Gauge apparatus, system and method
AssigneeExpro North Sea Limited
InventorOleg Bogdanov
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gauge apparatus includes a body member, one or more gauge arms biased outwardly from the body member for engagement with a wall of the elongated space, and one or more deformable regions. The gauge apparatus is configured so that a variation in an outward extension of each gauge arm from the body member induces a change in strain in a corresponding one of the one or more deformable regions. A gauge system includes the gauge apparatus and an optical fiber attached to the gauge apparatus so that a strain in each deformable region of the gauge apparatus is transferred to a corresponding sensor portion of the optical fiber. The gauge system may be used for making real-time measurements of a geometry of an elongated space such as a wellbore of an oil and gas well.
Claims19
A gauge apparatus for use in making real-time measurements of a geometry of an elongated space, the gauge apparatus comprising:
- a body member having a sealed internal cavity;
- one or more gauge arms biased outwardly from the body member for engagement with a wall of the elongated space, wherein each gauge arm includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, wherein each first segment is pivotally attached to the body member, each respective second segment is pivotally attached to a respective first segment and to a respective third segment;
- and
- a deformable plate member that includes one or more deformable regions, the deformable plate disposed within the internal cavity;
- and
- one or more bias members, wherein each bias member is in communication with a respective gauge arm third segment and in communication with a respective deformable region;
- wherein the gauge apparatus is configured so that a variation in an outward extension of each gauge arm from the body member induces a change in strain in a corresponding one of the one or more deformable regions;
- and
- wherein the gauge apparatus is configured for attachment of an optical fiber to the gauge apparatus so that a strain in each deformable region of the gauge apparatus is transferred to a corresponding sensor portion of the optical fiber.
A method for use in making real-time measurements of a geometry of an elongated space, the method comprising:
- providing a gauge apparatus that includes a body member having a sealed internal cavity, one or more gauge arms biased outwardly from the body member, a deformable plate member disposed within the internal cavity, and one or more bias members, wherein each gauge arm includes a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment, and wherein each first segment is pivotally attached to the body member, each respective second segment is pivotally attached to a respective first segment and to a respective third segment, and wherein the deformable plate member includes one or more deformable regions, and wherein each bias member is in communication with a respective gauge arm third segment and in communication with a respective deformable region;
- passing the gauge apparatus along the elongated space with the one or more gauge arms of the gauge apparatus biased outwardly into engagement with a wall of the elongated space so that any variation in a transverse geometry of the elongated space causes a variation in an outward extension of each gauge arm from the body member of the gauge apparatus;
- wherein the gauge apparatus is configured so that the variation in the outward extension of each gauge arm from the body member induces a change in strain in a corresponding deformable region and wherein an optical fiber is attached to the gauge apparatus so that a strain in each deformable region is transferred to a corresponding sensor portion of the optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.