# US 2016/0356145 A1 · Extendable/collapsible apparatus for fracture imaging and use of same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0356145 A1 - Document ID: US20160356145A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/177,300 - Filed: 2016-06-08 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-08 - Assignees: Kobold Services Inc. - Applicants: Kobold Services inc. - Inventors: Mark ANDREYCHUK; Per ANGMAN; Allan PETRELLA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160356145A1 ## CPC - E21B 47/01: Devices for supporting measuring instruments on drill bits, pipes, rods or wirelines; Protecting measuring instruments in boreholes against heat, shock, pressure or the like - E21B 47/002: by visual inspection - G01V 1/01: Measuring or predicting earthquakes - G01V 1/288: {Event detection in seismic signals, e.g. microseismics (G01V1/36 takes precedence)} - G01V 1/46: Data acquisition - G01V 1/52: Structural details - G01V 2210/1234: Hydrocarbon reservoir, e.g. spontaneous or induced fracturing - G01V 2210/1429: Subsurface, e.g. in borehole or below weathering layer or mud line - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) ## Abstract Fracture imaging modules having one or more 3-component sensors, are incorporated into a tool comprising two or more of the modules for detecting microseismic events in a formation from the same wellbore as is being stimulated. The modules are locked together in a compact mode to permit injection into the wellbore through a conventional lubricator which has a fixed length. Once injected into the wellbore, the modules are spaced from one another in an extended mode to form an axially spaced sensor array which increases the measurement window in the wellbore compared to sensor arrays conventionally injected through a fixed length lubricator. Following the operation, the modules are actuated to return to the compact mode for pulling out of the hole through the lubricator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fracture imaging module (FIM) for detecting microseismic events when deployed in a directional wellbore, comprising: a housing; one or more 3-component microseismic sensors housed in the housing; apparatus for connecting axially between the housing and a housing of a like module, actuable between an extended mode, wherein the modules are spaced apart for detecting the microseismic events, and a compact mode, wherein space between the modules is minimized for running into and pulling out of the wellbore; and a locking mechanism for locking the module to the like module when in the compact mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for connecting is actuated by a pulling force applied thereto, the module further comprising: drag means connected to the housing for engaging the wellbore and resisting movement therein when the pulling force is applied thereto. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for connecting spaces the module 10's of meters apart from the like module in the extended mode than in the compact mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for connecting spaces the module from about 50 meters to about 100 meters from the like module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1 further comprising electronic circuitry for actuating the locking mechanism to lock the module to adjacent like modules in the compact mode and to release the module to permit spacing of the module from the like modules in the extended mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The module of claim 5 wherein the electronic circuitry receives a coded signal for actuating the locking mechanism, wherein the coded signal is an acoustic signal, an electronic signal, pressure pulsing or a sequence of movements of a conveyance string connected to the module. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The module of claim 2 wherein the apparatus for connecting comprises a tether mechanism having a return spring, biased to an original shape, and wound about a first sprocket; a tether wound about a second sprocket, a free end thereof extending through a port in the housing for connection to the housing of the like module; and an endless drive chain for connecting between the first and second sprockets, wherein when the pulling force is applied to the tether, the tether is payed-out from the second sprocket for extending a length of the tether and the return spring is tightened about the first sprocket, the tether being placed in constant tension; and when the pulling force is released, the return spring returns to the original shape, driving the endless chain to rotate the second sprocket for winding the tether thereon. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1 wherein the locking mechanism comprises one or more of magnets, latches, collet fingers, a stinger or a brake applied to the apparatus for connecting between the housing and the housing of the like module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The module of claim 1, wherein a neck end of the housing comprises a profiled neck extending axially therefrom; and an opposing latch end of the housing comprises a shaped recess therein, the locking mechanism comprising: a latch mechanism for engaging between the shaped recess of the module and a profiled neck of a like module when engaged in the shaped recess. