U.S. patent number 3,573,349 [Application Number 04/821,186] was granted by the patent office on 1971-04-06 for electrical suspension cable for facilitating the descent of well tools suspended therefrom through deviated well bores.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation. Invention is credited to William E. Bowers.
United States Patent |
3,573,349 |
Bowers |
April 6, 1971 |
ELECTRICAL SUSPENSION CABLE FOR FACILITATING THE DESCENT OF WELL
TOOLS SUSPENDED THEREFROM THROUGH DEVIATED WELL BORES
Abstract
As one embodiment of the new and improved electrical logging
cable disclosed herein, the cable is uniquely constructed to
withstand limited axial compressive loading without undue lateral
bending. In this manner, by selectively moving the suspension cable
downwardly from the surface, corresponding axial forces are
developed in the lower portion of the cable for assisting the
continued descent of a logging tool dependently coupled thereto
through substantially deviated well bore intervals.
Inventors: |
Bowers; William E. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
Schlumberger Technology
Corporation (New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
25232742 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/821,186 |
Filed: |
May 2, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/108;
174/113R |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01B
7/046 (20130101); E21B 23/14 (20130101); E21B
17/206 (20130101); G01V 11/002 (20130101); E21B
17/028 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E21B
17/00 (20060101); E21B 23/14 (20060101); E21B
17/02 (20060101); E21B 23/00 (20060101); E21B
17/20 (20060101); H01B 7/04 (20060101); G01V
11/00 (20060101); H01b 007/22 () |
Field of
Search: |
;174/106,108,113,115,102.7 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Myers; Lewis H.
Assistant Examiner: Grimley; A. T.
Claims
I claim:
1. An electrical logging cable adapted for coupling to a logging
instrument to be passed through a well bore having a deviated
interval therein and comprising: electrical conductor means
arranged along a longitudinal axis; a plurality of first strands
helically wound around said electrical conductor means at a first
pitch angle of less than about 22.degree. for providing at least
one concentric inner layer of said first strands adapted to carry
tensile loads applied to said cable; and a plurality of second
strands helically wound about said first strands at a second pitch
angle of greater than about 30.degree. for providing at least one
concentric outer layer of said second strands adapted to support
compressive loads applied to said cable.
2. The logging cable of claim 1 wherein said first pitch angle is
about 18.degree. and said second pitch angle is about
35.degree..
3. The logging cable of claim 1 wherein said first metallic strands
are smaller than said second metallic strands.
4. An electrical logging cable adapted for coupling to a logging
instrument to be passed through a well bore having a deviated
interval therein and comprising: electrical conductor means
arranged along a longitudinal axis; a plurality of first and second
metallic strands helically wound in opposite directions in relation
to one another around said electrical conductor means with each
being at a pitch angle of between about 16.degree. to 22.degree.
for providing concentric inner armor layers adapted for carrying
tensile loads applied to said cable; and a plurality of third
metallic strands helically wound around said inner armor layers at
a pitch angle of between about 30.degree. to 45.degree. for
providing at least one concentric outer armor layer adapted for
supporting axially directed compressive loads applied to said
cable.
5. The logging cable of claim 4 further including means defining an
annular core between said electrical conductor means and said inner
armor layers for supporting said armor layers.
6. The logging cable of claim 4 wherein said pitch angle of said
inner armor layers is about 18.degree. and said pitch angle of said
outer armor layers is about 35.degree..
