Core barrel head assembly with an integrated sample orientation tool and system for using same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465463-B2
Application number	US-201816017334-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2018
Priority date	Apr 21, 2014
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A core barrel head assembly having an exterior surface and comprising:
a first interior cavity;
a selectively sealed interior cavity spaced distally from the first interior cavity and having a closed proximal end;
a threaded proximal end portion for coupling to a wire line retrieval portion of a head assembly;
a base portion, wherein the first interior cavity extends distally from the threaded proximal end portion to the base portion;
a port positioned proximate the base portion and extending from the exterior surface into fluid communication with the first interior cavity;
a window that extends from the exterior surface into optical communication with the sealed interior cavity proximate the closed proximal end of the sealed interior cavity;
at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data mounted therein the sealed interior cavity, wherein the at least one electronic instrument comprises at least one digital and/or electro-mechanical sensor in a core orientation data recording tool that can be configured to determine a core orientation of a sample core just prior to or after a core break;
a power source in operable communication with the at least one electronic instrument, wherein the power source is mounted therein the interior cavity; and
a transmitter configured to transmit core orientation data,
wherein the sealed interior cavity is sized and shaped to hermetically enclose the at least one electronic instrument and the power source.

2. The core barrel head assembly of claim 1 , wherein a grease fitting is mounted in the port to allow for selective passage of grease or other lubricant to and from the exterior surface of the barrel head assembly into communication with the first interior cavity.

3. The core barrel head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sealed interior cavity is sized and shaped to hermetically enclose the transmitter.

4. The core barrel head assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an orientation indicator module comprising a light emitter.

5. The core barrel head assembly of claim 4 , wherein the core barrel head assembly comprises a plurality of windows that extend from the exterior surface into optical communication with the sealed interior cavity proximate the closed proximal end of the sealed interior cavity, wherein the orientation indicator module is sized and shaped to sealingly close the sealed interior cavity from any intrusion of pressurized fluid into the sealed interior cavity via the plurality of windows.

6. The core barrel head assembly of claim 5 , wherein the orientation indicator module is configured to orient or otherwise position the plurality of light emitters so that each light emitter underlies one window.

7. The core barrel head assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a check valve assembly configured to affect a hermetical seal of the sealed interior cavity and to provide fluid control for wire line operation.

8. The core barrel head assembly of claim 7 , wherein the check valve assembly comprises a coupled proximal end assembly and a distally tapered seat that defines an interior chamber for operative receipt of a check ball.

9. The core barrel head assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end assembly of the check valve assembly defines a female threaded coupling that is configured to be threadably coupled to male threads defined on an exterior surface of the distal end portion of the core barrel head assembly.

10. The core barrel head assembly of claim 8 , wherein the interior chamber of the check valve assembly extends to a distal end of the check valve assembly, and wherein the check valve assembly further defines at least one port that extends from an exterior surface of the check valve assembly and is in fluid communication with the interior chamber of the check valve assembly.

11. The core barrel head assembly of claim 10 , wherein the interior chamber has a distally tapered seat that is adapted to selectively receive the check ball that is sized to selectively block the distally tapered seat.

12. The core barrel head assembly of claim 11 , wherein the interior chamber is sized and shaped to allow the check ball to selectively move axially between an open position, in which the check ball is spaced proximally away from the surface of the tapered seat so that pressurized fluid can move through the distal end of the check valve assembly and subsequently through the interior chamber to exit out of the at least one port, and a closed position, in which the check ball is pressurized against the surface of the tapered seat so that pressurized fluid cannot move through the check valve assembly.

13. The core barrel head assembly of claim 5 , wherein the orientation indicator module further comprises at least one first O-ring seal for preventing any pressurized fluid from entering the sealed interior cavity from the plurality of windows, wherein the at least one first O-ring seal is mounted on an exterior portion of the orientation indicator module and is configured to seal between an exterior portion of the orientation indicator module and a portion of an interior surface of the sealed interior cavity.

14. The core barrel head assembly of claim 4 , wherein the light emitter underlies the window, and wherein following retrieval of the core barrel head assembly from down a borehole, the light emitter is configured to provide a visual indication that a desired rotational orientation of the core barrel head assembly has been achieved.

15. The core barrel head assembly of claim 14 , wherein the light emitter is further configured to provide a visual indication that further rotation of the core barrel head assembly is required to reach the desired rotational orientation.

16. The core barrel head assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an open and threaded distal end portion, wherein the sealed interior cavity extends distally to the open and threaded distal end portion of the core barrel head assembly.

17. The core barrel head assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a seal coupler that is configured to be sealingly received in the open threaded distal end portion of the core barrel head assembly.

18. The core barrel head assembly of claim 17 , further comprising at least one second O-ring seal for preventing any pressurized fluid from entering the sealed interior cavity, wherein the at least one second O-ring seal is mounted on a portion of the seal coupler and is configured to seal between a portion of the seal coupler and a portion of an interior surface of the open and threaded distal end portion of the core barrel head assembly.

19. The core barrel head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface defines a plurality of female planar stops.

20. The core barrel head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic instrument is programmed to obtain orientation data when the at least one electronic instrument senses no relative movement of the at least one electronic instrument.

21. The core barrel head assembly of claim 20 , wherein the at least one electronic instrument is programmed to obtain orientation data when the at least one electronic instrument senses no vibrations, and wherein the at least one electronic instrument is programmed to not obtain orientation data when the at least one electronic instrument determines that the core barrel head assembly is in motion while descending down or ascending up the hole and during drilling.

Assignees

• Longyear Tm Inc
• Globaltech Corp Pty Ltd

Inventors

• Drenth Christopher L
• Stewart Gordon
• Hejleh Khaled

Classifications

• E21B25/16 Primary

  for obtaining oriented cores · CPC title