Patents by Inventor Bradley A. Roscoe

Bradley A. Roscoe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10185053
    Abstract: A well logging instrument includes a radiation generator and a high voltage power supply functionally coupled to the generator. The generator and the supply are longitudinally separated by a distance sufficient for emplacement of a radiation detector. At least a first radiation detector is disposed in a space between the generator and the supply. The instrument includes an electrical connection between the supply and the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Patent number: 9835736
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for thermally protecting a scintillator crystal of a scintillation detector are provided. In one example, a thermally-protected scintillator may include a scintillator crystal and a thermal protection element, which may partially surround the scintillator crystal. The thermal protection element may be configured to prevent the scintillator crystal from experiencing a rate of change in temperature sufficient to cause cracking or non-uniform light output, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Stoller, Robert A. Adolph, Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Publication number: 20160320522
    Abstract: A well logging instrument includes a radiation generator and a high voltage power supply functionally coupled to the generator. The generator and the supply are longitudinally separated by a distance sufficient for emplacement of a radiation detector. At least a first radiation detector is disposed in a space between the generator and the supply. The instrument includes an electrical connection between the supply and the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventor: Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Patent number: 9389333
    Abstract: A well logging instrument includes a radiation generator and a high voltage power supply functionally coupled to the generator. The generator and the supply are longitudinally separated by a distance sufficient for emplacement of a radiation detector. At least a first radiation detector is disposed in a space between the generator and the supply. The instrument includes an electrical connection between the supply and the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bradley Roscoe
  • Patent number: 9372277
    Abstract: Systems and methods for neutron porosity well logging with high precision and reduced lithology effects are provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a downhole neutron porosity tool may include a neutron source, a neutron monitor, a neutron detector, and data processing circuitry. The neutron source may emit neutrons into a subterranean formation while the neutron monitor detects a count of neutrons proportional to the neutrons emitted. The neutron detector may detect a count of neutrons that scatters off the subterranean formation. The data processing circuitry may determine an environmentally corrected porosity of the subterranean formation based at least in part on the count rate of neutrons scattered off the subterranean formation normalized to the count rate of neutrons proportional to the neutrons emitted by the neutron source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, James Thornton, Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Patent number: 9304226
    Abstract: Borehole logging tools and systems that include a scintillator positioned to interact with scattered source neutrons that are received from a target formation. The scintillator emits luminescence in response to interaction with the scattered neutrons. The scintillator includes an aluminofluoride host material (e.g., LiCAF). In a specific embodiment, the aluminofluoride host material is doped with europium. In a further specific embodiment, a processor distinguishes scattered neutrons from gamma rays based upon identifying a peak within an output signal from the scintillator. In yet another specific embodiment, a system includes a first scintillator and a second scintillator. The processor subtracts luminescence generated by the second scintillator from luminescence generated by the first scintillator to identify a neutron response of the first scintillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markus Berheide, Bradley A. Roscoe, Jing Qian, Timothy Spillane
  • Patent number: 9217793
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting radiation-of-interest, such as neutron radiation, employs a gas chamber, a gas that responds to ionizing particles by producing electrons and ions, a cathode that attracts ions, and a supporting layer with a conductive pathway. The conductive pathway collects electrons and responds to electrons that drift towards the conductive pathway by inducing production of further electrons and ions within the gas. The electrons that are collected at the conductive pathway and/or the ions that drift away from the conductive pathway will induce an electrical signal, which can be used to detect the radiation-of-interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Zilu Zhou, Bradley A. Roscoe, Markus Berheide, Joshua Wayne Gibson
  • Publication number: 20150241577
    Abstract: A combined thermal neutron and epithermal neutron radiation detector includes a plurality of neutron detecting elements arranged such that a first set of the detecting elements is disposed closer to a source of neutron flux scatted from a material or formation to be analyzed than a second set of detecting elements. The neutron detecting elements have a material therein susceptible to capture of thermal neutrons for detection. Signal outputs of the first set of are interconnected and signal outputs of the second set are separately interconnected to provide a signal output corresponding to each of thermal neutron flux and epithermal neutron flux entering the detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Timothy Spillane, Zilu Zhou, Markus Berheide, Bradley Roscoe
  • Publication number: 20150234084
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining a porosity of a subterranean formation corrected for borehole effects are provided. One such device may be a downhole tool capable of being lowered into a borehole of a subterranean formation that may include a neutron source, two or more neutron detectors, and data processing circuitry. The neutron source may emit neutrons into the subterranean formation. The two or more neutron detectors may be respectively disposed at two or more azimuthal orientations within the downhole tool, and may detect neutrons scattered by the subterranean formation or borehole fluid in the borehole, or both. Based on the neutrons detected by the neutron detectors, the data processing circuitry may determine a porosity of the subterranean formation corrected for borehole effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: James L. Thornton, Bradley Roscoe
  • Publication number: 20150185336
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for thermally protecting a scintillator crystal of a scintillation detector are provided. In one example, a thermally-protected scintillator may include a scintillator crystal and a thermal protection element, which may partially surround the scintillator crystal. The thermal protection element may be configured to prevent the scintillator crystal from experiencing a rate of change in temperature sufficient to cause cracking or non-uniform light output, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Stoller, Robert A. Adolph, Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Publication number: 20150168592
    Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring neutron-induced activation gamma-rays in a subterranean formation are provided. In one example, a downhole tool for measuring neutron-induced activation gamma-rays may include a neutron source and a gamma-ray detector. The neutron source may emit neutrons according to a pulsing scheme that includes a delay between two pulses. The delay may be sufficient to allow substantially all neutron capture events due to the emitted neutrons to cease. The gamma-ray detector may be configured to detect activation gamma-rays produced when elements activated by the emitted neutrons decay to a non-radioactive state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Stoller, Peter Wraight, Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Patent number: 9031790
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining a porosity of a subterranean formation corrected for borehole effects are provided. One such device may be a downhole tool capable of being lowered into a borehole of a subterranean formation that may include a neutron source, two or more neutron detectors, and data processing circuitry. The neutron source may emit neutrons into the subterranean formation. The two or more neutron detectors may be respectively disposed at two or more azimuthal orientations within the downhole tool, and may detect neutrons scattered by the subterranean formation or borehole fluid in the borehole, or both. Based on the neutrons detected by the neutron detectors, the data processing circuitry may determine a porosity of the subterranean formation corrected for borehole effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: James Thornton, Bradley A. Roscoe
  • Publication number: 20140319330
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein are directed to methods and neutron detectors for use in downhole and other oilfield applications. In particular, the neutron detector includes a scintillator formed at least partially from an elpasolite material. In a more specific embodiment, the scintillator is formed from a Cs2LiYCl6 (“CLYC”) material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Markus Berheide, Bradley A. Roscoe, Jing Qian, Timothy Spillane, Irina Shestakova, Olivier G. Philip, Stefan Vajda
  • Publication number: 20140124659
    Abstract: Borehole logging tools and systems that include a scintillator positioned to interact with scattered source neutrons that are received from a target formation. The scintillator emits luminescence in response to interaction with the scattered neutrons. The scintillator includes an aluminofluoride host material (e.g., LiCAF). In a specific embodiment, the aluminofluoride host material is doped with europium. In a further specific embodiment, a processor distinguishes scattered neutrons from gamma rays based upon identifying a peak within an output signal from the scintillator. In yet another specific embodiment, a system includes a first scintillator and a second scintillator. The processor subtracts luminescence generated by the second scintillator from luminescence generated by the first scintillator to identify a neutron response of the first scintillator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Markus Berheide, Bradley A. Roscoe, Jing Qian, Timothy Spillane
  • Publication number: 20140117246
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting radiation-of-interest, such as neutron radiation, employs a gas chamber, a gas that responds to ionizing particles by producing electrons and ions, a cathode that attracts ions, and a supporting layer with a conductive pathway. The conductive pathway collects electrons and responds to electrons that drift towards the conductive pathway by inducing production of further electrons and ions within the gas. The electrons that are collected at the conductive pathway and/or the ions that drift away from the conductive pathway will induce an electrical signal, which can be used to detect the radiation-of-interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: ZILU ZHOU, BRADLEY A. ROSCOE, MARKUS BERHEIDE, JOSHUA WAYNE GIBSON
  • Patent number: 8642944
    Abstract: A nuclear tool includes a tool housing; a neutron generator disposed in the tool housing; and a solid-state neutron monitor disposed proximate the neutron generator for monitoring the output of the neutron generator. A method for constructing a nuclear tool includes disposing a neutron generator in a tool housing; and disposing a solid-state neutron monitor proximate the neutron generator for monitoring the output of the neutron generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Saenger, Bradley A. Roscoe, Zilu Zhou, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 8586913
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and related systems are described for measuring a property of a fluid, including density, in a subterranean environment. A device includes a pressure housing having one or more windows formed in the pressure housing and a flow device arranged in the pressure housing for the fluid to flow through the flow device. Further, a radiation source is mounted within the pressure housing approximate a first source window configured to generate particles into the fluid. The device includes a detector supported by the pressure housing and positioned approximate a first detector window of the one or more windows. The first detector window is located between the detector and the flow device. The detector can be a solid state beta particle detector with a wide band gap, such as the diamond detector, and the radiation source can be a beta particle source, such as a strontium 90 source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Zilu Zhou, Christopher Harrison, Bradley A. Roscoe, Chloe Coleou, Douglas W. Grant
  • Patent number: 8431885
    Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for gamma-ray detection. A gamma-ray detector is made depending on its properties and how those properties are affected by the data analysis. Desirable properties for a downhole detector include; high temperature operation, reliable/robust packaging, good resolution, high countrate capability, high density, high Z, low radioactive background, low neutron cross-section, high light output, single decay time, efficiency, linearity, size availability, etc. Since no single detector has the optimum of all these properties, a downhole tool design preferably picks the best combination of these in existing detectors, which will optimize the performance of the measurement in the required environment and live with the remaining non-optimum properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley A. Roscoe, James A. Grau
  • Patent number: 8319175
    Abstract: Methods and devices relating to a radiation detector comprising of a gas chamber having a cathode plate and a substrate separated by a gap. An array of nano-tips deposited on the substrate that forms an anode structure for electron charge collection. An external power source in communication with the cathode plate and the substrate, wherein the external power source is capable of generating a plurality of regions and each region includes an electric field near each nano-tip of the array of the nano-tips that results in initiating a radiation induced controlled discharge of electrons and ions from at least one gas or at least one gas mixture. Finally, the plurality of regions include multiple generated electric fields near tips of the array of nano-tips such as CNTs, that communicatively create a conductive path between the cathode plate and the substrate, the radiation detector is capable of determining at least one radiation property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Zilu Zhou, Markus Berheide, Felix Chen, Bradley A. Roscoe, Joyce Wong, Martin G. Luling, Olivier Philip
  • Publication number: 20120267520
    Abstract: A well logging instrument includes a radiation generator and a high voltage power supply functionally coupled to the generator. The generator and the supply are longitudinally separated by a distance sufficient for emplacement of a radiation detector. At least a first radiation detector is disposed in a space between the generator and the supply. The instrument includes an electrical connection between the supply and the generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Bradley Roscoe