Abstract: A high vertical resolution antenna design is provided for use in an NMR measurement apparatus. Multiple coils are situated along the length of a magnet. A primary coil is energized to cause an oscillating magnetic field in a portion of earth formation surrounding a borehole. A secondary coil having smaller dimensions than the primary coil is operated to receive spin echoes from a depth of investigation associated with the secondary coil. A distance sufficient to minimize electrical coupling separates the coils. The separation distance can be reduced by selecting a secondary coil with orthogonal polarization to the primary coil. Alternatively, a cross coil configuration can be implemented where the orthogonal secondary coil at least partially overlaps the primary coil, thereby reducing the overall length necessary for the polarizing magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling oilfield production to improve efficiency includes a remote sensing unit that is placed within a subsurface formation, an antenna structure for communicating with the remote sensing unit, a casing joint having nonconductive “windows” for allowing a internally located antenna to communicate with the remote sensing unit, and a system for obtaining subsurface formation data and for producing the formation data to a central location for subsequent analysis. The remote sensing unit is placed sufficiently far from the wellbore to reduce or eliminate effects that the wellbore might have on formation data samples taken by the remote sensing unit. The remote sensing unit is an active device with the capability of responding to control commands by determining certain subsurface formation characteristics such as pressure or temperature, and transmitting corresponding data values to a wellbore tool.

Abstract: An optical metrology system is disclosed which is configured to minimize the measurement of specularly reflected light and measure primarily scattered light. The system is similar to prior art beam profile measurements but includes a movable baffle to selectively block specularly reflected light. In addition, certain non-periodic, isolated targets are disclosed suitable for evaluating overlay registration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of investigating the wall (2) of a borehole in a geological formation by means of two injectors (4, 5) with a potential V being applied between them and in measuring the potential difference &dgr;V between two electrically isolated measurement electrodes (6) situated between the two injectors (4, 5) and spaced apart from the formation by an insulating layer (1), in which the resistivity of the formation is obtained from the measured values of &dgr;V, V and I, with corrections being made for the effects due to the nature and the thickness of the insulating layer (1). In a first variant these corrections are based on a correction factor obtained from curves of K=Rt.I/&dgr;V as a function of the impedance V/I of the injector. In a second variant these corrections are obtained by estimating the current IF actually injected into the formation while taking account of leakage current IL, and calculating the resistivity of the formation from the equation (I).

Abstract: A calibration method suitable for highly precise and highly accurate surface metrology measurements is described. In preferred embodiments, an optical inspection tool including a movable optics system is characterized in terms of position and wavelength dependent quantities over a range of motion. Once the position-dependant quantities are determined at various wavelengths and positions, they are stored and used to interpret data from test wafers having an unknown metrology. Free of position-dependent variations and other information pertaining to the measurement system, the accuracy of the resulting wafer measurement more closely matches the precision of the tool than existing techniques. In particular embodiments, a portion of the characterization of the optical system is accomplished by using tilted black glass to provide a non-reflective reference.

Abstract: A downhole controller is used to tune the resonance frequency of an antenna after each NMR measurement sequence. At the end of the sequence, the downhole controller causes a pulse sequencer to generate a calibration pulse. The downhole controller then observes a voltage decay across the antenna after the calibration pulse. The downhole controller performs a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the voltage decay to derive the resonant frequency of the antenna. The downhole controller determines a difference between the determined resonance frequency and the Larmor frequency and makes corresponding corrections by activating switches of the resonance tuning circuit. After each NMR measurement sequence, the downhole controller repeats the calibration to keep the antenna tuned to a frequency near the Larmor frequency.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining characteristics of a sample. The system and method provide for detecting a monitor beam reflected off a mirror, where the monitor beam corresponds to the intensity of light incident upon the sample. The system and method also provide for detecting a measurement beam, where the measurement beam has been reflected off the sample being characterized. Both the monitor beam and the measurement beam are transmitted through the same transmission path, and detected by the same detector. Thus, potential sources of variations between the monitor beam and the measurement beam which are not due to the characteristics of the sample are minimized. Reflectivity information for the sample can be determined by comparing data corresponding to the measurement beam relative to data corresponding the monitor beam.

Abstract: A permeability estimation technique for use with spin echo signals that are received from a sample includes summing indications of the amplitudes of the spin echo signals. The results of the summing are used to determine an indication of a permeability of the sample, without using a distribution of relaxation times in the determination. The products of indications of the amplitudes of the spin echo signals may be summed, and the results of the summing may be used to determine an indication of a permeability of the sample, without using a distribution of relaxation times in the determination.

Abstract: An NMR tool includes RF antennae and a cylindrical permanent magnet to establish a static magnetic B0 field for performing the NMR measurement sequence. The magnetic field of the magnet is polarized across the diameter of the magnet. A ferrite material is located adjacent to the permanent magnet. The antennae are located near opposite ends of the ferrite material and are formed from corresponding coils that are wound around the ferrite material such that the magnetic moments of the antennae are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet.

Abstract: A downhole NMR measurement apparatus for use in a borehole includes at least one magnet, at least one RF transmission coil, at least one gradient coil and circuitry. The magnet(s) establish a magnetic field in a region of a formation that at least partially surrounds the measurement apparatus. The RF transmission coils(s) transmit RF pulses pursuant to an NMR pulse sequence into the region to, in combination with the magnetic field, induce the generation of spin echo signals from a resonance volume within the region. The gradient coil(s) establish a pulsed gradient field in the resonance volume, and the circuitry is coupled to the gradient coil(s) to control the generation of the pulsed gradient field to phase encode the spin echo signals for purposes of high resolution imaging of the formation.

