Mechanical fishing tool with a built-in camera

Abstract

A fishing tool comprises: a main body; a grapple section including a proximal end connected to the main body and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end comprising an opening that extends into a cavity of the grapple section; and grapple segments positioned on an interior wall of the cavity of the grapple section. A camera is fixedly mounted to the main body and configured to image at least a portion of the cavity of the grapple section. The fishing tool may further comprise a fluid passage configured to cause fluid to flow radially inwards toward a lens of the camera.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fishing tool comprising:
 a main body;   a grapple section comprising:
 a proximal end connected to the main body; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end comprising an opening that extends into a cavity of the grapple section; and 
 grapple segments positioned on an interior wall of the cavity of the grapple section; and 
   a camera fixedly mounted to the main body and configured to image at least a portion of the cavity of the grapple section.   
     
     
         2 . The fishing tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid passage configured to cause fluid to flow radially inwards toward a lens of the camera. 
     
     
         3 . The fishing tool of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid passage is defined by:
 an annular region of the main body fluidly connected to the cavity of the grapple section at the proximal end of the grapple section; and   a fluid barrier positioned at the proximal end of the grapple section and configured to redirect fluid flowing within the annular region of the main body radially inwards toward the lens of the camera and into the cavity of the grapple section.   
     
     
         4 . The fishing tool of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the main body comprises:
 a housing having a first longitudinal axis; and 
 a central member positioned within the housing and having a second longitudinal axis coaxial with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the camera is fixedly mounted to the central member; 
   the annular region of the main body is between the central member and the housing; and   the central member comprises an outer wall comprising a plurality of fluid outlet ports that fluidly connect an interior chamber of the central member with the annular region of the main body.   
     
     
         5 . The fishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises:
 a housing having a first longitudinal axis;   a central member positioned within the housing and having a second longitudinal axis coaxial with the first longitudinal axis, wherein the camera is fixedly mounted to the central member; and   an annular region between the central member and the housing.   
     
     
         6 . The fishing tool of  claim 5 , wherein the central member comprises an outer wall comprising a plurality of fluid outlet ports that fluidly connect an interior chamber of the central member with the annular region. 
     
     
         7 . The fishing tool of  claim 6 , configured for fluid to flow:
 from the interior chamber of the central member through the plurality of fluid outlet ports into the annular region;   within the annular region toward the proximal end of the grapple section; and   into the cavity of the grapple section.   
     
     
         8 . The fishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the grapple section is reverse-tapered such that an internal diameter of the distal end of the grapple section is greater than an internal diameter of the proximal end of the grapple section. 
     
     
         9 . The fishing tool of  claim 8 , wherein the grapple segments are helically tapered. 
     
     
         10 . The fishing tool of  claim 1 , wherein the grapple section is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         11 . A fishing method comprising:
 attaching, to a distal end of a conveyor, a fishing tool comprising:
 a main body; 
 a grapple section comprising:
 a proximal end connected to the main body; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end comprising an opening that extends into a cavity of the grapple section; and 
 grapple segments positioned on an interior wall of the cavity of the grapple section; and 
 
 a camera fixedly mounted to the main body; 
   inserting the fishing tool attached to the conveyor into a wellbore;   imaging, using the camera, at least a portion of the cavity of the grapple section;   engaging, with the grapple section, a fish in the wellbore; and   retracting the conveyor from the wellbore to remove the fish from the wellbore.   
     
     
         12 . The fishing method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the main body of the fishing tool comprises:
 a housing having a first longitudinal axis; 
 a central member positioned within the housing and having a second longitudinal axis coaxial with the first longitudinal axis, wherein:
 the camera is fixedly mounted to the central member; and 
 the central member comprises an outer wall comprising a plurality of fluid outlet ports that fluidly connect an interior chamber of the central member with an annular region between the central member and the housing; and 
 
   the fishing method further comprises flowing fluid from the interior chamber of the central member through the plurality of fluid outlet ports into the annular region and then within the annular region toward the proximal end of the grapple section.   
     
     
         13 . The fishing method of  claim 12 , wherein the fishing tool further comprises a fluid barrier positioned at the proximal end of the grapple section, and wherein the fishing method further comprises redirecting the fluid flowing within the annular region radially inwards toward a lens of the camera and into the cavity of the grapple section. 
     
     
         14 . The fishing method of  claim 13 , wherein the imaging is performed after redirecting the fluid flowing within the annular region radially inwards toward the lens of the camera and into the cavity of the grapple section. 
     
     
         15 . The fishing method of  claim 12 , further comprising delivering the fluid, using a pump, through a conduit of the conveyor from a proximal end of the conveyor into the interior chamber of the fishing tool attached to the distal end of the conveyor. 
     
     
         16 . A fishing system comprising a conveyor with a fishing tool attached to a distal end of the conveyor, the fishing tool comprising:
 a main body;   a grapple section comprising:
 a proximal end connected to the main body; 
 a distal end opposite the proximal end, the distal end comprising an opening that extends into a cavity of the grapple section; and 
 grapple segments positioned on an interior wall of the cavity of the grapple section; and 
   a camera fixedly mounted to the main body and configured to image at least a portion of the cavity of the grapple section.   
     
     
         17 . The fishing system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the main body of the fishing tool comprises:
 a housing having a first longitudinal axis; and 
 a central member positioned within the housing and having a second longitudinal axis coaxial with the first longitudinal axis, wherein:
 the camera is fixedly mounted to the central member; and 
 the central member comprises an outer wall comprising a plurality of fluid outlet ports that fluidly connect an interior chamber of the central member with an annular region between the central member and the housing; and 
 
   the fishing tool is configured for fluid to flow from the interior chamber of the central member through the plurality of fluid outlet ports into the annular region and then within the annular region toward the proximal end of the grapple section.   
     
     
         18 . The fishing system of  claim 17 , wherein the fishing tool is further configured such that the fluid flowing within the annular region toward the proximal end of the grapple section enters the cavity of the grapple section. 
     
     
         19 . The fishing system of  claim 18 , wherein the fishing tool further comprises a fluid barrier positioned at the proximal end of the grapple section and configured to redirect the fluid flowing within the annular region radially inwards toward a lens of the camera and into the cavity of the grapple section. 
     
     
         20 . The fishing system of  claim 17 , wherein the conveyor comprises a conduit for the fluid to traverse the conveyor from a proximal end of the conveyor to the fishing tool attached to the distal end of the conveyor, and wherein the fishing system further comprises a pump configured to deliver the fluid through the conduit and into the interior chamber of the central member.