Abstract: A system for determining a characteristic of an oil well includes a signal source to generate an excitation signal during a first time duration and to generate a local oscillator signal during a second time duration. The system further includes a directional coupler, and a resonator disposed in an annulus of an oil well to receive the excitation signal through the directional coupler. The system also includes a mixer to receive a resonator signal from the resonator through the directional coupler, to receive the local oscillator signal, and to generate a mixer output signal based on the resonator signal and the local oscillator signal. The system further includes a filter to filter the mixer output signal to produce an intermediate frequency signal having an intermediate frequency, and a processor to determine a pressure or a temperature experienced by the resonator based on the intermediate frequency signal and the excitation signal.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and systems for oil field downhole sensing and communication during drilling and/or production, wherein such methods and systems utilize coaxial cable to transmit electromagnetic (EM) energy, continuously or as a pulse, to passive downhole sensors.

Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.

Abstract: Methods of strengthening the edge surfaces of a glass substrate, and particularly glass substrates contained within a display panel, are disclosed. The methods include exposing edges of the display panel to an acid solution for a time and at a temperature effective to remove no more than about 20 micrometers of glass from edge surfaces, rinsing the acid solution from the edge and applying a polymer protective coating the rinsed edge to maintain the post-etching strength of the edge surfaces. Electronics on the display panel that may be exposed to the acid solution are masked with a terminal mask prior to the etching. The edge etching may be combined with etching of a surface of the display panel/cover glass substrate.

Abstract: A downhole energy transmission system is described. The system can include a casing string having a number of casing pipe disposed within a wellbore, where the casing string has at least one wall forming a cavity. The system can also include a remote electrical device disposed within the cavity of the casing string at a first location. The system can further include a first stripline cable disposed on an outer surface of the casing string, where the first stripline cable transmits a first energy received from an energy source. The system can also include a second stripline cable disposed adjacent to the first stripline cable at the first location, where the second stripline cable is electrically coupled to the remote electrical device.

Abstract: A gas lift valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source, where the delivery system delivers the power generated by the power source. The system can also include at least one gas lift valve assembly disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one gas lift valve assembly receives the power from the delivery system, where at least one valve, when in a position other than a fully closed position, allows a control medium to flow from an inlet channel to an outlet channel, where the outlet channel empties into the cavity of the delivery system.

Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting structural integrity of a well casing. The system may detect casing structural integrity events. The casing structural integrity events may include structural failures of the casing and/or potential structural failures of the casing. The well casing may be drilled and/or otherwise embedded into a geologic structure. The well casing may be subject to geologic forces generated by the geologic structure. Unplanned and/or unexpected forces and/or movement may pose a risk to the structural integrity of the casing. Forces and/or movement of sufficient magnitude may result in damage to and/or destruction of the casing. Damage to and/or destruction of the casing may cause a loss of the natural resources being extracted via the well associated with the well casing, contamination of areas surrounding the well, undesirable surface expression, and/or other negative effects.

Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor fluid levels in a drill pipe in borehole. The system includes an electromagnetic (EM) generator to generate a traveling wave of electromagnetic energy to propagate along a linear path through the drill pipe towards a surface of the fluid, a detector to detect a portion of the electromagnetic wave reflected from the surface of the fluid and propagated through the drill pipe towards the detector, a processor to analyze detected signals to determine a level of the surface of the fluid. In an embodiment, the system includes a pump controller to control the operation of a pump located in the wellbore or at the mudline based on the fluid surface level.

Abstract: A system for applying power into a wellbore. The system can include a casing, a tubing string, a first and second isolator sub, a power source, and an electrical device. The casing has a first cavity running therethrough. The tubing string is disposed within the first cavity without contacting the casing, where the tubing string has a second cavity running therethrough. The first isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The power source is electrically coupled to the power-transmitting section of the tubing string below the first isolator sub. The second isolator sub is mechanically coupled to the tubing string and positioned between the bottom neutral section and the power-transmitting section of the tubing string. The electrical device is electrically coupled to a bottom end of the power-transmitting section of the tubing string.

Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.

Abstract: Methods of strengthening the edge surfaces of a glass substrate, and particularly glass substrates contained within a display panel, are disclosed. The methods include exposing edges of the display panel to an acid solution for a time and at a temperature effective to remove no more than about 20 micrometers of glass from edge surfaces, rinsing the acid solution from the edge and applying a polymer protective coating the rinsed edge to maintain the post-etching strength of the edge surfaces. Electronics on the display panel that may be exposed to the acid solution are masked with a terminal mask prior to the etching. The edge etching may be combined with etching of a surface of the display panel/cover glass substrate.

Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation is described. The system can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source. The system can also include at least one safety valve disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one safety valve remains open while the at least one safety valve receives the power from the delivery system, and where the at least one safety valve closes when the at least one safety valve stops receiving power from the delivery system. The system can further include production tubing mechanically coupled to a distal end of the at least one safety valve, where the at least one safety valve shuts in a cavity within production tubing when the at least one safety valve closes.

Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor fluid levels in a borehole. The system includes a pulse generator to generate a pulse of electromagnetic energy to propagate along the wellbore towards a surface of the fluid, a detector to detect a portion of the electromagnetic pulse reflected from the surface of the fluid and propagated along the wellbore towards the detector, a processor to analyze detected signals to determine a level of the surface of the fluid, and a pump controller to control the operation of a pump located in the wellbore based on the fluid surface level.

Abstract: The invention relates to a burner module having a body that is either sintered or photo-cured, and to methods of making such a burner module. The body (110) of the burner (100) is formed from one of a sintered metal, a sintered alloy, a laminated glass ceramic, and a photo-cured polymer. 1 Sintering and photo-curing may be accomplished by irradiating the body with localized heating using a focused energy source, such as a laser. The burner module is resistant to thermal shock and provides a distributed, even stream of a precursor or precursors to be reacted in a flame of the burner module to form soot, which is to deposited on a receptor surface, and may be used for vapor and liquid precursor delivery systems. A soot deposition system having an array of such burner modules and methods of making a fused silica article by depositing soot using the burner modules are also described.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve system for a wellbore within a subterranean formation is described. The system can include a power source that generates power, and a delivery system disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the power source. The system can also include at least one safety valve disposed within the wellbore and electrically coupled to the delivery system, where the at least one safety valve remains open while the at least one safety valve receives the power from the delivery system, and where the at least one safety valve closes when the at least one safety valve stops receiving power from the delivery system. The system can further include production tubing mechanically coupled to a distal end of the at least one safety valve, where the at least one safety valve shuts in a cavity within production tubing when the at least one safety valve closes.

Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Energy is transmitted to a pulse generator located proximate a position to be interrogated with a sensor. The pulse generator stores the energy, then releases it in a pulse of electromagnetic energy, providing the energy to resonant circuits that incorporate the sensors. The resonant circuits modulate the electromagnetic energy and transmit the modulated energy so that it may be received and processed in order to obtain the desired measurements.

Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor fluid levels in a borehole. The system includes a pulse generator to generate a pulse of electromagnetic energy to propagate along the wellbore towards a surface of the fluid, a detector to detect a portion of the electromagnetic pulse reflected from the surface of the fluid and propagated along the wellbore towards the detector, a processor to analyze detected signals to determine a level of the surface of the fluid, and a pump controller to control the operation of a pump located in the wellbore based on the fluid surface level.

Abstract: Exemplary systems and method are directed to a sensing device, and to a pressure sensing system and method. An exemplary method includes supplying electromagnetic energy to a transducer which is configured to reflect the electromagnetic energy at a ring frequency determined by an inductance of the transducer, wherein the inductance changes in response to compression of the inductive element. The ring frequency of electromagnetic energy reflected by the transducer is correlated to a pressure value.