Abstract: An apparatus for determining the concentration of a conductive fluid present in a fluid filled bore hole is described. Such apparatus are known as water hold-up meters and are frequently used in oil, gas and water filled bore holes. In bore hole applications, data bandwidth between a down hole device and the surface can be limited, while determining water hold-up based on down hole measurements can be data intensive. A technique is proposed for calculating the water hold up that requires less data to be transmitted between the down hole device and the surface.

Abstract: Flowmeters and methods of measuring a fluid flow or manufacturing flowmeters are presented. A flowmeter has a tool body and one or more spinner arms configured to extend with a first end away from the tool body and a second end joined to the tool body, when deployed to measure a fluid flow. Each spinner arm includes a helical blade configured to rotate due to a fluid flowing substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body, around a rotation axis between the first end and the second end.

Abstract: A flexible sealing connector for conveying an electrical signal from a first tool portion to a second tool portion, at least one of the first tool portion and the second tool portion having a receiver with a surface defining a receiver passageway, includes a deformable boot in sealing engagement with the surface of the receiver passageway, the deformable boot having a surface defining a boot passageway. The connector further includes an electrical coupler in sealing engagement with the surface of the boot passageway, the coupler having a first end electrically connected to a first electrical line extending from the first tool portion and a second end electrically connected to a second electrical line extending from the second tool portion whereby the first line and the second line are electrically connected, the receiver passageway is sealed by the boot and the boot passageway is sealed by the coupler.

Abstract: A pressure balancing device for a transducer is provided. The pressure balancing device comprises: a pressure transmission device having a cross-sectional area and arranged, in use, to be exposed to a fluid; and a fluid chamber having a hollow shaft, the fluid chamber being arranged to be acted on by the pressure transmission device; wherein the cross-sectional area of the hollow shaft is less than the cross-sectional area of the pressure transmission device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the fluid permeability of an earth formation is described. An instrument comprising an acoustic source and acoustic and electrokinetic sensors is located in a borehole at a site of interest. The acoustic source is fired and the resulting variations in pressure and electric field generated are measured and recorded. The Biot equation, and an equation for the streaming potential coupled to fluid displacement terms, is solved using finite element analysis to give an expected pressure waveform and electrokinetic waveform based on estimated earth formation properties. By comparison of the measured waveforms and those calculated from the equations, the actual permeability of the earth formation can be deduced.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for dampening vibrations transmitted to a sensor assembly based on well drilling operations. Vibration isolators are distributed around a sensor assembly and retained in their desired location. The sensor assembly and retained vibration isolators are inserted in a shrinkable thin-walled tube and the thin-walled tube is shrunk to constrict the inner surface of the thin-walled tube, and the retained vibration isolators against the outer surface of the sensor assembly. Additionally, the constricted thin-walled tube restrains a wiring harness associated with the sensor assembly in a wire well traversing the axial direction of the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A bi-directional fluid flow sensor is disclosed. The sensor comprises a turbine configured to rotate along an axis as a result of fluid flowing past the turbine substantially in the direction of the axis; a magnet mounted to the turbine and configured to rotate with the turbine; and a magnetic flux angle sensor provided adjacent to the turbine and configured to detect the relative flux angle of the magnet as it rotates. The bi-directional fluid flow sensor is sensitive and robust and may be used in a downhole well for example.

Abstract: Drill pipe segments, communication systems, and methods of manufacturing pipe segments usable for communicating data wirelessly between sensors and tools placed in an oil and/or gas well are provided. Communication specks are applied on at least one of an outer surface or an inner surface of the pipe segments or coil tubing.

Abstract: A modulator is disclosed for creating a pressure pulse in a fluid-filled well. The modulator comprises a tool body on which a plurality of extendable arms are mounted. The arms may be retracted into a stowed position substantially adjacent the tool body, or may be extended to meet the wall of the borehole. The arms are preferably resilient bowsprings that may be flexed outwards from the tool by means of an actuator pushing on at least one end of the springs. A flexible valve sleeve or bag is suspended between the arms and cooperates with a valve mounted adjacent the sleeve on the tool body. The valve sleeve creates a fluid-flow path through the valve, and in operation, the valve closes one end of the valve sleeve to create the pressure pulse. Sealing of the valve sleeve against the wall of the well is a result of the fluid pressure inflating the sleeve against the well wall. As a result, sealing takes place over an extended area of the bag and is dynamically responsive to changes in fluid flow or pressure.

