Rotatable imaging sensor in a wellbore
AssigneeDarkVision Technologies Inc.
InventorsMichael Halpenny-Mason, Matt James, Graham Manders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole imaging tool and method of operating the tool in a wellbore. An imaging sensor array at an end of the tool is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the tool to image the well by sweeping out a 2D area of the well. Actuators in the tool provide rotation and/or extension of the sensor array to change perspective. An ultrasound phased-array may be used to measure and identify features of the well or objects.
Claims18
A downhole device comprising:
- a housing deployable in a well;
- an imaging sensor connected at a distal end of the housing and rotatable thereto, said sensor comprising an ultrasound phased-array arranged at least partly along a longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the ultrasound phased-array is curvilinear in form with a plurality of transducer elements distributed over an arc in a longitudinal-transverse plane;
- an actuator contained in the housing for rotating the imaging sensor, about said longitudinal axis, relative to the housing;
- and
- an imaging circuit arranged to capture and process data of the imaging sensor.
A method of operating a downhole device having an imaging sensor rotatably coupled at a distal end of the device's housing, the method comprising:
- using a wireline or tractor, deploying the device in a well to a first location:
- operating actuators within a housing of the device to rotate the imaging sensor about a longitudinal axis of the well;
- and
- capturing data from the imaging sensor as it rotates,
- wherein said imaging sensor comprising an ultrasound phased-array arranged at least partly along a longitudinal axis of the housing, and the ultrasound phased-array is curvilinear in form with a plurality of transducer elements distributed over an arc in a longitudinal-transverse plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.