Borehole
Camera System Comparison
A
comparison of 1000 foot manual winch borehole cameras systems that are
commercially available in the United States for less than $7000.
Introduction
When making
a video of a borehole or some other place where a person cannot or should not
go, the borehole camera is the tool of choice. Borehole video cameras are
specialized equipment that have evolved over the last seventy years to fill an
indispensible niche for their users. Originally they were used by well drillers
to inspect casing, help retrieve tools, and view other problems with wells.
Over the years, the borehole camera market has expanded to include users in
many professions such as geologists, public health workers, construction,
mining, dam inspection, tank and pipe inspectors, and many others.
Although
borehole cameras are being used more frequently today than ever before, they
are not mass production items. One is not likely to find a borehole camera in a
garage sale or on E-bay, since once a person has owned a borehole camera, he or
she will only reluctantly give it up. A user often discovers just how helpful
they are on the first well or borehole.
Home
made
This
article will examine some of the commercial choices available; however, a word
about homemade cameras is warranted. As the cost of security cameras,
camcorders, or other video products has significantly declined over the last
decade, a person may be tempted to put together a jury-rigged system. From the
reports received, one in ten is likely to be successful enough in this endeavor
to be satisfied with the results and to conclude that the effort actually saved
money when all costs were considered. It turns out that borehole camera design
is much more complicated than it appears at first blush; especially combining
all the essential criteria of obtaining a quality underwater video in real
time, in a small water proof housing,
providing adequate light, with a portable winch, a reasonable degree of
durability, and at a modest price. I have several reports of engineers spending
considerable time making a prototype borehole camera that failed when it was submerged
in water. Most of these homemade projects have been abandoned.
Economical
Borehole Cameras
For this
article we have selected several borehole camera systems that can be purchased
for less than $7000 with important options and those available for less than
$4000 with only the basic system and minimal options. This comparison reviews
the four models from Marks Products’ GeoVISION and Nature Vision’s Well-Vu that
match the criteria. It does not include
other manufactures that have a very small market share, or other limitations
that make them impractical.
Both
Manufacturers have several alternative models. For this comparison, we selected
only selected systems with 1000 foot cable length and manual operated winch or
spool. The GeoVISION Heavy duty Econo
models are toward the middle price range of the GeoVISION models. The WV-C-1000
is near the top of the line of the Well-Vu models.
Both of
these manufactures do not publish their list prices; however, they will give
their prices upon request.
Comparison
of 1000 foot manual winch or spool borehole cameras systems commercially
available in the United States for less than $7000
|
Company |
Marks
Products |
Marks
Products |
Marks
Products |
Nature
Vision |
|
Location
|
Williamsville,
Virginia, USA |
Williamsville,
Virginia, USA |
Williamsville,
Virginia, USA |
Brainerd,
Minnesota, USA |
|
Production
facility |
Williamsville,
Virginia, USA |
Williamsville,
Virginia, USA |
Williamsville,
Virginia, USA |
Primarily
China |
|
Product
Line |
GeoVISION |
GeoVISION |
GeoVISION |
Well
Vu |
|
Model |
Heavy
Duty Econo Jr
Camera |
Heavy
Duty Econo – Standard
Stainless Steel Camera |
Heavy
Duty Econo Nano
Camera |
1000
Manual Wind Rubber
Camera |
|
Winch |
Manual
steel winch |
Manual
steel winch |
Manual
steel winch |
Manual
steel winch |
|
Evaluated
model cable length |
1000
feet |
1000
feet |
1000
feet |
1000
feet |
|
Other
optional cable lengths |
325
and 650 feet |
325
and 650 feet |
325
and 650 feet |
300,
500 and 700 |
|
User
interchangeable cables |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Cameras |
|
|
|
|
|
Cameras interchangeable |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Number
of additional cameras available for interchanging |
5 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
|
Maximum
underwater depth pressure camera can withstand
|
1000
feet |
2000
feet |
2000
feet |
1000
feet |
|
Housing |
CPVC |
Stainless
steel |
Stainless
steel |
Rubber |
|
Housing
diameter |
1 5/8
inch |
1 5/8
inch |
3/4
inch |
1 ½
inch |
|
Lenses
cover |
Glass |
Sapphire |
Sapphire |
Plastic |
|
Optional
small diameter camera for very small boreholes and going past pumps optional |
Yes Nano ¾ inch diameter |
Yes Nano ¾
inch diameter |
Yes Nano ¾
inch diameter |
No |
|
Viewing
in shafts and large boreholes |
Yes |
Yes |
Not
recommended |
Not
recommended |
|
Ultra
low light camera |
Yes Ultra
low light black and white camera |
Yes Ultra
low light black and white camera |
Yes Ultra
low light black and white camera |
No |
|
Supplemental
lights with attachment bracket |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No 3 |
