Patents Assigned to MICROSILICON INC.
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Patent number: 12072307Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems, tools, and methods for flow assurance monitoring within pipe structures. In an embodiment is provided a method of determining at least one property of a mixture flowing through a system that includes introducing an inhibitor to a fluid flowing through the system to form the mixture; exposing the mixture to electromagnetic energy to induce at least one paramagnetic response from at least one diamagnetic species present in the mixture flowing through the system; performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on the at least one paramagnetic response to generate an EPR spectrum; and determining the at least one property of the mixture based on the EPR spectrum. Apparatus for determining fluid properties and systems for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: John Lovell, Omar Kulbrandstad
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Patent number: 11828899Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on a fluid from a flowing well, such as fluid from hydrocarbon recovery operations flowing in a downhole tubular, wellhead, or pipeline. One example method generally includes, for a first EPR iteration, performing a first frequency sweep of discrete electromagnetic frequencies on a cavity containing the fluid; determining first parameter values of reflected signals from the first frequency sweep; selecting a first discrete frequency corresponding to one of the first parameter values that is less than a threshold value; activating a first electromagnetic field in the fluid at the first discrete frequency; and while the first electromagnetic field is activated, performing a first DC magnetic field sweep to generate a first EPR spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: Manuel Godoy, Aydin Babakhani, Omar Kulbrandstad, John Lovell
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Patent number: 11815501Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Aydin Babakhani, Manuel Godoy, John Lovell
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Patent number: 11525816Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Aydin Babakhani, Manuel Godoy, John Lovell
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Patent number: 11448608Abstract: In an embodiment is provided a method of determining at least one property of a fluid that includes inducing a paramagnetic response from at least one diamagnetic species flowing through a system, the fluid including the at least one diamagnetic species; performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on at least a portion of the fluid to generate an EPR spectrum; and determining at least one property of the fluid based on the EPR spectrum. In another embodiment is provided a method of determining at least one property of a first fluid that includes introducing an inhibitor composition to a first fluid flowing through a system to form a second fluid; performing EPR spectroscopy on at least a portion of the second fluid to generate an EPR spectrum; and determining at least one property of the second fluid based on the EPR spectrum. Apparatus for determining fluid properties are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: John Lovell, Omar Kulbrandstad
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Patent number: 11181658Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on a fluid from a flowing well, such as fluid from hydrocarbon recovery operations flowing in a downhole tubular, wellhead, or pipeline. One example method generally includes, for a first EPR iteration, performing a first frequency sweep of discrete electromagnetic frequencies on a cavity containing the fluid; determining first parameter values of reflected signals from the first frequency sweep; selecting a first discrete frequency corresponding to one of the first parameter values that is less than a threshold value; activating a first electromagnetic field in the fluid at the first discrete frequency; and while the first electromagnetic field is activated, performing a first DC magnetic field sweep to generate a first EPR spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignee: MICROSILICON INC.Inventors: Manuel Godoy, Aydin Babakhani, Omar Kulbrandstad, John Lovell
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Patent number: 10859549Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for closed-loop control of a system using one or more electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) sensors located on-site. With such EPR sensors, a change can be applied to the system, the EPR sensors can measure the effect(s) of the change, and then adjustments can be made in real-time. This feedback process may be repeated continuously to control the system.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Aydin Babakhani, Manuel Godoy, John Lovell
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Patent number: 10690800Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for sensing a fluid flowing in a conduit using a mobile electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) device. The mobile EPR device may include one or more EPR sensors for making EPR measurements and, for certain aspects, may include one or more other sensors for making other measurements. One example mobile EPR device for deploying in a conduit generally includes a housing configured to be conveyed by a fluid flowing in the conduit; a bore in the housing for receiving the fluid; and an EPR sensor disposed adjacent to the bore for EPR sensing of the fluid as the mobile EPR device traverses a section of the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: MICROSILICON, INC.Inventors: Omar Kulbrandstad, Manuel Godoy
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Patent number: 10564308Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatus for performing electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy on a fluid from a flowing well, such as fluid from hydrocarbon recovery operations flowing in a downhole tubular, wellhead, or pipeline. One example method generally includes, for a first EPR iteration, performing a first frequency sweep of discrete electromagnetic frequencies on a cavity containing the fluid; determining first parameter values of reflected signals from the first frequency sweep; selecting a first discrete frequency corresponding to one of the first parameter values that is less than a threshold value; activating a first electromagnetic field in the fluid at the first discrete frequency; and while the first electromagnetic field is activated, performing a first DC magnetic field sweep to generate a first EPR spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: MICROSILICON INC.Inventors: Manuel Godoy, Aydin Babakhani, Omar Kulbrandstad, John Lovell