Patents by Inventor John L. Maida

John L. Maida 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: 11131185
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for deploying fiber optic lines in a wellbore using a fiber optic deployment device. The device can include at least one fiber optic spool forming a canister. The canister can be operable to self-propel through at least a portion of the wellbore. Each of the at least one fiber optic spool can comprising one or more fiber optic lines. Each of the one or more fiber optic lines can be coupled to a bridge plug at a first end and coupled to a cable at a second end opposite the first end. The device can include a sleeve covering the at least one fiber optic spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mikko Jaaskelainen, Brian Vandellyn Park, John L. Maida
  • Publication number: 20210277771
    Abstract: Distributed Acoustic Sensing systems may be employed for monitoring wellbore events occurring within the interior of a tubular conveyance such as a coiled tubing strand. A signal cable carried by the coiled tubing strand may provide a measure of acoustic energy as a function of position in the wellbore such that a location of a ball dropped through the coiled tubing strand may be monitored in real time. The signal cable can be used to determine whether the ball encounters an obstruction within the coiled tubing strand, and/or can confirm that the ball has properly seated on a downhole tool actuated by engagement with the ball. In other embodiments, the location and density of a liquid sand flow or other fluid mixture can be monitored, and/or the location of a leak through a lateral wall of the coiled tubing strand can be detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Bharat B. Pawar, John L. Maida, Margaret Ruth Devol, Jim B. Surjaatmadja
  • Publication number: 20210270131
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) method and system. The system may comprise an interrogator and an umbilical line comprising a first fiber optic cable and a second fiber optic cable attached at one end to the interrogator. The DAS may further include a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator and a light source disposed in the interrogator that is configured to emit a plurality of coherent light frequencies into the umbilical line and the downhole fiber. The method may include generating interferometric signals of the plurality of frequencies of backscattered light that have been received by the photo detector assembly and processing the interferometric signals with an information handling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, John L. Maida, JR., Ira Jeffrey Bush, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Publication number: 20210270667
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) may comprise an interrogator and an umbilical line attached at one end to the interrogator, a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator. The interrogator may further include a proximal circulator, a distal circulator connected to the proximal circulator by a first fiber optic cable, and a second fiber optic cable connecting the proximal circulator and the distal circulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Glenn Andrew Wilson, John L. Maida
  • Patent number: 11092539
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a presence, type, or amount of an analyte in fluid. An analyte sensor can include a substrate that includes a chiral molecule for sensing the presence of the analyte in the fluid. A property of the chiral molecule may change in response to sensing the presence of the analyte. The change in the property of the chiral molecule can cause a change in polarization of a beam of light traveling through the substrate. The presence, type, or amount of the analyte can be determined based on the change in polarization of the beam of light. The analyte sensor, along with optical fibers, can be used to determine the presence, type, or amount of an analyte in a fluid sample from a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William Cecil Pearl, Jr., Megan Renee Pearl, Neal Gregory Skinner, John L. Maida
  • Publication number: 20210238977
    Abstract: Locating a loss zone while cementing a well casing in a well bore includes: inserting a fiber-optic cable into the well bore, wherein the fiber optic cable is part of one or more Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing (DFOS) systems; detecting a loss circulation signature, while cementing the well casing, at a point along the fiber-optic cable by at least one of the one or more DFOS systems; and locating the loss zone within the well bore based on the point along the fiber-optic cable at which the loss circulation signature was detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Bir Singh, Mikko Jaaskelainen, John L. Maida, Krishna Babu Yerubandi
  • Publication number: 20210238978
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for determining cement barrier quality of a cementing process. Systems and methods are provided for receiving data from a distributed acoustic sensing fiber optic line positioned proximate to cement barrier of a wellbore, determining at least one zonal isolation in the cement barrier based on the data received from the distributed acoustic sensing fiber optic line, and compiling a cement bond log based on the determining of the at least one zonal isolation in the cement barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: John Paul Bir SINGH, Mikko JAASKELAINEN, John L. MAIDA, Krishna Babu Yerubandi
  • Publication number: 20210238994
