Patents by Inventor Neal Gregory Skinner
Neal Gregory Skinner 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: 20160138386Abstract: Fluid densities can be monitored in real-time in a wellbore, such as during downhole stimulation operations, using an acoustic pressure-sensing system. The measured acoustic signal can be used to determine pressure fluctuations of a fluid in non-laminar flow. An estimated density of the fluid can be calculated based on the pressure fluctuations of the fluid and a known flow rate of the fluid. The flow rate of the fluid can be known, such as when being held constant by surface equipment or when measured at the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Christopher Lee Stokely, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20160040530Abstract: An example telemetry signal detection apparatus may include a optical splitter, a light source optically coupled to the optical splitter, and a light detector optically coupled to the optical splitter. The apparatus further may include a reference loop optically coupled to the optical splitter and a sensor loop optically coupled to the reference loop and the optical splitter. The reference loop may be contained within a reference loop enclosure. The sensor loop and reference loop may comprise a zero-area Sagnac loop with folded optical fiber or dual fiber cable configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Zbignew Stanislaw Sobolewski, Douglas Mark Knight, John Laureto Maida, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 9168612Abstract: An apparatus for laser drilling including a laser beam emitter disposed within a housing having at least one laser beam outlet and at least one purge fluid outlet. At least one actuated nozzle is disposed within the housing for providing a purge fluid through the purge fluid outlet and having functional control for synchronized programmable activation patterns. Laser beam control is provided for directing a laser beam over a target surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignees: Gas Technology Institute, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Lloyd Wilkiel, Neal Gregory Skinner, Timothy Holiman Hunter
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Publication number: 20150300110Abstract: A pressure management device of a drilling system is disclosed. The device includes a housing, a primary bearing package coupled to the housing such that the primary bearing package is not removable from the housing. The primary bearing package is further configured to rotate with respect to the housing. The device also includes a sealing package configured to automatically seal between a drill pipe and the primary bearing package in response to an insertion of the drill pipe through the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2012Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventor: Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20150276582Abstract: Disclosed are optical computing devices that employ birefringent optical elements configured for use in optical computing devices. One optical computing device includes a polarizer configured to generate at least x polarized light and y polarized light, a birefringent integrated computational element configured to optically interact with a substance and the polarizer, thereby generating optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, David L. Perkins
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Patent number: 9022115Abstract: A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignees: Gas Technology Institute, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Mark Kleefisch, Colin Hawthorn, Henry David Reynolds, Neal Gregory Skinner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Roger Lynn Schultz, Timothy Holiman Hunter
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Publication number: 20150021009Abstract: An opto-acoustic subsystem is provided. The subsystem includes an optical transmitter and an actuator device. The optical transmitter can be positioned at a surface of a wellbore. The actuator device can be positioned in the wellbore and can respond to a modulated electrical signal generated from a modulated optical signal received from the optical transmitter by outputting a modulated acoustical signal into an environment of the wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2013Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventor: Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20140208855Abstract: A method and system for distributed acoustic sensing using multimode optical fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Halliburton Energy ServicesInventor: Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20140182933Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to downhole wellbore operations such as drilling and completing wells in an earth formation that include a laser device. The method includes lasing a rock and detecting an optical response of the lased rock. It can be determined from the optical response whether the lased rock is responding as specified (e.g. spalling, melting, etc.) If the lased rock is not responding as specified, one or more laser parameters are adjusted to achieve the specified response. Spalling is determined by the detection of sparks, or other light that erratically changes in intensity over time, by an optical detector. The detection of steady light may indicate other types of rock removal mechanisms, such as melt or dissociation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2012Publication date: July 3, 2014Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, Timothy Holiman Hunter, Colin John Hawthorn, Lloyd S. Wilkiel, James Louis
