Advances and improvements in downhole cameras over the past 20 years has given downhole video a prominent place in the subsurface engineers toolbox for diagnosing wellbore problems. Under clear, viewable conditions the images from downhole video can bring unparalleled confidence in the diagnoses because most problems become intuitively obvious. This allows engineers the ability to launch forward with remedial plans and often brings quick consensus when work is stopped due to uncertainty in the nature or cause of a problem and where various opinions about how to go forth have stymied moving forward.

With the advent of more camera systems and ways to deploy them, operators have more options available to them that make downhole video cameras a more viable and economic option to consider when problems arise. This presentation will discuss the current technology of downhole video camera systems and which system is best for various applications. In addition, recent advances in combining cameras with other surveying tools such as imaging calipers and production logging sensors will be discussed and presented.