US2255721A - Well drilling control device - Google Patents

Description

5 Sheets- Sheeti I FIG. 2.

4 Y H0 m Y. MWE M m m o fiww ofi v w M m 2 A MEMMW y r 4 07 Z [56AM O EN M Mmmm k #562 2 v H. W.' MATTINGLY ET AL WELL. DRILLING CONTROL DEVICE I Filed Feb. 6, 1939 Sept. 9, 1941.

Sept. 9, 1941. H. w. MATTINGLY ET AL 2,255,721

WELL DRILLING CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 9, 1941. r H. w. MATTINGLY ET AL 2,255,721

WELL DRILLING CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 6, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4' 6 74 0 i J flfircw/WL H 15 4M M5 u. 5: 75 #56926 9 m m w 6 6 m 7 m j 7 M \A n w 4 1 y M g J x J J u. L 6 H E s L U0 m m a IN VENTORS.

AT'TOR Y.

Patented Sept. 9, 1941 1 WELL DRILLING CONTROL DEVICE Harold W. Mattingly, Los Angeles, Emmett M. Irwin, Pasadena, George E. Lewis, Alhambra, Richard H. Duval, Pasadena, Ray M. Chenoweth, West Los A ngeles, and Cecil L. Whitehead, Pasadena, Calif., assignors to Cooperative Development Co.,.Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 6, 1939, Serial No. 254,794

Claims.

Our invention relates to well drilling control devices and has particular reference to an instrument which may be attached to the drill string adjacent the bit during drilling operations for transmitting to the ground surface informa tion asto the angle and direction of inclination of the well bore and orientation of'the drilling tools.

In the drilling of oil wells it is the common practice to either locate the derrick directly abovethe oil pool which is to be tapped and to attempt to drill the well in a true vertical direction, or to locate the derrick at some location ffset horizontally from the pool and to cause the well bore to deviate from the true vertical in' the proper direction toward the pool.

Drilling technique has developed sufficiently that a driller can cause the bit to be deflected substantially as desired. Thus, if the driller knows or can readily determine whether the bit has deviated from the prescribed course, he may return the bore to the prescribed course before any appreciable amount of hole has been drilled in the wrong direction. Thus, he may avoid a great waste of time and expense which is now" occasioned by drilling an appreciable amount of the bore and then interrupting the drilling and I surveying the bore only to discover thetacon siderable amount of footage has proceeded-inthe wrong direction.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a drilling control device which includes;

a self-contained instrument permanently secured to the drill string near the boring bit and which may be placed into active operation immediately upon cessation of rotation of the drill string, for

measuring any angle'of inclination of thewell bore from the vertical and measuring the compass direction of any such inclination and for in the preceding paragraphs which will; alsomeasure and transmit to the ground surface the compassclirection of some predetermined referinstrument to be employed in the orientation of drilling tools within the well bore.

Another object of our invention is to provide a control device of the character set forth wherein the information may be received at the ground surface and there recorded to provide .a visual record of the measurements made by the instrument.

Other objects and advantages of .our invention will be apparent from a study, of the following specification, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is avdiagrammatic representation of an oil well bore during the drilling thereof with the boring equipment situated at the bottom of the bore, together with the instrument of our invention; Y

Fig. 2' is an enlarged elevational view partly in section illustrating the relationshipnbetween the boring bit, the sub positioned directly thereabove and the manner in which secured to the sub; i

Fig. 3 isa horizontal section taken substantially our instrument may be along the line IIIIII of Fig. 2 to illustrate further'details of the manner of securing our instrument to the sub;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of a portion of an. instrument proper embodying ourinvention with parts broken away to show the relative relationships between the various elements employed;

Fig.4A is a longitudinal section of another portion of the instrument proper consisting of a continuation of the instrument shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 5is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the equipment illustrated in Fig. 4 and showing the details of construction of a commutating device, a sequence interlocking device, an instrument orientation analyzing device, and a compass device, together with the necessary driving and interconnecting equipment;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation in perspective section illustrating. a portion of the equipment illustrated in Fig; 5;

. end of the instrument and comprising a means Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the details of construction of the equipment located at the extreme upper for transmitting the instrument. determinations to the ground surface;

Fig. 8 is a schematicrepresentation of the equipment and electric circuits employed in the receiving device disposed at the ground surface;

Fig. 9is .a longitudinal section through the receiving element'which is attached to the goose ence point on the drilling tools to permit such neck at the top f the Kelly to receive the transmissions from the instrument disposed in the bore hole;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line X--X of Fig. to illustrate additional details of construction of the compass device employed;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the line XI-XI of Fig. 12 and illustrating still another portion of our instrument and the details of construction of a normally open type of agitation or vibration responsive switch;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line XII-XII of Fig. 11 showing additional details of construction of this type of agitation'switch; I

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 but illustrating the details of construction of a normally closed type of agitation switch;

Fig. 14 is aschematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical connections employed between the various instrumentalities carried by the instrument proper; and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic representation of the type of chart and recording which will be made thereon when the instrument is employed to survey a well following a certain assumed course.

Referring to the drawings, we have illustrated in Fig. 1 a typical well drilling installation wherein a well bore l is drilled by a drill bit 2 carried by a sub 3 connected to the lower end of a drill string 4 comprising a plurality of sections of drill pipe extending to the ground surface 5 and coupled to a rotary table 8 driven by means of power apparatus 1. The drill string 4 is'supported from a swivel 8 which is suspended from a travelling block 9 of ablock and tackle assembly including a crown block 10 supported at the top ofaderrickll.

