Abstract: A composite rod rigid in compression is sufficiently flexible to be wound round a reel that is less than three meters in diameter. The rod comprises at least three parts: a core including at least one data transmission element, a layer made of steel reinforcing wires, and a composite layer made of embedded fibers. In a variant, steel wires are substantially parallel to the axis of the core. Application of the rod is to displacement of measuring instruments in a well or pipe comprising a greatly inclined section.

Abstract: A system for compressing a multi-phase fluid made up of at least one gaseous phase and at least one liquid phase, the system having at least one pair of pumping elements. The system includes an axial-flow pump P1 and a centrifugal pump P2 arranged after the axial-flow pump P1. The two elements are linked by an element which adjusts the fluid from the axial-flow pump to optimize the effect of the centrifugal pump.

Abstract: A device for coupling a receiver system with the wall of a well (1) bored in the ground comprises at least one sensor (11;12) sensitive to vibrations, structure (14,15) for applying the system against the wall of said well at the two ends of the system. A surface for supporting the system against the wall, arranged between the applying structure, has a radius of curvature essentially identical to the radius of curvature of a transverse section of the well so that this contact surface (MN) between said system and the wall follows a portion of a cylinder contained within an arc equal to at least 90.degree..

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pumping method and device in a well comprising a portion that is greatly inclined with respect to the vertical. A pump is secured to a strong of tubes that are lowered into the well. Suction devices are set into the greatly inclined well portion at the lower end of the pumping means. At least one suction port is placed laterally with respect to the suction devices and in a single direction. The direction of the port is oriented so that it is substantially opposite a lower generating line of the well. In a variant, the suction devices comprise an articulated body that can place the port opposite the lower generating line of the well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pumping method utilizing two suction inlet holes spaced a predetermined distance apart by an extension robe. In a variant, the pumping method utilizes two pump barrels cooperating each with the two inlet holes. In another variant, the pumping method utilizes a pump barrel and control for controlling the flow rates of effluents coming from the two inlet holes. Application of the method is preferable when pumping effluent from subhorizontal drain holes.

Abstract: A device for storing and for handling an elastically flexible and compression resistant rod. The device includes a reel on which is wound the rod in an elastic state, and rollers for holding the rod pressed on the barrel of the reel. The device also comprises wheels for shifting the rod, said means being located in the neighborhood of the reel and close to the mouth of a pipe into which the rod is run.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring assembly lowered inside a well with an operator. The assembly includes several measuring elements assembled to one another along a longitudinal axis, at least one section of which includes at least one measuring element having a coupling at both ends for assembling with the other measuring elements. The couplings include a rotary joint rotating about the longitudinal axis and the assembly further includes a device for bringing said section into rotation. In a variant, each of the assembling couplings of the section includes a rotary joint.

Abstract: A measuring device in a hydrocarbon producing well includes a rod made from a composite material stiff against compression and flectionally elastic. An information transfer line is contained in the rod. The rod includes a plurality of measuring stations thereon and it is suited for being wound on a reel. The device is utilized to practice a measuring method.

Abstract: A method and system for lateral drilling with respect to a main well which is cased by a casing string. At least a part of the casing string provides a lateral opening adapted to enable drilling of a lateral well. A guiding device is positioned at a part of the casing string in front of the lateral opening and the guiding device is controlled from the surface of the main well. A lateral casing string equips the lateral well and provided a sub for connecting the lateral casing string to the main string in the main well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pumping device comprising two suction inlet holes spaced a predetermined distance apart by an extension tube. In a variant, the pumping device comprises two pump barrels cooperating each with the two inlet holes. In another variant, the pumping device comprises a pump barrel and control means for controlling the flow rates of the effluents coming from the two inlet holes. The pumping device is used in a subhorizontal drain hole.

Abstract: The method consists in performing seismic prospecting operations by using a drill bit (1) working at the bottom of a well (2), which generates very powerful acoustic jogs, in transmitting in real time or in delayed time reference signals representative of the jogs of the drill bit picked up in the immediate vicinity thereof by bottomhole sensors and in correlating the seismic signals picked up by a reception set with the reference signals coming from the bottom. The reference signals may be transmitted to the surface station through a line (4) included in a drill string (3). Absorbing elements are preferably interposed on the string to damp the vibrations propagating directly towards the surface along the drill string. Resonant elements and possibly acoustic discontinuity elements favouring resonances in the seismic frequency band may also be interposed.

Abstract: A system for carrying out measurements and/or services in a wellbore or a well in the process of being drilled includes an electrical link connecting a surface control unit to a sonde comprising measuring and/or servicing devices fastened to a lower end of a cable section; an assembly including a sub for anchoring the sonde; a cable section having at an upper end thereof a first intermediate electrical connector integral with a support; the electrical link being provided by a cable linked to the surface control unit and having at a lower end thereof a second intermediate electrical connector adapted to be connected to the first intermediate electrical connector. The support is adapted to be made integral with an inner wall or a drill string.

