With Sampling Patents (Class 73/152.23)
  • Patent number: 11933691
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of environment monitoring, particularly relates to a CO2 storage state networking monitoring device, system and method with multi-information fusion. The present invention comprises: obtaining orientation electrical signal data and real-time pressure signals, analyzing a fluid flowing state at a view of a pressure sensor through the real-time pressure signals, and obtaining a CO2 flowing state through the orientation electrical signal data; and obtaining a CO2 regional storage state by combining an orientation CO2 content, a CO2 flowing state and the fluid flowing condition at the view of the pressure sensor. By combining accurate short-range CO2 boundary monitoring of orientation electrodes with long-range monitoring of pressure sensors to achieve a wide range of CO2 flowing state monitoring, the present invention can observe more data with higher reliability and effectively aims at the problem of strong inter-well heterogeneity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Wang Zhang, Fei Tian, Yongjian Zhou, Wenhao Zheng, Yongwen Yang
  • Patent number: 11874211
    Abstract: A method and device for obtaining microscopic occurrence characteristics of oil stored in a shale, where the microscopic occurrence characteristics include the adsorbed oil film thicknesses in the shale and the oil distribution in the shale. The method includes four steps. The first step is an experiment step in which a N-Hexane vapor adsorption experiment is performed on a sample made from a shale. The second step is a first obtaining step for calculating and obtaining the adsorbed oil film thicknesses in the shale. The third step is a first calculating step and the fourth step is a second obtaining step. They aim to obtain the oil distribution in the shale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Xi'An Shiyou University
    Inventors: Wei Dang, Xiaoliang Wei
  • Patent number: 11873712
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an edge and bottom water invasion simulation apparatus and method, a storage medium, and a product. A controller controls an inert gas to be injected into a first intermediate container, and stops the injection. The controller controls formation water to be injected into the first intermediate container, and stops the injection. The controller controls the first intermediate container to be communicated with a core holder, and adjusts a pressure of a back pressure valve, so that the formation water enters a core to simulate edge and bottom water invasion. In the present disclosure, by adding the inert gas and the formation water to the intermediate container, an infinite edge and bottom water with sufficient energy at an early stage of a water invasion and a limited edge and bottom water with lower energy at a later stage of the water invasion can be effectively simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: China University of Petroleum—Beijing
    Inventors: Zhaojie Song, Changxiao Cao, Daqian Zeng, Shaohua Gu, Jiangbo Dong, Rui Zhang, Zehui Xie, Ying Jia
  • Patent number: 11686672
    Abstract: A device including an ion-selective membrane arranged within an optical path of the device and coupled to a sample cell to interact with a fluid sample and thereby modify an optical response of the ion-selective membrane according to an ion concentration in the fluid sample, is provided. The device also includes an integrated computational element (ICE) arranged within the optical path, so that the illumination light optically interacts with the ICE and with the ion-selective membrane to provide a modified light that has a property indicative of the ion concentration in the fluid sample. A detector that receives the modified light provides an electrical signal proportional to the property of the modified light. A method and a system for using the above device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Neal G. Skinner, Michel Joseph Leblanc, Kenneth G. Dixson
  • Patent number: 11630234
    Abstract: A system includes different types of downhole sensing tools deployed in a borehole, wherein the different types of downhole sensing tools are optimized to identify a downhole condition based on a predetermined downhole evaluation plan that accounts for sensing tool availability and performance constraints. The system also includes at least one processing unit configured to analyze measurements collected by the different types of downhole sensing tools, wherein the collected measurements are analyzed together to identify the downhole condition. The system also includes at least one device that performs an operation in response to the identified downhole condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Dykstra, Yiming Zhao, Xingyong Song, Fanping Bu
  • Patent number: 11035231
    Abstract: Methods and systems for collecting high quality reservoir samples and determining producibility of those samples are disclosed that provide for a non-stop and no shock sampling process. The systems and methods of the present disclosure are especially important collecting samples of reservoir samples in a manner that most closely resembles production fluids and maintains the reservoir at or near the draw down pressure during the pumping and sampling processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Fiorentini USA Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Yuratich, Philip Powell, Margaret Waid, Mohamed Hashem, Paolo Nardi
