Patents by Inventor Akihito Chikenji

Akihito Chikenji has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8256283
    Abstract: A downhole characterization apparatus for formation fluids is provided. The apparatus comprises a downhole tool including a flowline for flowing the formation fluids capable of isolating a quantity of the formation fluids in a portion thereof; and a pump unit for depressurizing the isolated formation fluids; and a measurement controller which controls the downhole tool. The measurement controller includes a rough value estimation unit which estimates a rough value of the bubble point pressure of the formation fluids; and a speed controller which controls the depressurizing speed of the pump unit such that the isolated formation fluids are depressurized at a first speed to a certain pressure which is a predetermined value higher than said estimated rough value, and the isolated fluids are depressurized at a second speed which is slower than said first speed in order to measure a precise value of the bubble point pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Terabayashi, Tsutomu Yamate, Hideki Kinjo, Akihito Chikenji, Takeaki Nakayama, Oliver C Mullins, Soraya Sofia Betancourt, Michael O'Keefe, Chengli Dong
  • Publication number: 20100313647
    Abstract: A downhole characterization apparatus for formation fluids is provided. The apparatus comprises a downhole tool including a flowline for flowing the formation fluids capable of isolating a quantity of the formation fluids in a portion thereof; and a pump unit for depressurizing the isolated formation fluids; and a measurement controller which controls the downhole tool. The measurement controller includes a rough value estimation unit which estimates a rough value of the bubble point pressure of the formation fluids; and a speed controller which controls the depressurizing speed of the pump unit such that the isolated formation fluids are depressurized at a first speed to a certain pressure which is a predetermined value higher than said estimated rough value, and the isolated fluids are depressurized at a second speed which is slower than said first speed in order to measure a precise value of the bubble point pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Terabayashi, Tsutomu Yamate, Hideki Kinjo, Akihito Chikenji, Takeaki Nakayama, Oliver C. Mullins, Soraya S. Betancourt, Michael O'Keefe, Chengli Dong
  • Patent number: 7788972
    Abstract: A method of downhole characterization of formation fluids is provided. The method includes: estimating a rough value of the bubble point pressure of the formation fluids; depressurizing the formation fluids at a first speed to a certain pressure which is a predetermined value higher than the estimated rough value while the formation fluids are isolated in a portion of the flowline; and depressurizing the isolated fluids at a second speed which is slower than the first speed in order to measure a precise value of the bubble point pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Terabayashi, Tsutomu Yamate, Hideki Kinjo, Akihito Chikenji, Takeaki Nakayama, Oliver C. Mullins, Soraya S. Betancourt, Michael O'Keefe, Chengli Dong
  • Patent number: 7673679
    Abstract: Protective barriers for small devices, such as sensors, actuators, flow control devices, among others, protect the devices from erosive and/or corrosive fluids, for example, formation fluids under harsh downhole conditions. The protective barriers include protective coatings and fluid diverting structures in the fluid flow which facilitate use of the small devices in high temperature-high pressure applications with erosive and/or corrosive fluids that are often found in downhole environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Oliver C. Mullins, Olivier Vancauwenberghe, Eric P. Donzier, Akihito Chikenji, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin, Julian J. Pop
  • Publication number: 20090078036
    Abstract: A method of downhole characterization of formation fluids is provided. The method includes: estimating a rough value of the bubble point pressure of the formation fluids; depressurizing the formation fluids at a first speed to a certain pressure which is a predetermined value higher than the estimated rough value while the formation fluids are isolated in a portion of the flowline; and depressurizing the isolated fluids at a second speed which is slower than the first speed in order to measure a precise value of the bubble point pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: TORU TERABAYASHI, TSUTOMU YAMATE, HIDEKI KINJO, AKIHITO CHIKENJI, TAKEAKI NAKAYAMA, OLIVER C. MULLINS, SORAYA S. BETANCOURT, MICHAEL O'KEEFE, CHENGLI DONG
  • Patent number: 7461547
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for downhole analysis of formation fluids by isolating the fluids from the formation and/or borehole in a pressure and volume control unit that is integrated with a flowline of a fluid analysis module and determining fluid characteristics of the isolated fluids. Parameters of interest may be derived for formation fluids in a static state and undesirable formation fluids may be drained and replaced with formation fluids that are suitable for downhole characterization or surface sample extraction. Isolated formation fluids may be circulated in a loop of the flowline for phase behavior characterization. Real-time analysis of the fluids may be performed at or near downhole conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Terabayashi, Akihito Chikenji, Tsutomu Yamate, Oliver C. Mullins, Andrew L. Kurkjian, Hani Elshahawi
  • Patent number: 7392697
    Abstract: The present invention provides packaging for MEMS devices and other sensors for downhole application. The MEMS devices and/or other sensors may aid in characterizing formation fluids in situ. The packaging facilitates high temperature, high pressure use, which is often encountered in downhole environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Akihito Chikenji, Veronique Nouaze, Tsutomu Yamate, Toru Terabayashi, Tsutomu Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20070062274
    Abstract: The present invention provides packaging for MEMS devices and other sensors for downhole application. The MEMS devices and/or other sensors may aid in characterizing formation fluids in situ. The packaging facilitates high temperature, high pressure use, which is often encountered in downhole environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Akihito Chikenji, Veronique Nouaze, Tsutomu Yamate, Toru Terabayashi, Tsutomu Sugimoto
  • Publication number: 20060243047
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for downhole analysis of formation fluids by isolating the fluids from the formation and/or borehole in a pressure and volume control unit that is integrated with a flowline of a fluid analysis module and determining fluid characteristics of the isolated fluids. Parameters of interest may be derived for formation fluids in a static state and undesirable formation fluids may be drained and replaced with formation fluids that are suitable for downhole characterization or surface sample extraction. Isolated formation fluids may be circulated in a loop of the flowline for phase behavior characterization. Real-time analysis of the fluids may be performed at or near downhole conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2005
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Toru Terabayashi, Akihito Chikenji, Tsutomu Yamate, Oliver Mullins, Andrew Kurkjian, Hani Elshahawi