Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for testing wafers that is simple and allows testing prior to dicing so that the need to temporarily package individual dies for testing is eliminated. As a result, the number of manufacturing steps is reduced, thus increasing first pass yields. In addition, manufacturing time is decreased, thereby improving cycle times and avoiding additional costs. The invention also provides for packaging of the die at the completion of testing. One form of the present invention provides an interposer substrate connected to a wafer through conductive columns.

Abstract: An electrically insulating gap subassembly for inclusion in a pipe string (30) comprising a pair of tubular members (90, 98) having an electrically insulating isolation subassembly (94) threadably disposed therebetween is disclosed. The electrically insulating isolation subassembly (94) has an anodized aluminum surface that provides electrical isolation to interrupt electrical contact between the two tubular members (90, 98) such that electromagnetic waves (46, 54) carrying information may be generated thereacross.

Abstract: A valve (120) for controlling fluid flow therethrough in downhole applications is disclosed. The valve (120) comprises a valve housing having a valve closure mechanism (122) and a valve seat (124) disposed therein. The valve closure mechanism (122) has sealing surface (128) and a secondary load bearing surface (142). The valve seat (124) has a valve seat sealing surface (126) that mates with the sealing surface (128) of the valve closure mechanism (122). The secondary load bearing surface (142) of the valve closure mechanism (122) mates with a valve secondary load bearing surface (134) which may be supported by the valve seat (124).

Abstract: An apparatus (30) and method for regulating fluid flow through a downhole tubing string (28) is disclosed. The apparatus (30) comprises a generally tubular outer housing (32) having a housing port (38) formed through a sidewall portion thereof. First and second seats (78, 68) are disposed within the housing (32), each having sealing surface (82, 76) that are sealingly engageable to one another to substantially prevent fluid flow therebetween. A sleeve (44) is slidably disposed within the first and second seats (68, 78). The sleeve (44) has a flow passage extending generally axially therethrough and is variably positionable relative to the first seat (78) to regulate fluid flow through a sleeve port (46). The sleeve (44) has first and second positions relative to the second seat (68). In the first position, a seal (66) is disposed between the sleeve (44) and the first seat (78), thereby preventing fluid flow through the sleeve port (46).

Abstract: A downhole apparatus (100) for determining the constituent composition of a produced fluid is disclosed. The apparatus (100) includes a vessel (106) having an interior chamber (108) that receives and contains a sample of the produced fluid. In the interior chamber (108), the sample of the produced fluid is allowed to separate into its constituents. A gauge (200) having an array of transmitter elements (E1-E17) and an array of corresponding receiver elements (R1-R17) disposed oppositely of one another on the vessel (106), is used to transmit and receive energy waves that propagate through the sample of the produced fluid. The receiver elements (R1-R17) detect changes in absorption or scattering of the energy waves transmitted from the corresponding transmitter element (E1-E17) caused by the constituent of the sample of the produced fluid through which that energy wave propagated.

Abstract: A self-regulating lift fluid injection tool (100) adapted for placement within production tubing (30). The tool (100) has a control valve (126) that controls the rate of injection of a lift fluid (102) into the formation fluids (104) being produced through the production tubing (30). A sensor (140) monitors the flow rate of the formation fluids (104) through the production tubing (30). The sensor (140) generates a signal indicative the flow rate of the formation fluids (104) which is sent to an electronics package (142). The electronics package (142) generates a control signal in response to the signal received from the sensor (140) that is received by an actuator (176). The actuator (176) adjusts the position of the control valve (126) to regulate the flow rate of the lift fluid (102) therethrough in response to the control signal, thereby optimizing the flow rate of the formation fluids (104).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacture and testing of semiconductor chips (14) is disclosed. The invention comprises the use of an interposer (22) having a plurality of electrical contact pads (26) on each surface connected by a plurality of conductors (32, 34). After assembly of the interposer (22) to a semiconductor wafer (12), the wafer-interposer assembly (10) is attached to a testing unit (46) wherein the semiconductor chips (14) on the wafer (12) are tested. After testing, the interposer-wafer assembly (10) is singulated into a plurality of chip assemblies (62), each chip assembly (62) comprising a silicon chip (64) and the permanently attached interposer (66).