7. An electrical logging cable adapted for coupling to a logging
instrument to be passed through a well bore having a deviated
interval therein and comprising: a plurality of electrical
conductors arranged in a helix along a longitudinal axis; means
defining an axial core surrounding said electrical conductors; a
plurality of first metal strands helically wound along said axial
core at a first pitch angle of less than about 22.degree. for
providing a first concentric armor layer adapted to carry tensile
loads applied to said cable; a plurality of second metal strands
helically wound along said first armor layer in an opposite pitch
direction thereto and at a second pitch angle of less than about
20.degree. for providing a second concentric armor layer adapted to
carry tensile loads applied to said cable; a plurality of third
metal strands helically wound contiguous to one another along said
second armor layer at a third pitch angle of about 30.degree. to
45.degree. for providing a third concentric armor layer adapted to
support compressive loads applied to said cable; and a plurality of
fourth metal strands helically wound contiguous to one another
along said third armor layer in an opposite pitch direction thereto
and at a fourth pitch angle of about 30.degree. to 45.degree. for
providing a fourth concentric armor layer adapted to support
compressive loads applied to said cable.
8. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said first pitch angle is
greater than about 18.degree. and said second pitch angle is
greater than about 16.degree..
9. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said third and fourth pitch
angles are about 35.degree..
10. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said first and second
pitch angles are about 18.degree..
11. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said first and second
pitch angles are about 18.degree. and said third and fourth pitch
angles are about 35.degree..
12. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said third and fourth
metal strands are larger than said first and second metal
strands.
13. The logging cable of claim 12 wherein said fourth metal strands
are larger than said third metal strands.
14. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said first metal strands
are equal in number to said second metal strands and said second
metal strands are larger than said first metal strands to as to
substantially cover said first armor layer.
15. The logging cable of claim 7 wherein said third metal strands
are equal in number to said fourth metal strands and said fourth
metal strands are larger than said third metal strands so as to
substantially cover said third armor layer.
16. The logging cable of claim 15 wherein said first metal strands
are equal in number to said second metal strands and said second
metal strands are smaller than said fourth metal strands but larger
than said first metal strands to as to substantially cover said
first armor layer.
17. An electrical logging cable adapted for coupling to a logging
instrument to be passed through a well bore having a deviated
interval therein and comprising: a plurality of electrical
conductors arranged in a helix along a longitudinal axis; means
defining an axial core surrounding said electrical conductors; a
plurality of first metal strands of a first diameter helically
wound contiguous to one another along said axial core at a first
pitch angle of less than about 18.degree. to 22.degree. for
providing a first tightly wound concentric armor layer adapted to
carry tensile loads applied to said cable; a plurality of second
metal strands of a second diameter greater than said first diameter
helically wound contiguous to one another along said first armor
layer in an opposite pitch direction thereto and at a second pitch
angle of less than about 16.degree. to 20.degree. for providing a
second concentric armor layer adapted to carry tensile loads
applied to said cable; a plurality of third metal strands of a
third diameter greater than said second diameter helically wound
contiguous to one another along said second armor layer in an
opposite direction thereto at a third pitch angle of about
30.degree. to 45.degree. for providing a third concentric armor
layer adapted to support compressive loads applied to said cable;
and a plurality of fourth metal strands of a fourth diameter
greater than said third diameter helically wound contiguous to one
another along said third armor layer in an opposite pitch direction
thereto and at a fourth pitch angle of about 30.degree. to
45.degree. for providing a fourth concentric armor layer adapted to
support compressive loads applied to said cable.
18. The logging cable of claim 17 wherein said third and fourth
pitch angles are about 35.degree..
19. The logging cable of claim 17 wherein said first and second
pitch angles are about 18.degree..
20. The logging cable of claim 19 wherein said third and fourth
pitch angles are about 35.degree..
Description
In some oil fields, it is not at all uncommon to find well bores
having highly slanted intervals therein that may approach angles
deviating from the vertical as much as 60.degree. to 80.degree.. It
is, of course, impossible to simply lower a cable-suspended well
tool to the bottom of such highly deviated well bores. It will be
appreciated, therefore, that unless suitable techniques are devised
for moving cable-suspended well tools through such highly deviated
holes, they cannot be logged in the usual manner.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide
new and improved electrical logging cables for facilitating the
descent of well-logging instruments coupled thereto through highly
deviated well bores.