  • Patent number: 10995612
    Abstract: The invention is a method for the exploitation and/or monitoring of an underground formation having at least one reservoir comprising water, at least one gas species of interest and at least one atmospheric isotope of at least one rare gas present in dissolved form in the water of the reservoir. The method includes at least (1) taking at least one gas sample at the level of at least one collection of water from the reservoir, the collection being at the surface and the sampling being carried out to avoid any contamination with the air; (2) measuring at least the concentration of at least the gas species and the concentration of at least an atmospheric isotope of the rare gas in the gas sample; (3) determining the concentration of the gas species of interest dissolved in the water of the reservoir by a model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Virgile Rouchon, Valerie Beaumont, Bruno Garcia, Isabelle Durand
  • Patent number: 10982538
    Abstract: A downhole testing assembly includes a cylindrical body with a central bore extending between a first, uphole end of the cylindrical body and a second, downhole end opposite the first, uphole end of the cylindrical body; an open hole packer to engage and seal against an open hole surface of the wellbore to define a first open-hole zone of the wellbore downhole of the open hole packer; a first cased hole packer to engage and seal against a first portion of a casing of the wellbore to define a second open-hole zone of the wellbore between the first cased hole packer and the open hole packer; and a second cased hole packer to engage and seal against a second portion of the casing uphole of the first portion to define a cased zone of the wellbore between the second cased hole packer and the first cased hole packer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Shrikant Tiwari, Prasad Karunakaran
  • Patent number: 10815779
    Abstract: An underground sampling tool (HTMS) for underground water analysis of both quality and flow rate, providing the information required to perform an underground drilling and obtain uncontaminated water for crop irrigation, said tool comprising: a housing for the electronic and electrical controls, a housing for the hydraulic means controlled by the electric and electronic portion of the tool, a test body consisting of a variety of hydraulic circuits for operating the various operating valves of the tool, wherein said test body further comprises: a rear shoe on an axial axis of the tool, wherein said rear shoe is driven by two telescoping pistons simultaneously that arise from the inside of the tool when driven by a signal of a surface equipment operably enabled for this purpose, and a front shoe, driven by several pistons which are housed below the front shoe, not shown in the figures, and driven by one or more electro-pneumatic devices acting jointly and generating a progressive forward or backward movement of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: AQUARESOURCES SA
    Inventor: Enrique Juan Morgan
  • Patent number: 10309194
    Abstract: A downhole distributor valve includes a housing that includes a housing fluid port therethrough, a mandrel that defines a bore and is positioned radially within the housing, and a fluid chamber radially defined between the housing and the mandrel and configured to contain a fluid at a particular pressure. The mandrel includes a mandrel fluid port therethrough. The mandrel is moveable from a first position with the bore fluidly decoupled from the housing fluid port to a second position with the bore fluidly coupled with the housing fluid port through the mandrel fluid port. The mandrel is moveable based on a hydrostatic pressure in the bore greater than the particular pressure of the pressurized fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Stephen Haake, Scott Luke Miller, Paul Ringgenberg, Vince Zeller
  • Patent number: 10280745
    Abstract: A method of evaluating fluid sample contamination is disclosed. A formation tester tool is introduced into a wellbore. The formation tester tool comprises a sensor. Sensor data is acquired from the sensor and a contamination estimation is calculated. A remaining pump-out time required to reach a contamination threshold is then determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sami Abbas Eyuboglu, Mark Proett, Rohin Naveena Chandran, Anthony Herman Van Zuilekom, Li Gao
  • Patent number: 9804076
    Abstract: Industrial fluids may be monitored at the site of each industrial fluid by introducing a sample of the industrial fluid into a device employing a detection technique for detecting at least one composition within the sample. The detection technique may be or include surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet light (UV) spectroscopy, UV spectrophotometry, indirect UV spectroscopy, contactless conductivity, laser induced fluorescence, and combinations thereof. In one non-limiting embodiment, a separation technique may be applied to the sample prior to the introduction of the sample into the device for detecting the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley G. Harrell, Sai Reddy Pinappu, George G. Duggan
  • Patent number: 9568393
