Patents by Inventor Jeffrey A. Tarvin
Jeffrey A. Tarvin 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).
-
Publication number: 20070035736Abstract: The present invention contemplates implementation of transitory downhole video imaging and/or spectral imaging for the characterization of formation fluid samples in situ, as well as during flow through production tubing, including subsea flow lines, for permanent and/or long term installations. The present invention contemplates various methods and apparatus that facilitate one-time or ongoing downhole fluid characterization by video analysis in real time. The methods and systems may be particularly well suited to permanent and periodic intervention-based operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2005Publication date: February 15, 2007Inventors: Stephane Vannuffelen, Ahmed Hammami, Toru Terabayashi, Tsutomu Yamate, Terry Sopkow, John Ratulowski, John Kerr, Francois Auzerais, Robert Schroeder, Jeffrey A. Tarvin, Andrew L. Kurkjian, Laurent Prouvost
-
Publication number: 20060125474Abstract: Logging-while-drilling apparatus and methodologies for measuring streaming potential in an earth formation are provided. The apparatus and methodologies can be utilized to find information relevant to the drilling operations. In particular, since the streaming potential measurement relates directly to fluid flow, the streaming potential measurements can be used to track flow of fluids in the formation. In turn, this information may be used to find information relevant to the drilling operations, such as under-balanced drilling conditions, abnormal formation pressures, open fractures, the permeability of the formation, and formation pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2005Publication date: June 15, 2006Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Min-Yi Chen, Brian Clark, Anthony Collins, Jeffrey Tarvin
-
Publication number: 20060089804Abstract: Logging-while-drilling apparatus and methodologies for measuring streaming potential in an earth formation are provided. The apparatus and methodologies can be utilized to find information relevant to the drilling operations. In particular, since the streaming potential measurement relates directly to fluid flow, the streaming potential measurements can be used to track flow of fluids in the formation. In turn, this information may be used to find information relevant to the drilling operations, such as under-balanced drilling conditions, abnormal formation pressures, open fractures, the permeability of the formation, and formation pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2005Publication date: April 27, 2006Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Min-Yi Chen, Brian Clark, Anthony Collins, Jeffrey Tarvin
-
Publication number: 20050279499Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sampling fluid from a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore are provided. The subterranean formation has clean formation fluid therein, and the wellbore has a contaminated fluid therein extending into an invaded zone about the wellbore. A shaft is extended from a housing and positioned in a perforation in a sidewall of the wellbore. At least one flowline extends through the shaft and into the housing. The flowline(s) are adapted to receive downhole fluids through the perforation. At least one fluid restrictor, such as a packer, injection fluid or flow inhibitor, may be used to isolate at least a portion of the perforation whereby contaminated fluid is prevented from entering the isolated portion of the perforation. At least one pump selectively draws fluid into the flowline(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2004Publication date: December 22, 2005Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Jeffrey Tarvin, Julian Pop, Simon Bittleston, Angus Melbourne, Rogerio Ramos
-
Patent number: 6946645Abstract: High-resolution measurement of a parameter is provided at multiple different locations simultaneously along an optic fiber. Light within a predefined range of wavelengths is transmitted into an optic fiber that contains multiple birefringent fiber optic pressure transducers, each including a Fiber Bragg Grating. Each grating defines a spatially modulated index of refraction and a wavelength that is unique within the system. A sweeping comb filter is used to apply optical comb filtering to light reflected from the transducers so as to pass filtered light having multiple spectral portions, each spectral portion associated with one transducer. The free spectral range of the sweeping comb filter is set to be approximately equal to the spectral range of a single spectral portion. Wavelength division multiplexing is applied to the filtered light so as to separate the spectral portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Jeffrey A. Tarvin, Robert J. Schroeder, Rogerio T. Ramos, Tsutomu Yamate
-
Publication number: 20050149264Abstract: A distributed temperature sensor is deployed in a wellbore and is functionally connected to a processor. The processor receives the data from the distributed temperature sensor and automatically processes the data to highlight valuable information to the user relating to the relevant well, completion, or reservoir. In one embodiment, the distributed temperature sensor and processor are utilized in a well containing a gas-lift system, wherein the processor highlights valuable information to the user pertaining to the gas-lift system. A well model enabled by the processor enables the determination of a produced fluid flow rate in the well having a gas lift system. Temperatures are measured within the well to obtain a temperature profile, and this profile is processed according to the well model. The well model relates thermal characteristics, e.g. thermal decay and/or amplitude of a thermal discontinuity at an injection point, to flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2004Publication date: July 7, 2005Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Jeffrey Tarvin, Lalitha Venkataramanan, Thomas White, George Brown
-
Publication number: 20040178330Abstract: High-resolution measurement of a parameter is provided at multiple different locations simultaneously along an optic fiber. Light within a predefined range of wavelengths is transmitted into an optic fiber that contains multiple birefringent fiber optic pressure transducers, each including a Fiber Bragg Grating. Each grating defines a spatially modulated index of refraction and a wavelength that is unique within the system. A sweeping comb filter is used to apply optical comb filtering to light reflected from the transducers so as to pass filtered light having multiple spectral portions, each spectral portion associated with one transducer. The free spectral range of the sweeping comb filter is set to be approximately equal to the spectral range of a single spectral portion. Wavelength division multiplexing is applied to the filtered light so as to separate the spectral portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2003Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Jeffrey A. Tarvin, Robert J. Schroeder, Rogerio T. Ramos, Tsutomu Yamate