Abstract: A method for continuing a measuring operation using a sonde immobilized in the well which method involves lowering, concentric to the cable, a length of tubular elements until the sonde is engaged by a special coupling fitted at the end of the length of tubular elements, the length of tubular elements serving to protect the cable. In addition, a coupling at an upper end of the length of tubular elements is equipped with a lateral window to minimize maneuvering time. After engagement, the sonde is used to carry out measurements by displacing the length of tubular elements.

Abstract: Sondes provided with magnets are used in wells fitted with a metallic casing. The sondes are pressed at the surface against the inner wall of the casing and taken down towards the bottom by means of a stiff driving element such as a tubing provided with thrust driving means for the longitudinal drive and lateral extensions for the lateral positioning of the sonde, or using pulling slings, etc. The wall of the sonde pressed against the casing can have the same bending radius as the casing in order to improve the coupling. The sonde can be associated with an electronic data acquisition and transmission box fastened to the tubing. Before any intervention is performed, the tubing is moved sufficiently in order to suppress any mechanical coupling with the sonde. After it has been used, the sonde can be displaced towards another point of measurement or taken up to the surface by moving the tubing.

Abstract: A method and a device for carrying out measurings and/or servicings in a wellbore or a well in the process of being drilled by means of electric connection linking the surface to an assembly fastened to the end of a drill string involve the use of an assembly comprising measuring and/or servicing means linked to a first connector integral with the assembly; a cable section comprising at the lower end thereof, a second connector and at the upper end thereof, a first intermediate connector integral with a support; and a cable linked to the surface comprising at the lower end thereof a second intermediate connector.

Abstract: The system comprises at least one sonde or probe (1) taken down into a well (2) at the end of an electric-carrying cable (3). The sonde consists of two parts (4, 5) that can be displaced in relation to one another. A first part (4), relatively light, contains most of the sensing means (geophones, accelerometers, etc). The second part (5), much heavier, contains a hydraulic anchoring system (10-11) and an electronic system (14) for the control, the acquisition of signals and the control of communications with a surface installation. An anchoring arm (9), magnetic coupling means ((7A-7C) (in case of use in a cased well) and angular positioning means (21, 22) allow to align the two parts of the sonde in relation to one another. The connection of both parts is designed in such a way that, during the measuring operations, the first part (4) containing the sensors is mechanically uncoupled from the other part (5) which is heavier.

Abstract: The device comprises an intervention tool consisting for example of a pumping assembly (6) and a measuring assembly (8) which are associated with a tubing (7) and taken down into a well. The connection between at least one of the two assemblies and a surface installation is achieved by means of a multicore cable (11) fitted with a delayed-plugging connector (12) and conveyed to said assembly by a fluid current. In order to avoid the undesirable effects which the pumping fluid may have on the measuring instruments or possible circulation impossibilities with certain pumping means, a bypass valve (17) allowing the exhaust of the fluid outside the tubing is installed on the tubing, close to the concerned assembly or to each one of them. This valve is for example a sliding valve, the connector (12) being fitted with means (13) for opening and closing this valve in the translations thereof near the plugging position thereof.

Abstract: A well tool such as a measuring sonde is arranged in a protective housing and introduced into a well at the end of a tubing. A retractable latching device fastens the tool to the housing and to an electrical transmission cable. The tubing is connected with a pumping assembly capable of circulating up to the housing a cooling fluid at a temperature lower than the temperature prevailing in the well and the tool is operated by moving the tool out of the housing and by bringing the tool regularly back into the housing, which is permanently cooled by the fluid.

Abstract: Measuring operations can for example be carried out in wells (1) where the progress of an intervention tool (3) is difficult (deflected wells for example) by means of a tubing (2), a support frame (5) linked with the tool and which can be anchored in the lower end part of the tubing, an electric-carrying cable (12) unwound from a surface installation and fitted with a connector (9, 11) that can plug into the support frame in a wet medium after the tool has been taken down into the well, in order to tightly link the tool to the cable. The base of the tubing is fitted with a piping end (18) allowing the support frame to come out of it. With this device, the tool can be driven to the intervention zone by exerting a thrust on the tubing and, once the connector is in place, the tubing can be totally taken away from this zone and continuous measurings can be carried out by traction on the cable.

Abstract: A device comprising a flow string of two parts separated by an assembly for pumping effluents and a side-entry sub lowered into an equipped well provided with a pipe perforated in the part thereof going through a producing zone. At least one assembly of measuring instruments and possibly a device for homogenizing effluents before their treatment are arranged at a bottom end of the lower part of the string. The measuring assembly is connected with the surface installation by a multiconductor cable passing from an inside of the string to the outside at the level of the side-entry sub. The pumping assembly is positioned in a well zone accessible to the produced effluents but far enough from the most deflected and/or the narrowest well portions, in order to facilitate the setting of the pumping assembly and to avoid any risk of jamming or crushing of the cable connected with the assembly of the measuring instruments.