METHODS AND DEVICES FOR WELL RESEARCH AND OPERATION.

摘要

A system for analyzing geological materials in and from a borehole includes apparatus (87, 89) for extracting and separating chips and grains from drill mud return by size, preparing (100-116) the material for examination and optically examining the material using fiber optic devices (121). The images thus derived are optically (22) and digitally processed (21, 23) and classified by numerous chemical, lithological and paleontoligical criteria using a geological data base (20) which is updated. Data from this analysis forms a basis for predicting hydrocarbon location and detecting its presence. An apparatus (165) for directly viewing a borehole wall in situ is disclosed, the apparatus using fiber optics (182, 183) to provide images at the surface which can be similarly analyzed.