Method and apparatus for conducting logging or perforating operations in a borehole

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conducting logging or perforating operation in a borehole, particularly a deviated borehole, includes lowering a length of drill pipe having the well-logging tool, or well bore perforator, releasably mounted thereon into the borehole. An extension member, which is also lowered through the drill pipe, is secured to the well-logging tool, or well bore perforator, and releases it from the drill pipe, whereupon the extension member and well-logging tool or well bore perforator are moved through the borehole. The apparatus includes a latching sub mounted to the end of the length of drill pipe, and a latching head releasably mounted within the latching sub for releasably holding a well-logging tool or well bore perforator within the latching sub.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for logging earth formations surrounding a borehole, utilizing a well-logging tool releasably mounted to the end of a length of drill pipe, comprising: lowering the length of drill pipe, having the well-logging tool releasably mounted thereon, into the borehole;   lowering an extension member through said drill pipe into engagement with said well-logging tool;   securing said extension member to said well-logging tool;   releasing said well-logging tool, with said extension member secured thereto, from said drill pipe; and   moving said well-logging tool, with said extension member secured thereto, through the borehole and beyond the drill pipe to log at least a portion of the earth formations surrounding said borehole.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, including the steps of releasably mounting said well-logging tool within a latching sub and securing said latching sub to the end of the drill pipe. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, including the step of pumping fluid down the drill pipe to lower said extension member. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of attaching a locomotive to said extension member and pumping the fluid into said drill pipe into contact with said locomotive to cause said extension member to be lowered through said drill pipe and out of the drill pipe into said borehole. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein said extension member is lowered through said drill pipe by the force of gravity. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1, including the step of utilizing at least a standard size well-logging tool. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of: raising the well-logging tool, with said extension member secured thereto, into the drill pipe;   releasably mounting the well-logging tool to the drill pipe;   releasing the extension member from the well-logging tool;   raising the extension member through said drill pipe; and   moving the drill pipe, with said well-logging tool secured thereto, through the borehole, whereby additional logging operations can be conducted in another part of the borehole or to remove the well-logging tool from the borehole.   
     
     
       8. The method of claim 7, including the steps of releasably mounting said well-logging tool within a latching sub and securing said latching sub to the end of the drill pipe. 
     
     
       9. A method for perforating a cased borehole, utilizing a well bore perforator releasably mounted to the end of a length of drill pipe, comprising: lowering the length of drill pipe, having the well bore perforator releasably mounted thereon, into the borehole;   lowering an extension member through said drill pipe into engagement with said well bore perforator;   securing said extension member to said well bore perforator;   releasing said well bore perforator, with said extension member secured thereto, from said drill pipe; and   moving said well bore perforator, with said extension member secured thereto, through the borehole and beyond the drill pipe to perforate at least a portion of the cased borehole.   
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9, including the steps of releasably mounting said well bore perforator within a latching sub and securing said latching sub to the end of the drill pipe. 
     
     
       11. The method of claim 9, including the step of pumping fluid down the drill pipe to lower said extension member. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11, further including the step of attaching a locomotive to said extension member and pumping the fluid into said drill pipe into contact with said locomotive to cause said extension member to be lowered through said drill pipe and out of the drill pipe into said borehole. 
     
     
       13. The method of claim 9, wherein said extension member is lowered through said drill pipe by the force of gravity. 
     
     
       14. The method of claim 9, including the step of utilizing at least a standard size well bore perforator. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 9, further including the steps of: raising the well bore perforator, with said extension member secured thereto, into the drill pipe;   releasably mounting the well bore perforator to the drill pipe;   releasing the extension member from the well bore perforator;   raising the extension member through said drill pipe; and   moving the drill pipe, with said well bore perforator secured thereto through the borehole, whereby additional perforating operations can be conducted in another part of the borehole or to remove the well bore perforator from the borehole.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 15, including the steps of releasably mounting said well bore perforator within a latching sub and securing said latching sub to the end of the drill pipe. 
     
     
       17. Apparatus for use in logging earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising: a latching sub having upper and lower ends and a central bore, including means for mounting said latching sub to the end of a length of drill pipe, said means for mounting disposed at the upper end of said latching sub; and   a latching head, having upper and lower ends, releasably mounted within the bore of said latching sub, said latching head having; means for attaching a well-logging tool to the lower end of said latching head;   a first electrical connection means disposed at the upper end of said latching head;   releasable latching means for engagement with said latching sub to releasably secure said latching head to said latching sub; and   means for selectively actuating said releasable latching means, said actuating means including a second electrical connection means, whereby the well-logging tool may be selectively released from the latching sub to enter the borehole.     
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the latching sub includes means for protecting the well-logging tool, which means are disposed at the lower end of said latching sub. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for protecting is a length of pipe adapted to receive the well-logging tool. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 17, including means for restraining the latching head from passing upwardly through the latching sub, said restraining means being disposed at the upper end of said latching sub. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said restraining means comprises a reduced diameter bore portion in the upper end of said latching sub. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21, further including means for selectively actuating said releasable latching means, said actuating means including a second electrical connection means. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said actuating means comprises a cylindrical actuating sub adapted to pass through the drill pipe and engage the latching head mounted within said latching sub. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said actuating sub has a diameter equal to, or less than, the reduced diameter bore portion in the upper end of said latching sub, whereby said actuating sub can pass through said drill pipe and into the latching sub to engage said latching head. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said actuating means comprises a cylindrical actuating sub adapted to pass through the drill pipe and engage the latching head mounted within said latching sub. 
     
