Patents by Inventor Elton Frost, Jr.

Elton Frost, Jr. 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: 10488545
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for identifying a fluid and locations of the fluid in a formation of shale having porous kerogen material and an inorganic matrix defining pores and micro-fractures. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the shale; a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool disposed at the carrier and configured to perform NMR measurements on the shale, the NMR measurements include a spectrum of transverse relaxation times; and a processor configured to receive NMR measurements on the shale performed by the NMR tool and to identify the fluid and locations of the fluid in the shale using the spectrum of transverse relaxation times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Jilin Zhang, Guodong Jin, Terrence Quinn, Elton Frost, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190025453
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for identifying a fluid and locations of the fluid in a formation of shale having porous kerogen material and an inorganic matrix defining pores and micro-fractures. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the shale; a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool disposed at the carrier and configured to perform NMR measurements on the shale, the NMR measurements include a spectrum of transverse relaxation times; and a processor configured to receive NMR measurements on the shale performed by the NMR tool and to identify the fluid and locations of the fluid in the shale using the spectrum of transverse relaxation times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Jilin Zhang, Guodong Jin, Terrence Quinn, Elton Frost, JR.
  • Patent number: 10094949
    Abstract: An apparatus for identifying a fluid and locations of the fluid in a formation of shale having porous kerogen material and an inorganic matrix defining pores and micro-fractures includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the shale; a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool disposed at the carrier and configured to perform NMR measurements on the shale, the NMR measurements include a spectrum of transverse relaxation times; and a processor configured to receive NMR measurements on the shale performed by the NMR tool and to identify the fluid and locations of the fluid in the shale using the spectrum of transverse relaxation times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Jilin Zhang, Guodong Jin, Terrence Quinn, Elton Frost, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9976402
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracture diagnostic system for reservoir evaluation of a high angle wellbore includes a coiled tubing string that extends from the surface to a location within a wellbore. The system includes a sensor and a pump connected to the coiled tubing string. A tool having at least two packing elements and a port positioned between the packing elements is connected to the coiled tubing string. The coiled tubing string positions the tool adjacent a fracture. The packing elements isolate the fracture and the port is configured to provide communication with the isolated portion of the wellbore. A diagnostic method includes pumping a volume of fluid from the isolated portion of a wellbore using a coiled tubing string and monitoring the pressure within the coiled tubing string. Pressure within the coiled tubing string may also be monitored after injection of fluid into the isolated wellbore through the coiled tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores, Elton Frost, Jr., Terrence Quinn
  • Patent number: 9708906
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracture diagnostic system for reservoir evaluation of a high angle wellbore includes coiled tubing that extends from the surface to a wellbore location. The system includes a sensor and a pump connected to the coiled tubing and a pump and sensor connected to an annulus between the coiled tubing and the wellbore casing. A tool having at least two packing elements and a port positioned between the packing elements is connected to the coiled tubing and is positioned adjacent a fracture. The packing elements isolate the fracture and the port is configured to provide communication with the isolated portion of the wellbore. A diagnostic method includes pumping a volume of fluid into the isolated portion of a wellbore and monitoring the pressure within the annulus via the coiled tubing. The tool may also be used in an openhole portion of a wellbore to diagnose the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores, Elton Frost, Jr., Terrence Quinn
  • Patent number: 9551213
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for estimating a bulk shale volume of an earth formation. In one aspect, measurements are obtained at a plurality of depths in a wellbore penetrating the earth formation and a first distribution is produced of the obtained measurements. A measurement is obtained at a selected depth in the wellbore and a second distribution is produced using the measurement at the selected depth and the measurements obtained at the plurality of depths. A cumulative distribution is produced cumulative of the first distribution and the second distribution. The bulk shale volume is estimated at the selected depth by comparing the cumulative distribution and the second distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Elton Frost, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160084078
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracture diagnostic system for reservoir evaluation of a high angle wellbore includes coiled tubing that extends from the surface to a wellbore location. The system includes a sensor and a pump connected to the coiled tubing and a pump and sensor connected to an annulus between the coiled tubing and the wellbore casing. A tool having at least two packing elements and a port positioned between the packing elements is connected to the coiled tubing and is positioned adjacent a fracture. The packing elements isolate the fracture and the port is configured to provide communication with the isolated portion of the wellbore. A diagnostic method includes pumping a volume of fluid into the isolated portion of a wellbore and monitoring the pressure within the annulus via the coiled tubing. The tool may also be used in an openhole portion of a wellbore to diagnose the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores, Elton Frost, JR., Terrence Quinn
  • Publication number: 20160084056
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracture diagnostic system for reservoir evaluation of a high angle wellbore includes a coiled tubing string that extends from the surface to a location within a wellbore. The system includes a sensor and a pump connected to the coiled tubing string. A tool having at least two packing elements and a port positioned between the packing elements is connected to the coiled tubing string. The coiled tubing string positions the tool adjacent a fracture. The packing elements isolate the fracture and the port is configured to provide communication with the isolated portion of the wellbore. A diagnostic method includes pumping a volume of fluid from the isolated portion of a wellbore using a coiled tubing string and monitoring the pressure within the coiled tubing string. Pressure within the coiled tubing string may also be monitored after injection of fluid into the isolated wellbore through the coiled tubing string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Flores, Elton Frost, JR., Terrence Quinn
  • Patent number: 9091144
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for performing an operation in a borehole is disclosed. A device is disposed in a downhole environment of the borehole to perform the downhole operation. An energy harvesting unit coupled to the device harvests energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and provides the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Aaron R. Swanson, Elton Frost, Jr., James P. Dwyer
  • Patent number: 9086500