The swivel 8 normally constitutes a connection between the. drill string I and a mud-hose i2 connected to any suitable pumping apparatus whereby drilling fluid or mud may be circulated through the drill string, 4 to carry the cuttings away from the bit 2'. j y

The well bore l is illustrated in Fig. 1 as being disposed in a true vertical direction throughout the upper portion of its length while the lower end of the well bore i is illustrated as-being deviated from the vertical at the point i3. 'The change in direction occurring at the point l3 may be either accidental or intentional for the purpose of directing the well bore toward an oil pool disposed in an off-set location relative to "the starting of the bore I. -In either event, it-is-nec-,

essary, in order to direct the drilling of the well bore l in the proper direction, thatthe person controlling the drilling operation be apprised of the angle of inclination from the vertical of the lower portion of the well bore and the compass direction of such deviation.

We accordingly provide a survey instrument H which may be permanently secured to the sub 3 and be continuously disposed near the bit 2. The instrument I4 is preferably housed in a cylindrical casing inserted in a recess l8 providd in the wall of the sub 3 and spaced also from the mud fluid passage therethrough so that the central opening through the drill string is unimpaired and there are no protuberances which extend beyond [the normal periphery of the sub 3. A removable cover member I! attached by bolts I8 may secure the instrument ll within the recess IS. The recess I5 is so positioned that the longitudinal axis of the housing is always maintained parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bit, sub, or drill string so that the axis of the instrument housing I5 will be disposed in the same direction as the direction taken by the well bore. While various types of orienting devices may be employed in the instrument of our invention, the preferred embodiment thereof includes a magnetic compass needle and the sub 3 is, therefore, preferably constructed of manganese steel or other suitable non-magnetic material or alloy. The instrument I4 is composed of a plurality of cooperating mechanisms carried by the housing 15 which, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 4A, may comprise an elongated tubular shell fitted at its upper and lower ends with suitable closures or caps l9 and 20. Space for electrical connections between the various devices contained within the housing may be provided by employing an inner cylindrical shell 2| which is spaced from the inner surface of the casing l5 by spacers 22 to define an annular space 23 therebetween.

Within the interior of the inner shell 2| we have secured a plurality of angle measuring devices 24 constructed as described in detail in a copending application Serial No. 162,792, filed September 7, 1937, by Emmett M. Irwin et a1. and each includes a conically depressed surface 25 upon which is placed a ball 26 adapted, upon inclination of the instrument to a predetermined angle, to roll to the outside edge of the surface 25 and electrically interconnect the surface 25 with a contact ring 21 mounted on an insulated support 28 for the supporting surface 25, whereby the number of such devices which have the rings 21 and surfaces 25 thereof electrically interconnected indicates the extent of any angular deviation of the housing l5 from the vertical.

Below the angular measuring devices 24 we secure a commutating and sequencing device 29 which may include a commutator ring 10 supported within the casing 2| by an insulated supporting plate ll extended transversely thereacross and insulated therefrom by an insulating liner 12. The commutator ring 10 includes three main sections, two of which, indicated at 13 and 14, comprise arc-shaped portions of electrically conductive material each embracing substantially 120 degrees and separated from each other by means of an insulating spacer 15. The remaining one-third of the ring 10 is composed of a plurality of commutator segments I6 separated from each other by insulating material 11.

A wiper arm 18 is arranged to be selectively positioned in contact with any of the segments 13,

' gaging the upper surface of the commutator ring 14 or '16 and may include an arm portion 19 en- 10 and carrying a hub portion secured to and insulated by insulating material 82 from a drive shaft 8| journaled for rotation at its upper end by a bearing 83. The drive shaft 81 may be driven by an electric motor 38 whose shaft 84 is coupled to the drive shaft 8| through suitable reduction gearing 3|.

' The sequencing device 29 also includes another commutator ring 85 which is similar in construction to the commutator ring 10 previously described but differs therefrom in that it comprises a substantially full circle segment 81 of electrically conductive material interrupted at a single point by an insulating portion 88. The associated arm 85 is drivably secured to the drive shaft 8| and is electrically connected thereto.

A bore hole orientation analyzing device 33 is disposed below the motor 30 and includes a commutator ring 89 which may comprise a plurality 90 separated from each lating spacers 9I.

carried by an insulating liner I "bearing plate or raceway porting plate 92 and supports an electrically conwardly into engagemen L angular location of the ball member '5 and 6) v needle bar provided nating at its upper end in-a frictionless rotation upon of electrically conductive commutator segments other by very thin insu- The commutator ring 89 is mounted on an insulating supportingmember 92 93 secured Within An electrically conductive 94 rests upon the supthe inner sleeve 2I.

ductive ball 95. The upper surface of the raceway plate 94 is upwardly conv'ex so that the ball 95'may be continuously urged by gravity outwith the commutator ring 89. The raceway may be insulated from sion spring II4 the segments 90 by an insulating ring 96 inter- A posed between the periphery'of the raceway 94 and the inner surface of the commutator ring 89.