    Abstract: System and methods for detecting a composition in a wellbore during a cementing operation. An electrochemical cell can be disposed towards an end of a wellbore. The electrochemical cell can generate electrical energy in response to a physical presence of a composition at the electrochemical cell. The composition can be pumped from a surface of the wellbore during a cementing operation of the wellbore. Further, a telemetry signal indicating the physical presence of the composition at the electrochemical cell can be generated based on the electrical energy generated by the electrochemical cell. As follows, the telemetry signal can be transmitted to the surface of the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: John Paul Bir Singh, John L. Maida, Mikko Jaaskelainen, Krishna Babu Yerubandi
  • Publication number: 20210238983
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to systems and methods for determining positions of fluids during a cementing process in real-time. Systems and methods are provided for receiving one or more sensing parameters from a distributed acoustic sensing fiber optic line positioned in a wellbore during a cementing process, determining types of fluid proximate to the wellbore based on the one or more sensing parameters received from the distributed acoustic sensing fiber optic line, determining pressure gradients of the types of fluid based on the one or more sensing parameters received from the distributed acoustic sensing fiber optic line, and compiling flow profiles for the types of fluid proximate to the wellbore based on at least one of the determining of the types of fluid and the determining of the pressure gradients of the types of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: John Paul Bir SINGH, Mikko JAASKELAINEN, Krishna Babu YERUBANDI, John L. MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20210238953
    Abstract: Activating a reaction of a sealant, such as cement, with a fiber optic cable, the reaction causing hardening of the sealant. The sealant may be used in wellbore cementing operations to cement a casing in a wellbore. The fiber optic cable may be deployed by attaching it to the outside of a casing during insertion into the wellbore. The activation of the sealant can be via thermal or optical initiation in order to causing a hydration reaction or polymerization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Peter James BOUL, John L. Maida, Krishna Ravi, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Publication number: 20210238985
    Abstract: Temperature data collected from a distributed temperature sensing system may be used to prepare a temporal thermal profile of the wellbore. The temporal thermal profile may be used to determine a generalized heat transfer coefficient (k) and/or a generalized geothermal profile (Tae). The temporal thermal profile and the generalized heat transfer coefficient (k) and/or the generalized geothermal profile (Tae) may be used to estimate thermal properties of a wellbore, such as well as fluid and flow characteristics. A heat of hydration index may also be determined based on the temporal thermal profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Krishna Babu YERUBANDI, John Paul Bir SINGH, John L. MAIDA, Mikko JAASKELAINEN
  • Publication number: 20210231008
    Abstract: An acoustic receiver is provided. The acoustic receiver includes an optical vibrometer having an optical emitter and an optical receiver. The optical receiver is operable to emit an optical beam to a single point of reference on a conduit, and the optical receiver is operable to receive one or more reflections of the optical beam off of the single point of reference on the conduit, thereby detecting waves propagating through the conduit created by an acoustic transmitter. A processor is coupled with the optical emitter and the optical receiver. The processor is operable to: determine components of the waves created by the acoustic transmitter based on the one or more reflections of the optical beam; and determine a signal transmitted from the acoustic transmitter based on the components of the waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Joshua STARK, Patrick John JONKE, Li GAO, Yao GE, Alexis GARCIA, John L. MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20210223067
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include an acoustic noise reduction device. In one embodiment, the device includes a first sensor operable to detect a first acoustic noise signal and a desired signal and to modulate a first plurality of optical signals in response to detecting at least one of the first acoustic noise signal and the desired signal. The device also includes a second sensor operable to detect a second acoustic noise signal and modulate a second plurality of optical signals in response to detecting the second acoustic noise signal. The device further includes a coupler that is connected to the first and second sensors, where components of the modulated first and second plurality of optical signals approximately cancel each other out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Ilker R. CAPOGLU, Xinwei LAN, Yenny Natali MARTINEZ, John L. MAIDA
  • Publication number: 20210222549
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and apparatus, as well as an article, may operate to determine downhole properties based on detected optical signals. An optical detection apparatus can include an optical detector including a superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) for detecting light received at an input section of fiber optic cable. The optical detection apparatus can further include a cryogenic cooler configured to maintain the temperature of a light-sensitive region of the SNSPD within a superconducting temperature range of the SNSPD. Downhole properties are measured based on detected optical signals received at the optical detection apparatus. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel J. Stark, John L. Maida, Satyan Gopal Bhongale, David Andrew Barfoot