Abstract: An optical measurement system for evaluating a sample has a azimuthally rotatable measurement head. A motor-driven rotating mechanism is coupled to the measurement head to allow the optics to rotate with respect to the sample. In particular, a preferred embodiment is a polarimetric scatterometer (FIG. 1) for measuring optical properties of a periodic structure on a wafer sample (12). This scatterometer has optics (30) directing a polarized illumination beam at non-normal incidence onto the periodic structure. In addition to a polarizer (8), the illumination path can also be provided with an E-O modulator for modulating the polarization. The measurement head optics also collect light reflected from the periodic structure and feed that light to a spectrometer (17) for measurement. A polarization beamsplitter (18) is provided in the collection path so that both S and P polarization from the sample can be separately measured.

Abstract: A permeability estimation technique for use with spin echo signals that are received from a sample includes summing indications of the amplitudes of the spin echo signals. The results of the summing are used to determine an indication of a permeability of the sample, without using a distribution of relaxation times in the determination. The products of indications of the amplitudes of the spin echo signals may be summed, and the results of the summing may be used to determine an indication of a permeability of the sample, without using a distribution of relaxation times in the determination.

Abstract: Alignment accuracy between two or more patterned layers is measured using a metrology target comprising substantially overlapping diffraction gratings formed in a test area of the layers being tested. An optical instrument illuminates all or part of the target area and measures the optical response. The instrument can measure transmission, reflectance, and/or ellipsometric parameters as a function of wavelength, polar angle of incidence, azimuthal angle of incidence, and/or polarization of the illumination and detected light. Overlay error or offset between those layers containing the test gratings is determined by a processor programmed to calculate an optical response for a set of parameters that include overlay error, using a model that accounts for diffraction by the gratings and interaction of the gratings with each others' diffracted field. The model parameters might also take account of manufactured asymmetries.

Abstract: A method of determining the displacements of a logging tool during a measurement interval of the logging tool in a borehole includes obtaining a set of accelerometer signals corresponding to accelerations of the logging tool along each of three orthogonal axes of the logging tool during the measurement interval. The method further includes calculating a lower bound for the displacements of the logging tool during the measurement interval when the initial velocity and the gravitational acceleration are unknown. The lower bound on the displacements of the logging tool is used to flag the validity of the measurements made by the logging tool.

Abstract: An NMR logging tool includes at least one antenna and a pulse sequencer. The pulse sequencer is coupled to said at least one antenna and is adapted to receive state descriptors that are indicative of states of an NMR measurement sequence. The pulse sequencer uses the antenna(e) to perform the NMR measurement sequence downhole in a subterranean formation in response to the state descriptors.

Abstract: A downhole controller is used to tune the resonance frequency of an antenna after each NMR measurement sequence. At the end of the sequence, the downhole controller causes a pulse sequencer to generate a calibration pulse. The downhole controller then observes a voltage decay across the antenna after the calibration pulse. The downhole controller performs a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the voltage decay to derive the resonant frequency of the antenna. The downhole controller determines a difference between the determined resonance frequency and the Larmor frequency and makes corresponding corrections by activating switches of the resonance tuning circuit. After each NMR measurement sequence, the downhole controller repeats the calibration to keep the antenna tuned to a frequency near the Larmor frequency.

Abstract: An NMR tool includes RF antennae and a cylindrical permanent magnet to establish a static magnetic B0 field for performing the NMR measurement sequence. The magnetic field of the magnet is polarized across the diameter of the magnet. A ferrite material is located adjacent to the permanent magnet. The antennae are located near opposite ends of the ferrite material and are formed from corresponding coils that are wound around the ferrite material such that the magnetic moments of the antennae are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the magnet.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance measurement apparatus that is subject to relative motion between the apparatus and a specimen along a path includes a magnet, antennae and a circuit. The magnet polarizes the specimen, and the antennae are spatially distributed along the path. The circuit uses the antennae to perform magnetic resonance measurements and use the spatial distribution of the antennae to establish different polarization times for the magnetic resonance measurements.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for measuring nuclear magnetic resonance properties of an earth formation traversed by a borehole by generating gradient-echoes. The measurement can be made while drilling or using a wireline tool. The apparatus applies a static magnetic field, B.sub.a, in a volume of the formation which polarizes the nuclei of hydrogenous connate fluids within the formation. The apparatus applies a second magnetic field, B.sub.b, in a volume of the formation. The magnetic fields B.sub.a and B.sub.b are substantially orthogonal in the volume of the formation. A change in the polarity of the magnetic field, B.sub.b, reverses the direction of precession of the nuclei thereby generating a train of gradient-echoes. Each gradient-echo signal is transformed into the frequency domain and the signal frequency is mapped to a radial position in the volume of the formation in order to generate an image of the formation.

Abstract: A logging device for measuring nuclear magnetic resonance characteristics of earth formations surrounding a borehole having means for producing a static magnetic field in formations surrounding the borehole, means for producing an audio frequency magnetic field in the formations, means for rotating the static magnetic field with respect to the audio frequency magnetic field, and means for detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals from spins in the formation precessing around the earth's magnetic field. A method of measuring nuclear magnetic resonance characteristics of earth formations surrounding a borehole using such a device is also described. In its preferred form, the invention involves an NMR technique and apparatus in which spins in the formations are tipped by adiabatic fast passage, resulting in a relatively large depth of investigation, but does not require treating of the borehole fluid.