This and other objects of the present invention are accomplished by
operatively arranging inner and outer layers of helically wound
armor strands around one or more electrical conductors to provide a
relatively stiff electrical logging cable that is adapted to be
spooled on a typical powered winch for dependently supporting
logging tools coupled thereto. By arranging the outer armor layers
at a substantially large pitch angle, the cable will be capable of
withstanding limited axial compressive loads without undue lateral
flexing. In this manner, when the cable is spooled on a winch and
coupled to a well-logging tool, should the tool move into a highly
deviated well bore interval, the cable is moved downwardly to
reduce tensile forces therein and develop corresponding compressive
forces in the lower portion of the cable. In this manner, since the
new and improved cables of the present invention have sufficient
lateral rigidity that they cannot be doubled back onto themselves
within the confines of a well bore, axial compressive loads imposed
thereon can be effectively transmitted to a logging instrument
coupled thereto for promoting its further movement through a
deviated well bore.
The novel features of the present invention are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with
further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by
way of the following description of exemplary apparatus employing
the principles of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partially in cross section, of a
preferred embodiment of a new and improved electrical logging cable
arranged in accordance with the principles of the present
invention;
FIG. 2A depicts a typical arrangement of the surface equipment
employed for imposing axial loads through a logging cable arranged
in accordance with the present invention to a logging tool
suspended therefrom in a deviated well bore;
FIG. 2B shows a logging tool as it may appear while being pushed
through a deviated borehole by a logging cable of the present
invention; and
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectioned view of the upper portion of a typical
logging tool having force-responsive signalling means operatively
coupled to a logging cable of the present invention.
Turning now to FIG. 1, an isometric view is shown of a preferred
embodiment of an electrical logging cable 10 arranged in accordance
with the present invention illustrating its unique construction. As
seen there, the cable 10 has a central axial core 11 comprised of a
plurality of externally insulated stranded electrical conductors 12
that are symmetrically grouped and encased in a suitable tubular
sheath 13 which, for example, may be either braided nylon strands
or spirally wrapped insulating tape. To give the core 11 a
generally cylindrical form, the interstitial spaces between the
electrical conductors 12 and the sheath 13 are filled with suitable
materials such as, for example, cotton fillers 14. Where deemed
desirable to reduce the effects of capacitive coupling between the
several cable conductors 12, the outer surfaces of the insulating
sheath 15 of each cable conductor 12 may be coated with a thin,
electrically semiconductive film and the nylon braid 13 (or
spiraled tape) and the cotton fillers 14 are impregnated with an
electrically semiconductive compound. Thus, in these instances,
each insulated conductor 12 in the finished cable core 11 is
surrounded by a semiconductive film which is electrically connected
to the external armor 16 of the cable 10.
The external armor 16 of the central cable core 11 is comprised of
a unique arrangement of four concentrically arranged layers 17--20
of metallic armor strands helically wound around the central core.
The two innermost armor layers 17 and 18 are assembled onto the
central core 11 in the usual manner. That is to say, the innermost
armor layer 17 comprises a plurality of metallic strands wound in
one so-called "lay" direction about the core 11; and the second
armor layer 18 similarly comprises a plurality of metallic strands
wound with an oppositely directed lay about the innermost armor
layer. The number, size, and pitch or lay angle of the first and
second inner layers are chosen so that the innermost layer 17
substantially covers the central core 11 and the second layer 18
substantially covers the first layer. As is customary, the design
of these armor layers 17 and 18 have been optimized to perform the
usual tension-bearing functions of the cable 10 as well as protect
the central cable core 11 from damage.