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The module of claim 9 wherein the latch mechanism comprises: opposing notches formed on the profiled neck; and opposing, pivoting latch fingers connected to the housing and biased radially inward into the recess to engage the opposing notches on a like module in a latched position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The module of claim 10 further comprising electronic circuitry to overcome the biasing and cause the latch fingers to pivot to release from the opposing notches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The modules of claim 1 wherein data from the one or more 3-component microseismic sensors is stored in the module for retrieval at surface, the module further comprising: data storage means housed in the housing; and one or more batteries for powering the data storage. ### Claim 13 A tool for detecting microseismic events when deployed in a directional wellbore using a conveyance string, comprising: two or more modules, each module having a housing; one or more 3-component microseismic sensors housed in the housing; apparatus for connecting between the housing and a housing of each adjacent module, actuable between an extended mode, wherein the two or more modules are spaced apart for detecting the microseismic events, and a compact mode, wherein space between the two or more modules is minimized for running into and pulling out of the wellbore; and a locking mechanism for locking the two or more modules together when in the compact mode wherein a first, proximal module is connected to a distal end of the conveyance string and the remaining of the two or more modules are connected therebetween for forming an axial array of modules. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13 further comprising: drag means connected to the modules' housings for engaging the wellbore and resisting movement therein when a pulling force is applied thereto; and wherein the apparatus for connecting comprises a tether mechanism housed in the housing and having a return spring, biased to an original shape, and wound about a first sprocket; a tether wound about a second sprocket, a free end thereof extending through a port in the housing or connection to the housing of the adjacent module; and an endless drive chain for connecting between the first and second sprockets, wherein when the pulling force is applied to the tether, the tether is payed-out from the second sprocket for extending a length of the tether and the return spring is tightened about the first sprocket, the tether being placed in constant tension and the modules being spaced apart; and when the pulling force is released, the return spring returns to the original shape, driving the endless chain to rotate the second sprocket for winding the tether thereon for minimizing the spacing between the modules. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13 wherein the first, proximal module is connected to the conveyance string using a non-acoustically transmissive connection therebetween for decoupling the tool from the conveyance string. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13 wherein apparatus for connecting between the two or modules spaces the modules 10's of meters apart in the extended mode compared to the compact mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The tool of claim 13 wherein the apparatus for connecting between the two or modules spaces the modules from about 50 meters to about 100 meters apart. ### Claim 18 A method for measuring microseismic events in a directional wellbore comprising: connecting a tool having two or more modules therein to a distal end of a conveyance string, each module comprising one or more 3-component microseismic sensors, the modules being locked together in a compact mode; injecting the conveyance string and tool in the compact mode into the wellbore through a lubricator; signaling the tool to actuate from the compact mode to an extended mode in the wellbore, wherein the two or modules are spaced apart in an axial array; detecting the microseismic signals in the wellbore at one or more stages in the wellbore; signaling the tool to actuate from the extended mode to the compact mode; and pulling the conveyance string and the tool in the compact mode from the wellbore through the lubricator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the signaling to actuate from the compact mode to the extended mode and from the extended mode to the compact mode comprises: sending a coded signal to the two or more modules to actuate a locking mechanism therein to release the modules or to lock the modules, the coded signal being an acoustic signal, an electronic signal, pressure pulsing or a sequence of movements of the conveyance string connected to the twmodule. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19 wherein the coded signal comprises a sequence of movements of the conveyance string, comprising: following injecting the conveyance string and tool into the wellbore in the compact mode, advancing the tool to approach total depth in the wellbore; moving the conveyance string and tool a coded series of downhole incremental movements with pauses or stops therebetween for signaling a latching mechanism in the tool to unlock the two or more modules; pulling the conveyance string and tool uphole to overcome a drag force of at least a first proximal module for spacing the first proximal module from remaining of the two or more modules; continuing pulling the conveyance string and tool uphole, using an incrementally increasing pulling force for overcoming the drag force of the spaced modules and each of the adjacent modules for spacing therebetween to the extended mode; and following detecting the microseismic signals in the wellbore at one or more stages in the wellbore, moving the conveyance string and tool in a coded sequence of uphole incremental movements with pauses or stops therebetween for signaling the latching mechanism to lock the modules together; moving the conveyance string and tool downhole for engaging the first proximal module for locking thereto; and continuing to move the conveyance string and tool downhole for engaging each of the remaining modules for locking the two or more modules together in the compact mode for pulling out of hole through the lubricator.