Abstract: A metal cutting insert has a substrate body of cemented carbide, cermet, or ceramic and at least one cutting edge defined between a rake face and a relief face. The cutting insert has a CVD coating including a layer of aluminum titanium nitride having a cubic face centered lattice structure, represented by a formula (AlxTi1-xMy)CzN1-z wherein a stoichiometry coefficient of aluminum is 0.30<x<0.95, wherein M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cl and Ar, with a stoichiometry coefficient of which is 0?y<0.01, and wherein a stoichiometry coefficient of carbon is 0?z<0.3. The (AlxTi1-xMy)CzN1-z layer satisfies a relationship 10<|S1-S2|<500 MPa wherein S1 is the residual stress measured on the rake face, and S2 is the residual stress measured on the relief face.

Abstract: A method for real-time or near real-time analysis of drilling fluid and/or drill cuttings from a well is applied to the material conveyed from the well to a mud circulation system during a drilling operation. A gamma-ray detector is provided in-line with the mud circulation system. Solids are concentered in a concentrator proximate to the gamma-ray detector. Gamma-ray spectra are detected for gamma-rays emitted from the concentrated solids. The material is removed from the concentrator. Information regarding the gamma-ray spectra representing a time correlated to drilling depth is communicated to a control unit remote from the mud circulation system.

Abstract: An apparatus for in-line mud logging is adapted to be in material communication with a conveyor used for conveying drilling fluid and/or drill cuttings from a well. An analysis body, disposed in the path of material falling from the conveyor has a sample accumulation tray for collecting a sample of material falling from the conveyor, and a gamma-ray detector for acquiring gamma-ray spectra from the sample of material. A weight sensor detects weight of the sample of material. A sample removal device is used to remove the sample of material from the sample accumulation tray after a desired sample interval. Signals from the gamma-ray detector and the weight sensor are communicated to a control unit.

Abstract: A system for real-time or near real-time analysis of drilling fluid, drill cuttings and/or mud gas transported from a well to a mud circulation system has a hydrocarbon analysis device for in-line measuring hydrocarbon content in the material and an in-line gamma-ray detection apparatus. The in-line gamma-ray detection apparatus is disposed in the path of material transported from the well. A control unit for real-time or near real-time receives and correlates signals from the hydrocarbon analysis device and the in-line gamma-ray detection apparatus.

Abstract: A gamma ray scintillation spectrometer is disclosed in which an inorganic scintillation crystal has a channel extending therethrough for receiving a sample into, and disposing a sample out of, the scintillation crystal. The spectrometer further includes a photomultiplier tube optically coupled to the scintillation crystal to detect photons generated by the scintillation crystal. A system and a method for using the gamma ray scintillation spectrometer are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining availability statuses for users of a communication service provider system. One of the methods includes obtaining data identifying a plurality of availability status features for a user of a communication service provider system and a respective weight for each of the availability status features; determining a respective current value of each of the availability status features; and determining an aggregate user availability status based at least in part on the current values of the availability status features and on the weights for the availability status features.

Abstract: A gamma ray scintillation spectrometer is disclosed in which an inorganic scintillation crystal has a channel extending therethrough for receiving a sample into, and disposing a sample out of, the scintillation crystal. The spectrometer further includes a photomultiplier tube optically coupled to the scintillation crystal to detect photons generated by the scintillation crystal. A system and a method for using the gamma ray scintillation spectrometer are also provided.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining availability statuses for users of a communication service provider system. One of the methods includes obtaining data identifying a plurality of availability status features for a user of a communication service provider system and a respective weight for each of the availability status features; determining a respective current value of each of the availability status features; and determining an aggregate user availability status based at least in part on the current values of the availability status features and on the weights for the availability status features.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining availability statuses for users of a communication service provider system. One of the methods includes obtaining data identifying a plurality of availability status features for a user of a communication service provider system and a respective weight for each of the availability status features; determining a respective current value of each of the availability status features; and determining an aggregate user availability status based at least in part on the current values of the availability status features and on the weights for the availability status features.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation includes: a neutron source disposed in a borehole; a neutron detector having a neutron detection material that includes a material transparent to light having a plurality of nano-crystallites where each nano-crystallite in the plurality has a periodic crystal structure with a diameter or dimension that is less than 1000 nm and includes atoms of a neutron interaction material that emit a charged particle upon absorbing a received neutron and atoms of an activator material that provide for scintillation upon interacting with the charged particle to emit light photons wherein the atoms of the neutron interaction material and the atoms of the activator material have positions in the periodic crystal structure of each nano-crystallite in the plurality; a photodetector that receives the photons and provides a signal correlated to the photons; and a processor to estimate the property using the signal.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining availability statuses for users of a communication service provider system. One of the methods includes obtaining data identifying a plurality of availability status features for a user of a communication service provider system and a respective weight for each of the availability status features; determining a respective current value of each of the availability status features; and determining an aggregate user availability status based at least in part on the current values of the availability status features and on the weights for the availability status features.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining availability statuses for users of a communication service provider system. One of the methods includes obtaining data identifying a plurality of availability status features for a user of a communication service provider system and a respective weight for each of the availability status features; determining a respective current value of each of the availability status features; and determining an aggregate user availability status based at least in part on the current values of the availability status features and on the weights for the availability status features.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation includes: a neutron source disposed in a borehole; a neutron detector having a neutron detection material that includes a material transparent to light having a plurality of nano-crystallites where each nano-crystallite in the plurality has a periodic crystal structure with a diameter or dimension that is less than 1000 nm and includes atoms of a neutron interaction material that emit a charged particle upon absorbing a received neutron and atoms of an activator material that provide for scintillation upon interacting with the charged particle to emit light photons wherein the atoms of the neutron interaction material and the atoms of the activator material have positions in the periodic crystal structure of each nano-crystallite in the plurality; a photodetector that receives the photons and provides a signal correlated to the photons; and a processor to estimate the property using the signal.