    Abstract: A device is provided for the early detection of crack formations in work pieces or in components that are subjected to mechanical loading. Wherein in the region of at least one surface at risk of cracking there is arranged at least one testing chamber that is formed by a generative process of manufacturing the work piece or a portion of a work piece and to which a testing medium under pressure is admitted. Either a pressure sensor for determining a drop in pressure resulting from a crack formation of the work piece is connected to the testing chamber or a gas sensor that can also react to a testing medium escaping from the testing chamber in the event of crack formation is arranged in the vicinity of the testing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Werkzeugbau Siegfried Hofmann GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Dinkel, Stefan Hofmann
  • Patent number: 9388687
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to advance a geological formation probe with a surrounding pad to seal the pad against a borehole wall, to adjust the size of the area associated with a fluid flow inlet of the probe, where the size of the inlet area is selectably and incrementally variable, and to draw fluid into the fluid flow inlet by activating at least one pump coupled to at least one fluid passage in the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Johannes Dirksen, Mark A. Proett, Jim Wilson, Abbas Sami Eyuboglu, Lizheng Zhang, Wei Zhang, Abdolhamid Hadibeik
  • Patent number: 9234421
    Abstract: A sample bottle assembly is installed in a bore drilled into a drill collar section, wherein the bore may be drilled into a side wall of a pocket in the drill collar. The sample bottle assembly may be passed through the pocket and inserted into the bore. Drill collar material between the bore and the outer surface of the drill collar retains the sample bottle assembly in a radially inward direction, and a retention member in the pocket may retain the sample bottle assembly in an axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Kristopher V. Sherrill
  • Patent number: 9212550
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a fluid communication device, a sample chamber, and a coupling assembly. The fluid communication device is operable to establish fluid communication between a downhole tool and a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore in which the downhole tool is positioned. The sample chamber is in selectable fluid communication with the formation via the fluid communication device. The coupling assembly mechanically couples the sample chamber within the downhole tool and comprises a cam rotatable between a first position and a second position, wherein the cam preloads the sample chamber when in the first position is disengaged from the sample chamber in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Juan Jaramillo
  • Patent number: 9145980
    Abstract: A valve assembly including a plurality of control systems. A member is included that is actuatable by each of the control systems for controlling operation of the valve assembly. A plurality of tangs is included with at least one tang corresponding to each control system. A plurality of windows each having a shoulder is included, each tang disposed in one of the windows and selectively engagable with the shoulder of the one of the windows. The tangs and the windows are operative together to enable actuation forces to be selectively transferred from any group of selected ones of the control systems to the member via the tangs and the shoulders of corresponding ones of the windows for actuating the member while simultaneously permitting relative movement between the windows and the tangs corresponding to unselected ones of the control systems. A method of operating a valve assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald Lauderdale
  • Patent number: 9038716
    Abstract: Downhole tool fluid flow control apparatus including a first fluid valve between a first portion of a first flowline and a second portion of a second flowline. The first and second flowlines are adjacent each other. A second fluid valve is between a second portion of the first flowline and a first portion of the second flowline. The first and second fluid valves are controllable to cause fluid flow between the first portion of the first flowline and the second portion of the second flowline or between the first portion of the second flowline and the second portion of the first flowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Briquet, Mark Milkovisch, Scott Dyas, Wade W. Evans, II, Kevin Zanca
  • Patent number: 9038451
    Abstract: A method for detecting the formation of at least one phase in a mixture, particularly a hydrocarbon mixture. The method may include using a probe to expose a portion of the mixture to electromagnetic radiation to determine the value of a parameter of interest indicative of the formation of a phase. The method may also include using the value of the parameter of interest with a correlation between a known property of the mixture and the value of a parameter of interest to detect the formation of a phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Corina L. Sandu, Sebatian Csutak, Marco Respini, Huzeifa Ismail, Michael O. Brauchle
  • Patent number: 9029155
