Patent ID: 6229453
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: E21B,H04N

Abstract:
A video system for use in a well bore, comprising:a video camera suitable for insertion in a well bore, said video camera capable of generating a digitized signal representative of downhole images;a sound sensor suitable for insertion in a weilbore and configured to detect sounds, said sound sensor capable of subsequent generation of an electrical signal representative of said detected sounds;a transmission line attached to said video camera and said sound sensor, said transmission line suitable for carrying said digitized signal and said electrical signal;a digital video compressor configured to attach to said transmission line, said video compressor being suitable for receipt of an uncompressed form of said digitized signal and further suitable for subsequent generation of a compressed form of said digitized signal, wherein said digital video compressor is programmed to utilize lossy image compression to reduce the bandwidth requirements of said digitized signal;a video presentation device in communication with said transmission line, said video presentation device being configured to receive a signal corresponding to said digitized signal representative of said downhole images, said video presentation device in response broadcasting a visual image;a speaker in communication with said transmission line, said speaker being configured to receive a signal corresponding to said electrical signal, said speaker in response broadcasting an audio presentation.