It will be appreciated, of course, that the two inner layers 17 and
18 of armor strands provide little or no longitudinal stability to
the logging cable 10 for withstanding axial compressive loads
applied thereto. Accordingly, inasmuch as the logging cables of the
present invention must also be capable of transmitting minor axial
compressive loads from the surface to a logging tool coupled
thereto, the two outer armor layers 19 and 20 are uniquely arranged
to transmit such nominal compressive loads without the cable 10
being doubled back onto itself within the diameter of a typically
sized well bore; and, as a result, can cause damage to the core 11
and quite possibly allow the cable 10 to become stuck in the well
bore. More significantly, these two outer armor layers 19 and 20
are uniquely wound in oppositely directed lay directions and
respectively have relatively flat pitch angles in the order of
about 30.degree.-- 45.degree. as compared to only about
18.degree.-- 22.degree. and 16.degree.-- 20.degree., respectively,
for the two inner armor layers 17 and 18.
In the preferred embodiment of the logging cable 10 depicted in
FIG. 1, each of the four armor layers 17--20 are comprised of 24
strands; and, therefore, the diameters of the several armor strands
are progressively increased from the innermost armor layer to the
outermost armor layer to accommodate the increasing diameters.
Thus, in this illustrated embodiment, the innermost armor strands
17 have a diameter of 0.039-inch; the next layer 18 is comprised of
strands of 0.049-inch; the next layer 19 is comprised of strands of
0.055-inch; and the outermost layer 20 employs strands of
0.066-inch. All strands of the armor 16 are of galvanized steel,
with these strands being preformed as required for the complete
cable 10. It will, of course, be recognized that the size of the
strands of the armor 16 will vary in accordance with the number of
strands in each armor layer. It is important, however, that the
outermost armor layer 20 be sized to facilitate the "stacking" or
"locking" of the adjacent and normally touching strand coils when a
compressive load is applied to the cable 10 and, therefore, prevent
one strand coil from moving outwardly and downwardly over an
adjacent strand coil in the outer armor layer 20.
Accordingly, by virtue of the substantially large or flat pitch
angles of the two outer armor layers 19 and 20, the logging cable
10 will be incapable of doubling back on itself within the diameter
of a typically sized well bore. Thus, when compressive loads are
imposed on a portion of the logging cable 10, the contiguous coils
of these outer layers 19 and 20 will instead to "stacked" and, in
effect, be locked to one another to resist lateral bending of the
cable in relation to its longitudinal axis. In this manner,
compressive loads applied thereto will initially begin gradually
bending this loaded portion of the cable 10 into a long helix.
However, instead of easily doubling back on itself as would
otherwise occur with a typical logging cable, the new and improved
cable 10 will continue transmitting modest axial compressive loads
to a logging tool coupled thereto until it has been helically
looped and the outer portions of each cable loop are gradually
expanded into engagement around the perimeter of the well bore.
Ultimately, of course, the frictional engagement of the helical
loops of the cable 10 with the walls of the borehole will be
sufficient to tightly wedge the cable so that further compressive
loads cannot be imposed therethrough so long as the loops are
against the borehole wall.
Turning now to FIG. 2B, a logging tool 21 is depicted as it is
being moved through a highly deviated interval of a well bore
which, in this instance, is illustrated as being an uncased
borehole 22. Although the specific nature of the logging tool 21 is
of no consequence to the present invention, it may be a typical
logging instrument including a typical radioactivity detector or
other measuring device 23 which will sense variations in some
detectable characteristic of earth formations for providing
indications at the surface that the tool is moving. The logging
tool 21 is dependently coupled to the lower end of the uniquely
constructed logging cable 10 which, as has already been explained,
is appropriately arranged to withstand axial compressive loads
without being doubled back onto itself within the confines of the
borehole 22.
