Patents Represented by Attorney Jody Lynn DeStefanis
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Patent number: 6671380Abstract: An acoustic transducer includes a polarized piezoelectric shell having a spiral-shaped surface. The acoustic transducer serves as a receiver or a transmitter. In one embodiment, the acoustic transducer includes a solid spiral shell having outer and inner spiral-shaped surfaces, and the shell is polarized, wired and packaged to operate in hydrophone-mode. In another embodiment, the acoustic transducer includes a shell defining an exterior spiral-shaped surface and a spiral slot; and the slot defines a closed cavity with an interior spiral-shaped surface. In a preferred bender-type receiver embodiment, the shell is polarized, wired, and packaged to operate in bender mode for maximum sensitivity and best low-frequency performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Chung Chang, Hiroshi Hori
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Patent number: 6631327Abstract: A tool generates signals indicative of shear wave slowness of the formation surrounding a borehole. The tool comprises a collar portion adapted for mounting in a drill string, a quadrupole sonic transmitter mounted to the collar portion, and a quadrupole sonic receiver array mounted to the collar spaced apart from the transmitter. A method determines shear wave slowness of the formation. The method includes propagating quadrupole wave energy into the formation and detecting quadrupole dispersive waveforms received at a second location.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Chaur-Jian Hsu, Jahir A. Pabon, Bikash A. Sinha
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Patent number: 6625541Abstract: Methods for downhole waveform tracking and sonic labeling employ “tracking algorithms” and Bayesian analysis to classify STC waveforms. More particularly, according to the tracking part of the invention, a probability model is built to distinguish true “arrivals” (e.g. compressional, shear, etc.) from “false alarms” (e.g. noise) before the arrivals are classified. The probability model maps the “continuity” of tracks (slowness/time over depth) and is used to determine whether sequences of measurements are sufficiently “continuous” to be classified as tracks. The probability model is used to evaluate the likelihood of the data in various possible classifications (hypotheses). Prior and posterior probabilities are constructed for each track using the tracking algorithm. The posterior probabilities are computed sequentially and recursively, updating the probabilities after each measurement frame at depth k is acquired.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2000Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ramachandra Ganesh Shenoy, Henri-Pierre Valero
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Patent number: 6597171Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance methods for extracting information about a fluid in a rock are described. A system of nuclear spins in the fluid are prepared in a driven equilibrium, and a series of magnetic resonance signals generated from the fluid. The series of magnetic resonance signals is detected and analyzed to extract information about the fluid in the rock.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Martin D. Hurlimann, Olivier J. Terneaud, Denise Freed, Ulrich Scheven, Lalitha Venkataramanan
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Patent number: 6580272Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance logging methods that detect and analyze a steady state free precession (SSFP) signal are described. In some embodiments, Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) spin echoes are detected along with the SSFP signals. From the SSFP signal, either alone or in combination with CPMG signals, information about a region of an earth formation, such as porosity, bound fluid volume and diffusion, may be extracted.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Denise Freed, Martin D. Hürlimann, Ulrich Scheven
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Patent number: 6578405Abstract: A method of detecting a marine gas seep that includes: deploying a local probe on or near the seafloor; producing bubbles in water near or within the local probe; detecting the bubbles; producing data indicating the relative concentration of dissolved gas in the water; and associating elevated dissolved gas concentrations with the presence of a nearby marine gas seep. Another aspect of the invention involves an apparatus configured to carry out the inventive method. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize an ultrasonic transducer to both produce bubbles and detect them.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: June 17, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Robert L. Kleinberg, Neil W. Bostrom, Douglas D. Griffin, Peter G. Brewer
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Patent number: 6570382Abstract: NMR methods for extracting information about a fluid in rock and logging apparatuses for implementing such methods in a borehole environment are provided. The methods involve generating at least two different magnetic field pulse sequences. The magnetic field pulse sequences include a first portion and a second portion. A magnetic field pulse sequence is generated, and magnetic resonance signals are detected using the second portion of the sequence. The first portion of the sequence is modified, and again the sequence generated and magnetic resonance signals detected using the second portion. The magnetic resonance signals are analyzed, and information about, for example, diffusion coefficient, viscosity, composition, saturation in a rock, pore size, pore geometry and the like, extracted from the analyzed signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2000Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Martin D. Hurlimann, Charles Flaum, Mark Flaum, Lalitha Venkataramanan