-
Patent number: 6751556Abstract: A technique usable with a subterranean well includes deploying a first optical sensor downhole in the subterranean well. The technique includes observing an intensity of backscattered light from the first optical sensor to measure a distribution of a characteristic along a portion of the well. The technique includes deploying a second sensor downhole to measure the characteristic at discreet points within the portion. The second sensor is separate from this first sensor and includes at least one interferometric sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Sensor Highway LimitedInventors: Robert J. Schroeder, Jeffrey Tarvin, Rogerio T. Ramos, George A. Brown
-
Publication number: 20030236626Abstract: A technique that usable in a subterranean well includes deploying a first sensor in a remote location to measure a distribution of a characteristic along a segment at the location. The technique includes deploying a second sensor downhole to measure the characteristic at discrete points within the segment. The second sensor is separate from the first sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2002Publication date: December 25, 2003Inventors: Robert J. Schroeder, Jeffrey Tarvin, Rogerio T. Ramos, George A. Brown
-
Publication number: 20020109081Abstract: High-resolution measurement of a parameter is provided at multiple different locations simultaneously along an optic fiber. Light within a predefined range of wavelengths is transmitted into an optic fiber that contains multiple transducers each formed as a grating. Each grating defines a spatially modulated index of refraction and a wavelength that is unique within the system. A Fabry-Perot Interferometer is used to apply optical comb filtering to light reflected from the transducers so as to pass filtered light having multiple spectral portions, each spectral portion associated with one transducer. The free spectral range of the Fabry-Perot Interferometer is set to be approximately equal to the spectral range of a single spectral portion. Wavelength division multiplexing is applied to the filtered light so as to separate the spectral portions. The value of a parameter is preferably determined using the spectral spacing of two maxima of spectral intensity in each spectral portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2000Publication date: August 15, 2002Inventors: Jeffrey A. Tarvin, Robert J. Schroeder, Rogerio T. Ramos, Tsutomu Yamate
-
Patent number: 5790185Abstract: A video logging tool is described which is particularly well adapted for production logging of oil or gas wells. The tool has both an end view optical system and a side view optical system for imaging side and end view on a CCD array in a camera.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1996Date of Patent: August 4, 1998Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Auzerais, Robert J. Schroeder, Benoit Couet, Jeffrey A. Tarvin
-
Patent number: 5331156Abstract: Methods for quantifying the oil and water fractions of a fluid stream. A first method broadly includes making optical density (OD) measurements of the fluid stream by detecting photons of a first predetermined energy where the oil and water absorption characteristics are substantially identical (e.g., 1710 nm wavelength), and determining the oil and water fractions f.sub.o and f.sub.w according to OD.perspectiveto.f.sub.w .alpha..sub.w l+f.sub.o .alpha..sub.o l where .alpha..sub.w and .alpha..sub.o are related to the absorption coefficients of the oil and water at the predetermined energy, l is the path width of the fluid stream, and f.sub.w +f.sub.o =1. A second method which eliminates scattering effects utilizes the photons at the first predetermined energy and further utilizes photons of a second predetermined energy which is sufficiently close to the first predetermined energy such that the oil fraction is a linear function of the OD over the energy range.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1993Date of Patent: July 19, 1994Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Daniel R. Hines, Noboru Wada, Stephen Garoff, Oliver C. Mullins, Paul Hammond, Jeffrey Tarvin, Stephen P. Cramer, Ralphe Wiggins
-
Patent number: 5166747Abstract: A borehole apparatus for analyzing the composition of a formation fluid includes a chamber that contains the fluid, and a light source that directs light through the fluid in the chamber. The optical path of the light is modified such that an output fiber optic bundle receives indirect light through the fluid. One embodiment comprises a diffuser in the optical path, which forward scatters the light to the output fiber optic bundle. Another embodiment comprises the misalignment of an input fiber optic bundle relative to the output fiber optic bundle. Collimators can be subsituted for the fiber optic bundles.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1990Date of Patent: November 24, 1992Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Robert J. Schroeder, Jeffrey A. Tarvin
-
Patent number: 4994671Abstract: A borehole apparatus for analyzing the composition of a formation fluid is disclosed and generally comprises a testing chamber, a means for directing a sample of fluid into the chamber, a light source which emits at least near infrared rays, a spectral detector, a data base means, and a processing means. The light source is preferably an incandescent lamp and the testing chamber includes a window which is substantially optically transparent to at least one near infrared light, and preferably also the near ultraviolet and visible light of the source. The light source is directed at least partly towards the window in the chamber either via collimation or fiber optics. The spectral detector means is preferably a spectrometer which detects and measures the spectra of the light which has been transmitted through and the light which is backscattered by the fluid sample. The preferred data base means stores the spectra at different pressures and temperatures of water, gas, and a plurality of oils.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1989Date of Patent: February 19, 1991Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Kambiz A. Safinya, Jeffrey A. Tarvin
-
Patent number: 4641524Abstract: An optical dielectric humidity sensor which includes a dielectric mirror having multiple alternating layers of two porous water-adsorbent dielectric materials with differing indices of refraction carried by a translucent substrate. A narrow-band polarized light source is positioned to direct light energy onto the mirror, and detectors are positioned to receive light energy transmitted through and reflected by the mirror. A ratiometer indicates humidity in the atmosphere which surrounds the dielectric mirror as a function of a ratio of light energies incident on the detectors.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1985Date of Patent: February 10, 1987Assignee: KMS Fusion, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey A. Tarvin