As seen in FIG. 2A, the logging cable 10 is spooled in the usual
fashion on a powered winch 24 and has previously been directed into
the surface casing 25 that customarily lines the walls of the upper
portion of the borehole 22. As is typical, the winch 24 is
positioned in a convenient location adjacent to the surface casing
25 and the cable 10 is preferably directed into the casing by means
of upper and lower pulleys or sheaves 26 and 27 aligned with one
another and the winch and respectively supported directly above the
casing and to one side thereof. It will be appreciated, of course,
that the winch 24 is operatively equipped with brakes and a driving
mechanism (neither shown) by which the winch drum may be
selectively driven in either rotative direction and at any suitable
rotational speed. The upper sheave 26 is typically supported in a
derrick (not shown) by a strain gauge 28 that is coupled to a
suitable indicator 29 for measuring the tension forces on the
logging cable 10. As is usual, a calibrated measuring wheel 30 that
is frictionally driven by the running portion of the armored
logging cable 10 is coupled to a totalizer 31 for measuring the
length of the cable being reeled onto or off of the winch 24 and a
tachometer 32 for indicating the speed of the cable. A suitable
instrument 33 is electrically coupled by way of the cable 10 to the
measuring device 23 in the logging tool 21.
Turning now to FIG. 3, the upper portion of the well tool 21 is
shown in cross section to illustrate a unique signalling device 34
for indicating when an axial load is being effectively imposed
through the logging cable 10 to the well tool. As illustrated, the
lower end of the logging cable 10 is secured within a cylindrical
body 35 that is slidably received within the open upper end of a
tubular housing 36 coupled to the upper end of the well tool 21. To
limit the upward longitudinal travel of the cylindrical body 35 in
relation to the housing 35, an elongated sleeve 37 having an
inwardly directed shoulder 38 is secured within the housing to
position the shoulder above the upper face 39 of an enlarged
diameter head 40 arranged on the lower end of the cylindrical body.
Conversely, downward longitudinal travel of the cylindrical body 35
is limited by an enlarged diameter shoulder 41 arranged around an
intermediate portion of the cylindrical body to engage an upwardly
facing shoulder such as defined by the upper end 42 of the sleeve
37. To corotatively secure the cylindrical body 35 in relation to
the housing 36, a longitudinal spline-and-groove arrangement, as at
43, is provided on the enlarged head 40 and internal wall of the
sleeve 37.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the cylindrical body 35 is
free to travel axially in relation to the housing 36 within the
limits provided between the opposed upper shoulders 41 and 42 and
the opposed lower shoulders 38 and 39. For reasons that will
subsequently become apparent, the cylindrical body 35 is biased
upwardly in relation to the housing 36 by a compression spring 44
coaxially disposed within the tubular housing and yieldably
restrained between the shoulder 41 and a ring 45 mounted around the
elongated sleeve 37.
As seen in FIG. 3, the cylindrical body is not fluidly sealed in
relation to the housing 36 so that the tubular housing will be
filled with the borehole fluids. To prevent the borehole fluids
from electrically shorting the various cable conductors, as at 12,
the conductors are appropriately sealed within the cylindrical body
35 and connected, as at 46, to conductors, as at 47, leading to the
interior of the logging tool 21 and brought through typical
conductor seals (not shown) sealingly mounted in a transverse
partition 48 across the lower end of the tubular housing 36.
Accordingly, inasmuch as the hydrostatic pressure of the borehole
fluids will be acting on both sides of the cylindrical body 35,
there will be no unbalanced pressure forces affecting the relative
longitudinal position of the cylindrical body in relation to the
tool housing 36. Thus, imposition of a downwardly directed force
through the logging cable 10 to the cylindrical body 35 will be
effective to move the cylindrical body downwardly in relation to
the housing 36 against the spring force of the compression spring
44. Similarly, in the usual situation, the weight of the logging
tool 21 will be transmitted to the cable 10 by means of the opposed
shoulders 38 and 39. Thus, it will be appreciated that so long as
the logging tool 21 is dependently suspended from the logging cable
10, the shoulders 38 and 39 will be abutted; and a downwardly
acting axial force at least as great as the potential spring force
provided by the compression spring 44 will be required to shift the
cylindrical body 35 downwardly in relation to the tool housing 36
so as to bring the shoulders 41 and 42 into abutment.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that when the logging tool 21
is suspended, the cylindrical body 35 will be at its depicted upper
position in relation to the tool housing 36 so that the full weight
of the tool is supported by the shoulders 38 and 39. Similarly, as
the tool 21 is moving through a deviated well bore, such as the
borehole 22, upwardly directed forces on the housing 36 tending to
slow or halt further progress of the logging tool 21 will be
countered by the longitudinal or axial component of the weight of
the tool. It will be seen, therefore, that when the cylindrical
body 35 is elevated in relation to the tool housing 36, the
summation of the downwardly acting forces on the logging tool 21
(such as the longitudinal component of the tool weight) are greater
than the downwardly acting forces, if any, on the cylindrical body.
