Patents by Inventor William R. Sloan

William R. Sloan 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: 5539225
    Abstract: Measurement-while-drilling apparatus includes a 14 MeV neutron accelerator, a near-spaced neutron detector which primarily senses source neutrons and whose output is proportional to source strength, one or more intermediately-spaced epithermal neutron detectors eccentered against the drill collar wall and primarily responsive to formation hydrogen concentration, and a third far-spaced radiation detector, either gamma ray or neutron, primarily responsive to formation density. The intermediately-spaced and far-spaced detector outputs, normalized by the near-spaced detector output, are combined to provide measurements of porosity, density and lithology and to detect gas. A thermal neutron detector and/or a gamma ray detector may also be provided at intermediate spacings to provide additional information of interest, such as standoff measurements and spectral analysis of formation composition. Tool outputs are related to the angular or azimuthal orientation of the measurement apparatus in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Loomis, Kenneth E. Stephenson, Jerome A. Truax, Wolfgang P. Ziegler, S. Zema Chowdhuri, Benoit Couet, Michael L. Evans, Paul Albats, Bradley A. Roscoe, Jacques M. Holenka, Keith A. Moriarty, William R. Sloan
  • Patent number: 5513528
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring formation characteristics as a function of angular distance segments about the borehole is disclosed. The measurement apparatus includes a logging while drilling tool which turns in the borehole while drilling. Such characteristics as bulk density, photoelectric effect (PEF), neutron porosity and ultrasonic standoff are all measured as a function of such angular distance segments where one of such segments is defined to include that portion of a "down" or earth's gravity vector which is in a radial cross sectional plane of the tool. The measurement is accomplished with either a generally cylindrical tool which generally touches a down or bottom portion of the borehole while the tool rotates in an inclined borehole or with a tool centered by stabilizer blades in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques M. Holenka, Michael L. Evans, Philip L. Kurkoski, William R. Sloan, David L. Best
  • Patent number: 5483061
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for distinguishing gamma ray induced pulses from shock induced pulses of a scintillation detector used in logging while drilling tools. The method and apparatus identifies detector pulses which occur within a predetermined time interval from a previous pulse as shock induced pulses and identifies pulses that occur after a predetermined time interval from a previous pulse as gamma ray induced pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Sloan
  • Patent number: 5473158
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring formation characteristics as a function of angular distance segments about the borehole is disclosed. The measurement apparatus includes a logging while drilling tool which turns in the borehole while drilling. Such characteristics as bulk density, photoelectric effect (PEF), neutron porosity and ultrasonic standoff are all measured as a function of such angular distance segments where one of such segments is defined to include that portion of a "down" or earth's gravity vector which is in a radial cross sectional plane of the tool. The measurement is accomplished with either a generally cylindrical tool which generally touches a down or bottom portion of the borehole while the tool rotates in an inclined borehole or with a tool centered by stabilizer blades in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques M. Holenka, Michael L. Evans, Philip L. Kurkoski, William R. Sloan, David L. Best
  • Patent number: RE36012
    Abstract: Measurement-while-drilling apparatus includes a 14 MeV neutron accelerator, a near-spaced neutron detector which primarily senses source neutrons and whose output is proportional to source strength, one or more intermediately-spaced epithermal neutron detectors eccentered against the drill collar wall and primarily responsive to formation hydrogen concentration, and a third far-spaced radiation detector, either gamma ray or neutron, primarily responsive to formation density. The intermediately-spaced and far-spaced detector outputs, normalized by the near-spaced detector output, are combined to provide measurements of porosity, density and lithology and to detect gas. A thermal neutron detector and/or a gamma ray detector may also be provided at intermediate spacings to provide additional information of interest, such as standoff measurements and spectral analysis of formation composition. Tool outputs are related to the angular or azimuthal orientation of the measurement apparatus in the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Loomis, Kenneth E. Stephenson, Jerome A. Truax, Wolfgang P. Ziegler, S. Zema Chowdhuri, Benoit Couet, Michael L. Evans, Paul Albats, Bradley A. Roscoe, Jacques M. Holenka, Keith A. Moriarty, William R. Sloan