Inventors:
Theodore G. Thometz - Salt Lake City UT
Charles D. Barron - Sandy UT
Assignee:
Eastman Christensen Company - Salt Lake City UT
International Classification:
E21B 4700
Abstract:
An articulated downhole surveying instrument and method for measuring parameters of a wellbore includes one or more laterally flexible coupling sections. The laterally flexible coupling sections are rigid in axial tension and axial compression, and are smaller in cross-section than the surveying instrument housing. A separate housing is used for each component of the surveying instrument, and each component housing is interconnected with the laterally flexible coupling. One or more flexible spacer bars are also provided. The spacer bars and coupling sections enable the assembly to be passed through a short-radius angle wellbore with greatly reduced risk of sticking or hanging up.