Abstract: A flexible sealing connector for conveying an electrical signal from a first tool portion to a second tool portion, at least one of the first tool portion and the second tool portion having a receiver with a surface defining a receiver passageway, includes a deformable boot in sealing engagement with the surface of the receiver passageway, the deformable boot having a surface defining a boot passageway. The connector further includes an electrical coupler in sealing engagement with the surface of the boot passageway, the coupler having a first end electrically connected to a first electrical line extending from the first tool portion and a second end electrically connected to a second electrical line extending from the second tool portion whereby the first line and the second line are electrically connected, the receiver passageway is sealed by the boot and the boot passageway is sealed by the coupler.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooling internal components of a down-hole well drilling apparatus. Components of the well drilling apparatus are encased in an inner canister that is further encased in an outer canister creating a void between the inner canister and the outer canister. Further, a plurality of moveable barriers is disposed between the inner canister and the outer canister and contains a heat transfer fluid. A plurality of agitators add mechanical energy to the plurality of moveable barriers compressing and expanding, while repositioning, the heat transfer fluid and creating a heat pump based on a reverse Stirling cycle to remove heat from the cooler inner canister and transfer the heat to the hotter environment outside the outer canister.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a rugged three-axis inclinometer for determining an object's orientation with respect to a gravitational field. Components of the apparatus include but not limited to a magnet, a non-magnetic casing, a ferrofluid, one or more non-magnetic gravitational field aligning materials attached to the magnet and a plurality of angle sensors attached to the non-magnetic casing. In this regard, when the apparatus is rotated, the gravitational field aligning materials maintain a constant orientation of the magnet and the angle sensors experience different magnetic field strengths as they rotate around the magnet. The position of the apparatus, with respect to the gravitational field can then be calculated based on the angle sensor outputs.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for a circuit for switching from a first battery to a second battery. The circuit includes: the first battery configured to provide electrical energy to a device when a first reed switch is closed; the second battery configured to provide electrical energy to the device when a second reed switch is closed; the first reed switch electrically connected to the first battery and configured to close when proximate a magnet; the second reed switch electrically connected to the second battery and configured to close when proximate the magnet; and the magnet configured to be moved from a position proximate the first reed switch to a position proximate the second reed switch.

Abstract: A neutron porosity measurement device adapted to receive a neutron source configured to emit neutrons having a first energy includes a segmented semiconductor detector located at a predetermined distance from the neutron source. The segmented semiconductor detector includes a plurality of semiconductor neutron detection cells configured to detect neutrons having a second energy smaller than the first energy. The cells are arranged in subsets located between a first distance and a second distance from the neutron source, each subset including semiconductor neutron detection cells surrounding an axis and being disposed in opposite sectors defined relative to the axis at substantially same distance from the neutron source. One or more of the neutron detection cells are configured to acquire data related to detected neutrons independently from one or more other of the neutron detected cells. A method of manufacturing the neutron porosity measurement device is also provided.

Abstract: A neutron porosity measurement device adapted to receive a neutron source configured to emit neutrons having a first energy includes a segmented semiconductor detector located at a predetermined distance from the neutron source. The segmented semiconductor detector includes a plurality of semiconductor neutron detection cells configured to detect neutrons having a second energy smaller than the first energy. The cells are arranged in subsets located between a first distance and a second distance from the neutron source, each subset including semiconductor neutron detection cells surrounding an axis and being disposed in opposite sectors defined relative to the axis at substantially same distance from the neutron source. One or more of the neutron detection cells are configured to acquire data related to detected neutrons independently from one or more other of the neutron detected cells. A method of manufacturing the neutron porosity measurement device is also provided.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method for disconnecting a plurality of wireline tools from a string of wireline tools while maintaining operation of the wireline tools remaining with the string of wireline tools. The disconnection is non-destructive and allows a reconnection of the disconnected tools after retrieval from the well. The system also enables testing of the disconnection mechanism before deploying the wireline tool string into the well.

Abstract: Presented are systems and methods for dampening vibrations transmitted to a sensor assembly based on well drilling operations. Vibration isolators are distributed around a sensor assembly and retained in their desired location. The sensor assembly and retained vibration isolators are inserted in a shrinkable thin-walled tube and the thin-walled tube is shrunk to constrict the inner surface of the thin-walled tube, and the retained vibration isolators against the outer surface of the sensor assembly. Additionally, the constricted thin-walled tube restrains a wiring harness associated with the sensor assembly in a wire well traversing the axial direction of the sensor assembly.

Abstract: Presented is a system and method for disconnecting a plurality of wireline tools from a string of wireline tools while maintaining operation of the wireline tools remaining with the string of wireline tools. The disconnection is non-destructive and allows a reconnection of the disconnected tools after retrieval from the well. The system also enables testing of the disconnection mechanism before deploying the wireline tool string into the well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the fluid permeability of an earth formation is described. An instrument comprising an acoustic source and acoustic and electrokinetic sensors is located in a borehole at a site of interest. The acoustic source is fired and the resulting variations in pressure and electric field generated are measured and recorded. The Biot equation, and an equation for the streaming potential coupled to fluid displacement terms, is solved using finite element analysis to give an expected pressure waveform and electrokinetic waveform based on estimated earth formation properties. By comparison of the measured waveforms and those calculated from the equations, the actual permeability of the earth formation can be deduced.