The insulating ring 96 is preferably undercut to provide an annular trackway in which the ball 95 may roll and electrically interconnect the plate 94 and one of the segments 90. i

The commutator assembly is mounted perpen-r Y dicularly to the longitudinal 'axis of the instrumentso that upon inclination of the instrument from the vertical the ball 95 will roll to the low side of its trackway todefine a housing low point disposed diametrically opposite to the actual direction of deviation of the well bore. The 95 relative to a reference point on the instrument may be measured by a wiper arm 91 which has a contacting arm portion 98 engaging the upper surfaces of the commutator segments 90 and adapted to be so rotated as to bring the contacting shaft 99 to which an insulated hub portion I of the arm is secured. The drive shaft is connected to the electric motor 30 through reduc-v. tion gearing35 and device having a commutator ring IOI (substan tially identical in construction to the commutator 89 previously described with the exception that 4 no ball member or provision therefor is made) adapted to cooperate with a wiper arm I02 secured to the drive shaft 99, and a compass unit which includes ajmagnetic compass needle I03 and control mechanism therefor indicated gen- I04. The compass needle I03 (see Figs. comprises a permanently magnetized v with a contacting element I05 adapted to be movedinto engagement with erally at j the lower surfaces of the segments of the commutator ring I0 I. The compass needle I03 may be supported by a pivot memberIOI extending upwardly from a supporting plate I0'Ia and termipivot point I08. The needle I03 may be attached to a pivot plate I09 which carries a downwardly extending boss memcommutator segments.

end 98 thereof into contact with each of the 'segments 90 in sequential order by means of a drive -l1 and 12. Briefly,

ber IIO defining an upwardly extending tapered recess III adapted to encompass ber I01 and to provide'a coacting pivot seat for receiving the pivot point I08. The dimensions of I the'needle I03, the supporting plate'I09 and the boss I III are preferably chosen such that the centerof gravity of the system is disposed belovvthe pivot point I08, whereby the compass needle assembly will be stably supported for practically the pivot I08. v

The pivot mechanism may be protected from the vibrations and shocks encountered during the drilling operations by lifting the compass needle the pivot mempassed through suitable openings I I9 in the plate IO'Iaand having feet portions adapted to engage the under-surface of the plate I09. The spring II4 thus normallylifts the pivot seat III out of engagement with the pivot point I08 and clamps the compass needle I03 into engagement with the lower surface of the'ring member I05 into engagement with one of the An insulating spacer I03 may be provided at the opposite end of the needle to prevent any other part of the needle from engaging ergization' of the solenoid I I3 lowersthe needle I03 upon its pivot I08.

The manner in'which the previously described equipment is coordinated and how this equip,- ment functions to provide at the ground surface the necessary data for permitting a drilling operator to determine the exact course being taken by the well bore may best be understood by havdiagram (Fig. 14) and by carrying forward thedescription of the electrical connections simultaneously 'with the description of the operation of the instrumerit. V

The instrument includes a self-contained powor supply such as agitatio n'switch 36, a conductor I38, and normally closed contacts of an agitation switch 38. The agitation switch 36 is arranged to close its contacts a predete'rminedtime after the stopping of the drilling operation to thereby complete the above described circuit and place the instrument in an operative condition. I

The agitation or vibration responsive-switch 36 may be constructed in the manner described in detail in a copending application- Serial No. 233,208, filed October 4, 1938, by Emmett M. Irwin et al., such construction being illustrated in Figs. the switch mechanism 36 comprises a cylindrical housing unit-- I2I of insulating material adapted to receive and closely encompass an electrically conductive ball I22. A housing bottom I23 carries a pair of electrical contact members I24 in a position to be interconnected by the ball I22 when in itslowei'most position. A passage I25 communicating between the bottom and the top-of the space within the housing I2I is formedin a body member I26 which carries the housing member I2 I. valve I21 in the passage prevents the fluid with which the housing I2I is filled from flowing from below the ball exteriorly through the passage I25 to the space above the ball I22. The ball l22 is fitted closely within the housing I2I to actas'a piston and tend to force the fluid which is below the ball through the passage I25. Such fluid elevated position rela- I28 forming a bya 1 assembly out of contact with the pivot point and clamping it ina locked position against the lower I surface of the commutator ring I0, by a compresenclosed in a suitable housing IM to press the contact the segments of the commutator IOI. En-

batteries 39 mounted in the lower part of the inner casing 2I and the negative side f suchbatteries are grounded to the instru- A check pass around the check valve I21 through which the fluid may slowl flow permits the ball I22 to descend toward the contacts I24. The vertical component of vibration to which this device is subjected during drilling operation will, by reason of the inertia of the ball I22 and the one-way action of the check valve I21, cause the ball I22 to rise in the housing I2I. As soon as vibration ceases, as upon the stopping of the drilling operations, the ball I22 will slowly settle by gravity toward the contacts I24 and establish an electrL cal circuit therebetween a predetermined adjustable time after the cessation of the drilling operations.

