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AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorsKazumasa Kanayama, Colin Wilson, William Underhill
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A technique is described for releasing a borehole seismic acquisition tool from a stuck position within a borehole. The borehole seismic acquisition tool includes a tool body having at least one sensor package. The borehole seismic acquisition tool further includes an anchoring arm, and anchoring arm linkage adapted to connect the anchoring arm to the tool body. The anchoring arm linkage includes a weakpoint mechanism adapted to break in response to a minimum threshold amount of breaking force being applied upon the weakpoint mechanism. The anchoring arm includes a first end and a second end. The second end of the anchoring arm is pivotally attached to the anchoring arm linkage. The first end of the anchoring arm includes a tip portion which defines a slot. The anchoring arm also includes a movable cam inserted into the slot and removably secured to the first end via a first connector pin inserted through an aperture in the cam. According to at least one implementation, the cam is at least partially rotatable about the first connector pin. An exposed portion of the cam is engaged with the surface of borehole wall. When a failure of retraction of the anchoring arm is detected, the cam may be caused to rotate against the borehole wall surface in response. The rotation of the cam against the borehole wall surface causes a force to be exerted upon the weakpoint mechanism, which, in turn, causes the weakpoint mechanism to break. The breaking of the weakpoint mechanism results in a release of the borehole seismic acquisition tool from the stuck position. According to a specific embodiment, rotation of the cam against the borehole wall surface may be caused by a pulling force applied to a top portion of the borehole seismic acquisition tool.
An anchoring arm for use with a borehole seismic acquisition tool, the borehole seismic acquisition tool including a tool body, the anchoring arm comprising:
A borehole seismic acquisition tool comprising:
A method for releasing a borehole seismic acquisition tool from a stuck position within a borehole, the borehole seismic acquisition tool comprising a tool body having at least one sensor package, the borehole seismic acquisition tool further comprising an anchoring arm, the borehole seismic acquisition tool further comprising an anchoring arm linkage adapted to connect the anchoring arm to the tool body, the anchoring arm linkage including a weakpoint mechanism adapted to break in response to a minimum threshold amount of breaking force being applied upon the weakpoint mechanism, the anchoring arm comprising a first end and a second end, the second end being pivotally attached to the anchoring arm linkage, the first end including a tip portion having a slot defined therein, the anchoring arm further comprising a movable cam inserted into said slot, the cam including a first aperture, the cam being removably secured to said first end via a first connector pin insertable through said first aperture, the cam is being least partially rotatable about the first connector pin, wherein an exposed portion of the cam is engaged with a surface of a wall of the borehole, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.