Patents by Inventor Otto N. Fanini

Otto N. Fanini 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: 6586939
    Abstract: A transverse induction logging tool having a transmitter and receiver for downhole sampling of formation properties, the tool having a symmetrical shielded split-coil transmitter coil and a bucking coil interposed between the split transmitter coils to reduce coupling of the transmitter time varying magnetic field into the receiver. The tool provides symmetrical shielding of the coils and grounding at either the transmitter or receiver end only to reduce coupling of induced currents into the received signal. The tool provides an insulator between receiver electronics and the conductive receiver housing having contact with conductive wellbore fluid, to reduce parasitic current flowing in a loop formed by the upper housing, feed through pipe, lower housing and wellbore fluid adjacent the probe housing or mandrel. An internal verification loop is provided to track changes in transmitter current in the real and quadrature component of the received data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Otto N. Fanini, Stanislav W. Forgang, Michael S. Crosskno
  • Publication number: 20030105590
    Abstract: The total porosity of said formation, a fractional volume of the shale, and a resistivity of the shale are determined in a laminated reservoir including sands that may have dispersed shales therein. A tensor petrophysical model determines the laminar shale volume and laminar sand conductivity from vertical and horizontal conductivities derived from multi-component induction log data. The volume of dispersed shale and the total and effective porosities of the laminar sand fraction are determined using a Thomas-Stieber-Juhasz approach. Removal of laminar shale conductivity and porosity effects reduces the laminated shaly sand problem to a single dispersed shaly sand model to which the Waxman-Smits equation can be applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Mollison, Juergen H. Schoen, Otto N. Fanini, Berthold Kriegshauser, Milomir Pavlovic
  • Publication number: 20030090269
    Abstract: A transverse induction logging tool having a transmitter and receiver for downhole sampling of formation properties, the tool having a symmetrical shielded split-coil transmitter coil and a bucking coil interposed between the split transmitter coils to reduce coupling of the transmitter time varying magnetic field into the receiver. The tool provides symmetrical shielding of the coils and grounding at either the transmitter or receiver end only to reduce coupling of induced currents into the received signal. The tool provides an insulator between receiver electronics and the conductive receiver housing having contact with conductive wellbore fluid, to reduce parasitic current flowing in a loop formed by the upper housing, feed through pipe, lower housing and wellbore fluid adjacent the probe housing or mandrel. An internal verification loop is provided to track changes in transmitter current in the real and quadrature component of the received data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Otto N. Fanini, Stanislav W. Forgang, Michael S. Crosskno
  • Publication number: 20030076107
    Abstract: An improved induction tool for formation resistivity evaluations. The tool provides electromagnetic transmitters and sensors suitable for transmitting and receiving magnetic fields in radial directions that are orthogonal to the tool's longitudinal axis with minimal susceptibility to errors associated with parasitic eddy currents induced in the metal components surrounding the transmitter and receiver coils. Various transmitter receiver combinations are provided to select sensitivity to a desired reservoir formation properties, for example, different orientations xy, xz, yz, 20-40, 20-90, and combinations, such as, Symmetric—symmetric; Asymmetric—symmetric; and Asymmetric—asymmetric. Measurements made with a multi-component logging instrument when used in a substantially horizontal, vertical or deviated borehole in earth formations are diagnostic of the direction of resistive beds relative to the position of the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Otto N. Fanini, Stanislav W. Forgang, Berthold Kriegshauser, Liming Yu
  • Patent number: 6553314
    Abstract: Shoulder corrections are applied to measurements obtained from a multi-component electromagnetic logging tool. An anisotropic resistivity model is obtained using the shoulder corrected data. The process is iterated until a good match is obtained between the shoulder corrected data and the model output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Otto N. Fanini, Pravin Gupta, Liming Yu
  • Patent number: 6529833
    Abstract: Time lapse seismic measurements of a laminated reservoir including sands and shales are processed to determine changes in the laminated reservoir. An initial petrophysical model is obtained at a wellbore from measurements made with a multicomponent resistivity logging tool. Changes in the amplitude versus offset behavior of the reflections from the top of the reservoir are indicative of changes in fluid saturation and/or formation pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Otto N. Fanini, Eric Withjack, Sven Treitel
  • Publication number: 20030018434
    Abstract: Shoulder corrections are applied to measurements obtained from a multi-component electromagnetic logging tool. An anisotropic resistivity model is obtained using the shoulder corrected data. The process is iterated until a good match is obtained between the shoulder corrected data and the model output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, Inc.
