Patents by Inventor Arthur J. Becker

Arthur J. Becker 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: 7991111
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Publication number: 20110002443
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 7817781
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 7668293
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Publication number: 20090274276
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 7591894
    Abstract: An LuAP scintillation detector and a method for improving the light output and uniformity of an LuAP scintillator crystal is provided, wherein the method includes disposing the scintillator crystal in a predetermined environment at a threshold temperature to generate an initial scintillator crystal, annealing the initial scintillator crystal in the predetermined environment at the threshold temperature to create an annealed scintillator crystal and cooling the annealed scintillator crystal in the predetermined environment to a final temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Becker, Yanqi Wang, Bradley A. Roscoe, John Simonetti
  • Publication number: 20090225949
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Patent number: 7564948
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 260 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Publication number: 20080159480
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 260 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Publication number: 20080121817
    Abstract: An LuAP scintillation detector and a method for improving the light output and uniformity of an LuAP scintillator crystal is provided, wherein the method includes disposing the scintillator crystal in a predetermined environment at a threshold temperature to generate an initial scintillator crystal, annealing the initial scintillator crystal in the predetermined environment at the threshold temperature to create an annealed scintillator crystal and cooling the annealed scintillator crystal in the predetermined environment to a final temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur J. Becker, Yanqi Wang, Bradley A. Roscoe, John Simonetti
  • Patent number: 5910654
    Abstract: A method/apparatus for determining the density of a formation traversed by a borehole having irregularities along the borehole wall preferably employs/includes a housing, a photon source, and a detector. The source preferably includes an irradiation path extending from the source to a side of the housing. Similarly, the detector preferably includes a detection path extending from the detector to the side of the housing. A stylus may be mounted onto the housing for penetrating through a layer of mudcake. Such stylus preferably includes a base and a substantially small contact head having a window fixedly attached thereto. A second irradiation path may extend from the base to the contact head. A second detection path may also extend from the base to the contact head. The irradiation and detection paths in the stylus are preferably substantially aligned with respective irradiation and detection paths in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Becker, Peter D. Wraight
  • Patent number: 5689540
    Abstract: An x-ray generator provides a continuous bremsstrahlung photon spectrum for determining the water to liquid ratio in a mixture of oil/water/gas flowing through a pipe located a distance from the generator. A plurality of detectors measure photons passing along a beam path from the generator through the fluid. A detector is also provided to monitor the energy distribution of the generator. A time interval for measuring the output of each detector is established such that small changes in the gas to liquid ratio occur during this interval. An energy bin width is selected to provide a linear approximation of the water to liquid ratio. After binning the counts for each detector, a multi-phase flow characteristic such as the water to liquid fraction, liquid density, or liquid fraction along the beam path is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Stephenson, Arthur J. Becker
  • Patent number: 4958073
    Abstract: A high resolution gamma-gamma apparatus is provided with a chemical source and a photon detector in such close proximity such that the detector provides a positive response to an increase in formation density. Typically, such a response is obtained when the detector opening is within one source photon mean free path of the source opening. For a Cs 137 source, the furthest spacing would be about two inches, although spacings of less than one inch are preferable. In order to decrease background noise, shielding is placed between the source and detector. A first embodiment of the tool has an uncollimated source, and a substantially uncollimated detector with the source and detector being coaxial and with the detector behind the source and separated by shielding. A second embodiment has a collimated source with an uncollimated detector, while a third embodiment has an uncollimated source with a collimated detector. The provided apparatus are useful for high resolution density and Pe measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Charles C. Watson