Conversely, when the downwardly acting forces on the cylindrical
body 35 are equal or greater than the upwardly directed forces on
the tool housing 36 (such as frictional drag) tending to slow or
halt the well tool 21 as well as the spring force of the spring 44,
the cylindrical body will be shifted downwardly to bring the
shoulder 41 into abutment with the shoulder 42. Thereafter, so long
as these downwardly acting forces on the cylindrical body 35
predominate, these downwardly acting forces will be effective for
pushing the well tool 21.
Accordingly, in the preferred arrangement of the signalling device
34 for indicating the position of the cylindrical body 35 in
relation to the tool housing 36, a proximity switch, such as a
so-called "reed switch" 49 adapted for remote magnetic actuation,
is encapsulated in a suitable pressure-resistant case and secured,
as by spring clips 50, within the elongated sleeve 37. To actuate
the encapsulated proximity-sensing switch 49, amagnet 51 is
encapsulated in a suitable case 52 and dependently secured below
the cylindrical body 35 for movement thereby into and out of the
operating proximity of the switch. In the preferred embodiment, the
switch 49 is normally open and the magnet 51 is longitudinally
positioned in relation thereto for actuating the switch upon
movement of the cylindrical body 35 to its lower position to shift
the magnet case 52 to the position shown by the dashed lines at
53.
To provide means for adjusting the relative longitudinal positions
of the magnet 51 and switch 49, a depending rod 54 supporting the
magnet case 52 is preferably threaded so that the magnet case can
be screwed upwardly and downwardly along the rod. One lead 55 from
the switch 49 is connected to a selected conductor 12a in the
suspension cable 10 and another switch lead 56 is electrically
connected to another cable conductor or to the tool housing 36 as
at 57. Since the armor of the logging cable 10 is electrically
connected to the housing 36, the cable armor will serve as a return
path. In this manner, so long as the switch 49 is open, the cable
conductor 12a will not be connected to any other cable conductors;
and upon movement of the magnet 51 to its lower position 53, the
switch will close to connect the cable conductor 12a to the tool
housing 36. Thus, by connecting a suitable electrical instrument
such as, for example, an ohmmeter 58 between the cable armor and
the conductor 12a at the surface, a surface indication will be
provided representative of the longitudinal position of the
cylindrical body 35 in relation to the tool housing 36.
With the unusual lateral stiffness of the cable 10 in mind, it
will, therefore, be appreciated that as the logging tool 21 is
progressively moved downwardly through the borehole 22, axial
compressive loads can be imposed thereon by way of the cable. Thus,
the logging tool 21 is lowered into the borehole 22 at, preferably,
as high a speed as can be attained by free fall of the tool through
the borehole fluids. This will, of course, mean that for most
situations, the winch 24 will be allowed to freewheel so that the
weight of the logging tool 21 and the progressively increasing
weight of the cable 10 hanging in the borehole 22 will be effective
for carrying the tool to as great a depth as is possible. It will
be recognized, of course, that so long as the logging tool 21 is
moving relatively freely, the switch 49 will remain open. Once the
logging tool 21 enters a relatively deviated interval of the
borehole 22 as shown in FIG. 2B, the tool will, of course,
ultimately be halted and come to rest in a position such as that
illustrated. If the tool 21 does halt, this will be apparent at the
surface since the electrical signal provided by the logging device
23 will now show an unvarying signal on the instrument 33 in
contrast to the usual varying signals that normally occur as the
logging tool is moving.
