Abstract: The flow of bubbles in a borehole within an active well is determined by using data from a borehole televiewer. A known discontinuous material is introduced into the borehole at a known distance from the borehole televiewer, and the elapsed time is determined between introduction and detection of the discontinuous material by the borehole televiewer.

Abstract: A borehole televiewer is modified to provide an improved signal-to-noise ratio by utilizing a series of receivers arranged in a planar array configuration with respect to a centrally located transmitting transducer. The array covers at least a 90.degree. quadrant of the tool, extending approximately 45.degree. on either side of the transducer to allow the receivers to capture all primarily reflected signals, both the specular component as well as the vertical and horizontal components of the scattered reflections. The signal-to-noise ratio is further enhanced by the use of a noise-dependent timing means, as well as signal conditioning and detection circuits for each of the receivers in the array.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for using data from a borehole televiewer in an active well to determine fluid properties. That method involves determining the wall effects from the data, and factoring out the wall effects from the data to determine the fluid properties.

Abstract: A method and means for determining the amount of stretch in a well logging cable is disclosed. An optical fiber is run into a well with a logging cable and looped back to the surface. A second optical fiber of nominal length is maintained on the surface. A source of monochromatic light is passed through both fibers and recombined. As the well logging tool is raised and lowered in the wellbore, the number of interference fringes passing a fixed point is determined. The change in length of the optical fiber and, therefore, the cable will be equal to 1/2 the number of interference fringes passing a fixed point times the wavelength of light used. A precise determination of vertical location can then be made when this information is combined with information from a surface mounted odometer or encoder. This information further allows a precise determination of interval bulk density or other formation parameters in which it is important to know the depth of a tool.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for creating a three-dimensional image of data obtained from scanning a borehole wall with an acoustic transducer. Each scan produces an orientation pulse and a series of signals, including a fire pulse and echo signals. The system uses the transit times of the echo signals to modulate the geometry of the three-dimensional image, and uses the amplitudes of the echo signals to control the gray scale shading of the image. In one embodiment, a counting means keeps track of the angular position of the transducer, a ramp generating means produces a ramp voltage proportional to the elapsed time since the fire pulse, a sine table means and a sine conversion means produce a sine signal proportional in amplitude to the ramp voltage, a cosine table means and a cosine conversion means produce a cosine signal porportional in amplitude to the ramp voltage, and a monitoring means displays points on the monitoring means when the echo signals are received.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the vertical location of a logging tool in a wellbore is disclosed. An electrical signal is transmitted through a conductor in a well logging cable and a second conductor in the surface. Change in length of the well logging cable is determined by monitoring phase changes in the signals from the first and second conductors.

Abstract: A method and means for determining the amount of stretch in a well logging cable is disclosed. An optical fiber is run into a well with a logging cable and looped back to the surface. A second optical fiber of nominal length is maintained on the surface. A source of monochromatic light is passed through both fibers and recombined. As the well logging tool is raised and lowered in the wellbore, the number of interference fringes passing a fixed point is determined. The change in length of the optical fiber and, therefore, the cable will be equal to 1/2 the number of interference fringes passing a fixed point times the wavelength of light used. A precise determination of vertical location can then be made when this information is combined with information from a surface mounted odometer or encoder. This information further allows a precise determination of interval bulk density or other formation parameters in which it is important to know the depth of a tool.

Abstract: The response characteristics of a combination of hole-centered electric logging tools in a variety of borehole conditions can be obtained by means of impedance values as entries of a matrix resulting from measurements over a series of depth increments, utilizing an array of M electrode assemblies of equal incremental spacing positioned on a rigid mandrel. While the array is substantially stationary within the borehole, currents from ech electrode are emitted independently, one at a time, allowing the impedance matrix to be formed by the principle of linear superposition in terms of voltage and voltage difference measurements between adjacent electrodes; the impedance matrix is inverted and used to generate a set of tool responses, which when properly compared to a set of tool responses previously generated by computer simulation and addressable by sets of borehole parameters and calibration factors, allows the corresponding borehole conditions to be deduced from the measured data.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved mud excluder fitted around a rotating acoustic transducer of a borehole televiewer to exclude mud from the borehole televiewer. This mud excluder has:(a) a flexible casing means attached to the borehole televiewer to form a fluid cavity adjacent to the rotating acoustic transducer,(b) an acoustically transparent fluid located within the fluid cavity,(c) an acoustic window means opposite the transducer and adjacent to the fluid cavity, and(d) a pressure compensating means within the fluid cavity to equalize the pressure within the fluid cavity with the pressure on the outside of the flexible casing means.

Abstract: The response characteristics of a combination of hole-centered electric logging tools in a variety of borehole conditions can be obtained by means of impedance values as entries of a matrix resulting from measurements over a series of depth increments, utilizing an array of 2M-1 electrode assemblies of equal incremental spacing positioned on a rigid mandrel. While the array moves continuously along the borehole, current is continuously emitted from the centrally located current electrode allowing the impedance matrix to be formed by the principle of linear superposition in terms of voltage and voltage difference measurements between adjacent electrodes. The impedance matrix is inverted and used to generate a set of tool responses, which when properly compared to a set of tool responses previously generated by computer simulation and addressable by sets of borehole parameters and calibration factors, allows the corresponding borehole conditions to be deduced from the measured data.