The agitation switch 33 is responsive to protracted idle periods to place the instrument in an inoperative condition and a similarly constructed agitation switch 37 is employed for controlling the solenoid H3 of the compass clamping mechanism as described hereinafter. The switches 37 and 38 are similar in principle to the switch 36 previously described but are provided with normally closed contacts and may be constructed as illustrated in Fig. 13. A cylindrical passage I29 is formed in a bodymember I30 and a ball member I3I is closely fitted therein. The passage I29 is filled with oil and an auxiliary control passage I32 communicates between the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical passage I29 and has placed therein a check valve I33 and a by-pass control valve I34 arranged to by-pass fluid from within the housing I29 into the passage I32 around the check valve I33. V

The electrical circuit may be'established by the ball I3I between the electrically conductive walls of the passage I29 and a flexible conical compression spring I35 which is disposed immediately above the ball I3I and secured to the body member I3I) from which it may be insulated by an insulating bushing I 35. Vibrations due to drilling operations will cause the ball I3I to rise in its cylinder I29 and upon cessation of drilling operations the ball I 3| will slowly settle. 7

We prefer to make the compression spring I35 with such resilience that upward movement of the ball I 3I will be permitted and the electrical circuit between the body member I30 and the spring I35 will be completed by the ball member. When the ball I3I settles to a position corresponding to the unfiexed position of the spring I35, the circuit will be broken by the separation of the ball therefrom.

The adjustment of the agitation switch 38 is so arranged that the contacts thereof will remain closed a sumcient length of time to allow the instrument to operate to make one or more complete sets of survey readings, after which these contacts open to place the instrument in an inoperative condition.

A conductor I39 extends from the battery positive to one of the terminals of the motor 30 and the other terminal is connected by a conductor I 40 to ground so that the motor will be energized by the closing of the agitation switch 36 to start the sequential operation of the equipment.

We employ a mechanically operated inter-lock or timing means which operates each time the instrument is placed in operation to maintain the instrument operating during a complete time cycle of operations as represented by a complete revolution of the wiper arm 86 which is connected to ground, the commutator ring 87 being connected to the negative battery terminal through a conductor MI.

The wiper arm 86 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow I42 and establishes a holding circuit across the agitation switches 36 and 38 so 'rectly to ground by means that the equipment will be maintained in operation after opening of either of the switches 36 or 33 until the wiper arm 86 is rotated into contact with the insulating segment 88 at which time the circuit I4I will be interrupted.

The circuits for transmitting to the ground surface the angle ofinclination of the well bore from the vertical include a series circuit extending from the positive battery terminal through a conductor I43 to one terminal of a solenoid 46 forming a part of a transmitting device 49 adapted to transmit sound signals to the ground surface upon energization of the solenoid 46, and from the other terminal of the solenoid through a conductor I44 to the wiper arm of the commutating device 70 through a spring brush I45 engaging the hub portion 80 of the wiper arm 18.

Thefirst of the segments I8 is connected diof a conductor I46 and each of the remaining segments I6 are connected by conductors I41a, I4'Ib and M10 through MIh to thecontact ring portions 27 of each of the angle measuring devices 24, the supporting plane portions 25 of each of these devices being grounded to V the I instrument case.

The transmitter 40 may be constructed as described in the aforementioned copending application, Serial No. 233,208, such construction being illustrated in Fig. 7 as including a dia phragm 4I secured between the upper cap I9 and a clamping ring 42 secured to the casing I5. The diaphragm 4! is equipped with an acoustic impedance-matching coupling device comprising an elongated rod 43 secured to the diaphragm M and carrying at its lower end a rod weight 44. The rod weight 44 is disposed in a position to be engagedyby the upper end of a solenoid armature 45 upon upward movement thereof in response to energization of the solenoid coil 46.

Proper proportioning of the dimensions of the rod .43 and the rod weight 44 relative to the di mensions and material employed in the diaphragm 4I causes this assembly to operate to transmit to a fluid in contact with the dia phragm 4I sound vibrations of a predetermined I frequency when the rod weight 44 is struck a sharp blow. A spring 41 surrounds a tail-piece 48 secured to the lower endof the armature 45 I for balancing the weight of the armature and an adjusting means 49 permits the normal positioning of the armature 45 to be adjusted as desired.

An opening 50 communicates with the fluid passage in the sub 3 (identified in Fig. 2 by the reference characterv 5!) and extends to a position permitting the drilling fluid to contact the diaphragm 4|. A small bleeder hole may communicate between the passage 50 and the exterior of the sub 3 so that air which might otherwise be trapped in the dead-end passage 50 may be discharged outwardly.

We have illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8 equipment which may be employed at the ground surface for receiving the signals produced by the transmitting device 40 as including a sound or pressure wave responsive mechanism 53 which is exposed to the eifect of the pressure waves sent up through the, liquid column. The mechanism 53 may be enclosed in a housing 54 attached to or formed as an integral part of a gooseneck 55 disposed above the swivel 8 and connected to the mud hose I2. The sound responsive device 53 may be constructed as illustrated and described in the aforementioned copending application,

' excluded.

bosstl so as to lie in direct contact with the I mud fluid which is circulated through the gooseneck 65. The diaphragm 62 is provided with an impedance-matching coupling device including a rod 63 secured to the diaphragm 62 and carrying at its upper end a rod weight 64. The rod weight 64 and the rod 63 may be held in a centralized position within the housing 54 by means of a flexible spider 65. A suitable microphone or other translation mechanism 66 is either secured to the rod weight 64 or. held in a position cooperating therewith so that vibrations of they rod weight 64 resulting from the impact of sound waves on the diaphragm 62 will cause a similar change in electrical conditions existing'in a pair of microphone leads 61.

