Well surveying instrument and method

Abstract

A surveying instrument for investigating the character of an underground cavity penetrated by a borehole, includes an elongated instrument housing and a lower section containing means to generate and receive energy, such as a surveying transceiver. The lower section is pivotally and rotatably movable about the lower end of the housing enabling the entire surface of the cavity to be surveyed.

What is claimed is: .[.1. Method of investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising 
     
        radiant energy is acoustic energy..]. 6. Method .[.according to claim 5, including.]. .Iadd.of investigating the size and shape characteristics of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising the steps of establishing a radiant acoustic energy source in said cavity at a selected location on the vertical axis of said borehole,   projecting radiant acoustic energy during a substantially continuous scan from said source into said cavity at a plurality of selected angles between about 0° and about 180° from said vertical axis, such that the acoustic energy is directed at selected portions of the walls and roof of the cavity including those portions adjacent the borehole;   rotating said source about said vertical axis of said borehole, and .Iaddend.   
     
     
       receiving reflected acoustic energy. 7. Method according to claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.6 .Iaddend.including orienting said generating point with respect to 
     
     
        north. .[.8.  Method according to claim 1, wherein said radiant energy is light..]. .[.9. Method according to claim 8, including receiving reflected light to make a photograph..]. .[.10. Method according to claim 9, including orienting said generating point with respect to north..]. .[.11. Method according to claim 1 wherein radiant energy is projected into said cavity in at least two directions..]. .[.12. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an intermediate section swivelly connected for horizontal rotation and an elongated lower section pivotally connected with said intermediate section of said instrument for movement in a plane transverse to the horizontal,   a source of radiant energy in said lower section, and receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy..]. .[.13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein   said energy source includes means for discharging a discrete quantity of radiation flotation material into said cavity, and   said receiving means includes means for sensing radiations..]. .[.14. Apparatus according to claim 13 including means for rotating said upper   
     
     
        section about the axis of said borehole..]. 15. Apparatus .[.according to claim 12, wherein.]. .Iadd.for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an intermediate section swivelly connected for horizontal rotation and an elongated lower section pivotally connected with said intermediate section of said instrument for movement in a plane transverse to the horizontal,   a source of radiant energy in said lower section, .Iaddend.said energy source .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.acoustic energy generating means for producing a beam of acoustic energy, and .Iadd.   receiving means in said instrument, .Iaddend.said receiving means .[.includes.]. .Iadd.including .Iaddend.means in said lower section for   
     
     
        sensing reflected acoustic energy. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said beam is directed along a path coincident with the longitudinal axis of   
     
     
        said lower section. 17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said beam is directed along a path angularly intersecting the longitudinal axis of 
     
     
        said lower section. 18. Apparatus according to claim 15, including means 
     
     
        for rotating said upper section about the axis of said borehole. 19. Apparatus according to claim 18, including orienting means for 
     
     
        controlling said rotating means as a function of north. 20. Apparatus according to claim 18, including orienting means for controlling said rotating means as a function of north. .[.21. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said energy source generates an output of light rays, and   said receiving means includes a camera responsive to said light rays..]. .[.22. Apparatus according to claim 21, including means for rotating said upper section about the axis of said borehole..]. .[.23. Apparatus according to claim 22, including orienting means for controlling said   
     
     
        rotating means as a function of north..]. 24. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an intermediate section swivelly connected for horizontal rotation and an elongated lower section pivotally connected with said intermediate section of said instrument for movement in a plane transverse to the horizontal,   means in said lower section for radiating energy therefrom toward the cavity in a plurality of directions, and   
     
     
       receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy. 25. Method of investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising establishing a pivot point in said cavity at a selected location on the vertical axis of said borehole,   establishing a generating point pivotally movable in said cavity relative said pivot point,   projecting radioactive energy into said cavity from said generating point by discharging a discrete quantity of radioactive flotation material from said generating point into said cavity, and   
     
     
       sensing radiations emanating from said discharged material. 26. Method according to claim 24, wherein said borehole is lined by a casing extending from said borehole into said cavity, and said radioactive material floats upward in said cavity about the exterior   
     
     
        surface of said casing. 27. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an elongated lower section pivotally connected with an upper section of said instrument,   means for rotating said upper section about the axis of the borehole,   a source of radiant energy in said lower section, said energy source including means for discharging a discrete quantity of radiation flotation material into said cavity, and   receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy including   
     
     
        means for sensing radiations. 28. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an elongated lower section pivotally connected with an upper section of said instrument,   means for rotating said upper section about the axis of the borehole,   a source of radiant energy in said lower section, said energy source including acoustic energy generating means for producing a beam of acoustic energy,   receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy including means in said lower section for sensing reflected acoustic energy, and   means for positioning said lower section, at selected angles with respect   
     
     
        to the longitudinal axis of said upper section. 29. Apparatus for investigating the character of a subsurface earth cavity, or the like, penetrated by a borehole, comprising an instrument having an elongated lower section pivotally connected with an upper section of said instrument,   means for rotating said upper section about the axis of the borehole,   a source of radiant energy in said lower section, said energy source penetrating an output of light rays,   receiving means in said instrument for detecting radiant energy including a camera responsive to said light rays, and   orienting means for controlling said rotating means as a function of north. .Iadd. 30. An apparatus for investigating the size and shape characteristics of a subsurface earth cavity penetrated by a borehole comprising   an instrument having an intermediate section and an elongated lower section, said instrument being capable of being lowered through the borehole so that said intermediate section thereof at least partially enters the cavity,   said intermediate section being swivelly supported for rotation about an axis which is generally parallel with the borehole axis;   means for pivotally connecting said lower section to said intermediate section so that said lower section is pivotable in generally vertical planes relative to said intermediate section about a generally horizontal axis;   drive means for pivoting said lower section relative to said intermediate section;   at least one acoustic energy generating means in said lower section for transmitting acoustic energy in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said lower section toward wall and roof portions of the cavity as said lower section is pivoted about said generally horizontal axis; and   means in said lower section for receiving reflected acoustic energy, whereby said instrument can be selectively rotated and said lower section pivoted to direct acoustic energy toward, and receive reflected acoustic energy from, substantially all portions of said cavity. .Iaddend.