    Inventors: Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Otto N. Fanini, Pravin Gupta, Liming Yu
  • Patent number: 6493632
    Abstract: The total porosity of a formation, a fractional volume of the shale, and a resistivity of the shale are determined in a laminated reservoir including sands that may have dispersed shales therein. A tensor petrophysical model determines the laminar shale volume and laminar sand conductivity from vertical and horizontal conductivities derived from multi-component induction log data. The volume of dispersed shale and the total and effective porosities of the laminar sand fraction are determined using a Thomas-Stieber-Juhasz approach. Removal of laminar shale conductivity and porosity effects reduces the laminated shaly sand problem to a single dispersed shaly sand model to which the Waxman-Smits equation can be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Mollison, Juergen S. Schoen, Otto N. Fanini, Berthold Kriegshauser, Milomir Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 6470274
    Abstract: The total porosity of said formation, a fractional volume of the shale, and a resistivity of the shale are determined in a laminated reservoir including sands that may have dispersed shales therein. A tensor petrophysical model determines the laminar shale volume and laminar sand conductivity from vertical and horizontal conductivities derived from multi-component induction log data. NMR data are used to obtain measurements of the total clay-bound water in the formation and the clay bound water in shales in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard A. Mollison, Otto N. Fanini, Berthold Kriegshauser, Milomir Pavlovic
  • Patent number: 6466872
    Abstract: Shoulder corrections are applied to measurements obtained from a multicomponent electromagnetic logging tool. An anisotropic resistivity model is obtained using the shoulder corrected data. The process is iterated until a good match is obtained between the shoulder corrected data and the model output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Otto N. Fanini, Pravin Gupta, Liming Yu
  • Publication number: 20020128777
    Abstract: Time lapse seismic measurements of a laminated reservoir including sands and shales are processed to determine changes in the laminated reservoir. An initial petrophysical model is obtained at a wellbore from measurements made with a multicomponent resistivity logging tool. Changes in the amplitude versus offset behavior of the reflections from the top of the reservoir are indicative of changes in fluid saturation and/or formation pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, Inc.
    Inventors: Otto N. Fanini, Eric Withjack, Sven Treitel
  • Publication number: 20020101235
    Abstract: The present invention is method of determining the distribution of shales, sands and water in a reservoir including laminated shaly sands using vertical and horizontal conductivities derived from nuclear, NMR, and multi-component induction data such as from a Transverse Induction Logging Tool (TILT). Making assumptions about the anisotropic properties of the laminated shale component and an assumption that the sand is isotropic, the TILT data are inverted. An estimate of the laminated shale volume from this inversion is compared with an estimate of laminated shale volume from nuclear logs using a Thomas-Stieber and Waxman-Smits model. A difference between the two estimates is an indication that the sands may be anisotropic. A check is made to see if a bulk water volume determined from the inversion is greater than a bulk irreducible water volume from NMR measurements. In one embodiment of the invention, NMR data are then used to obtain sand distribution in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, Inc.
    Inventors: Juergen S. Schoen, Otto N. Fanini, Daniel Georgi
  • Publication number: 20020043620
    Abstract: A logging while drilling and wire line system for analyzing the concentration of carbon dioxide or another substance, in a sample down hole in a bore hole. A chamber is filled with a sample that may be fluid, or condensate and gas. The interior chamber volume is selectably expandable for decompression of the sample. The sample may alternately be decompressed by allowing a sample at formation pressure to enter the chamber at a lower pressure, thereby decompressing the sample. A sensor measures the absorbance, transmittance or attenuated total reflectance of the infrared light. Mid and near infrared light is utilized to identify carbon dioxide, water and a plurality of hydrocarbons. A wiper cleans the transmitter and sensor between readings to reduce measurement error caused by fluid sample contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Borislav J. Tchakarov, Rocco DiFoggio, Stanislav W. Forgang, Otto N. Fanini, Marcelo F. Civarolo, James C. Hunziker
  • Patent number: 6218662
    Abstract: A logging tool system for analyzing the carbon dioxide concentration in a fluid sample downhole in a borehole. A chamber is filled with the fluid sample and is closed to isolate the fluid sample from the borehole. The interior chamber volume is expanded to decompress the fluid sample, and a transmitter discharges light in the mid-infrared range. A sensor measures the absorbance of mid-infrared light by the decompressed fluid sample and generates a signal representing the carbon dioxide concentration. Mid-infrared light absorbance in the range between 4.1 and 4.4 microns can be analyzed by the processor to identify the carbon dioxide concentration in the fluid sample, and infrared absorbance in the mid-infrared range between 3.2 and 3.6 microns can be analyzed to identify methyl and metheylene components. A wiper cleans the transmitter and sensor between readings to reduce measurement errors caused by fluid sample contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Borislav J. Tchakarov, Rocco DiFoggio, Stanislav W. Forgang, Otto N. Fanini, James C. Hunziker, Marcelo F. Civarolo
