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The borehole camera

An investigative geophysical tool applied to engineering, environmental, and mining challenges

GX Technology Corp., Houston, Texas, U.S.

Frank Marks

Marks Products Inc., Howard, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Corresponding author: lgochioco@gxt.com

The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below.

Thousands of shallow holes and wells are drilled each year to assist engineers, geologists, geophysicists, hydrologists, and other professionals investigate, inspect, and evaluate near-surface geologic conditions that may impact surface structures and/or to gain in-situ subsurface information. Drilling is the litmus test to confirm interpretations made on various scientific data sets applied to petroleum, mining, engineering, and environmental challenges. However, traditional drilling and logging techniques can yield residual inconclusive data for rational assessments because small fractures, washouts, thinly laminated layers, minor casing damage, etc., may be too small for standard logging tools to detect. To close this uncertainty gap, borehole camera (BHC) systems can be employed to enhance the investigation and inspection of shallow holes. The capabilities of this simple optical imaging tool have, until now, remained underutilized.

Technological advances in electronic component design and sensing devices in the last decade have enabled the development of cost-effective BHC units that can operate in both wet and dry conditions. The slim-line design allows the BHC to easily operate in small-diameter holes commonly used in near-surface exploration and assessment studies. A videocassette recorder attached to the BHC records the entire survey. The videotape can subsequently be played back in the office for those who were not at the well site to examine the survey results. Real-time video inspection of open and cased wells can be used to determine the success of drilling operations and can also show images of potential problem areas. In some cases, the recorded videotape has served as evidence in court where survey results quickly resolved litigation, thus saving time and money.

	Borehole camera

 
The cost of current slim-line BHC units for near-surface applications varies from the least expensive portable black-and-white (B/W) to . . . [Full Text of this Article]