Patent · US Expired

Borehole orientation detection system employing polarized radiation

US4434654A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 9, 1982
Grant dateMar 6, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 9, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01B11/26
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A borehole survey instrument has a probe with a polarized light system for transmitting a signal representing the angular orientation of the probe to the surface. Light from a source in the probe is directed through a polarizing filter with an axis of polarization orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the probe. The polarized light beam is transmitted to the surface through an optical fiber light conduit. The angle of polarization is detected with a rotating polarizing filter and provides a measure of the probe orientation. In surveying a borehole, azimuth is determined from inclinometer measurements. The probe orientation in vertical sections of the borehole is measured by the polarized light system. Two measures of borehole azimuth are combined, providing an improved measure of azimuth in boreholes near vertical and near horizontal.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.