Abstract: An apparatus to acoustically monitor a container includes a first acoustic transducer mountable to an exterior of the container to send a first acoustic signal into an interior of the container and a second acoustic transducer mountable to the exterior of the container to send a second acoustic signal into the interior of the container. The apparatus further includes a data processing unit to process a first acoustic response signal related to the first acoustic signal and a second acoustic response signal related to the second acoustic signal to determine contents within the interior of the container at locations of the first acoustic transducer and the second acoustic transducer.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the rock solid (matrix) dielectric permittivity for subterranean rocks, such as carbonate rocks, are described. According to some embodiments, this is accomplished by linking the matrix permittivity to the detailed chemical composition of the rock. The linking function is defined by coefficients for each component that can be determined by inversion in a laboratory calibration process such that the function compensates for the permittivity contribution of rock components that may be undetectable through downhole logging procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring displacement on structural elements of subsea systems such as on components of a subsea pipeline network used to transport production fluid from a subsurface wellhead to surface facilities. The described techniques sense changes in displacement using a sensing blade, for example made of crystalline material such as sapphire, that is anchored to the structural element such that it is approximately perpendicular to the direction of sensed displacement. Displacement is sensed as bending of the sensing blade using one or more instruments fabricated on the blade. Robustness of design is in part provided by additional flexible non-sensing blades mounted in parallel to the sensing blade.

Abstract: A measurement device is configured in a shaped charge package to be utilized in a perforating gun section tool string. The measurement device may include for example thermal conductivity detectors (TCD) configured to measure fluid flow velocity and/or thermal characteristics of the flowing fluid. The measurement device may include for example a pair laterally spaced TCDs each having sensor faces positioned co-planar with a surface across which the fluid flows. The measurement device may include a recessed TCD, having a sensor face recessed below an opening in the exterior surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring interfacial or surface tension of a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid, the method involving providing at least one substantially spherical droplet or bubble of the first fluid in a flowing stream of the second fluid in a flow channel, followed by passing the flowing stream comprising the droplet or bubble through a constriction in the flow channel, the constriction being sufficiently constricting so as to cause the droplet or bubble to deform away from its substantially spherical shape and measuring and comparing a physical property of the flowing stream both before and after the constriction, wherein the physical property changes as a result of the deformation of the droplet or bubble, and thereby inferring the interfacial or surface tension from the measured physical property.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a rock matrix dielectric permittivity. The method and system use a matching liquid with a temperature dependant permittivity. The matching liquid may be used in an automated and/or downhole system for measuring matrix dielectric permittivity of rock formations.

Abstract: Asphaltene content and its spatial distribution in a reservoir containing crude oil is an important factor in determining the potential for formation damage and pipeline impairment, as well as planning for processing and refining of the oil. Exemplary uses include: reservoir modeling, development and depletion planning, pressure maintenance, and surface facilities management. A convenient method has been developed which uses two-dimensional NMR techniques during a temperature and/or pressure cycle to quantify the asphaltene content of the crude oil without the need for extracting the oil from the reservoir rock. The technique can be applied to core, down-hole logs, or, a combination of both.

Abstract: An apparatus and related methods are described for detecting features of a reservoir surrounding a borehole, the apparatus being capable of emitting an electromagnetic wave signal and receiving a signal representing a response of the reservoir to the electromagnetic wave signal, wherein the emitted signal is a broadband signal selected from within the range of 1 Hz to 1000 Ghz and the received signal includes a directional characteristic to provide an azimuthal determination of the direction of a discontinuity within the formation as the discontinuity reflects or scatters at least part of the broadband signal; azimuthally scanning the surrounding formation; and inverting the received signal for deriving at least a distance of the reflecting discontinuity from the borehole using simultaneous inversion of the reflected or scattered wavefield at multiple frequencies.

Abstract: The method comprises the following steps: —disposing at least a cutting (62) on a cuttings support surface (67); —placing a measuring apparatus (63) over the support surface (67), the measuring apparatus (63) facing the cutting (62), at a distance from the cutting (62); —measuring a first distance (d1) between a reference plane and the support surface (67) in the vicinity of the cutting (62) along an axis (A-A?) transverse to the support surface (67) using the measuring apparatus (63); —measuring a second distance (d2) between the reference plane and the cutting (62) along the transverse axis (A-A?), using the measuring apparatus (63); —calculating a representative dimension (dzz) of the cutting based on the difference between the first distance (d1) and the second distance (d2).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices involving segmented radiation detectors are provided. For example, a segmented radiation detector may include a segmented scintillator and an optical-to-electrical converter. The segmented scintillator may have several segments that convert radiation to light, at least one of which may detect radiation arriving from an azimuthal angle around an axis of the segmented scintillator. The optical-to-electrical converter may be coupled to the segmented scintillator. The optical-to-electrical converter may receive the light from the segments of the segmented scintillator and output respective electrical signals corresponding to the amount of radiation detected by each segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analysis of drilling cuttings are described. Complex permittivity is measured of rock cutting samples obtained during drilling operations. The origin of the cuttings is known by flow rate analysis in the drilling system. Various means can be used for rock cutting dielectric measurement. For example, the dielectric measurement can be made by matching the unknown permittivity of the medium to be analyzed to the permittivity of known liquid mixtures by successive saturation and looking for a “zero-contrast” measurement.

