Down-hole monitoring and survey system

Abstract

The present invention is a drill-hole survey and geoscientific data acquisition system that includes a down-hole tool including: a sensor control module, at least one sensor module, and data, control and electrical power connection means, wherein the sensor control module, the at least one sensor module, and the connection means are each sized and shaped so that they can be placed within a drill-hole and can travel along the length of the drill-hole, and can travel along the drill-hole. the sensor control module is a discreet control module, and each of said at least one sensor modules are also each a discreet sensor module, and each of the discreet control and sensor modules are inter-connectable via said data, control and electrical power connection means so that the series of modules are connected end to end to make one continuous elongate tool that contains a series of interconnected modules. The sensor control module controls the tool and provides electrical power to, and sends control signals to, and receives data from, each of the at least one sensor module. The tool collects data along the drill-hole.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A down-hole tool including:
 a sensor control module,   at least one sensor module, and   data, control and electrical power connection means,   
       wherein the sensor control module, the at least one sensor module, and said connection means are each sized and shaped so that they can be placed within a drill-hole, and can travel along the drill-hole, and wherein the sensor control module is a discreet control module, and each of said at least one sensor modules are also each a discreet sensor module, and each of the discreet control and sensor modules are inter-connectable via said data, control and electrical power connection means so that the series of modules are connected end to end to make one continuous elongate tool that contains a series of interconnected modules, and wherein the sensor control module controls the tool and provides electrical power to, and sends control signals to, and receives data from, each of the at least one sensor module, and wherein said tool collects data along the drill-hole. 
     
     
         44 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 43  wherein the tool continuously collects geoscience data as the tool travels along the drill-hole, or at discreet places along the drill-hole when the tool is stopped at various places along the drill hole. 
     
     
         45 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 44  wherein the tool includes data transmission means that sends data up to the operator at the ground surface, and said transmission means is either wired or wireless. 
     
     
         46 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 45  wherein the tool includes two wireless communication modes, one that is high powered, and the other that is low powered, and only one or the other is typically in operation at any one time. 
     
     
         47 . A down-hole tool as claimed  46  wherein the high powered mode is used to transfer a large amount of data as quickly as possible, such as firmware upgrades to the modules, and/or large amounts of sensor data, and is subsequently switched off when no longer required to preserve the tool's battery power reserves. 
     
     
         48 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 47  wherein the low powered wireless communication mode is used to send short quick commands back and forth from the tool, and when only small amounts of data need to be transferred. 
     
     
         49 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 48  wherein the tool is capable of self-determining which wireless communication mode to use for any particular data transfer task, or the operator can manually select the wireless communication mode using remote commands. 
     
     
         50 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 49  wherein the tool is capable of continuously transmitting said geoscience data back to the operator while the tool is down the drill-hole, or wherein said geoscience data can be collected and stored within the tool, and this collected data can then be uploaded into a handset or any other authorized data receiver, either automatically, or manually by an operator, after the tool has been retrieved from the drill-hole. 
     
     
         51 . A down-hole tool as defined in  claim 50  wherein the at least one gyroscope is included inside a discrete gyroscope module that is connected to, and forms a part of, the elongate tool, or the at least one gyroscope is incorporated into the sensor control module, and said gyroscope module provides the tool with directional orientation information relative to a set reference point, such as true north. 
     
     
         52 . A down-hole tool as defined in  claim 51  wherein the gyroscope is a microelectromechanical type gyroscope, also known as a MEMs gyroscope. 
     
     
         53 . A down-hole tool as defined in  claim 52  wherein the gyroscope module includes four gyroscopes, and these are installed “nose to tail” so that the length of the gyroscope module is minimized. 
     
     
         54 . A down-hole tool as defined in  claim 53  wherein each sensor module includes one or more types of sensor technology including:
 magnetic induction sensing, or 
 gamma ray sensing, or 
 electrical resistance sensing, or 
 acoustics sensing, or 
 video surveillance, or 
 temperature sensing, or 
 gravity gradiometer, or 
 pressure sensing. 
 
     
     
         55 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 54  wherein at least one of the modules is filled with a suitable material such as oil to dampen the rate of variations in temperature which may adversely affect the efficacy or accuracy of the particular sensor. 
     
     
         56 . A down-hole tool as defined in  claim 55  wherein the tool is capable of being transported to the drill-hole site by the drilling operators in a disassembled condition, and the tool is capable of being assembled on-site and accurately calibrated so that the tool includes all the appropriate modules required for any particular geoscientific survey to be performed on a particular drill-hole. 
     
     
         57 . A down-hole tool as defined in  claim 56  wherein the tool can be disassembled and safely stored after the survey operation has been completed by the drilling operators, ready to be transported to the next survey site. 
     
     
         58 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 57  wherein the sensor control module has the data transmission means at its end nearest to the opening of the drill-hole, and has said data, control and electrical power connection means at the other. 
     