|
Format |
|
|
|
|
|
NTSC |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
PAL |
No |
No |
No |
Yes
optional |
|
Camera
Direction Controls |
|
|
|
|
|
Manuel
Pan and tilt |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No 1 |
|
Light sources |
|
|
|
|
|
Built
in lights |
8 high
brightness LEDs |
8 high
brightness LEDs |
8 high
brightness LEDs |
15 LED
white light board |
|
Additional
lights with brackets that attach the lights to the camera system |
Super
Eight Light, Super Eight Adjustable Light, Dual, and Quad dive lights |
Super
Eight Light, Super Eight Adjustable Light, Dual, and Quad dive lights |
Super
Eight Light, Super Eight Adjustable Light, Dual, and Quad dive lights |
None |
|
Adjustable
light |
|
|
|
|
|
Camera
light dimming |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Camera
lights on/off circuitry |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
|
Power Supply
and control panel |
|
|
|
|
|
Location |
Built
into case |
Built
into case |
Built
into case |
Attached
to spool |
|
Case |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Optional |
|
Carrying
case Power
supply and optional monitor built in |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Electronic
unit attached to winch |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Optional
shipping and storage case |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Power
Source |
|
|
|
|
|
110 v
AC |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes
with transformer |
|
220
Volts |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
DC 12 volts |
Yes
with optional inverter |
Yes
with optional inverter |
Yes
with optional inverter |
Yes |
|
Battery
option |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Pulley over
borehole |
Cable
protector includes pulley with casing clamp |
Cable protector
includes pulley with casing clamp |
Cable
protector includes pulley with casing clamp |
Tripod
with pulley |
|
Depth
measurement |
|
|
|
|
|
Feet
marked on cable |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
On
Screen Depth Display OSD |
Optional feet or
meters displayed |
Optional feet
or meters displayed |
Optional feet
or meters displayed |
Standard feet
or meters displayed |
|
OSD
options Display
location may be set to any corner or center of screen |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Count up
and count down reset
to zero |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Display
resolution |
1/10 foot |
1/10
foot |
1/10 foot |
1/10
foot |
|
Audio |
|
|
|
|
|
Audio
circuitry in system 2 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
System Reparability |
||||
|
Camera
reparability |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No4 |
|
Cable reparability
Can
the cable be spliced |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
GPS |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
The Export-Import Bank of the
United States approved |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
|
Shipping
weight |
40 to
55 pounds |
40 to
55 pounds |
40 to
55 pounds |
48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Footnotes
1.
Well-Vu recommends bringing the camera back up out of the well and taping the
cable to the side of the camera so that the camera points to the side then
lowering the camera back down. This is marginally effective. Well-Vu also
recommends a drop pipe (often referred to as a pipe string) to allow the camera
to view to the side. This method allows for panning but not tilting.
2. Audio
recording
Many
recording devices have an audio circuit that one can use to record verbal
comments with a microphone. In addition the GeoVISION system has the audio
circuit built into the system.
3.
Well-Vu recommends attaching auxiliary lights to the camera at a 45 degree
angle. Well-Vu does not supply the
lights or means to attachment.
4. Well-Vu
cameras have filled the part of the camera with the electronic components with
epoxy.
Company Summary
Comparisons
Marks Products,
Inc. Company Summary
Marks
Products specializes in the manufacture, distribution and retail sales borehole
camera systems. Borehole cameras represent more than 99 percent of its business.
With the exception of a few small electronic and hardware parts and the
monitors and recording devices, all major components are manufactured in the
USA. Most of the machining is done at the MPI factory or at an employee owned
machine shop near the factory. The assembly
of all GeoVISION borehole camera systems and all sub assemblies is done at the
MPI factory. The down-hole cable is made specifically for GeoVISION camera
systems at a cable manufacturing factory in the USA. All GeoVISION camera
systems have been designed by MPI employees since 1989. Customers and
prospective customers are invited to visit the factory by appointment.
Research
and development and innovation
New
products and improvements have been added to the GeoVISION product offering.
Some recent examples are:
1.
The
nano ¾ inch diameter camera.
2.
Extension
of the maximum depth of the GeoVISION deluxe system to 2000 feet
3.
The
joy stick control for the motorized pan and tilt option
4.
The
new carrying case and electron enclose of the Heavy Duty system
5.