  • Patent number: 11048017
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and apparatus, as well as an article, may operate to determine properties based on detected optical signals. An optical detection apparatus can include an optical detector for detecting light received through a fiber optic cable; a housing for enclosing the optical detector; a light source; and a cooling mechanism having the housing mounted thereto. The cooling mechanism can maintain the temperature of a light-sensitive region of the optical detector within a temperature range below 210 degrees Kelvin. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Joshua Stark, John L. Maida, Satyan Gopal Bhongale, David Andrew Barfoot
  • Patent number: 11047230
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system (DAS) with an interrogator, an umbilical line attached at one end to the interrogator, and a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator. A method for optimizing a sampling frequency may begin with identifying a length of a fiber optic cable connected to an interrogator, identifying one or more regions on the fiber optic cable in which a backscatter is received, and optimizing a sampling frequency of a distributed acoustic system (DAS) by identifying a minimum time interval that is between an emission of a light pulse such that at no point in time the backscatter arrives back at the interrogator that corresponds to more than one spatial location along a sensing portion of the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, John L. Maida, Jr., Ira Jeffrey Bush, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 11015445
    Abstract: A property of a downhole fluid, for example, a chemical species or ion concentration, may be accurately determined and logged based on measurements received from an optical detector where the optical detector is fed information or signals from an optical system coupled to one or more electrochemical probes calibrated for one or more properties of a fluid. The one or more electrochemical probes provide a potential to the optical system based, at least in part, on exposure to the downhole fluid. The optical system receives an optical signal from a light source that is transmitted via a transmission line, such as a fiber optic cable. Downhole information from the optical system is transmitted to the surface via the same or another transmission line. Thus, the signals are in the optical domain rather than the electrical domain. Multiple properties may be measured simultaneously using the same transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinwei Lan, Yenny Natali Martinez, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Neal Gregory Skinner, John L. Maida
  • Publication number: 20210096020
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic system may comprise an interrogator which includes a single photon detector, an umbilical line comprising a first fiber optic cable and a second fiber optic cable attached at one end to the interrogator, and a downhole fiber attached to the umbilical line at the end opposite the interrogator. A method for optimizing a sampling frequency may comprise identifying a length of a fiber optic cable connected to an interrogator, identifying one or more regions on the fiber optic cable in which a backscatter is received, and optimizing a sampling frequency of a distributed acoustic system by identifying a minimum time interval that is between an emission of a light pulse such that at no point in time the backscatter arrives back at the interrogator that corresponds to more than one spatial location along a sensing portion of the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Joshua Stark, John L. Maida, Andreas Ellmauthaler, Ira Jeffrey Bush, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Glenn Andrew Wilson
  • Patent number: 10948344
    Abstract: An optical detection system for analyzing a fluid sample including a light source configured to emit a light beam to interact with the sample to form a spectrum, an optical fiber to transmit the spectrum, an array of single-photon detectors (SPDs), and wherein each SPD is configured to receive and is tunable to analyze spectral characteristics of the spectrum across a spectral range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Stark, John L. Maida
  • Patent number: 10934838
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method and apparatus, as well as an article, may operate to determine downhole properties based on detected optical signals. An optical detection system can include a fiber optic cable having a sensing location to generate a reflected measurement signal representative of measurement parameters. The optical detection system can further include a light source to transmit a measurement signal to cause the sensing location to provide the reflected measurement signal. The optical detection system can further include an optical detector comprising a single-photon detector (SPD) for detecting the reflected measurement signal received over the fiber optic cable. The optical detection system can further include a housing for enclosing the optical detector and to optically shield the optical detector, the housing including an aperture for passage of the fiber optic cable. Additional apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Joshua Stark, John L. Maida, Casey Giron, Satyan Gopal Bhongale