     
       26. Apparatus for use in perforating a cased borehole, comprising: a latching sub having upper and lower ends and a central bore, including means for mounting said latching sub to the end of a length of drill pipe, said means for mounting disposed at the upper end of said latching sub; and   a latching head, having upper and lower ends, releasably mounted within the bore of said latching sub, said latching head having: means for attaching a well bore perforator to the lower end of said latching head;   a first electrical connection means disposed at the upper end of said latching head;   releasable latching means for engagement with said latching sub to releasably secure said latching head to said latching sub; and   means for selectively actuating said releasable latching means, said actuating means including a second electrical connection means, whereby the well-logging tool may be selectively released from the latching sub to enter the borehole.     
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the latching sub includes means for protecting the well bore perforator, which means is disposed at the lower end of said latching sub. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for protecting is a length of pipe adapted to receive the well bore perforator. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of claim 26, including means for restraining the latching head from passing upwardly through the latching sub, said restraining means being disposed at the upper end of said latching sub. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein said restraining means comprises a reduced-diameter bore portion in the upper end of said latching sub. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of claim 30, further including means for selectively actuating said releasable latching means, said actuating means including a second electrical connection means. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein said actuating means comprises a cylindrical actuating sub adapted to pass through the drill pipe and engage the latching head mounted within said latching sub. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein said actuating sub has a diameter equal to, or less than, the reduced diameter bore portion in the upper end of said latching sub, whereby said actuating sub can pass through said drill pipe and into the latching sub to engage said latching head. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said actuating means comprises a cylindrical actuating sub adapted to pass through the drill pipe and engage the latching head within said latching sub. .Iadd. 
     
     
       35.  A method for logging earth formations surrounding a borehole by means of a well-logging tool, comprising: providing a drill pipe with a tubular protection means at the end thereof, in such manner that the protection means forms an extension to said drill pipe,   attaching the well-logging tool to the end of the drill pipe so that said tool is positioned within said protection means,   lowering the protection means with the tool carried therein into the borehole, and   moving the tool through the borehole to log at least a portion of the formations surrounding the borehole. .Iaddend. .Iadd.36. A method for logging earth formations surrounding a borehole by means of a well-logging tool, comprising:   providing a drill pipe with a tubular protection means at the end thereof, in such manner that the protection means forms an extension to said drill pipe,   releasably attaching the well-logging tool within said protection means,   lowering the protection means with the tool carried therein into the borehole, releasing the tool from the protection means and displacing the tool beyond the protection means prior to the following step,   moving the tool through the borehole to log at least a portion of the formations surrounding the borehole. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The method of claim 36, wherein the tool is displaced by applying a force to an extension member disposed within the drill pipe and secured to the tool. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38. The method of claim 37, wherein the force is applied to the extension member by pumping fluid down the drill pipe. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The method of claim 37, comprising the step of connecting a well-logging cable to the tool after the tool has been lowered into the borehole within the protection means. .Iadd.40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of moving the tool, together with the extension member, is carried out by pulling on the cable until the tool engages the protection means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The method of claim 36, wherein the protection means has an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the drill pipe. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. An apparatus for logging with a logging tool earth formations surrounding a borehole into which a drill pipe is insertable, comprising:   a tubular protection means for protecting the tool adapted to have the tool mounted therein,   means for coupling said protection means to the end of the drill pipe in a configuration in which said protection means forms an extension to the drill pipe,   means for mounting the tool within the protection means, and   means for moving the tool through the borehole. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the tool is releasably mounted within said protection means, and further comprising means for displacing the tool beyond the protection means into the borehole. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein said displacing means comprises an extension member disposed within the drill pipe and secured to the tool, and means for applying a force to the extension member. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.     An apparatus for logging earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprising: a drill pipe   a tubular protection means coupled to the end of the drill pipe for releasably mounting therein, a well-logging tool, said protection means forming an extension to said drill pipe, and having an inner diameter larger than that of the drill pipe, means for displacing the tool beyond the protection means into the borehole, and   means for moving the tool through the borehole. .Iaddend.