Abstract: The response characteristics of a combination of hole-centered electric logging tools in a variety of borehole conditions can be obtained by means of impedance values as entries of a matrix resulting from measurements over a series of depth increments, utilizing an array of 2M-1 electrode assemblies of equal incremental spacing positioned on a rigid mandrel. While the array moves continuously along the borehole, current is continuously emitted from the centrally located current electrode allowing the impedance matrix to be formed by the principle of linear superposition in terms of voltage and voltage difference measurements between adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: The response characteristics of a combination of hole-centered electric logging tools in a variety of borehole conditions can be obtained by means of impedance values as entries of a matrix resulting from measurements over a series of depth increments, utilizing an array of M electrode assemblies of equal incremental spacing positioned on a rigid mandrel. While the array moves continuously along the borehole, currents are emitted independently and sequentially from first one and then the other of current electrodes located at the shallow and deep ends of the array, allowing the impedance matrix to be formed by the principle of linear superposition in terms of voltage and voltage difference measurements between adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: The response characteristics of a combination of hole-centered electric logging tools in a variety of borehole conditions can be obtained by means of impedance values as entries of a matrix resulting from measurements over a series of depth increments, utilizing an array of 2M-1 electrode assemblies of equal incremental spacing positioned on a rigid mandrel. While the array moves continuously along the borehole, current is continuously emitted from the centrally located current electrode allowing the impedance matrix to be formed by the principle of linear superposition in terms of voltage and voltage difference measurements between adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: The response characteristics of a combination of hole-centered electric logging tools in a variety of borehole conditions can be obtained by means of impedance values as entries of a matrix resulting from measurements over a series of depth increments, utilizing an array of M electrode assemblies of equal incremental spacing positioned on a rigid mandrel. While the array is substantially stationary within the borehole, currents from each electrode are emitted independently, one at a time, allowing the impedance matrix to be formed by the principle of linear superposition in terms of voltage and voltage difference measurements between adjacent electrodes.

Abstract: An improved well logging technique is provided for more accurately deriving and correlating a plurality of measurements made during a single traversal of a logging instrument through subsurface formations. In one exemplary embodiment, methods and apparatus are provided for deriving a more accurate and precise measurement of depth at which real-time logging measurements are made, and in particular for correcting anomalies occurring in the depth indication from cable stretch, yo-yo of the sonde in the borehole and the like. The more accurate and precise depth measurement is then utilized for generating well logging measurements on a depth-dependent basis, deriving at least some of such measurements in digital form and alternately transmitting to the surface digital and analog representations of such measurements.

Abstract: In apparatus for investigating earth formations traversed by a borehole, improved methods and apparatus are provided for achieving dynamic range control of formation measurements. In one embodiment adapted to formation resistivity measurements, a well logging tool moving through a borehole emits a current into the adjacent earth formation, and a corresponding measurement voltage correlative to the resistivity is sampled at discrete elevations as the tool traverses the borehole. An average of these voltage measurements is formed. When the magnitude of this average exceeds or drops below a predetermined range, the magnitude of the survey voltage is decreased or increased respectively by a discrete amount.

Abstract: An improved well logging technique is provided for more accurately deriving acoustic measurements of sub-surface earth formations. Method and apparatus are described for converting an acoustic signature which can be generated on a depth dependent or time dependent basis, into digital format and subsequently employing special processing techniques to yield parameters such as velocity of the transmitted acoustic energy through earth formations and the amplitude of the received acoustic energy. Processing further allows for the generation of noise immunity signals functionally related to a measured signature parameter and for the generation of amplitude control signals. Additionally, a control signal is generated to optimize transmitter firing rate.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are provided for correlatively matching, recording, and displaying, two or more sets of logging data measurements with respect to the borehold depth at which they were generated, and independent of their historical or real-time character. In a particular embodiment of the invention, measurements from each set of data derived or sampled at correlative depths are adjacently displayed in graphical form during a logging operation. The depth offset between the measurements is visually or automatically detected, and in response thereto, the subsequent correlation of other selected measurements and depths at which subsequent measurements are derived are thereby adjusted for further processing, display and recording.

Abstract: An improved well logging technique is provided for more accurately deriving acoustic measurements of subsurface earth formations. Method and apparatus are described for converting an acoustic signature which can be generated on a depth dependent or time dependent basis, into digital format and subsequently employing special processing techniques to yield parameters such as velocity of the transmitted acoustic energy through earth formations and the amplitude of the received acoustic energy. Processing further allows for the generation of noise immunity signals functionally related to a measured signature parameter and for the generation of amplitude control signals. Additionally, a control signal is generated to optimize transmitter firing rate.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are provided for correlatively matching, recording, and displaying, two or more sets of logging data measurements with respect to the borehole depth at which they are generated, and independent of their historical or real-time character. In a particular embodiment of the invention, measurements from each set of data derived or sampled at correlative depths are adjacently displayed in graphical form during a logging operation. The depth offset between the measurements is visually or automatically detected, and in response thereto, the subsequent correlation of other selected measurements and depths at which subsequent measurements are derived are thereby adjusted for further processing, display and recording.