    Abstract: A method of estimating at least one property of an earth formation includes: constructing a matrix model of a formation; constructing a shale model of the formation, the shale model including an estimation of a concentration of at least one trace element; combining the first model and the second model to generate a formation model; and comparing measured pulsed neutron data with the mixed model to estimate the at least one property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rafay Z. Ansari, Feyzi Inanc, Elton Frost, Jr., David M. Chace, W. Allen Gilchrist, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8964504
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a cased borehole in an earth formation includes: emitting at least one acoustic signal into the borehole via an acoustic source and detecting a return acoustic signal via an acoustic sensor, the borehole including a casing and a casing support material disposed between the casing and a borehole wall; emitting a neutron flux via a neutron source into the borehole and detecting a radiation signal via a radiation detector, the radiation signal including induced gamma radiation resulting from neutron interactions; and identifying a casing support material characteristic based on the return acoustic signal and the radiation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: David M. Chace, Rafay Z. Ansari, Elton Frost, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130248169
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for performing an operation in a borehole is disclosed. A device is disposed in a downhole environment of the borehole to perform the downhole operation. An energy harvesting unit coupled to the device harvests energy from an energy source in a downhole environment of the device and provides the harvested energy to the device to perform the downhole operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Aaron R. Swanson, Elton Frost, JR., James P. Dwyer
  • Publication number: 20130234703
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for identifying a fluid and locations of the fluid in a formation of shale having porous kerogen material and an inorganic matrix defining pores and micro-fractures. The apparatus includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the shale; a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool disposed at the carrier and configured to perform NMR measurements on the shale, the NMR measurements include a spectrum of transverse relaxation times; and a processor configured to receive NMR measurements on the shale performed by the NMR tool and to identify the fluid and locations of the fluid in the shale using the spectrum of transverse relaxation times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Jilin Zhang, Guodong Jin, Terrence Quinn, Elton Frost, JR.
  • Patent number: 8525103
    Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an earth formation, the method includes: conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating the earth formation; irradiating the formation with neutrons from a neutron source disposed at the carrier; detecting a first signal from the formation due to the irradiating using a first radiation detector, the first signal being related to a saturation of a fluid in the formation; detecting a second signal from an element in the formation due to the irradiating using a second radiation detector, the second signal being related to an element emitting the second signal in the formation; and estimating the property from the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: David M. Chace, Rafay Z. Ansari, Elton Frost, Jr., Feyzi Inanc, W. Allen Gilchrist, Jr., Randy L. Evans
  • Patent number: 8502135
    Abstract: A method for estimating a parameter of interest of an earth formation having a fluid contained in pores of the earth formation, the method includes: conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating the earth formation; irradiating the earth formation with neutrons from a neutron source disposed at the carrier; measuring radiation emitted from the earth formation resulting from the irradiating using at least one detector; calculating or determining a mathematical parameter from radiation measured by the at least one detector; predicting values of the mathematical parameter over a range of values of an earth formation property; and comparing the mathematical parameter to the predicted values to estimate the parameter of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: David M. Chace, Rafay Z. Ansari, Feyzi Inanc, W. Allen Gilchrist, Jr., Elton Frost, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120091329
    Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an earth formation, the method includes: conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating the earth formation; irradiating the formation with neutrons from a neutron source disposed at the carrier; detecting a first signal from the formation due to the irradiating using a first radiation detector, the first signal being related to a saturation of a fluid in the formation; detecting a second signal from an element in the formation due to the irradiating using a second radiation detector, the second signal being related to an element emitting the second signal in the formation; and estimating the property from the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David M. Chace, Rafay Z. Ansari, Elton Frost, JR., Feyzi Inanc, W. Allen Gilchrist, JR., Randy L. Evans
  • Publication number: 20120075953
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a cased borehole in an earth formation includes: emitting at least one acoustic signal into the borehole via an acoustic source and detecting a return acoustic signal via an acoustic sensor, the borehole including a casing and a casing support material disposed between the casing and a borehole wall; emitting a neutron flux via a neutron source into the borehole and detecting a radiation signal via a radiation detector, the radiation signal including induced gamma radiation resulting from neutron interactions; and identifying a casing support material characteristic based on the return acoustic signal and the radiation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David M. Chace, Rafay Z. Ansari, Elton Frost, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120068060
    Abstract: A method for estimating a parameter of interest of an earth formation having a fluid contained in pores of the earth formation, the method includes: conveying a carrier through a borehole penetrating the earth formation; irradiating the earth formation with neutrons from a neutron source disposed at the carrier; measuring radiation emitted from the earth formation resulting from the irradiating using at least one detector; calculating or determining a mathematical parameter from radiation measured by the at least one detector; predicting values of the mathematical parameter over a range of values of an earth formation property; and comparing the mathematical parameter to the predicted values to estimate the parameter of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: David M. Chace, Rafay Z. Ansari, Feyzi Inanc, W. Allen Gilchrist, JR., Elton Frost, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120010819
    Abstract: A method of estimating at least one property of an earth formation includes: constructing a matrix model of a formation; constructing a shale model of the formation, the shale model including an estimation of a concentration of at least one trace element; combining the first model and the second model to generate a formation model; and comparing measured pulsed neutron data with the mixed model to estimate the at least one property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rafay Z. Ansari, Feyzi Inanc, Elton Frost, JR., David M. Chace, W. Allen Gilchrist, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100256915
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer-readable medium for estimating a bulk shale volume of an earth formation. In one aspect, measurements are obtained at a plurality of depths in a wellbore penetrating the earth formation and a first distribution is produced of the obtained measurements. A measurement is obtained at a selected depth in the wellbore and a second distribution is produced using the measurement at the selected depth and the measurements obtained at the plurality of depths. A cumulative distribution is produced cumulative of the first distribution and the second distribution. The bulk shale volume is estimated at the selected depth by comparing the cumulative distribution and the second distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Elton Frost, JR.