Patents by Inventor Carlos Merino

Carlos Merino 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: 11906399
    Abstract: A well sampling apparatus is described herein. The well sampling apparatus includes one or more pressure-activated samplers in a sampling assembly. The samplers are coupled to an activating mechanism that includes a remotely activated local actuator. The remotely activated local actuator is coupled to a pressure source that, when released by the remotely activated local actuator, operates the pressure-activated sample to obtain a sample fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Abbott, Ian James Mainwaring, Akhil Bahl, Carlos Merino
  • Publication number: 20240018868
    Abstract: A well testing system and method is disclosed that reduces the surface equipment needed for well testing by providing a closed loop fluid flow path where the fluids produced during the well test are not brought to the surface for storage or flaring but instead are disposed in a downhole zone. The system and method are implemented using a simplified acoustic communications network where a hub device generates and transmits a single multiple hop query that includes multiple commands or queries directed to targeted downhole tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Elias Temer, Carlos Merino
  • Patent number: 11761327
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining the location or depth in a wellbore of a tubular string or downhole component is provided. One method may include placing a tubular string having a depth measurement module into a wellbore, the wellbore emanating radiation at at least one location along the wellbore and determining the location of the depth measurement module in the wellbore based on a correlation between a wellbore property that is a function of depth and a radiation intensity at at least one location within the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Merino, Fadhel Rezgui
  • Patent number: 11121722
    Abstract: A method is described for performing, by a processor, one or more queries on one or more sensors, for one or more data collected by the one or more sensors, at predetermined instants of time by a downhole modem operably coupled to the one or more sensors, prior to receiving a request for transmission of the data from a surface modem. The method also includes receiving, by the processor, one or more data from one or more sensors in response to the one or more queries, and storing, by the processor, the one or more data in a buffer coupled to the downhole modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Clement Probel, Carlos Merino, Andriy Gelman, Julius Kusuma
  • Publication number: 20210096044
    Abstract: A well sampling apparatus is described herein. The well sampling apparatus includes one or more pressure-activated samplers in a sampling assembly. The samplers are coupled to an activating mechanism that includes a remotely activated local actuator. The remotely activated local actuator is coupled to a pressure source that, when released by the remotely activated local actuator, operates the pressure-activated sample to obtain a sample fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Abbott, Ian James Mainwaring, Akhil Bahl, Carlos Merino
  • Patent number: 10551183
    Abstract: A system disclosed herein is for determining position of a distal end of a tubular string in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation. The system includes casing lining the wellbore, with the casing carrying a plurality of radioactive sources. A tubular string is disposed in the wellbore and carries a radiation sensor along a length thereof. A processor is associated with the radiation sensor, and is configured to measure intensity of radiation received from the plurality of radioactive sources, and determine the position of the distal end of the tubular string by correlating a formation or wellbore fluid property that varies as a function of position within the wellbore and the measured intensity of the radiation received from the plurality of radioactive sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carlos Merino, Clement Probel
  • Publication number: 20190390543
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining the location or depth in a wellbore of a tubular string or downhole component is provided. One method may include placing a tubular string having a depth measurement module into a wellbore, the wellbore emanating radiation at at least one location along the wellbore and determining the location of the depth measurement module in the wellbore based on a correlation between a wellbore property that is a function of depth and a radiation intensity at at least one location within the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Carlos Merino, Fadhel Rezgui
  • Publication number: 20190215007
    Abstract: A method is described for performing, by a processor, one or more queries on one or more sensors, for one or more data collected by the one or more sensors, at predetermined instants of time by a downhole modem operably coupled to the one or more sensors, prior to receiving a request for transmission of the data from a surface modem. The method also includes receiving, by the processor, one or more data from one or more sensors in response to the one or more queries, and storing, by the processor, the one or more data in a buffer coupled to the downhole modem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Clement Probel, Carlos Merino, Andriy Gelman, Julius Kusuma
  • Patent number: 10236906
    Abstract: A modem is described having a transceiver assembly, a non-transitory processor readable medium coupled to the transceiver assembly, transceiver electronics coupled to the transceiver and the non-transitory processor readable medium, and a power supply supplying power to the transceiver assembly and the transceiver electronics. The transceiver electronics are configured to calculate a size of an output bit stream based on an encoding scheme to encode for transmission data stored in the non-transitory processor readable medium, decimate the data if the size of the output bit stream exceeds a predetermined size, recalculate the size of the output bit stream, after decimation of the data, based on the encoding scheme to encode for transmission the decimated data, and encode the data using the encoding scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Clement Probel, Carlos Merino, Julius Kusuma, Andriy Gelman
  • Publication number: 20170176180
    Abstract: A system disclosed herein is for determining position of a distal end of a tubular string in a wellbore formed in a subsurface formation. The system includes casing lining the wellbore, with the casing carrying a plurality of radioactive sources. A tubular string is disposed in the wellbore and carries a radiation sensor along a length thereof. A processor is associated with the radiation sensor, and is configured to measure intensity of radiation received from the plurality of radioactive sources, and determine the position of the distal end of the tubular string by correlating a formation or wellbore fluid property that varies as a function of position within the wellbore and the measured intensity of the radiation received from the plurality of radioactive sources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Carlos Merino, Clement Probel
  • Patent number: 9686021