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Patent number: 6501072Abstract: The optical density of an oil sample at a plurality of wavelengths over a plurality of different (typically decreasing) pressures is monitored and used to find the size of agglomerated asphaltene particles which are precipitating from the oil sample. The optical density information used in finding the particle size is preferably optical density information relating to the scattering of light due to the asphaltene particles only. Thus, baseline optical density information of the oil sample at a high pressure is subtracted from optical density information obtained at test pressures at each wavelength of interest. Asphaltene particles of a radius of one micron and smaller were found to be powdery, while asphaltene particles of a radius of three microns and larger were found to include paving resins. The precipitation of asphaltenes is reversible by increasing the pressure under certain circumstances.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2001Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Oliver C. Mullins, Abul Jamaluddin, Nikhil B. Joshi
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Patent number: 6465775Abstract: Methods of detecting carbon dioxide in downhole environments are provided. Near-infrared light is transmitted through a gas downhole. Indications of near-infrared absorptions are detected from the gas and used to determine the presence of carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2000Date of Patent: October 15, 2002Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Oliver C. Mullins, Philip A. Rabbito, Lawrence E. McGowan, Toru Terabayashi, Kazuyoshi Kegasawa
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Patent number: 6369304Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a percussion addition for a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, comprised of a hollow disc with a face, and a hollow support adapted for connection to an off-set sound hole in a stringed instrument. The percussion addition may be provided as a kit with interchangeable percussion additions. Alternatively, the kit may include percussion additions with the discs that are removable from the support and allow different discs to be received by the same support. Further, this invention includes a combination stringed and percussion instrument comprised of a stringed instrument with one or more percussion additions affixed to select off-set sound holes.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2001Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Inventor: Nancy Tucker
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Patent number: 6369591Abstract: A tester for electrical traces such as on a circuit board generally comprises an electromagnetic beam source such as a laser producing an ultraviolet beam, a vacuum chamber, an electrode circuit including electrodes and corresponding electronics including ammeters for measuring photoelectron flow between traces and electrodes, a controller, laser beam optics, an image acquisition system, and a pair of broadband UV lights. The board containing traces under test is disposed in the vacuum chamber at lowered pressure with grid electrodes lying close to the trace area on each side of the board. Electrode electronics selectively maintain a known potential on each electrode. The exact location of traces are determined by an image acquisition system. The board and traces are initialized to a known voltage. Photoelectric effect using ultraviolet laser beams is used to determine continuity between two points on a trace and shorts between traces.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: Maniatech IncorporatedInventors: Mario A. Cugini, Jeff Brakley, Gilbert Norman Ravich, George E. Miles, III, Ralph Lynn Giusti
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Patent number: 6369590Abstract: A tester (10), for testing electrical trace (90T) without electrical connection to test trace (90T), generally comprises an electro-magnetic source (25), such as a laser (26) for providing a beam (39) of electro-magnetic radiation, such as of ultraviolet light, directed on a single test trace (90T) for producing a photoelectric effect on test trace (90T) liberating electrons therefrom, a collector (50) disposed near test trace (90T) for collecting liberated electrons, and a collector circuit (60) electrically connected to collector (50) for supplying a positive potential thereto and including a meter (70) for measuring the photoelectric current to collector (50) from trace (90T).Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1999Date of Patent: April 9, 2002Assignee: ManiaTech IncorporatedInventors: Mario A. Cugini, Jeff Brakley, Gilbert Norman Ravich
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Patent number: 6264898Abstract: An apparatus for remediating a contaminated fluent material, such as a gas, utilizes a pulsed corona discharge. The apparatus includes a reactor section and a power supply section. The reactor section has a plurality of first electrodes electrically interconnected to a header plate and a plurality of second electrodes concentrically disposed about each first electrode and electrically interconnected to a reactor plate. The electrical contact between the header plate and the power supply is by a compression spring. When fluent material is flowing within channels defined by the second electrodes and a high voltage pulse is applied to the header plate, a stream of high energy electrons flows between the first electrodes and the second electrodes forming corona discharges effective to destroy polluting compounds contained in the contaminated fluent material.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1997Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: The Titan CorporationInventor: Michael W. Ingram
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Patent number: RE38129Abstract: An improved method of fluid analysis in the borehole of a well. A fluid sampling tool is fitted with a pumpout module that can be used to draw fluids from the formation, circulate them through the instrument, and then expel this fluid to the borehole. It has been determined that certain measurements would be most valuable to implement down hole, such as the formation fluid bubble point and dew point. Accurate bubble point and dew point measurements are made by forming bubbles or a liquid drop in a measured sample, and detecting same.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Robert L. Kleinberg