We employ, in the preferred embodiment of our invention, a crystal microphone which is peculiarly adapted to .be secured to and form a party of, the rod weight 64. By properlyselecting the weights and dimensions of the rod weight, the microphone 66, the sound rod 63, and the diaphragm 62 the system may be tuned to the same frequency as that transmitted by the transmitting device 40 so that extraneous noises will be largely A suitable microphone transformer 68 may be employed to match the impedances of the microphone 65 and a transmission line 69 extendedto an amplifier 56. The amplifier 56 may operate a recorder 51 or an individual translation .device such as earphones 58 and the circuit may include a band-pass filter 59 to further limit the response of the recorder 51 and earphones 50 to the signals emitted by the transmitter 40. The manner in which the previously described angle measuring devices COOperate to actuate the transmitting device 40 and transmit to the ground surface'the determinations of the angle of inclination of the Well bore from the vertical through the agency of the sequencing device may bee be understood by assuming certain operating conditions anddescribing the operations of this equipment under such assumed conditions.

Assume, for example, that the well bore is deviating one and one-half degrees fromthe vertical and that the angular interval of each of the angle measuring devices 24 is one-half of one degree so that three of' the balls 26 will have electrically connected their associated contact rings 21 to ground. As soon as the wiperarm 18 is moved. across the commutator segments 15, the circuit from the battery positive terminal through conductors I43, the solenoid 46, and conductor I44 will be completed four times, once upon contacting the first segment 16 and once for each of the three succeeding segments which are grounded through circuits I41a, I41b and I41c, to energize the solenoid 46 a corresponding number of times and cause four' sound impulses to be transmitted to the ground surface and recorded on the recorder 51.

We have illustrated in Fig. the appearance of a section of tape I48 producedby the recorder 51 upon whichare illustrated recordings made bythe recording device 51 under these assumed operating conditions. The first signal produced 2y the transmitter 40'will produce one mark I49 on the tape and the three succeeding impulses 7.... Wm v v 5 transmitted to the ground surface will be recorded on the tape I48 as marks I.50TI5I and I52. The first mark I,,4 9 indicates to the Lopegator the starting point'of a time cycle of operation, and the remaining threemarks I50, I5I and I52 indicate that three of the angle measuring devices '24 are in the displaced positionindfl that the angle of deviation of the well bore from the vertical is equal to three one-half jdegree increments or-"one-an'd' one-halfdslegrees.

' As soon as the Wiper arm 18 has traversed all 7 of the contact segments 16 tocomplete a first of three time periods, it comes into contact next with the transfer segment 13 which is connected by conductor I53 to the wiper arm 91 of the orientation devices 89 through a brush mechanism I54.

The'wiper arm 91 may be caused to traverse all of the segments during the second time period while the wiper arm 18 is in'contact solely,

with the segment 13 by so arranging the ratios of the reduction gearings3I and 35 that the wiper arms 91 and I02 will make three complete revolutions during the time the wiper arms 18 and 06 are making one complete revolution.

The first of the'segments 90 which will be contacted by the wiper arm 91 at the start of the second time period is grounded by conductor I55 to provide'a reference point on the instrument housing so that engagement of the arm 91 with this grounded segment will complete a circuit through thetransmitting solenoid 46 and conductors I43, I44, I53, and I55'to cause operation of the transmitting device and produce a mark I56 on the chart I48 comprising a chart reference point indicating the time at which the wiper arms were moved to coincidence with the housing reference point. I

Since the instrument is inclined, the ball member rests on the lowside of its raceway and establishes an electrical circuit between one of the commutator segments 90 and the grounded supporting surface 94. Assume, for example,

that the bore hole is inclined in a direction due east and that the instrument housing reference point is disposed in a position degrees west of north. In the assumed case the wiper arm 91 will come in contact with that one of. the segments 90 which has been connected to ground by means of the ball 95' after 225 degrees of rotation, at which time the signallingcircuit will be completed through the transmitting solenoid 46 so as to cause another mark I51 to be made on the chart I48.

Upon arrival of the wiper arm 91 at its original starting point the wiper arm 18 will cross the insulating segment 15 and establish contact between the conductor I44. and the next transfer segment 14 which is connected by conductor I58 to the wiper arm I02 through a suitable brush I mechanism I59.

The solenoid II3 is connected in a circuit I60 which extends from the battery positive terminal and includes contacts of the normally closedagitation switch 31. The solenoid II3 is thus energized simultaneously with the motor 30 to lower the compass needle'l03 on to its'pivot point I08.-

permitting the spring II4 to clamp the compass needle I03 in its upper position andground the commutator segment of the compass point analyzing device which is disposed in the same angular position as is the compass needle I03. This operation is completed before the start of the third and last time period.

At the beginning of the third time period the compass needle I03 will thus be located in a position disposed 135 degrees east of the starting point of the wiper arm I02 and will occupy its clamped position grounding that one of the commutator segments which is disposed in this location. The first commutator segment is grounded by conductor I6I so that the beginning of the third time period will be indicated by an impulse transmitted to the ground surface and producing a third monitor recording I62 on the chart I48. Continued rotation of the wiper arm I02 will bring it into contact with the grounded commutator segment and transmit to the ground surface and cause to be recorded on the tape I48 a compass point indication I63. Thereafter the wiper arm I02 will be moved to the end of its full circle of rotation at which time wiper arms I8 and 86 of the commutating and sequencing devices will arrive at their original starting positions to indicate the completion of the first time cycle.

