Slick line system with real-time surface display

A method for logging a subterranean formation characteristic in conjunction with a well, said well having a wellhead, a completion string having an axial bore, and a slick line lubricator mounted on the wellhead, said well further having a driven slick line drum associated with it for feeding wireline into the completion string through the lubricator and withdrawing it, comprising:

• providing a flexible wireline comprising an electrically conductive metal tube, having a welded seam and having an outside diameter of about 1/8 inch and a wall thickness selected to have a value substantially equal to 0.022 inch to form a tube sufficiently flexible to coil on the slick line drum, the metal tube forming an internal longitudinal bore having an inner diameter, and a thermally and electrically insulated conductive wire having a diameter extending through the tube bore, said inner diameter being greater than said insulated conductive wire diameter such that an annular space is formed between the metal tube and the insulated conductive wire, said wireline being spooled on the drum and extending through the lubricator into the completion string bore;
• providing a formation characteristic measuring tool in the completion string bore, said tool being attached to the lower end of the wireline and being operatively connected with the metal tube and insulated conductive wire so that a circuit is formed for energizing the tool to cause it to emit signals indicative of the formation characteristic and transmit the signals to ground surface;
• providing a power source for energizing the circuit;
• providing means at ground surface for recording signals emitted by the tool;
• lowering the tool through the completion string bore on the wireline to traverse the formation;
• energizing the circuit when opposite the formation to cause transmittal through the wireline of signals indicative of the formation characteristics;
• recording the transmitted signals;
• and
• withdrawing the wireline and tool from the well by spooling the wireline onto the drum and recovering the tool in the lubricator.

A method for logging a subterranean formation characteristic in conjunction with a well, said well having a wellhead, a tubing string having an axial bore, and a slick line lubricator mounted on the wellhead, said well further having a driven slick line drum associated with it for feeding wireline into the tubing string bore through the lubricator and withdrawing it, comprising:

• providing a formation characteristic measuring tool that is adapted, when downhole opposite the formation and energized, to emit signals indicative of the formation characteristic;
• providing a wireline comprising an electrically conductive metal tube forming an internal longitudinal bore, said tube having an outside diameter of about 1/8 inch and being sufficiently flexible to be used with the drum and lubricator without being permanently deformed, and a helically formed, multiple strand, thermally and electrically insulated, conductive wire extending through the tube bore, said insulated conductive wire being in frictional contact with the tube wall, said insulated conductive wire having a diameter substantially smaller than that of the tube bore so that the insulated conductive wire is free to move axially and laterally within the bore except as restrained by the frictional contact, said wireline having an outside diameter of about 1/8 inch, said wireline being spooled on the drum and extending through the lubricator and into the tubing string bore, said metal tube and insulated conductive wire being operatively connected at their lower ends with the tool to form a circuit;
• providing a power source at ground surface for energizing the circuit;
• providing means at ground surface for recording signals emitted by the tool;
• lowering the tool through the tubing string bore on the wireline to traverse the formation;
• energizing the circuit while opposite the formation to cause transmittal through the wireline of signals indicative of the magnitude of the formation characteristic;
• recording the transmitted signals at ground surface;
• and
• withdrawing the wireline and tool from the well by spooling the wireline onto the drum and recovering the tool in the lubricator.

A method for manufacturing a metal tube for use with slick line equipment and having an insulated conductor disposed therein comprising:

• providing a strip of flat material and forming the material into the metal tube while simultaneously feeding an insulated conductor having a diameter thereinto, the insulated conductor being provided in a helically coiled condition;
• welding the material of the metal tube while protecting the insulated conductor from the heat of the welding process;
• and
• drawing the tube so as to decrease the diameter of the metal tube such that the metal tube has an outside diameter, an inside diameter, and a wall thickness determined from said outside and inside diameters, said outside diameter and wall thickness selected such that the metal tube is sufficiently flexible to coil on a slick line drum, and said inside diameter being greater than said insulated conductor diameter, wherein an annular space is formed between the insulated conductor and the metal tube, and wherein the helically coiled insulated conductor is in frictional contact with the metal tube wall.