Side view downhole camera and lighting apparatus and method

Abstract

A downhole camera assembly (100) comprises a camera having a side-view viewport (82) that can be conveyed and manipulated within a wellbore on flexible cable. Light emitted from a light source is diffused and directed by a transparent or translucent material (61) in a substantially 360-degree pattern within a wellbore, thereby illuminating portion(s) of the wellbore positioned laterally to the camera assembly in a field of view of the viewport. The viewport may be selectively rotated 360 degrees by a motor assembly (40) positioned within the camera assembly which can be controlled from the earth's surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.