If, at this time, the agitation switch 38 has opened its contact, the interruption of the holding circuit I4I at segment 88 will stop the equipment. If, however, at this time the agitation switch 38 has not interrupted the circuit I3'|-- I38, the device will operate to repeat exactly the cycles of operation previously described until such time as switch 38 interrupts the circuit I3'II38. The instrument will stop after it completes the particular time cycle in which it was operating at the time this agitation switch operated. After the instrument has operated in the above described fashion, the drilling operator may again start the drilling operation to continue the extension of the bore hole along the course indicated by the instrument. Resumption of the drilling operations will place the agitation switches 36, 31 and 38in their non-operated position so'that whenever the drilling operator desires to make another survey to check the course being taken by the well bore he may do so by again stopping the rotation of the drill string.

Reference to Fig. 15 will indicate that each of the three monitor marks I49, I56 and I62 are spaced from each other on the chart I48 a distance I64 representing either 360 degrees of rotation of the wiper arms 91 and I02 or the length of each of the three time periods. The governor 32 insures constancy of speed of rotation of various wiper arms and the tape I48 is likewise advanced at a constant speed so that the distances separating these monitor indications will be substantially constant.

By comparing the distance I64-with a distance I65 (measured between the second monitor indication I56 and the bore hole position indication I51) and with a distance I66 (measured from the monitor mark I62 to the compass point indication marked I63), the direction of the deviation of the well bore may be determined. Under the assumed conditions the angular distance of the housingreference point to the point which caused transmission of the mark I! is 225 degrees so that the linear distance I65 will bear the same ratio to the linear distance I64 as does 225 degrees to 360 degrees. In the same fashion, comparing the linear distance I66 to the linear distance I64 will reveal that the dimension I66 represents an angle of 135 degrees. The difference between these angular measurements; namely, degrees, represents the angular disposition of the direction of the bore hole relative to the magnetic north direction.

The various wiper arms are preferably rotated in a clockwise direction and since the dimension I66 is smaller than the dimension I05, the deviation of the well bore is east of north 90 degrees or due east.

The dimension I66 when compared to the dimension I64 indicates the angular positionof the instrument housing reference point relative to the predetermined compass direction indicated by the compass needle I03. Since the relative angular positions between the instrument reference point and the directionalong which a whipstocking tool will operate may be easily determined prior to the insertion of the tool into the well, the dimension I66 provides the drilling oper-- ator with a basis from which he may readily determine the actual compass direction along which the whipstocking tool will drill. Thus, the instrument may be employed at any time for the purpose of initially placing a whipstocking tool in the correct position to deviate the well bore from its present course along a new prescribed course or for the purpose of checking at any time the course along which such a whipstocking tool is their operating.

We have thus provided an instrument which may be permanently associated with the boring bit so that the direction or course of the well bore may be very quickly and readily determined without requiring the insertion of an instrument into the well bore or the removal of tools from the well in order to obtain the necessary survey information.

While our instrument is particularly adapted to substantially permanent association with the drill string, the instrument and housing I5 comprise a self-contained unit which may be lowered into the well bore or into the mud fluid passage in the drill string by means of a sand line in order to survey a completed or partially completed Well.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to any of the details of construction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device for determining the angular position of a well tool insertable in a well bore and having a tool reference point thereon, the combination of: a housing having a housing reference point thereon; means mounting said housing upon said well tool with said housing reference point in a predetermined angular position relative to said tool reference point; a device in said housing for at any time measuring the angular relation between a predetermined compa'ss direction and the location of said housing reference point; timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle; signal producing means in said housing; and means coacting with said timing means for actuating said signaling means to produce a pair of signals, the relative position of which in said time cycle are representative of the angular disposition of said housing reference point relative to said predetermined compass direction.

2. In a device for measuring the inclination and direction of a well bore, the combination of:

tion of said tool from the vertical; mechanism in said housing for measuring the angular position of the low point of said housing relative to a predetermined reference point on said housing; compass means in said housing for measuring the compass direction of said reference point; and means for transmitting to the ground Surface the measurements made by said device, mechanism, and compass means.

3. In a device for measuring the direction of deviation of a well bore from the vertical, the combination of: a housing; means mounting said housing upon a drilling tool insertable in said bore; a device in said housing for determining the low point of said housing relative to a predetermined reference point on said housing; mechanism in said housing for measuring the compass direction of said reference point; timing means on said well tool for defining a time cycle; signal producing means in said housing; and means for successively connecting said device and said mechanism to said signaling means in a predetermined sequential order to produce signals, the position of which in said time cycle is representative of the measurements made by said device and said mechanism.