Abstract: An apparatus (410) for holding a plastic bag (36) in an upright and open position comprising a base (412), an upper frame (414), a vertical support member (416) and a pair of handle receiving members (418, 420) rotatably mounted to the upper frame (414) is disclosed. The handle receiving members (418, 420) each include a pair of rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428). The rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) having a first position and a second position. In the first position, the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) are generally vertical for receiving and removing the plastic bag (36). In the second position, the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) are rotated a predetermined angle from vertical. The rotation of the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) from the first to the second position increases the distance between the rotatable arms (422, 424, 426, 428) in each pair of handle receiving members (418, 420), thereby securing the plastic bag (36) in an upright and open position within the apparatus (410).

Abstract: This invention provides a method and an apparatus for fiber optic tomographic analysis and imaging of fluids. This invention includes a method for providing information on downhole fluid flowing in a hydrocarbon well, utilizing at least one downhole tomograph chamber (10). Light is introduced into the tomograph chamber (10) by an optical fiber bundle (24), and portions of the light are collected in other optical fiber bundles (32, 34). The collected portions of light are conveyed through the optical fiber bundles (32, 34) to a surface system (14), where the light is detected to produce signals proportional to the portions of light to provide information on optical properties of downhole fluid flowing in the well. This invention allows the generation of two or three dimensional images of multiple phase flow in the wellbore and allows determination of production parameters of multiple zones on an individual zone basis.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating hydraulic control to a wireline retrievable downhole device (112) are disclosed. The system utilizes a tubing retrievable downhole device (50) having a hydraulic chamber (70). A radial cutting tool (104) is selectively located within the tubing retrievable downhole device (50) to cut a fluid passageway (110) between the hydraulic chamber (70) and the interior of the tubing retrievable downhole device (50). Thereafter, when the wireline retrievable downhole device (112) is positioned within the tubing retrievable downhole device (50), hydraulic control is communicated to the wireline retrievable downhole device (50) through the fluid passageway (110) to actuate the wireline retrievable downhole device (50).

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for actuating a hydraulically controllable device (102) disposed in a wellbore is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises a downhole hydraulic fluid source (134), a hydraulic fluid passageway (136) providing a communication path between the downhole hydraulic fluid source (134) and the hydraulically controllable device (102), a valve (144) disposed within the hydraulic fluid passageway (136) and a downhole electronics package (138). The downhole electronics package (138) receives a signal from the surface to operate the valve (144) from the closed position to the open position such that hydraulic pressure from the downhole hydraulic fluid source (134) actuates the hydraulically controllable device (102).

Abstract: A flapper valve assembly (120) for controlling fluid flow therethrough is disclosed. The flapper valve assembly (120) comprises a tubular valve housing having a valve chamber. A valve seat (124) is mounted within the housing. The valve seat (124) has a valve seat sealing surface (126). The valve seat (124) also has an internal load bearing shoulder (134). A flapper closure plate (122) is rotatably disposed within the valve chamber. The flapper closure plate (122) is rotatable between a valve open position in which the flapper closure plate (122) is removed from the valve seat (124) and a valve closed position in which the sealing surface (128) of the flapper closure plate (122) sealingly engages the valve seat sealing surface (126) for preventing flow through the flapper valve assembly (120). The maximum travel of the flapper closure plate (122) in the closed position is defined by the internal load bearing shoulder (134) of the valve seat (124).

Abstract: A self-regulating lift fluid injection tool (100) adapted for placement within production tubing (30). The tool (100) has a control valve (126) that controls the rate of injection of a lift fluid (102) into the formation fluids (104) being produced through the production tubing (30). A sensor (140) monitors the flow rate of the formation fluids (104) through the production tubing (30). The sensor (140) generates a signal indicative the flow rate of the formation fluids (104) which is sent to an electronics package (142). The electronics package (142) generates a control signal in response to the signal received from the sensor (140) that is received by an actuator (176). The actuator (176) adjusts the position of the control valve (126) to regulate the flow rate of the lift fluid (102) therethrough in response to the control signal, thereby optimizing the flow rate of the formation fluids (104).

