Patents Assigned to ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6031381
    Abstract: A cased well in the earth is electrically energized with A.C. current. Voltages are measured from three voltage measurement electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing while the casing is electrically energized. In a measurement mode, A.C. current is conducted from a first current carrying electrode within the cased well to a remote second current carrying electrode located on the surface of the earth. In a calibration mode, current is passed from the first current carrying electrode to a third current carrying electrode located vertically at a different position within the cased well, where the three voltage measurement electrodes are located vertically in between the first and third current carrying electrodes. Voltages along the casing and resistances along the casing are measured to determine wall thickness and the location of any casing collars present so as to electrically inspect the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Steven Thomas Momii
  • Patent number: 6025721
    Abstract: Methods of operation of different types of multiple electrode apparatus vertically disposed in a cased well to measure information related to the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from within the cased well are described. The multiple electrode apparatus has a minimum of two spaced apart voltage measurement electrodes that electrically engage a first portion of the interior of the cased well and that provide at least first voltage information. Current control means are used to control the magnitude of any selected current that flows along a second portion of the interior of the casing to be equal to a predetermined selected constant. The first portion of the interior of the cased well is spaced apart from the second portion of the interior of the cased well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William Banning Vail, III
  • Patent number: 5717334
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described to produce stick-slip motion of a logging tool within a cased well attached to a wireline that is drawn upward by a continuously rotating wireline drum. The stick-slip motion results in the periodic upward movement of the tool in the cased well described in terms of a dwell time during which time the tool is stationary, the move time during which time the tool moves, and the stroke that is upward distance that the tool translates during the "slip" portion of the stick-slip motion. This method of measurement is used to log the well at different vertical positions of the tool. Therefore, any typical "station-to-station logging tool" may be modified to be a "continuous logging tool", where "continuous" means that the wireline drum continually rotates while the tool undergoes stick-slip motion downhole and measurements are performed during the dwell times when the tool is momentarily stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventors: William Banning Vail, III, Steven Thomas Momii
  • Patent number: 5633590
    Abstract: Methods to quantitatively determine the separate amounts of oil and gas in a geological formation adjacent to a cased well using measurements of formation resistivity are disclosed. The steps include obtaining resistivity measurements from within a cased well of a given formation, obtaining the porosity, obtaining the resistivity of formation water present, computing the combined amounts of oil and gas present using Archie's Equations, determining the relative amounts of oil and gas present from measurements within a cased well, and then quantitatively determining the separate amounts of oil and gas present in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 5570024
    Abstract: Methods of operation of different types of multiple electrode apparatus vertically disposed in a cased well to measure information related to the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from inside the cased well. The multiple electrode apparatus have a minimum of three spaced apart voltage measurement electrodes that electrically engage the interior of the cased well. Measurement information is obtained related to current which is caused to flow from the cased well into the adjacent geological formation. First compensation information is obtained related to a first casing resistance between a first pair of the spaced apart voltage measurement electrodes. Second compensation information is obtained related to a second casing resistance between a second pair of the spaced apart voltage measurement electrodes. The measurement information, and first and second compensation information are used to determine a magnitude related to the adjacent formation resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Paramagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 5075626
    Abstract: Methods of operation of an apparatus having at least two pairs of voltage measurement electrodes vertically disposed in a cased well to measure the resistivity of adjacent geological formations from inside the cased well. During stationary measurements with the apparatus at a fixed vertical depth within the cased well, the invention herein discloses methods of operation which include a measurement step and subsequent first and second compensation steps respectively resulting in improved accuracy of measurement. The invention also discloses multiple frequency methods of operation resulting in improved accuracy of measurement while the apparatus is simultaneously moved vertically in the cased well. The multiple frequency methods of operation disclose a first A.C. current having a first frequency that is conducted from the casing into formation and a second A.C. current having a second frequency that is conducted along the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 5065100
    Abstract: This invention relates to the measurement of the longitudinal components of low frequency A.C. magnetic fields from within cased boreholes which are used to measure geophysical properties of geological formations. The applied A.C. magnetic fields are generated by passing low frequency A.C. current through insulated wires or by conducting low frequency A.C. current through geological formations, either of which are examples of conducting A.C. currents through different "circuit pathways". The currents generating the applied A.C. magnetic fields are in the frequency range between 0.001 Hz and 20 Hz. The measured longitudinal components of the resulting total A.C. magnetic fields within the cased boreholes are responsive to various geophysical parameters which include the resistivities of the portions of the geological formations subject to said applied A.C. magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 5043668
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes including resistivities, polarization phenomena and dielectric constants. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. At least three voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of the differential current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. These measurements facilitate calculation of the resistivities of the adjacent geological formations as well as an indication of whether cement is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4901023