and direction of a well bore, the combination of:

a housing; means mounting said housing upon a drilling tool insertable in said bore a device in said housing for measuring the angle of inclination of said drilling tool from the vertical; orientation means in said housing for determining the low point of said housing relative to a predetermined reference point on said housing; mechanism in said housing for measuring the compass direction of said reference point; timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle; signal producing means in said housing; and means coacting with said timing means for successively connecting said device; orientation means, and'said mechanism to'said signaling means in a predetermined sequential order to produce signals, the position of each of which in said time cycle is representative of the measurements madeby said device, orientation means and said mechanism.- a a 5. In an oil well drilling control device, the combination of: an instrument comprising a 6. In an oil well drilling control device, the combination of: an instrument comprising a housing detachably secured to a drilling tool insertable in a well bore, a device in said housing for measuring the angle of inclination of said drilling tool from the vertical, orientation means in said housing for determining the low point of said housing relative to a predetermined reference point on said housing, mechanism in said housing for measuring the compass direction of said reference point, timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle, signal producing means in said housing, and means coacting with said timing means for successively connectingsaid device and said orientation means and said mechanism to said signaling means in a predetermined sequential order to produce a plurality of sets of signals whose position in said time cycle is representative of the measurements made by said device and said orientation means and said mechanism; and translation means at the ground surface comprising a receiving means for receiving thesignals transmitted by said instrument, and a recording means actuated by saidreceiving means for recording the position of said signals in said time cycle to provide a visual record of the angle of inclinationof said well bore from the vertical, the compass direction of said instrument reference point, and the angular position of said reference point relative to the direction of deviation of said well bore.

housing detachably secured to a drilling tool in- 1 sertable in said bore, a device in said housing for measuring the angle of inclination of said drilling tool from the vertical, a mechanism in said hous-' ing for measuring the compass direction of the inclination of said drilling tool from the vertical,

timing means in said housing for defining a timecycle, signal producing means in said housing, and means coacting with said timing means for successively connecting said device and said mechanism to said signaling means in a predetermined sequential order to transmit to the ground surface a plurality of signals, the position of each of which in said time cycle is representative of the measurements made by said device and said mechanism; and translation means at the ground surfacecomprising' a receiving device for receiving saidisignals; and a recording device actuated by said receiving means for recording the signalsin said time cycle to positions of said of inclinaprovide a visual record of the angle tion of said well bore from the vertical and the compass direction of said inclination.

7. In a device for measuring the direction of a well bore, the combination of: an instrument housing insertable in said bore; means in said housing defining a reference point thereon; a device in said housing for defining a, housing low point when said housing is disposed at an angle to the vertical; compass means in said housing for defining a predetermined. compass direction; signal producing means in said housing; timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle including a, pair of time periods;

transfer mechanism coacting with said timing mechanism for associating one of said time periods with said device and for associating another of said time periods with said compass means; means cooperating with said device and said signaling means for actuating said signaling means to produce a pair of signals whose relative positions in said first time period are representative of the angular position of said low point relative to said reference point; and means cooperating v with said compass means and said signaling means for actuating said signaling means to pro-- duce another pair of signals whose relative positions in said other time period are representative of the angular position of said reference point relative to said predetermined compass'direction.

8. In a device for measuring the direction of a well bore, the combination of: an instrument housing insertable in said bore; means in said housing defining a reference point thereon; adevice in said housing for defining a housing low point when said housing is disposed at an angle, to the vertical; compass means in said housing for defining a predetermined compass direction; signal producing means in said housing; timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle including a pair of time periods; transfer mechanism coacting with said timing mechanism for associating one of said time periods with said device and for associating another of said time periods with said compass means; means cooperating with said device and said signaling means for actuating said signaling means to produce a pair of signals whose relative positions in said first time period are representative of the angular position of said low point relative to said reference point; means cooperating with said compass means and said signaling means for actuating said signaling means to produce another pair of signals whose relative positions in said second time period are representative of the angular position of said reference point relative to said predetermined compass direction; receiving means at said ground surface for receiving said signals; and recording means actuated by said receiving means for translating each of said signals into visual indicia disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other representative of the relative positions of said signals in each of said time periods. I

9. In a device for measuring the inclination and direction of a well bore, the combination of: an instrument housing insertable in said bore; mechanism in said housing for measuring the angle of inclination of said housing from the vertical in terms of a plurality of angular increments; means in said housing defining a reference point thereon; device in said housing for defining a housing low point when said housing is disposed at an angle to the vertical; compass means in said housing for defining a predetermined compass direction; signal producing means in said housing; timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle including three time periods; transfer mechanism coacting with said timing mechanism for associating one of each of said time periods respectively with said mechanism, said device and said compass means; means cooperating with said mechanism and said signaling means for actuating said signaling means during the first of said time periods to produce a plurality of signals equal in number to the number of angular increments measured by said device; means cooperating with said device and said signaling means for actuating said signaling means to produce a pair of signals whose relative positions in the second of said time periods are representative of the angular position of said low point relative to said reference point; and means cooperating with said device and said compass means for actuating said signaling means to produce a pair of signals whose relative positions in the third of said time periods are representative of the angular position of said reference point relative to said predetermined compass direction.

10. In a device for measuring the direction of a well bore, the combination of: an instrument housing insertable in said bore; means in said housing defining a reference point thereon; means in said housing for defining a housing low point when said housing is disposed at an angle to the vertical; timing means in said housing for defining a time cycle including a plurality of time periods; a device in said housing coacting with said timing means and continuously movable in a closed path from a starting position corresponding to said reference point at the beginning of the first of said time periods through an indicating position corresponding to. said loW point to said starting position at the end of said first time period; compass means in said housing for defining a predetermined compass direction; mechanism in said housing coacting with said timing means and continuously movable in a closed path from a starting position corresponding to said reference point at the start of the second of said time periods through an indieating position corresponding to said predetermined compass direction to said starting position at the end of said second time period; signal producing means in said housing; means connecting said device and said mechanism to said signaling means and responsive to movement of said device and said mechanism to their respective starting and indicating positions for actuating said signaling means to produce a plurality of signals, the position of those in said'first time period being representative of the angular position of said low point relative to said reference point and the position of those in said second time period being representative of the angular position of said reference point relative to said compass direction.