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods to detect a fluid contamination level of a fluid sample. The method may comprise providing a fluid sample downhole from a subterranean formation, applying a reactant to the fluid sample to create a combined fluid, observing the combined fluid, and determining if contaminants are present within the fluid sample based upon the observing the combined fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew E. Pomerantz, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Patent number: 8997861
    Abstract: A method for sampling fluid from a subsurface formation includes retrieving fluids from the formation using a plurality of pumps. The method also includes the steps of controlling a flow of the retrieved fluids using at least a first valve and a second valve and estimating an operating parameter of at least one pump of the plurality of pumps. The method further includes the step of controlling the first valve and the second valve using the estimated operating parameter to initiate a fluid sampling event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Ates C. Dumlupinar, Quming Zhou
  • Patent number: 8991483
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for collecting and preserving in representative condition a fluid sample from a reservoir which comprises: positioning a sample receptacle in the vicinity of a subterranean zone to be sampled, allowing or causing the sample to first flow into the sample receptacle, wherein the movement of the sample into the sample receptacle is restricted by the movement of a sampling piston, and wherein the movement of the sampling piston is further controlled by the rotation of an electrical motor connected to the sample piston such that the rotation of the electric motor translates to lateral movement of the sample piston, the lateral movement of the sample piston in turn allowing sample to enter the sample receptacle, and wherein once an adequate volume of sample has been collected, reversing the direction of the electrical motor will serve to cause the sample piston to exert pressure on the collected sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Cyrus Aspi Irani
  • Publication number: 20150007648
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a system to segregate, enrich and capture oil, water and gas samples from a multiphase flow. The system can be used in a subsea location, on the surface or in any other condition where it is connected to a flow of different phases of gas and/or liquid. The samples obtained are representative in composition of the phases flowing at well head conditions in terms of both pressure and temperature. Additionally, a relatively small volume of each phase is used in obtaining the samples. The system connects and disconnects to ports installed at the sampling location nearby the wellhead or the production line. The sampling flow is controlled by means of a pump. The collected samples are separated in mono (or nearly mono)—phase samples (oil, water and gas) and stored in individual bottles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard E. Theron, Malcolm Atkinson, Andrea Sbordone, John Allan Nighswander, Rune Lien
  • Publication number: 20150007647
    Abstract: A method to determine a piston position in a sample bottle, having steps of providing a transducer near a chamber of the sample bottle, exciting the transducer to provide at least one wave of acoustic energy, propagating the acoustic energy through the chamber to a surface, reflecting the acoustic energy from the surface, receiving the acoustic energy at a receiver, determining a time of flight of the acoustic energy, and calculating the piston position from the time of flight of the acoustic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony R. H. Goodwin, Thomas Meyer
  • Patent number: 8883508
    Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient, to detect the differentiated gas components, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Jones, Michael T. Pelletier
  • Publication number: 20140298899
    Abstract: A system for sampling drilling fluid to identify one or more species of interest within the drilling fluid includes a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger has a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage. Each fluid passage has an inlet and an outlet. In addition, the system includes a supply line coupled to the inlet of the first fluid passage. Further, the system includes a return line coupled to the outlet of the second fluid passage. Still further, the system includes a drilling fluid heater having an inlet coupled to the outlet of the first fluid passage and an outlet. The system also includes a drilling fluid degasser having an inlet coupled to the outlet of the heater, a first outlet coupled to an analyzer configured to identify the one or more species of interest, and a second outlet coupled to the inlet of the second fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Neil Patrick Schexnaider, Matthew Hay Henderson
  • Publication number: 20140250999
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons with the use of reservoir surveillance. The method includes interpreting a sample to determine noble gas signatures and clumped isotope signatures for the region of interest. Then, using the region of interest fingerprint to perform reservoir surveillance on produced fluids from the subsurface regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Lawson, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, Sumathy Raman, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Cara L. Davis