Abstract: A scintillation detector includes: a photodetector; a scintillating material configured to emit light in response to exposure to ionization particles; an optically transparent material having a light absorption coefficient that is less than a light absorption coefficient of the scintillating material, the optically transparent material optically coupled to a surface of the scintillating material and configured to transmit the emitted light; and a reflective material at least partially surrounding the scintillating material and the optically transparent material, the reflective material configured to reflect the emitted light and direct the emitted light toward the photodetector.

Abstract: A pulsed neutron source is used in a porosity logging tool with a single gamma ray detector coated with a neutron absorbing material. By using a ratio of the spectral peak associated with hydrogen to a spectral peak associated with the neutron absorbing material, the formation porosity is estimated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus configured to detect radiation at high temperatures in a borehole penetrating the earth. The apparatus includes a scintillation material that interacts with the radiation to generate photons, at least one solid-state photodetector optically coupled to the scintillation material and configured to detect the radiation by detecting the generated photons, and at least one optical element disposed between the scintillation material and the at least one solid-state photodetector and configured to concentrate the photons generated in the scintillation material onto the at least one solid-state photodetector.

Abstract: A downhole imaging system performs imaging in a borehole penetrating a formation. The system includes a source configured to emit gamma radiation toward an area of the borehole. The system also includes a first plurality of detectors configured to detect backscattered radiation originating from the source. Based on a distance between the source and each of the first plurality of detectors, detection by the first plurality of detectors provides a density image of the area of the borehole.

Abstract: Exemplary systems, methods and apparatuses for a distributed solid-state lighting system are disclosed. An exemplary system comprises a central power source, and one or more terminal lighting apparatuses. An exemplary central power source comprises: an AC/DC rectifier coupled to a DC/DC converter to convert an AC input power to a first DC voltage level; a central user interface to receive user input for a selected brightness level; and a central controller to provide a first control signal to the DC/DC converter to provide a second DC voltage level corresponding to the selected brightness level. A terminal lighting apparatus may comprise: a plurality of LEDs; a current (or power) source or regulator; and a terminal controller which, in response to the second DC voltage level, provides a second control signal to the current source or regulator to provide a selected current level of the LEDs corresponding to the selected brightness level.

Abstract: An instrument for performing measurements downhole includes: at least one gamma-ray detector with azimuthal sensitivity equipped for discriminating energy of incident gamma-rays. This instrument is equipped with or without a neutron or gamma-ray source. A method and computer program product providing the azimuthal sensitivity of the instrument is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a borehole tool and a neutron source within the borehole tool that emits neutron-alpha particles pairs as the result of a nuclear reaction. The apparatus also includes an alpha particle detector within the borehole tool arranged to detect when an alpha particle emitted by the neutron source strikes it and a gamma ray detector to detect gamma rays produced as a result of interactions between neutrons produced by the neutron source and at least one material in an area of interest outside of the borehole. The apparatus also includes a processing system that determines a characteristic of the area of interest based on a time difference between when the alpha particle strikes the alpha particle detector and a time when one or more gamma rays strikes the gamma ray detector.