When the operator at the surface has ascertained that the tool 21
has in fact come to rest, the winch 24 can be powered forwardly (as
at 59) in such a manner as to unreel an additional length of the
cable 10. Inasmuch as the portion of the cable 10 running over the
sheaves 26 and 27 and a substantial proportion of its length within
the borehole 22 will be under extreme tension, powering of the
winch 24 will in effect merely reduce this tension load in the
major portion of the logging cable. At some point, however, very
near to the tool 21, the tensile load on this lower portion of the
cable 10 will be zero so that any further downward force on the
cable will induce a compressive force in that portion therebelow.
Thus, the lowermost portion of the new and improved logging cable
10 of the present invention will instead have an axial compressive
load imposed thereon which is, of course, transmitted downwardly to
the slidable cylindrical body 35 in the upper end of the tool
housing 36.
If this compressive load is less than the opposing spring force
provided by the compressive spring 44, a corresponding downwardly
directed force will be transmitted by way of the spring to the tool
housing 36 which, hopefully, will be sufficient to move the well
tool 21 still further. If, on the other hand, this downwardly
acting compressive load on the logging cable 10 is greater than the
opposing spring force provided by the spring 44, the cylindrical
body 35 will move downwardly in relation to the tool housing 36;
and, once the magnet 51 reaches the position 53 opposite the switch
49, the switch contacts will close and provide an indication at the
surface on the ohmmeter 58 that such has occurred. This information
will, therefore, advise the operator at the surface that a force of
at least as great as the spring force of the spring 44 is being
applied to the tool 21 for moving it further downwardly in relation
to the borehole 22. If the logging tool 21 does in fact begin to
move further downwardly, the logging device 23 will again provide
varying electrical signals indicative of the different formation
materials being passed by the moving tool. On the other hand, if
the downward force is not sufficient to move the logging tool 21,
the steady reading on the instrument 33 provided by the logging
device 23 will advise the operator that the tool is still not
moving. Moreover, the ohmmeter 58 will provide an indication of
whether these downward forces are actually being imposed on the
tool 21. Then, the winch 24 can be driven forwardly, as at 59, to
insure that the cable 10 is hanging free which will be indicated by
substantial flexing of the running portion of the cable between the
lower sheave 27 and the winch. Once the cable 10 has been
significantly flexed in this running portion of the cable, the
cable can be pushed downwardly by hand or some cable-pushing device
at the surface to impose a maximum load to on the tool 10. It is,
of course, impossible to impose further loading through the cable
onto the logging tool 21 unless the cable is partially respooled
onto the winch 24 and then the tool is again relowered in an
attempt to gain sufficient momentum to pass the impediment.
It has been found, however, in actual situations that where a
borehole, such as at 22, is substantially deviated, with ordinary
logging cables it has not been possible to get logging tools, as at
21, to intervals in the borehole beyond the uppermost highly
deviated portions thereof. On the other hand, by employing the new
and improved logging cable 10 of the present invention, a
significant aid is provided in facilitating the descent of these
logging tools. Usually, by watching the recording instrument 33
connected to the logging device 23, an operator will be advised
that the logging tool 21 is beginning to slow. When this is
noticed, the winch 24 may be powered forwardly, as at 59, to begin
driving the logging cable 10 to supplement the gravitational and
inertial forces moving the logging tool 21 downwardly through the
borehole 22. In this manner, by taking advantage of the motional
inertia of the logging tool 21, often the added impetus provided by
positively driving the winch 24 to impose axial compressive forces
on the moving tool will carry the tool along substantially deviated
intervals and on into more vertical intervals therein.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention has
provided new and improved logging cables for facilitating the
descent of logging tools through highly deviated well bores. Thus,
although changes and modifications may be made in the principles of
the invention as set out in the claims, by providing the laterally
stiffened logging cable, logging tools coupled thereto may be moved
thereby through even highly deviated boreholes to greater depths
than has heretofore been attainable.
* * * * *