11. In a device for measuring the direction of a well bore including a housing insertable in said well bore and means defining a reference point on said housing, a device for measuring the angular disposition of said reference point relative to the direction of deviation of said well bore from the vertical, comprising: an electrically conductive supporting plate in said housing disposed perpendicularly relative to the axis thereof; a commutator including a plurality of electrically conductive segments insulated from each other and disposed in positions encircling said plate and insulated therefrom for defining a circular trackway; means disposing one of said segments in a position corresponding to said reference point and electrically connecting said segment to said plate to define a monitor segment; an electrically conductive rolling member carried on said plate and movable by gravity around said trackway to the low side thereof to define a low point segment by electrically connecting said plate to the one of said segments disposed at said low side when the axis of said housing is disposed at an angle to the vertical; a rotary member engaging said commutator and movable thereover to complete an electric circuit between said rotary member and said plate through said monitor seg ment and through said low point segment when said rotary member is moved into contact therewith; means mounting said rotary member for movement over said commutator from said monitor segment to said low point segment to traverse the angle between said segments; and signaling means in said circuit responsive to completion thereof for producing a pair of signals spaced in time in accordance with the magnitude of the angle traversed by said rotary member.

'12. In a device for measuring the direction of a well bore including a housing detachably secured to a drilling tool adapted to be moved to cause drilling of said well bore and means de fining a reference point on said housing, a compass means in said housing for permitting the determination of the compass direction of said reference point, comprising: a magnetic compass needle for defining a predetermined compass direction and including a pivot seat; a pivot point carried by said housing receivable in said pivot seat for pivotally supporting said compass needle for movement to a position defining said predetermined compass direction; clamping means for moving said needle from a pivotally supported free position to a clamped position clamping said needle against movement relative to said housing and disposing said pivot and said pivot seat in spaced relation relative to each other; and means responsive to movement of s id drilling tool cooperating with said clam; means for actuating said clamping m ans to mow,-

said needle to said clamped position when said tool is moved to drill said bore and for actuating said clamping means to move said needle to said free position when movement of said drilling tool is stopped.

13. In a device for measuring the inclination and direction of a well bore including a housing detachably secured to a drilling tool adapted to be moved to cause drilling of said well bore and means defining a reference point on said housing, a compass means in said housing for permitting the determination of the compass direction of said reference point, comprising: a magnetic compass needle for defining a predetermined compass direction and including a pivot seat; a pivot point carried by said housing receivable in said pivot seat for pivotally supporting said compass needle for movement to a position defining said predetermined compass direction; clamping means for moving said needle from a pivotally supported free position to a clamped position clamping said needle against movement relative to said housing and disposing said pivot and said pivot seat in spaced relation relative to each other; means responsive to movement of said drilling tool cooperating with said clamping means for actuating said clamping means to move said needle to said clamped position when said tool is moved to drill said bore and for actuating said clamping means to move said needle to said free position when movement of said drilling tool is stopped; a rotary means in said housing movable from said reference point to a position corresponding to the clamped position of said needle to measure the angle between said point and said predetermined compass direction; and indicating means coupled to said rotary means and respon-- sive to departure of said rotary means from said reference point and responsive to arrival thereof at said corresponding position for indicating the angle measured by said rotary means.

14. In a device for measuring the direction of a well bore including a housing detachably secured to a drilling tool adapted to be moved to cause drilling of said well bore and means defining a reference pointon said housing, a compass means in said housing for permitting the determination of the compass direction of said reference point, comprising: a magnetic compass needle for defining a predetermined compass direction and including a pivot seat; a pivot point carried by said housing receivable in said pivot seat for pivotally supporting said compass needle for movement to a position defining said predetermined compass direction; clamping means for moving said needle from a pivotally supported free position to a clamped position clamping said needle against movement relative to said housing and disposing said pivot and said pivot seat in spaced relation relative to each other; control means responsive to movement of said drilling tool cooperating with said clamping means for actuating said clamping means to move said needle to said clamped position when said tool is moved to drill said bore and for actuating said clamping means to move said needle to said free position when movement of said drilling tool is stopped; time delay means cooperating with said clamping means and said control means for actuating said clamping means to again move said needle to said clamped position a predetermined time after operation of said control means; and indicating means responsive to operationof said control means and said time delay means for indicating the angular position of said reference point relative to said predetermined compass direction when said needle is again moved to said clamped position.

15. In a device for determining the-orientation of a Well tool insertable in a well bore and having a reference point thereon, the combination of: a housing having a reference point thereon; means mounting said housing upon said well tool with said housing reference point in predetermined angular position relative to said tool reference point; a device in said housing for at any time measuring the angular relation between a predetermined compass direction and the location of said housing reference point; and a means in said housing for transmitting to the ground surface the measurements made by said device.

HAROLD W. MAT'I'INGLY. EMMETT M. IRWIN. GEORGE E. LEWIS. RICHARD H. DUVAL. RAY M. CHENCWETH. CECIL L. WHITEHEAD.

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