    Abstract: A wireless modem for communication in a network of wireless modems via a communication channel includes a transceiver assembly, transceiver electronics and a power supply. The transceiver electronics include transmitter electronics, receiver electronics and at least one processing unit. The transmitter electronics cause the transceiver assembly to send wireless signals into the communication channel. The receiver electronics decode signals received by the transceiver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Carlos Merino
  • Publication number: 20170159423
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for determining the location or depth in a wellbore of a tubular string (15) or downhole component is provided. One method may include placing a tubular string (15) having a depth measurement module (102) into a wellbore, the wellbore emanating radiation at at least one location along the wellbore and determining the location of the depth measurement module (102) in the wellbore based on a correlation between a wellbore property that is a function of depth and a radiation intensity at at least one location within the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Merino, Fadhel Rezgui
  • Patent number: 9638029
    Abstract: A communications path between a surface control system and downhole equipment includes a network of wirelessly interconnected communication devices that are located along a conduit. When the communications path fails or cannot be established during performance of a downhole operation, a mobile master communication tool that is in communication with the surface system can be deployed within the wireless range of one of the devices to provide an alternative communication path between the surface system and the downhole equipment. In other embodiments, the alternative communication path can be a temporary path to provide for communications before the network is fully deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Carlos Merino
  • Publication number: 20160153112
    Abstract: Metallic substrate with a ceramic coating obtained by plasma electrolytic oxidation, resistant to degradation by tribocorrosion of light metals and their alloys, in a liquid and/or semi-solid state with a thickness from 10 to 300 ?m and resistant to immersion in said light metals and their alloys without compositional modification of the substrate. Method for obtaining a metallic substrate with a ceramic coating by plasma electrolytic oxidation in which said substrate comprises a core and an outer layer of a metal different from that of the core or of an intermetallic compound, said outer layer being obtained by thermal spraying, laser, solid or liquid diffusion, hot galvanising or cementing. This allows obtaining a ceramic coating applicable to any metallic substrate and resistant to degradation by tribocorrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Applicant: FUNDACIÓN CIDAUT
    Inventors: Raúl Arrabal DURÁN, Endzhe MATYKINA, Angel Pardo GUTIÉRREZ DEL CID, Ana Rivas SALMÓN, José Antonio MAROTO SOTO, Juan Carlos MERINO SENOVILLA, Daniel Morinigo SOTELO, Ma. Concepción MERINO CASALS
  • Patent number: 9284834
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed herein relating to transmitting data within a borehole. The method and system include having a transmitter disposed at a first location within the borehole and configured to generate a first signal, and more than one receiver and/or repeater disposed at a second location within the borehole. The receivers and/or repeaters are configured to receive the first signal, and further are configured to communicate with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Laurent Alteirac, Christophe M Rayssiguier, Carlos Merino
  • Publication number: 20160010447
    Abstract: A communications path between a surface control system and downhole equipment includes a network of wirelessly interconnected communication devices that are located along a conduit. When the communications path fails or cannot be established during performance of a downhole operation, a mobile master communication tool that is in communication with the surface system can be deployed within the wireless range of one of the devices to provide an alternative communication path between the surface system and the downhole equipment. In other embodiments, the alternative communication path can be a temporary path to provide for communications before the network is fully deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventor: Carlos Merino
  • Patent number: 9062535
    Abstract: A wireless modem for communication in a network of wireless modems via a communication channel includes a transceiver assembly, transceiver electronics and a power supply. The transceiver electronics include transmitter electronics, receiver electronics and at least one processing unit. The transmitter electronics cause the transceiver assembly to send wireless signals into the communication channel. The receiver electronics decode signals received by the transceiver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Merino, Laurent Alteirac
  • Publication number: 20150166688
    Abstract: Method for polymerisation over nanoparticles wherein the polymer grows over said nanoparticles, which are initially provided in virgin state and contain the absorbed water characteristic of each nanoparticle, are heat-treated at a temperature of between 50 and 500° C. for less than 24 hours such that OH groups are released on the surface of said nanoparticles, introducing same in a polymerisation reactor with a monomer to which a catalyst is added, and the polymerisation is carried out in a liquid medium according to a linear temperature increase, as well as a polymer charged with the nanoparticles thus obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: FUNDACION CIDAUT
    Inventors: Raul Gallego Castro, Karina Carla Nunez Carrero, Jose Maria Pastor Barajas, Juan Carlos Merino Senovilla, Carlos Alonso Sastre
  • Publication number: 20150109140
    Abstract: A modem is described having a transceiver assembly, a non-transitory processor readable medium coupled to the transceiver assembly, transceiver electronics coupled to the transceiver and the non-transitory processor readable medium, and a power supply supplying power to the transceiver assembly and the transceiver electronics. The transceiver electronics are configured to calculate a size of an output bit stream based on an encoding scheme to encode for transmission data stored in the non-transitory processor readable medium, decimate the data if the size of the output bit stream exceeds a predetermined size, recalculate the size of the output bit stream, after decimation of the data, based on the encoding scheme to encode for transmission the decimated data, and encode the data using the encoding scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Clement Probel, Carlos Merino, Andriy Gelman, Julius Kusuma
  • Publication number: 20140165996
    Abstract: Solar heat collector with a pipe in which flows an energetic fluid and a structure consisting of a frame of plastic material with metallic profiles encapsulated during the injection of said plastic material, which allows establishing orifices therein, providing a robust and lightweight collector with few components and dimensionally stable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: FUNDACION CIDAUT
    Inventors: Carlos Alonso Sastre, Alberto Zamarron Pinilla, Juan Carlos Merino Senovilla