  • Patent number: 8826978
    Abstract: This invention relates to oil production, more specifically, oil production using the formation hydrofracturing process, and can be used for monitoring the operation of a producing oil well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Elena Mikhailovna Pershikova
  • Patent number: 8806954
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new laboratory apparatus for measuring the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity at a single water potential. One or more embodiments of the invented apparatus can be used over a wide range of water potential values within the tensiometric range, requires minimal laboratory preparation, and operates unattended for extended periods with minimal supervision. The present invention relates to a new laboratory apparatus for measuring the unsaturated hydraulic conductivity at a single water potential. One or more embodiments of the invented apparatus can be used over a wide range of water potential values within the tensiometric range, requires minimal laboratory preparation, and operates unattended for extended periods with minimal supervision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventor: Joel M. Hubbell
  • Publication number: 20140202237
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a gradient of a composition of materials in a petroleum reservoir, comprising sampling fluids from a well in the petroleum reservoir in a logging operation, measuring an amount of contamination in the sampled fluids, measuring the composition of the sampling fluids using a downhole fluid analysis, measuring an asphaltene content of the sampling fluids at different depths; and fitting the asphaltene content of the sampling fluids at the different depths to a simplified equation of state during the logging operation to determine the gradient of the composition of the materials in the petroleum reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew E. Pomerantz, Youxiang Zuo, Denise E. Freed, Oliver C. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20140182368
    Abstract: A separator is described as provided with a gas/liquid separator vessel, a sight glass, and a carry-over meter. The sight glass is positioned on the exterior of the gas/liquid separator vessel, and has a first inlet and a second inlet in fluid communication with a separation chamber of the gas/liquid separator vessel. The sight glass is further provided with a first outlet in fluid communication with the first inlet, and a second outlet in fluid communication with the second inlet. The sight glass has a tube extending between the first inlet and the second inlet with at least a portion of the tube being transparent to light in a visible range of wavelengths. The carry-over meter is provided with a first densitometer connected to the first outlet of the sight glass via piping and a second densitometer connected to the second outlet of the sight glass via piping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence Fraser, Francis Allouche
  • Publication number: 20140157883
    Abstract: Flowline pressure equalizer systems, methods and/or apparatuses for use on a downhole tool are provided. A pressure equalizer may be provided in communication with two flowlines. The pressure equalizer may use equalizing chambers and equalizing pistons to regulate pressure in one or both flowlines. Further, one or more flow routing modules may be interchangeable to further alter the flow scheme between the flowlines. Different plugs may house various flow routing configurations such that the plugs may be installed and/or removed in the tool string automatically or by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: CHEN TAO, PIERRE-YVES CORRE, NATHAN LANDSIEDEL, SYLVAIN BEDOUET
  • Patent number: 8741151
    Abstract: The scale inhibitors in a variety of aqueous systems, or a part or sample thereof, also including one or more dissolved interfering ions, are separated therefrom and analyzed, such scale inhibitors comprising a polymer containing at least one anionic functional group, e.g., a strong acid functional group or a phosphonate or phosphate ester, and such analysis including treating these aqueous systems with a cationic substrate or a free cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Rhodia UK Limited
    Inventors: Mike Hails, Chris Jones
  • Patent number: 8714004
    Abstract: A method of measuring the in-situ Total Gas content of an unconventional reservoir rock, the method including: drilling a borehole through a measurement interval in the reservoir to generate an annular volume of drilling mud that includes cuttings and gas, the annular volume having a leading edge and a trailing edge; diverting the leading edge of the annular volume such that all of the annular volume is captured in a degassing storage system without being exposed to atmosphere; discontinuing the diversion of the annular volume when the trailing edge of the annular volume has been captured in the degassing storage system; measuring the gas volume in the degassing storage system to determine the amount of gas per annular volume; and calculating the in-situ Total Gas content of the reservoir with reference to the amount of gas and cuttings per annular volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Santos Ltd.