Abstract: A valve (120) for controlling fluid flow therethrough in downhole applications is disclosed. The valve (120) comprises a valve housing having a valve closure mechanism (122) and a valve seat (124) disposed therein. The valve closure mechanism (122) has sealing surface (128) and a secondary load bearing surface (142). The valve seat (124) has a valve seat sealing surface (126) that mates with the sealing surface (128) of the valve closure mechanism (122). The secondary load bearing surface (142) of the valve closure mechanism (122) mates with a valve secondary load bearing surface (134) which may be supported by the valve seat (124).

Abstract: A downhole tool (100) for selectively providing fluid communication between the interior and the exterior of the tool (100). The tool (100) comprises a housing (102), a safety mandrel (130) slidably received within the housing (102) and an operating mandrel (114) slidably received within the housing (102). The safety mandrel (130) operates between a first position and a second position relative to the housing (102) in response to pressure being applied to the exterior of the housing (102). The operating mandrel (114) operates from a noncirculating position to a circulating position in response to pressure being applied to the interior of the housing (102) once the safety mandrel (130) has operated to its second position.

Abstract: A flapper valve assembly (110) having a biasing flapper closure assembly (102) is disclosed. The flapper valve assembly (110) comprises tubular valve housing (94) having a hinge (100) and a longitudinal hole (104). A valve seat (92) is mounted within the housing (94) having a flow passage therethrough. A flapper closure plate (86) is rotatably disposed within the housing (94) about the hinge (100). The flapper closure plate (86) is rotatable between a valve open position and a valve closed position. The flapper closure plate (86) has a notch (132) on the side opposite its sealing surface (114) that is spaced a distance (136) from the hinge (100).

Abstract: A formation fluid sampling apparatus (40) for verification of monophasic samples is disclosed. The apparatus (40) comprises a housing (42) having a sampling chamber (48) and a sampling port (50) defined therein. The sampling port (50) is in communication with the sampling chamber (48) and the formation traversed by the wellbore such that formation fluids may be collected in the sampling chamber (48). A temperature monitoring device (52) monitors the temperature of the formation fluids collected in the sampling chamber (48). A temperature recorder (46) that is operatively connected to the temperature monitoring device (52) is used to record the temperature fluctuations of the formation fluids in the sampling chamber (48) to determine whether the formation fluids undergo phase change degradation during collection of the fluid sample and retrieval of the formation fluid sampling apparatus (40) from the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and method of fail safe communication of information between surface equipment and downhole equipment are disclosed. The system comprises two or more repeaters (34, 35, 36) disposed within a wellbore (38) such that two repeaters (34, 35) will receive each signal carrying information that is telemetered. The repeater (35) that is farther from the source (44) will include a memory device (292) that stores the information carried in the signal. A timer device (293) also in the repeater (35) that is farther from the source (44) will trigger the retransmission of the information after a predetermined time period unless the repeater (35) that is farther from the source (44) has detected a signal carrying the information generated by the repeater (34) that is closer to the source (44).

Abstract: An electromagnetic pickup apparatus (46) and method for use of the same is disclosed. The apparatus (46) comprises a probe (60) that is insertable into a bore hole (64) or a trench (70) and a conductive backfill composition (62) that substantially surrounds the probe (60) having intimate contact with the probe (60) and the earth, thereby establishing a highly electrically conductive region (66) between the probe (60) and the earth.

Abstract: A locator device (50) that is selectively lockable within a nipple profile (40) disposed within a wellbore (32). The locator device (50) comprises a locator key (106) disposed between a housing (104) and a mandrel (102) that is radially extendable through a window (108) of the housing (104). The locator key (106) has an engageable position and a retracted position with respect to nipple profile (40). A support ring (110) is disposed between the housing (104) and the mandrel (102) that maintains the locator key (106) in the engageable position until the support ring (110) is axially displaced relative to the mandrel (102).