Patents by Inventor Nathan Church
Nathan Church 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).
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Publication number: 20160298396Abstract: A constant force device has at least a first non-constant axial force driving the first set of arms and a second non-constant axial force driving the second set of arms, where the two sets of arms are offset from one another by 90°. Each of the non-constant axial forces is converted to a radially extending force by the interaction of a force guide and actuator. The force guide is attached to the inner mandrel of the constant force device and is shaped to produce an essentially constant radially extending force through the entire range of motion of the arms. Typically each arm of the pair of arms has a pivoting arm and a telescoping arm where the joint between the pivoting arm and telescoping arm has one or more wheels to reduce friction as the constant force device moves through the tubular. Generally the first pair of arms is opposed to and overlaps by some distance the second pair of arms where the second pair of arms is 90° offset from the first pair of arms.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2015Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicant: Probe Technology Services, Inc.Inventor: Nathan Church
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Patent number: 8584748Abstract: An apparatus comprising a tool body configured to be conveyed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, an inflatable packer coupled to the tool body, and a probe assembly coupled to the tool body and comprising an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, wherein at least one of the inner sealing element and the outer sealing element comprises an elongated shape, and wherein at least a portion of the probe assembly is disposed on the inflatable packer.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2010Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Nathan Church, Stephane Briquet, Darya Mustafina, Alexander Skibin, Alexander Zazovsky
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Patent number: 8561698Abstract: Downhole tools and methods are provided for injecting fluid into a formation. A downhole tool may include a first chamber of injection fluid separated from a second chamber of working fluid by a piston. The working fluid may be employed to apply pressure to the piston to direct injection fluid from the first chamber to the formation. A flow regulator may regulate flow of the injection fluid from the first chamber to the formation.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Edward Harrigan, Douglas W. Grant, Nathan Church
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Patent number: 8499831Abstract: In a formation pressure tester tool, an elongated filter piston possibly having a tapered or sharp edge configured to penetrate mud cake while the probe is being set. At the end of the setting sequence, the filter piston is retracted, thus opening a flowpath from the formation, through the mudcake, to the probe.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20110315372Abstract: The present disclosure relates to one or more an apparatuses including a downhole tool configured for conveyance in a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation. The downhole tool may include a first unit having a first fluid port configured to provide fluid communication between the first unit and the wellbore, a second unit having a second fluid port configured to provide fluid communication between the second unit and the wellbore, a connector configured to connect a first connecting end of the first unit with a second connecting end of the second unit, such that the connector does not include packer elements, a first packer element mounted on the first unit and not located between the first fluid port and the first connecting end, and a second packer element mounted on the second unit and not located between the second fluid port and the second connecting end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventor: Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20110297371Abstract: The present disclosure relates to one or more methods and apparatus to dispose one or more markers within a subterranean formation. The method includes positioning a drill probe assembly in a borehole extending into the subterranean formation, drilling a hole through a sidewall of the borehole with a flexible shaft of the drill probe assembly, the hole penetrating the subterranean formation, and disposing a marker in the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2010Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Nathan Church, Peter Fitzgerald
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Patent number: 8015867Abstract: A formation testing probe assembly comprising an elongated packer having a surface configured to be urged by the probe assembly towards a wall of a wellbore extending through the formation. The formation testing probe assembly further comprises a plate embedded in the elongated packer and including a central structural portion extending along a centerline of a substantial length of the plate, wherein the central structural portion is substantially thicker than remaining portions of the plate.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Bradley Kerr, Elizabeth B. Dussan, V., Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20110162836Abstract: An apparatus comprising a tool body configured to be conveyed within a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation, an inflatable packer coupled to the tool body, and a probe assembly coupled to the tool body and comprising an inner sealing element and an outer sealing element, wherein at least one of the inner sealing element and the outer sealing element comprises an elongated shape, and wherein at least a portion of the probe assembly is disposed on the inflatable packer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventor: Nathan Church
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Patent number: 7789170Abstract: A sidewall coring tool includes a tool housing, a coring assembly coupled and a marking device. The defines a longitudinal axis and is adapted for suspension within the borehole at a selected depth. The coring assembly is coupled to the tool housing and includes a bit housing and a coring bit coupled to the bit housing. The coring bit is supported for movement between a transport position and a coring position. The marking device is located at a known position with respect to the coring bit and is adapted to form an orientation mark in the formation.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20100186951Abstract: In a formation pressure tester tool, an elongated filter piston possibly having a tapered or sharp edge configured to penetrate mud cake while the probe is being set. At the end of the setting sequence, the filter piston is retracted, thus opening a flowpath from the formation, through the mudcake, to the probe.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventor: Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20100083748Abstract: A formation testing probe assembly comprising an elongated packer having a surface configured to be urged by the probe assembly towards a wall of a wellbore extending through the formation. The formation testing probe assembly further comprises a plate embedded in the elongated packer and including a central structural portion extending along a centerline of a substantial length of the plate, wherein the central structural portion is substantially thicker than remaining portions of the plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventors: Bradley Kerr, Elizabeth B. Dussan V., Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20090133932Abstract: A sidewall coring tool includes a tool housing, a coring assembly coupled and a marking device. The defines a longitudinal axis and is adapted for suspension within the borehole at a selected depth. The coring assembly is coupled to the tool housing and includes a bit housing and a coring bit coupled to the bit housing. The coring bit is supported for movement between a transport position and a coring position. The marking device is located at a known position with respect to the coring bit and is adapted to form an orientation mark in the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: May 28, 2009Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Nathan Church
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Publication number: 20070214184Abstract: A mechanism minimizes the management issues of the participant objects of the logical target set, such as an application set. The mechanism maps the current physical implementation. The mechanism then identifies the target and extraneous object set locations to facilitate isolation. Thereafter, the mechanism optimizes the logical target set placement for best manageability and performance. The mechanism minimizes the management issues by providing a small application footprint. This is accomplished by placing the object set on the fewest necessary volumes to facilitate both application performance and independence of administrative action.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2006Publication date: September 13, 2007Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Nathan Church, Joel Farber, Teresa Leamon, Jeffrey Ruggles