The
super eight light and attachment system.
6.
Cable
suitable for gas and oil well use is part of the GeoVISION move to provide
borehole camera for the gas and oil industry
Manufacturing
Marks
Products has nine full and part time employees. All but two employees work at
the MPI factory in Virginia. These seven employees work almost exclusively on
the design, manufacture, and distribution of GeoVISION borehole cameras.
Finances
Marks
Products is privately held, so specific information is not readily available.
It is not required to file with the Security and Exchange Commission. The
company has added additional employees in the last two years. The Dunn and Bradstreet
rating of Marks Products, Inc. is excellent.
Commitment
to borehole cameras
Marks
Products operates exclusively in the borehole camera market. It appears likely
that Marks Products will continue to devote all of its resources to its
GeoVISION product line.
Company
website
Nature Vision,
Inc. Company Summary
Nature
Vision quote from
the Nature Vision website “Welcome to Nature Vision
Inc., home to some of the most inventive products in all outdoors. Our passion for
creating extraordinary outdoor experiences remains the driving force behind
each and every new product. While others call new sizes and colors
“innovation,” at Nature Vision, the term lives up to its meaning, yielding
entirely new brand categories, such as Aqua-Vu Underwater Viewing Systems. Set
in a region rich with the natural lakes, rivers and woods that house abundant
fish and game, Nature Vision’s backyard remains the ideal setting for
inspiring, developing and field-testing new products. The legendary Brainerd
Lakes region of Central Minnesota also remains home to many of the most
respected names in the outdoors—Al and Ron Lindner, Gary Roach, In-Fisherman,
Dave Genz, the famed Nisswa Guides League, and many others. The Nature Vision
staff works closely with all of them—both in the field and in the
workshop—drawing on decades of hardcore fishing and hunting experience to bring
you the finest outdoor tools and technologies available today.”
Research and development and innovation
Well-Vu borehole camera systems were first made in the latter 1990’s
using parts from Nature Vu fish cameras. Sharing parts with Nature Vision and
with lower cost production in China enabled Well-Vu to produce the Well-Vu at a
competitive cost. The first Well-Vu
cameras came with short cables for shallow wells. The company added longer
cables over the next few years. About 2002 or 2003 Well-Vu added the 1000 foot
long cable, the last major Well-Vu improvement; however, a few incremental
improvements have been added since. The rate of change is slow and present rate
of innovation is insignificant compared to the other borehole camera
manufactures in the United States. In general, outsourcing manufacturing
creates a barrier between the customer and the design and production engineers.
Manufacturing
The
Well-Vu camera systems are one of eleven divisions of the Nature Vision. The
Well-Vu camera was developed using parts from the AquaVu fish camera. AquaVu is
one of the major divisions of Nature Vision. Other than a link to the separate
www.wellvu.com a Well-Vu is not mentioned on the Nature Vision website and no
separate breakout is provided of Well-Vu sales.
Nature vision has 18 employees for all eleven divisions. None of these
employees make the major components of the Well-vu cameras, which according to
sources close to the company, are made in China. See the SEC report below.
Report
to the Securities and Exchange Commission - NATURE VISION,
INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES - NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - June 30,
2008 and 2007 (Unaudited)
NOTE 1 -
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES NATURE OF OPERATIONS
“Nature
Vision, Inc. (the Company or we) is an outdoor recreation products
Company. The Company designs and markets primarily outdoor recreation
products for the sport fishing and sport hunting markets. The Company grants
unsecured credit to its customers which are primarily dealers and consumers
located throughout the United States and Canada. The Company
contracts with outside organizations for the manufacture and sale of its
products. The geographic market in which the Company competes
consists of the entire United States and Canada and, to a lesser extent some
foreign countries.”
Finances
Nature
vision has been in the process of buying and selling companies. The effectiveness
of this activity is difficult to evaluate.
The employee count has dropped from 60 to 18 in the last several
years. The stock price has dropped from
$11 on September 26, 2005 to about $1 a share on September 19, 2008 and the
company has reported losses in each of the last three quarters. Links for Nature Vision are at http://moneycentral.msn.com/companyreport?Symbol=US%3aNRVN
or http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=nrvn
Commitment
to borehole cameras
Nature
vision seems to view borehole camera business and as incidental part of this
company, judging from investment in the Well-vu product line, and mention of
Well-Vu in its finance reports.
Company
website
http://www.naturevisioninc.com
Rolf
Bergmann
Mining
and Water Resources Editor
Production
Evaluation Association
Email: rolf@boreholecamera.org