    Inventors: Erik Christopher Dunlop, Peter John Archer, Mika Olavi Porter
  • Publication number: 20140041446
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for passively sampling production fluid from a well is presented. The passive sampling device is used to split two-phase flow and provide a driving pressure differential for a sampling system. Flow through sampling systems require a low pressure differential to be utilized to take a liquid sample, so that the sample retained remains isobaric. When performed in two-phase flow, the pressure differential needs to be relatively high, potentially yielding a non-isobaric sample. By separating out the liquid content of the flow, a low driving pressure is allowed to be used. Thus, this keeps the sample isobaric at a wide range of production flow rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alexandre Gordon
  • Publication number: 20140014331
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a geological formation (20) of non-homogeneous porosity and permeability, particularly in exploration for hydrocarbon fluids, comprising the steps of: (a) inserting a formation evaluation tool (30) into a borehole (10) to a location (10a) within the geological formation (20); (b) setting the formation evaluation tool (30) into position isolating interval(s) of the borehole (10) with a packer arrangement (50) forming portion of the formation evaluation tool (30), for sample evaluation for said interval(s); (c) extracting representative samples of formation fluid from the location within the geological formation (20) for evaluation under downhole conditions using sampling means (32a, 52b, 54b) operative to extract formation fluid samples over a range of porosity and permeability encountered within the geological formation (20); and (d) analysing the formation fluid samples and measuring formation (20) permeability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: CROCKER RESEARCH PTY LTD
    Inventor: Hugh Crocker
  • Patent number: 8622128
    Abstract: Methods and related systems are described relating to monitoring particulates downhole at in-situ conditions. Solid particles being carried in the fluid as the fluid is produced from the reservoir formation are monitored. The downhole solid particle monitoring can include measuring the quantity (e.g., volume fraction, weight fraction, or the like) of solid particles, measuring the distribution of sizes of the solid particles, and/or measuring the shape of the particles. The solid particles can be monitored using one or more of sensors such as optical spectrometers, acoustic sensors, video cameras, and erosion probes. A sanding prediction is generated based at least in part on the monitoring of the solid particles, and the sanding prediction is then used to design a completion, lift system, and surface facilities for the wellbore and/or select operating conditions so as to control sanding during production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Peter S Hegeman
  • Patent number: 8596383
    Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbon zones in a geological formation, including obtaining a plurality of pulverized drill cutting samples representative of the geological material encountered at measured depth intervals, each drill cutting obtained at periodic intervals during the drilling process; measuring each cutting sample with a color measuring device to obtain a value representing the degree of lightness of the particular cutting sample; and analyzing the measured lightness values by order of borehole depth that the respective cutting sample was obtained to determine the presence of geological zones likely to possess producible hydrocarbons. L* data may be combined with other well logging data to improve the hydrocarbon layer determination accuracy. A method also for locating the drill bit within a desired hydrocarbon layer during directional drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Montie, Charles L. Vavra
  • Patent number: 8556001
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and related apparatus for determining the presence and/or quantity of H2S in the drilling debris of a subsoil layer comprising the following working steps: recovering the drilling debris of a layer; degassing the drilling debris from the previous recovery step, and separating a gaseous phase from said debris; clearing the gas released in the step of degassing, and conveying towards an H2S detector; determining the possible presence and/or quantity of H2S in the gaseous phase from the steps of degassing and clearing by means of a suitable means of detection; possible repetition of the previous phases at two layers, at least of the subsoil at different levels of depth in relation to the surface, with consequent determination of a distribution profile of H2S in the subsoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Geolog S.r.l.
    Inventor: Antonio Calleri
  • Patent number: 8528394
    Abstract: An assembly for transient and continuous testing of an open portion of a well bore arranged in a lower part of a drill string includes at least two packers fixed outside of the drill string, which are expandable for isolating a reservoir interval. The assembly includes a down-hole pump, sample chamber, sensors, closing valve, sensors and telemetry for measuring and realtime transmission of flow rate, pressure and temperature of fluid flow from the reservoir interval, from the down-hole pump, in the drill string and in an annulus above the packers, a mud driven turbine or electric cable, and a circulation unit. The circulation unit, independent of the circulation rate for mud to the annulus, can feed formation fluid from the reservoir interval into the annulus, so that at any time a well can be kept in over balance and the mud can solve the formation fluid from the reservoir interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventor: Kåre Otto Eriksen
  • Publication number: 20130199286
    Abstract: In situ density and compressibility of a fluid sample are determined for a fluid sample collected downhole. The density and compressibility of the fluid sample is determined by measuring a distance to a piston contained within the sample chamber using an external magnetic field sensor that senses a magnetic field emanating from a magnetic provided on the piston internal to the sample chamber. The testing is performed quickly and at the surface in a noninvasive fashion (i.e., without opening the sample chamber).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Li Gao, Mark A. Proett, Sami Eyuboglu, Tony Herman van Zuilekom