  • Patent number: 6111409
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a fluid sample withdrawn from an earth formation. The method includes performing nuclear magnetic resonant spin echo measurements on the fluid sample at a nuclear magnetic resonant frequency of carbon-13. Amplitudes of the spin echo measurements are summed. The summed measurements are spectrally analyzed. The fluid is characterized by determining whether aromatic hydrocarbons are present by measuring an amplitude of the spectrally analyzed spin echo measurements at about 130 part per million shift from the carbon-13 frequency. The fluid is also characterized by determining whether aliphatic hydrocarbons are present by measuring an amplitude of the spectrally analyzed spin echo measurements at about 30 parts per million frequency shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl M. Edwards, Otto N. Fanini, Stanislav W. Forgang
  • Patent number: 6108605
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the transmitted signal for use in a well logging tool, using an iterative method (preferably the method of steepest descent) such that the transmitted signal more closely resembles a desired waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Doyle, Otto N. Fanini
  • Patent number: 6044325
    Abstract: A method for generating an improved estimate of horizontal conductivity, dip angle, azimuth and anisotropy parameter of an earth formation penetrated by a wellbore from dual-frequency transverse electromagnetic induction measurements, comprising generating an initial estimate of the horizontal conductivity, dip angle, azimuth and anisotropy parameter from the dual-frequency transverse induction measurements made at each one of a plurality of base frequencies. The initial estimates from each of the plurality of base frequencies are input into a primary trained neural network, and the improved estimate is calculated by the trained neural network. The network is trained by generating models of earth formations each having a known value of horizontal conductivity, anisotropy parameter, dip angle and azimuth. Voltages which would be measured by the transverse electromagnetic induction instrument in response to each model are synthesized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivasa Chakravarthy, Pravin Gupta, Raghu Chunduru, Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Otto N. Fanini
  • Patent number: 5999884
    Abstract: A method for estimating axial positions of formation layer boundaries from transverse electromagnetic induction signals. A first derivative is calculated with respect to depth of the induction signals. A second derivative of the signals is calculated. The second derivative is muted. Layer boundaries are selected at axial positions where the muted second derivative is non zero, and the first derivative changes sign. The selected boundaries are thickness filtered to eliminate boundaries which have the same axial spacing as the spacing between an induction transmitter and receiver used to measure the induction signals, and to eliminate boundaries having a spacing less than an axial resolution of the induction signals. In a preferred embodiment, the process is repeated using transverse induction measurements made at another alternating current frequency. Layer boundaries selected in both frequencies are determined to be the layer boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Pravin Gupta, Zeljko Jericevic, Otto N. Fanini
  • Patent number: 5999883
    Abstract: A method for determining an initial estimate of the horizontal conductivity and the vertical conductivity of an anisotropic earth formation. Electromagnetic induction signals induced by induction transmitters oriented along three mutually orthogonal axes are measured. One of the mutually orthogonal axes is substantially parallel to a logging instrument axis. The electromagnetic induction signals are measured using first receivers each having a magnetic moment parallel to one of the orthogonal axes and using second receivers each having a magnetic moment perpendicular to a one of the orthogonal axes which is also perpendicular to the instrument axis. A relative angle of rotation of the perpendicular one of the orthogonal axes is calculated from the receiver signals measured perpendicular to the instrument axis. An intermediate measurement tensor is calculated by rotating magnitudes of the receiver signals through a negative of the angle of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Pravin Gupta, Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Otto N. Fanini
  • Patent number: 5854991
    Abstract: A method for determining the 2-dimensional distribution of horizontal and vertical electrical conductivities of earth formations surrounding a wellbore using measurements made by a transverse electromagnetic induction well logging instrument. A model is generated of the axial distribution of the horizontal and vertical conductivities, from induction signals acquired by the instrument using two-frequency alternating current. The model is generated by calculating an initial estimate of the conductivity distribution and axially inverting the estimate with respect to the measurements made using the two-frequency alternating current. Shoulder correction is applied to measurements made by the instrument using single-frequency alternating current. An estimate of the radial distribution of the conductivities is generated from the shoulder corrected induction signals acquired using the single-frequency alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Pravin Gupta, Berthold F. Kriegshauser, Zeljko Jericevic, Otto N. Fanini