Abstract: A method is described for selecting an additive for enhanced recovery from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir including the steps of using a set of parameters to determine, at a first level of molecular dynamic modeling, an effect of the additive on interfacial tension between a hydrocarbon and water/brine; using the effect of the additive on interfacial tension derived from the first level of molecular dynamic modeling to determine, at a second coarser level of molecular dynamic modeling wettability effects; and using the effect of the additive on interfacial tension derived from the first level of molecular dynamic modeling and the wettability effects derived from the second level of molecular dynamic modeling to determine at a third coarser level of molecular dynamic modeling imbibition or drainage effects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining T2 cutoff are described. T2 cutoff can be derived from magnetic susceptibility measurements. By providing a depth curve of T2cutoff, improved permeability estimations from NMR can be generated. By combining a magnetic susceptibility tool and an NMR tool, a dynamic T2cutoff can then be provided, together with the standard NMR log, according to some embodiments. According to some embodiments the improved permeability estimations can be provided automatically and in real time at the wellsite.

Abstract: A method for assigning a wettability or related parameter to a subvolume of formation located between two or more boreholes is described. The method includes the steps of obtaining measurements of resistivity at a subvolume, obtaining further parameters determining a relation between resistivity and saturation from logging measurements along the two or more boreholes, obtaining geological measurements defining geological or rock-type boundaries within the formation between the two or more boreholes, selecting the subvolume such that it is intersected by the geological or rock-type boundaries; transforming the resistivity measurements into the saturation at the subvolume; and using the saturation and/or the further parameters to determine the wettability or related parameter for the subvolume.

Abstract: Downhole gravity measurements are used to monitor the volumetric sweep of CO2 and estimate the fingering phenomenon if any. The gravity measurements have been found to be effective due to the high density contrast between CO2 and brine or oil which provides better and higher sensitivity. An analytical forward model is used to determine the location and shape characteristics of the flooding front. A strategy to monitor the movement of the CO2 flooding front and to predict the fingering phenomenon is used to provide a warning tool to improve the sweep efficiency, according to some embodiments.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for determining dielectric permittivity for core plugs extracted from the field or cores re-saturated with various fluids. The relative dielectric constant of reservoir core plugs is measured in controlled condition of temperature, pressure and fluid saturation within a confined cell. Four-points resistivity measurements of the rock sample in the confined cell is also provided under the controlled temperature, pressure and fluid saturation conditions.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the rock solid (matrix) dielectric permittivity for subterranean rocks, such as carbonate rocks, are described. According to some embodiments, this is accomplished by linking the matrix permittivity to the detailed chemical composition of the rock. The linking function is defined by coefficients for each component that can be determined by inversion in a laboratory calibration process such that the function compensates for the permittivity contribution of rock components that may be undetectable through downhole logging procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods for analysis of drilling cuttings are described. Complex permittivity is measured of rock cutting samples obtained during drilling operations. The origin of the cuttings is known by flow rate analysis in the drilling system. Various means can be used for rock cutting dielectric measurement. For example, the dielectric measurement can be made by matching the unknown permittivity of the medium to be analyzed to the permittivity of known liquid mixtures by successive saturation and looking for a “zero-contrast” measurement.

Abstract: A method for assigning a wettability or related parameter to a subvolume of formation located between two or more boreholes is described with the method including the steps of obtaining measurements of the resistivity at the subvolume, obtaining further parameters determining a relation between resistivity and saturation from logging measurements along the two or more boreholes, obtaining geological measurement defining geological or rock-type boundaries within the formation between the two or more boreholes, selecting the subvolume such that it is not intersected by the geological or rock-type boundaries; transforming the resistivity measurements into the saturation at the subvolume; and—using the saturation and/or the further parameters to determine the wettability or related parameter for the subvolume.

Abstract: An apparatus and related methods are described for detecting features of a reservoir surrounding a borehole, the apparatus being capable of emitting an electromagnetic wave signal and receiving a signal representing a response of the reservoir to the electromagnetic wave signal, wherein the emitted signal is a broadband signal selected from within the range of 1 Hz to 1000 Ghz and the received signal includes a directional characteristic to provide an azimuthal determination of the direction of a discontinuity within the formation as the discontinuity reflects or scatters at least part of the broadband signal; azimuthally scanning the surrounding formation; and inverting the received signal for deriving at least a distance of the reflecting discontinuity from the borehole using simultaneous inversion of the reflected or scattered wavefield at multiple frequencies.