HawkEye Video-Camera System

Most downhole camera inspections involve viewing either a continuous survey of the mechanical condition of the wellbore tubulars or viewing an individual object such as an obstruction, restriction, or a fish. When the objects of interest are motionless such as casing or a fish, full motion video is not required and the camera can be deployed on electric line.

To meet this need, DHV International developed HawkEye, a highly portable downhole video camera system. HawkEye provides downhole video on virtually any standard wireline cable allowing quick worldwide deployment where the equipment can be used with a wireline unit already on location. Video images are viewed real-time at the surface and updated every 1.7 seconds. Full screen, high resolution images are displayed on a video monitor and recorded on video tape for later reference. This fast refresh rate allows HawkEye to be used for some casing/tubing leak detection.

The camera operates on coaxial, single-conductor, and multi-conductor lines of up to 25K in length.* The equipment is helicopter or airplane transportable at a moment's notice. Some HawkEye systems are mounted in skid units (offshore) or in trailers (land) to allow for faster rig-up on location.

*The length limit has more to do with cable capacitance and conductor resistance, so working on longer lengths of cable is possible.

DHV International Inc., 4606 FM 1960 West, Suite 400, Houston, TX 77069. Tel: 281-315-8866; Fax: 281-315-8836.