  • Patent number: 8492152
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool or tool body, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient in a receiving section, to detect the differentiated gas components with a detector, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. A reaction section and a vacuum section may be used for waste consumption and/or absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Jones, Michael T. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 8485026
    Abstract: A method of measuring thermo-physical properties of a reservoir fluid includes introducing the fluid under pressure into a microchannel, establishing a stabilized flow of the fluid through the microchannel, inducing bubble formation in the fluid disposed in the microchannel, and determining the thermo-physical properties of the fluid based upon the bubbles formed as the fluid flows through the microchannel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Farshid Mostowfi
  • Patent number: 8429961
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for obtaining fluid samples in a subterranean well (14). The apparatus (10) includes a wireline conveyance (22) and a fluid sampler (12) supported by and positioned with the wireline conveyance (22) in the well (14). The fluid sampler (12) includes an actuator (24) operable to establish a fluid communication path between an exterior and an interior of the fluid sampler (12), a plurality of sampling chambers (26) operable to receive fluid samples therein and a self-contained pressure source (28) in fluid communication with the sampling chambers (26) operable to pressurize the fluid samples obtained in the sampling chambers (26) to a pressure above saturation pressure, thereby preventing phase change degradation for the fluid samples during retrieval of the fluid sampler (12) to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrus A. Irani, Scott L. Miller, Paul David Ringgenberg, Luis Rubio Faria, Josana Silva Andrade, Pedro Varela
  • Patent number: 8371161
    Abstract: An apparatus made according to one embodiment may include a first chamber configured to receive fluid under pressure and to compress a gas in a second chamber in pressure communication with the first chamber, wherein the second chamber is configured to discharge the fluid out from the first chamber when pressure of the fluid in the first chamber is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Angus J. Simpson, Francisco Galvan-Sanchez, Wade H. Bullock, Marvin L. Raney, Marcelo F. Civarolo, Michael Shammai, Jianghui Wu, Sefer B. Coskun
  • Patent number: 8367413
    Abstract: Apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool or tool body, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient in a receiving section, to detect the differentiated gas components with a detector, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. The receiving section may comprise a diffusion section. A reaction section and a vacuum section may be used for waste consumption and/or absorption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Jones, Michael T. Pelletier
  • Patent number: 8360143
    Abstract: A method of determining a concentration of a component in a flow from a single source or layer contributing to a total flow using the steps of measuring the total flow rate at various depths and sampling the total flow at a depth between two successive sources, measuring a total concentration of one or more flow components within the total flow, repeating the measuring of the total flow rate, the sampling and total concentration in further intervals separating other pairs of successive sources, and determining the concentration of at least one component by solving a system of mass balance equations representing the total flow of the flow components at each sampling depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Murtaza Ziauddin, Ozgur Karacali
  • Patent number: 8245572
    Abstract: A system and method facilitates the analysis and sampling of well fluid. A sampling and data collection device is used to detect well fluid properties in situ at a flowline installation. In an exemplary embodiment, the sampling and data collection device comprises a sample collection system having a probe adapted to selectively insert into and selectively retract from the flowline to collect a fluid sample, and a sensor system to determine PVT data in situ at the location where the probe is inserted into the flowline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Birkett, David MacWilliam, Paul Ross, Mangus Wardle, Malcolm Atkinson
  • Patent number: 8215391
    Abstract: A coiled tubing deployed fluid sampler (50) for collecting a single phase fluid sample from a well. The fluid sampler (50) is actuated to establish fluid communication between an interior (56) and an exterior of the fluid sampler (50) such that a fluid sample is obtained from the well in a chamber (92) of the fluid sampler (50). The fluid pressure in the coiled tubing string is then increased, which pressurizes the fluid sample in the chamber (92). Thereafter, the coiled tubing and the fluid sampler (50) are retrieved to the surface with the pressurized fluid sample remaining above its saturation pressure during collection and retrieval to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrus A. Irani, Gian Franco Callarotti
  • Patent number: 8215390
    Abstract: A coiled tubing deployed fluid sampler (50) for collecting a single phase fluid sample from a well. The fluid sampler (50) is actuated to establish fluid communication between an interior (56) and an exterior of the fluid sampler (50) such that a fluid sample is obtained from the well in a chamber (92) of the fluid sampler (50). The fluid pressure in the coiled tubing string is then increased, which pressurizes the fluid sample in the chamber (92). Thereafter, the coiled tubing and the fluid sampler (50) are retrieved to the surface with the pressurized fluid sample remaining above its saturation pressure during collection and retrieval to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Cyrus A. Irani, Gian Franco Callarotti