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Patent number: 8678087Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for producing fluids from a wellbore wherein fluids may be communicated through an aperture in a wall of the wellbore. A laser can then be used to seal the aperture in the wall of the wellbore. The wall of the wellbore may include a casing, and the laser can be used to seal the aperture in the wall of the wellbore by fusing apertures in the casing shut. Fusing the aperture in the casing can involve heating the casing such that opposite sides of the aperture fuse together or can involve selectively laser sintering fusible powders. The wall of the wellbore can be an open hole and using a laser to seal the aperture can include sealing the aperture in side surfaces of the open hole by glazing the surface of hole extending into a subterranean formation.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Loyd E. East, Harold G. Walters, Billy Wilson McDaniel, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 8540026Abstract: Methods may include selecting a slot size of apertures to control sand production including formation fines in fluid from a subterranean zone. The slot size may be selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in fluid from the subterranean zone. A laser may be used to form apertures with the selected slot size in a casing installed in a wellbore in the subterranean zone. Systems and apparatuses may be configured to perform the above operations.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 24, 2013Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Loyd E. East, Harold G. Walters, Billy Wilson McDaniel, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 8534357Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses involve selecting an aperture geometry to filter solids from fluid from a subterranean zone, the aperture geometry selected based on a distribution of sizes of particles in the fluid from the subterranean zone. A laser can be used to form slots with the selected aperture geometry in a casing installed in a well in the subterranean zone, the aperture geometry having a size selected based on the distribution of sizes of the particles.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Loyd E. East, Harold G. Walters, Billy Wilson McDaniel, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 8528643Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to downhole wellbore operations such as drilling and completing wells in an earth formation include a laser device. For example, a method may include characterizing a subterranean formation, selecting an orientation of an aperture based on characteristics of the subterranean formation, and using a laser to form an aperture of the selected orientation in the wall of the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2012Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Loyd E. East, Harold G. Walters, Billy Wilson McDaniel, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20130140039Abstract: A method of delivering a desired relatively high optical power to a well tool in a subterranean well can include coupling to an optical waveguide an optical source which combines multiple optical frequency ranges, respective centers of the frequency ranges being separated by at least a peak shift frequency in a Raman gain spectrum for a corresponding pump wavelength generated by the optical source, and transmitting the desired optical power to the well tool via the optical waveguide positioned in the well. Another method of delivering optical power to a well tool in a subterranean well can include coupling to an optical waveguide an optical source, the optical source comprising a sufficient number of lasing elements to transmit the optical power, with the optical power being greater than a critical power for stimulated Brillouin scattering in the waveguide.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventor: Neal Gregory SKINNER
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Publication number: 20130008653Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices related to downhole wellbore operations such as drilling and completing wells in an earth formation include a laser device.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Loyd E. East, Harold G. Walters, Billy W. McDaniel, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20120195334Abstract: An apparatus for laser drilling including a laser beam emitter disposed within a housing having at least one laser beam outlet and at least one purge fluid outlet. At least one actuated nozzle is disposed within the housing for providing a purge fluid through the purge fluid outlet and having functional control for synchronized programmable activation patterns. Laser beam control is provided for directing a laser beam over a target surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicants: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTEInventors: Lloyd WILKIEL, Neal Gregory SKINNER, Timothy Holiman HUNTER
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Publication number: 20120118568Abstract: A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicants: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC., GAS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTEInventors: Mark Kleefisch, Colin Hawthorn, Henry David Reynolds, Neal Gregory Skinner, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja, Roger Lynn Schultz, Timothy Holiman Hunter
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Patent number: 7511823Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are provided for measuring state properties without requiring an internal or proximate power supply. The apparatus provides a sensing device that is responsive to fluctuations in a state property that are encountered within the test zone. Due to the fluctuations experienced by the sensing device, a sensing signal is generated and transmitted to an optical device, such as an interferometer. The sensing signal's affect on the optical device produces an interference pattern that may be detected remotely and correlated to the fluctuation experienced by the sensing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Roger L. Schultz, Neal Gregory Skinner, Harry Davis Smith, Jr., Daniel David Gleitman
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Patent number: 5799733Abstract: An early evaluation system with pump for servicing a well and taking fluid samples and measurements. In each of the embodiments, a formation pump is actuated to flow fluid from the well formation below a packer element engaged with the borehole into a sampling tube. Fluid samplers and recording instruments may be in communication with the sampling tube. In one embodiment, the pump is mechanically actuated by rotation of the tool string. In another embodiment, the pump is hydraulically actuated and has a hydraulic motor connected thereto. In this hydraulically acutated embodiment, fluid pumped down the tool string actuates the hydraulic motor and thereby further actuates the pump. Other pump embodiments are also disclosed. In still another embodiment, the apparatus may be incorporated into a drill string so that a drilling operation may be carried out and immediately followed by a fluid evaluation operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1997Date of Patent: September 1, 1998Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul David Ringgenberg, Neal Gregory Skinner, Curtis Edgar Wendler, Roger Lynn Schultz, Robert W. Srubar, Margaret Cowsar Waid