     
         59 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 58  wherein each of the sensor modules and the gyroscope module has data, control and electrical power connection means at each end, and when each discrete module is connected together with a neighboring module, said data, control and electrical power connection is made between each module that makes up the tool. 
     
     
         60 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 59  wherein the connection means includes an array of spring loaded electrical connector pins at one end, and a plurality of discrete electrical contacts at the other, so that when two modules are connected together, the spring loaded pins of one module are forced into electrical contact with a desired electrical contact on its neighboring module. 
     
     
         61 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 60  wherein each module includes a data logger that is relevant to that particular module. 
     
     
         62 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 61  wherein each module includes the capability of shutting down power to its neighboring module to preserve its own operational integrity. 
     
     
         63 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 62  wherein the sensor control module includes a temperature sensor for the tool. 
     
     
         64 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 63  wherein any of the modules making up the tool includes a tamper sensor that indicates if any of the modules have been tampered with. 
     
     
         65 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claims 64  wherein the tool is capable of processing the data acquired by the sensors within the tool itself, so that the amount of data that is stored within the tool and transferred from or transmitted from the tool is minimized. 
     
     
         66 . A down-hole tool as claimed in  claim 65  wherein the tool, including each module, and/or ancillary equipment, such as the handset, and/or associated software, includes digital rights management technology that can be remotely enabled or disabled by an authorised third party, such as a distributor and/or owner of the tool, and wherein the tool, including each module, and/or ancillary equipment such as the handset, and/or associated software, can only be operated when the digital rights management technology is enabled. 
     
     
         67 . A down-hole survey system for use with a drill-hole to conduct a geophysical survey of said drill-hole, including:
 a down-hole tool   a tool controller,   an access point,   at least one server, and   a plurality of computers,   
       wherein the tool controller is contained in a ruggedized handset, and the access point are located in the vicinity of the drill-hole, and the tool controller is used to operate the tool, and collect the geophysical data acquired by the tool, and this data is sent to the access point, and said access point is capable of wirelessly transmitting the acquired data over a wide area network, such as the internet, to the at least one server and said plurality of computers. 
     
     
         68 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 67  wherein the access point is capable of creating a gateway between the local area network at the survey site, and a wide area network, such as the internet, so that data to/from the down-hole tool, and/or to/from the handset, and/or to/from the at least one server, and/or to/from any one of the plurality of computers, passes via said gateway. 
     
     
         69 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  68  wherein the access point is integrated into the ruggedized handset so that the handset is capable of functioning as both the tool controller and the access point. 
     
     
         70 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 69  wherein both the at least one server and at least one computer are geographically remote from the survey site. 
     
     
         71 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 70  wherein the at least one server and the at least one computer of the plurality of computers, are located within a master control facility, and at least another one of the plurality of computers is located in a separate office remote from the master control facility. 
     
     
         72 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 71  wherein the master control facility, either in conjunction with, or independently of, the separate office, prepares and dispatches a drilling program to a driller onsite, who will compare instrument data with a planned drill-hole plan, so that the driller can make any last minute adjustments to the drilling program. 
     
     
         73 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 72  wherein the master control facility, either in conjunction with, or independently of, the separate office, is capable of using the survey data it receives from the survey site so that the drilling program and drill-holes can be analyzed. 
     
     
         74 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 73  wherein the handset is capable of acquiring and transmitting data relating to the operational status and condition of the tool so that either or both the operator at the drill-hole site or the professional personnel at the master control facility are alerted if/when critical aspects of the tool has fallen out of proper calibration, or has in some other way moved outside of acceptable operational parameters for the particular survey operation being undertaken. 
     
     
         75 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 74  wherein authorized personnel at the master control facility can react to alerts relating to critical aspects of the tool falling out of proper calibration, or in some other way has moved outside of acceptable operational parameters for a particular survey operation by sending corrective and/or instructional data back to the drill site, including firmware for the hardware, in order to attempt to get the tool, or an included module within the tool, back into proper calibration, and/or back to within acceptable operational parameters for that particular survey operation being undertaken, or to upgrade the equipment so that it operates at peak efficiency. 
     
     
         76 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 75  wherein an authorized third party, such as a distributor and/or owner of the tool, including each module, and/or ancillary equipment such as the handset, and/or associated software, can remotely enable or disable the digital rights management technology associated with that equipment and associated software, depending on the license status of the operator at the time that the operator is preparing to use the equipment and/or associated software to perform a survey on a drill-hole. 
     
     
         77 . A down-hole survey system as claimed in  claim 76  wherein the handset has a simplified user interface that enables and empowers a driller at the survey site to perform highly specialized and complex survey activities under the supervision and instruction of professional geological survey experts, such as geologists, located at the master control facility, or at a remote office, thereby giving the professional survey experts virtual access to the drill site and remote oversight of the survey operation for any particular drill-hole survey operation being undertaken.