    Abstract: This invention relates to the measurement of the longitudinal components of low frequency A.C. magnetic fields from within cased boreholes which are used to measure the geophysical properties of geological formations. The applied A.C. magnetic fields are generated by passing low frequency A.C. current through insulated wires or by conducting low frequency A.C. current through geological formations. The currents generating the applied A.C. magnetic fields are in the frequency range between 0.001 Hz and 20 Hz. The measured longitudinal components of the resulting total A.C. magnetic fields are responsive to various geophysical parameters which include the resistivities of the portions of the geological formations subject to said applied A.C. magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4882542
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring electronic properties of geological formations and cement layers adjacent to cased boreholes including resistivities, polarization phenomena and dielectric constants. Current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. At least three voltage measuring electrodes in electrical contact with the interior of the casing measure the voltage at various points thereon. The voltage differences between discrete pairs of the voltage measuring electrodes provide a measurement of differential current conducted into formation in the vicinity of those electrodes. These measurements facilitate calculation of the resistivities of the adjacent geological formations as well as an indication of whether cement is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4820989
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed which allow measurement of the resistivity of a geological formation through borehole casing which may be surrounded by brine saturated cement. A.C. current is passed from an electrode in electrical contact with the interior of the borehole casing to an electrode on the surface of the earth. The A.C. voltage difference is measured between two additional vertically disposed electrodes on the interior of the casing which provides a measure of the resistivity of the geological formation. A calibration and nulling procedure is presented which minimizes the influence of variations in the thickness of the casing. The procedure also minimizes the influence of inaccurate placements of the additional vertically disposed electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4804918
    Abstract: New methods and apparatus are disclosed which allow measurement of the presence of oil and water in gelogical formations using a new physical effect called the Acoustic Paramagnetic Logging Effect (APLE). The presence of petroleum in formation causes a slight increase in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the reservoir. This is the phenomena of paramagnetism. Application of an acoustic source to a geological formation at the Larmor frequency of the nucleous present causes the paramagnetism of the formation to disappear. This results in a decrease in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the oil bearing formation. Repetitively frequency sweeping the acoustic source through the Larmor frequency of the nucleons present (approx. 2 kHz) causes an amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field which is a consequence of the APLE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4792757
    Abstract: Nucleons which are chemically bound to oil and water in geological formations possess magnetic moments which align in the earth's magnetic field causing the natural nuclear paramagnetism of the formation. An A.C. magnetic field at the Larmor frequency is repetititively applied to the formation adjacent to a borehole resulting in a repetitive excitation-relaxation process of the nucleons present within an "excitation zone" which results in an amplitude modulation of the paramagnetism within this zone. This physical process results in an amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the excitation zone of the formation and is called the Paramagnetic Logging Effect (PLE). The PLE may be measured with logging tools in open holes and within cased well bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Vail, III, Paul B. Schwinberg
  • Patent number: 4748415
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed which allow induction logging of geological formations through borehole casing. Longitudinal and azimuthal excitation A.C. magnetic fields applied on the interior of the borehole casing penetrate the walls of the borehole casing under certain circumstances. These A.C. magnetic fields produce eddy currents in the adjacent geological formation, thereby producing secondary A.C. magnetic fields characteristic of the formation. Under certain circumstances, the longitudinal and azimuthal components of the secondary A.C. magnetic fields consequently penetrate to the interior of the casing and are measured to provide the resistivity and changes in the resistivity of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4724385
    Abstract: New methods and apparatus are disclosed which allow measurement of the presence of oil and water in geological formations using a new physical effect called the Acoustic Paramagnetic Logging Effect (APLE). The presence of petroleum in formation causes a slight increase in the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the reservoir. This is the phenomena of paramagnetism. Application of an acoustic source to a geological formation at the Larmor frequency of the nucleons present causes the paramagnetism of the formation to disappear. This results in a decrease in the earth3 s magnetic field in the vicinity of the oil bearing formation. Repetitively frequency sweeping the acoustic source through the Larmor frequency of the nucleons present (approx. 2 kHz) causes an amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field which is a consequence of the APLE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III
  • Patent number: 4656422
    Abstract: Nucleons which are chemically bound to oil and water in geological formations possess magnetic moments which align in the earth's magnetic field causing the natural nuclear paramagnetism of the formation. An A.C. magnetic field at the Larmor frequency is repetititively applied to the formation adjacent to a borehole resulting in a repetitive excitation-relaxation process of the nucleons present within an "excitation zone" which results in an amplitude modulation of the paramagnetism within this zone. This physical process results in an amplitude modulation of the earth's magnetic field in the vicinity of the excitation zone of the formation and is called the Paramagnetic Logging Effect (PLE). The PLE may be measured with logging tools in open holes and within cased well bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Vail, III, Paul B. Schwinberg
  • Patent number: 4528508
    Abstract: A new method and apparatus is described which allows remote sensing and in-situ volumetric measurement of liquid petroleum reserves. A small fraction of the nuclear magnetic moments of protons in a liquid oil reserve align in the earth's magnetic field. This nuclear paramagnetism slightly alters the strength of the earth's static magnetic field above the oil reservoir. The size of the paramagnetic contribution to the earth's magnetic field is proportional to the volume of the petroleum reserve. An artificial A.C. magnetic field is applied to the bulk oil reserve at the Larmor frequency. This A.C. magnetic field causes the condition appropriate for nuclear magnetic resonance which under certain circumstances, causes the paramagnetic contribution to the earth's magnetic field to vanish. Different phenomena causing this paramagnetic contribution to vanish include saturation effects and the conditions described by rapid passage.Under these circumstances, frequency sweeping the A.C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: ParaMagnetic Logging, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Vail, III