Patents Represented by Attorney Kevin P. McEnaney
  • Patent number: 7059428
    Abstract: Characteristics of a reservoir are monitored during a casing drilling operation using a casing drilling assembly that includes a drill bit for drilling a borehole through an earth formation. A casing tubular is coupled with the casing drilling assembly and includes at least one station having at least one slot in the casing tubular. An antenna or sensor, adapted for signal transmission and/or reception, is disposed within the casing tubular and positioned such that the antenna or sensor is aligned with the at least one slotted station. The antenna or sensor is activated during a casing drilling operation to transmit and/or receive a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Frey, David L. Smith, Brian Clark, Jan Smits
  • Patent number: 7042225
    Abstract: A well logging tool includes an induction array stack disposed on a mandrel; an electronic module stack disposed adjacent the induction array stack along a longitudinal axis of the well logging tool; and a shallow electrode array arranged on a housing disposed around the electronic module stack, wherein the induction array stack comprises a transmitter antenna, a first receiver antenna, and a second receiver antenna spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the well logging tool, the second receiver antenna being disposed between the transmitter antenna and the first receiver antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7038457
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing antenna configurations with substantially co-located axes are disclosed. A method for constructing co-located antennas includes winding a first antenna on a support, the first antenna having a first magnetic dipole in a first orientation; and winding a second antenna on the support through a first set of openings in the support, the second antenna having a second magnetic dipole in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and wherein a center of the first magnetic dipole substantially co-locates with a center of the second magnetic dipole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7034528
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for interpretation of multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance data taken on a sample of an earth formation. Specifically, a set of NMR data is acquired for a fluid sample located either in a borehole or in a laboratory environment. From the set of NMR data, a multi-dimensional distribution is calculated using a mathematical inversion that is independent of prior knowledge of fluid sample properties. The multi-dimensional distribution is graphically displayed on a multi-dimensional map. Each fluid instance or artifact visible on the graph is identified as representing a probable existence of a detected fluid. One or more quantitative formation evaluation answers for one or more fluid instances is computed based on the multi-dimensional distribution associated with the respective fluid instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chanh Cao Minh, Nicholas J. Heaton
  • Patent number: 7030617
    Abstract: A method is provided for conducting an electromagnetic induction survey of a geological formation penetrated by a borehole lined with a conductive casing. The method includes positioning a transmitter in the borehole, whereby the transmitter generates a transmitter magnetic moment, and positioning a distant receiver external of the borehole to detect a magnetic field induced by the transmitter, whereby the distant receiver is disposed across part of the formation from the borehole. Furthermore, an auxiliary receiver is positioned in the borehole proximate the transmitter to detect a magnetic field induced by the transmitter and attenuated by the conductive casing. Subsequently, a first casing attenuation factor that is applicable to the magnetic field measured by the auxiliary receiver is determined from a ratio of the measured magnetic field at the auxiliary receiver and the transmitter magnetic moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ugo Conti
  • Patent number: 7027923
    Abstract: A method for determining a sonde error in a logging tool comprising a transverse array includes obtaining a first measurement using the transverse array while the logging tool is at a first height from ground in a selected orientation; obtaining a second measurement using the transverse array while the logging tool is at a second height from the ground in the selected orientation; deriving a difference measurement from the first measurement and the second measurement; determining a background signal using the difference measurement and a predetermined function, wherein the predetermined function relates earth signals in a plurality of signals obtained at the second height to a plurality of difference signals between signals obtained at the first height and the second height at a plurality of formation conductivities; and determining the sonde error by subtracting the background signal from the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Barber, Hanming Wang
  • Patent number: 7023212
    Abstract: A well logging tool and method are disclosed comprising a conductive mandrel, an antenna array disposed around the conductive mandrel, wherein the antenna array comprises a plurality of antennas disposed on insulating supports and at least one contact spacer, the at least one contact spacer having at least one conductor channel having a contact assembly disposed therein, a sleeve disposed over the antenna array, wherein the sleeve includes at least one electrode assembly, the at least one electrode and the contact assembly adapted to provide a radially conductive path from an exterior of the well logging tool to the conductive mandrel and wherein the electrode assembly comprises a first conductor exposed to the exterior of the well logging tool and at least one second conductor conductively connected to the first conductor and exposed to an inner surface of the sleeve, wherein at least one of the first conductor or the second conductor being in sealed contact with the sleeve to prevent the passage of fluid th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo Chiang Chen, Robert C. Smith, David T. Oliver, Gary A. Hazen, Dean M. Homan, Jan W. Smits
  • Patent number: 7023213
    Abstract: A subsurface imaging cable includes a plurality of sensor modules, wherein the plurality of the sensor modules are flexible and each of the plurality of the sensor modules is spaced apart on the subsurface imaging cable at a selected distance; and a flexible medium connecting the plurality of the sensor modules, wherein the subsurface imaging cable is flexible and adapted to be wound on a reel. A method for subsurface images includes acquiring direct-current measurements at a plurality of sites in a survey area; acquiring a first set of electric and magnetic measurements from natural electromagnetic fields at the plurality of sites; acquiring a second set of electric and magnetic measurements using controlled electric and magnetic sources at the plurality of sites; and determining a subsurface conductivity distribution from the direct-current measurements and the first set and the second set of electric and magnetic measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Nichols
  • Patent number: 6997258
    Abstract: A well logging tool includes a housing; at least one piston moveably disposed on the housing; at least one sensor disposed on the at least one piston; a pressure compensation system coupled to the at least one piston such that a pressure at a back side of the at least one piston is substantially identical to a pressure outside the well logging tool; and a piston deployment mechanism for deploying the at least one piston. A method for well logging using a logging tool having at least one piston and a pressure compensating system, wherein the at least one piston includes at least one sensor, the method includes disposing the well logging tool in a borehole; deploying the at least one piston to establish a contact between the at least one piston and a wall of the borehole; and measuring a formation property using the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Kuo-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 6998844
    Abstract: Transverse or tilted magnetic dipole antenna systems are used for electromagnetic logging measurements to determine the anisotropic resistivity of subsurface formations. Combined measurements between transverse or tilted antennas, as well as axial antennas, are used to compensate for receiver antenna mismatch in the system. Some embodiments use model-based parametric inversion to estimate the anisotropic resistivity in the presence of invasion and shoulder-bed effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dzevat Omeragic, Jacques R. Tabanou, Alain Dumont
  • Patent number: 6984983
    Abstract: A unique means in interpreting anisotropic reservoirs in thinly laminated earth formations regardless of the hole deviation is provided. A high-resolution micro-resistivity formation measurement is used to estimate in real time at the well site the formation anisotropic electrical parameters oriented around the borehole drilled with a conductive fluid. Estimations of the formation anisotropy or hydrocarbon profile are compared and combined with indicators associated with the formation to provide improved evaluations of hydrocarbon content over conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jacques R. Tabanou
  • Patent number: 6968909
    Abstract: A system is for controlling borehole operations using a computational drilling process model representing the combined effect of downhole conditions and the operation of a drillstring. The drilling process model is continually updated with downhole measurements made during a drilling operation. From the updated drilling process model, a set of optimum drilling parameters is determined and communicated to a surface equipment control system. Further, the system allows the surface equipment control system to automatically adjust current surface equipment control settings based on the updated optimum drilling parameters. Various control scripts are generated and executed to inform the surface equipment control system based on a present drilling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Walter D. Aldred, Richard Meehan
  • Patent number: 6963803
    Abstract: One or more high resolution logs of a formation property having thin beds is provided for the laminated formation. From this log, the bed boundaries are detected and the facies for each of the beds detected is identified, using one or more high resolution logs of the laminated formation. Each of the identified facies is then defined. One or more squared logs for formation property is then generated by using the imported volumetric descriptions of the facies to generate a value of the formation property for each of the beds. A reconstructed log is generated and compared with a low resolution log of the formation property for laminated formation. By adjusting the values of the squared log the difference between the reconstructed log and the squared log may be minimized. An optimized squared log is output as having the square log and the volumetric analyses thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Denis Heliot, Jacques R. Tabanou, Jaideva C. Goswami
  • Patent number: 6960913
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for extracting information about a system of nuclear spins from a region of an earth formation. Specifically, a set of NMR data is acquired for a fluid sample located either in a borehole or in a laboratory environment. From the set of NMR data, a multi-dimensional distribution is calculated using a mathematical inversion that is independent of prior knowledge of fluid sample properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas J. Heaton
  • Patent number: 6958604
    Abstract: A method for obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance measurements includes inducing a static magnetic field in a formation fluid sample; applying an oscillating magnetic field to the fluid sample according to a preparation pulse sequence that comprises a J-edit pulse sequence for developing J modulation; and acquiring the nuclear magnetic resonance measurements using a detection sequence, wherein the detection sequence comprises at least one 180-degree pulse. The method may further include acquiring the nuclear magnetic resonance measurements a plurality of times each with a different value in a variable delay in the J-edit pulse sequence; and analyzing amplitudes of the plurality of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements as a function of the variable delay to provide J coupling information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Li An, Yi-Qiao Song, Krishnamurthy Ganesan
  • Patent number: 6956370
    Abstract: A method of reducing ringing artifacts in a nuclear magnetic resonance measurement is provided. The method utilizes a new pulse sequence that offers ringing cancellation opportunities as well as compensation for otherwise accumulating spin dynamics errors. Ringing cancellation is accomplished by forming linear combinations of spin echoes induced as a result of the pulse sequence. Because the linear combinations are formed between closely spaced spin echoes (i.e., echoes within the same sequence), the likelihood that the ringing artifact will have changed between measurements is diminished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ralf Heidler
  • Patent number: 6952096
    Abstract: A method for determining a property of a flowing fluid by nuclear magnetic resonance includes applying a static magnetic field to the flowing fluid; acquiring a suite of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements on the flowing fluid using a pulse sequence comprising a spoiling pulse, a wait time, and an acquisition pulse sequence, wherein the suite of nuclear magnetic measurements have different values for the wait time; and fitting the suite of nuclear magnetic resonance measurements to a forward model for responses of the flowing fluid to derive a parameter selected from a flow speed, longitudinal relaxation times of the flowing fluid, and a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Freedman
  • Patent number: 6937013
    Abstract: The invention is related methods for nuclear magnetic resonance measurements; the methods include the steps of applying a first static magnetic field to polarize the sample; radiating a radio frequency pulse onto the sample. Subsequently, applying a second magnetic field such that when combined with the first static magnetic field; a third static magnetic field is produced. Finally, during the application of the second static magnetic field or after removing it, the NMR signal emitted by the sample is measured. Finally, the methods can be used for making nuclear magnetic resonance measurements in wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Krishnamurthy Ganesan
  • Patent number: 6933726
    Abstract: A well logging tool includes a conductive mandrel; an antenna array disposed around the conductive mandrel, wherein the antenna array comprises a plurality of antennas disposed on insulating supports and at least one contact spacer, the at least one contact spacer having at least one conductor channel having a contact assembly disposed therein; and a sleeve disposed over the antenna array, wherein the sleeve includes at least one electrode, the at least one electrode and the contact assembly adapted to provide a radially conductive path from an exterior of the well logging tool to the conductive mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Robert C. Smith, Gary A. Hazen, Charles Kibbe, Richard A. Rosthal, Thomas D. Barber, Stephen D. Bonner, David T. Oliver
  • Patent number: 6930652
    Abstract: The invention relates to antenna configurations for electromagnetic logging tools. The antennas have one or more electrical conductors disposed on a dielectric core. The conductor is formed on the core through plating or deposition processes and arranged such that the antenna has a first magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core. One embodiment includes an antenna adapted for mutual balancing using interleaved conductive paths or disks to alter the magnetic dipole moment to mutually balance the antenna system. The invention also relates to a method for producing such antenna structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Smith, Anthony L Collins