is described which is particularly well adapted for production logging of oil or gas wells. The tool has both an end view optical system and a side view optical system for imaging side and end view on a CCD array in a camera.
Inventors
- 👤 François Auzerais
- 👤 Robert J. Schroeder
- 👤 Benoit Couet
- 👤 Jeffrey A. Tarvin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:26
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/95; G01N21/954; E; E21; E21B; E21B47/00; E21B47/002; G01N2021/9542; G01N2021/9544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A video inspection tool for inspecting the inside of a borehole or pipeline, comprising: a housing having an end and a side and being adapted to moved through the borehole or pipeline a camera mounted in the housing; end lighting means adapted to light an outer end zone; side lighting means adapted to light an outer side zone; an end window for viewing outwardly into the end zone; a side window for viewing outwardly into the side zone; an end optical system for transmitting light from the end zone through the end window and to the camera; and a side optical system for transmitting light from the side zone through the side window and to the camera.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A video inspection tool for inspecting the inside of a borehole or pipeline, comprising: a housing having an end and a side and being adapted to moved through the borehole or pipeline a camera mounted in the housing; end lighting means adapted to light an outer end zone; side lighting means adapted to light an outer side zone; an end window for viewing outwardly into the end zone; a side window for viewing outwardly into the side zone; an end optical system for transmitting light from the end zone through the end window and to the camera; and a side optical system for transmitting light from the side zone through the side window and to the camera.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein the camera has an image plane common to end and side views.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tool according to claim 2 wherein the camera comprises a CCD camera having a CCD in its image plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein the side window comprises a transparent block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tool according to claim 4, wherein the side optical system comprises a concave surface in said block, said concave surface facing the end of the housing and being coated with a mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tool according to claim 5, wherein the end optical system comprises an aperture in the mirror together with said block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tool according to claim 6, wherein the end and side optical systems comprise at least some, optical elements, said common, optical elements including said block and a camera lens group disposed in front of the camera.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein the end and side optical systems comprise at least some common optical elements.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tool according to claim 8, wherein the common optical elements comprise a camera lens group disposed in front of the camera, said lens group comprising, in the direction of propagation of light toward the camera, a bi-concave lens, a plano-convex lens and a doublet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A tool according to claim 4, wherein the end optical system comprises, in the direction of propagation of light toward the camera, a first concave convex meniscus lens and a second concave convex meniscus lens, and said block.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tool according to claim 10, wherein the first concave convex meniscus lens comprises the end window and is pressure resistant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein the end lighting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A tool according to claim 12, wherein said light emitting diodes are disposed around the end window and directed onto the side zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein the side lighting means comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tool according to claim 14, wherein said light emitting diodes are disposed adjacent to the side window and directed into the side zone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
A tool according to claim 4, wherein the side lighting means comprises a plurality of LEDs disposed circumferentially around the housing above the block and a plurality of LEDs disposed circumferentially around the housing below the block.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tool according to claim 12, wherein the LEDs emit light in the near infra-red.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein the endlighting means and the side lighting means each comprise a plurality of LEDs, means being provided for modulating said LEDs on and off so as to conserve power.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A tool according to claim 18, comprising means for modulating the camera on and off in synchronism with the LEDs.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the windows comprises sapphire.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the windows comprises a sapphire coating on its outer surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A tool according to claim 1, comprising data compression means for compressing the images taken by the camera, and telemetering means for transmitting the compressed images to the surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
A tool according to claim 22, wherein said telemetering means comprises an electrical cable having metal conductors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A tool according to claim 5, wherein the mirror distorts the side view image, means being provided for remapping the distorted image into rectilinear co-ordinates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
A video inspection or logging tool, comprising a housing; a camera mounted in the housing and comprising an image plane; an optical block mounted in the housing said optical block having a concave surface coated with a mirror for reflecting light from the side of the housing towards the camera; a camera lens group disposed between the block and the camera for focusing light reflected from the mirror onto the image plane of the camera; and side lighting means disposed in the housing for lighting a side zone outside the optical block.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
92 words
A video inspection or logging tool, comprising a housing; a camera mounted in the housing and comprising an image plane; an optical block mounted in the housing said optical block having a concave surface coated with a mirror for reflecting light from the side of the housing towards the camera; a camera lens group disposed between the block and the camera for focusing light reflected from the mirror onto the image plane of the camera; and side lighting means disposed in the housing for lighting a side zone outside the optical block.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A tool according to claim 25, wherein said lighting means comprises a plurality of LEDs emitting in the infra-red.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
A tool according to claim 1, wherein said side optical system comprises a plurality of fish-eye lenses for transmitting side images into the housing, and prism means inside the housing for directing the images from each fish-eye lens separately to the camera.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
A tool according to claim 27, wherein said optical system comprises a fish-eye lens for transmitting an end image into the housing, said prism directing the end image separately to the camera.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-03 | 2002-02-02 | 2002-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-03 | 2006-02-02 | 2006-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-03 | 2010-02-02 | 2010-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |