Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining properties of a surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining properties of a surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining properties of a surface.

Abstract: An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly including a housing defining an axial flowbore and including a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion; a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about the housing; a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about the mandrel, the sliding sleeve being movable from a first position, in which the sliding sleeve retains the isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation, to a second position, in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation; and an actuator assemblage configured to allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first to the second position. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator assemblage includes a biasing chamber having a biasing member disposed therein, wherein the biasing member is configured to apply a force to the sliding sleeve to move the sliding sleeve from the first to the second position.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring particle characteristics are disclosed. In one aspect, an amount of light arising from interaction between light and a suspended sample is detected simultaneously with the acquisition of a photon count from a different direction. At least one measure of particle characteristics can then be derived based at least in part on timing between information from the steps of acquiring and detecting.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining properties of a surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining properties of a surface.

Abstract: A high-throughput optical suspension characterization instrument is disclosed, which can include hydraulically separate and at least partially transparent sample containers. A selection mechanism is operative to selectively direct light from a light source (12) through different ones of the sample containers along an optical axis, and an off-axis scattering detector (38,24) is responsive to scattered light from the light source after it has interacted with a sample. Phase analysis light scattering is used to determine the electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of samples. A second instrument is disclosed, wherein all sample containers are illuminated simultaneously. Transmitted light is collected by a camera. The electrophoretic mobility and hydrodynamic size of the samples may be determined.

Abstract: An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly including a housing defining an axial flowbore and including a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion; a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about the housing; a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about the mandrel, the sliding sleeve being movable from a first position, in which the sliding sleeve retains the isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation, to a second position, in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation; and an actuator assemblage configured to allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first to the second position. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator assemblage includes a biasing chamber having a biasing member disposed therein, wherein the biasing member is configured to apply a force to the sliding sleeve to move the sliding sleeve from the first to the second position.

Abstract: An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly comprising a housing generally defining an axial flowbore and comprising a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the housing, a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about a portion of the mandrel of the cylindrical housing, the sliding sleeve being movable from, a first position in which the sliding sleeve retains the expandable isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation to a second position in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the expandable isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation, and an actuator assemblage configured to selectively allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for determining properties of a surface.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a multi-sample liquid scattering measurement apparatus is disclosed. It includes a coherent light source having an optical output axis, with sample cells that each include a volume that intersects with the optical output axis. Detectors are each positioned to detect scattered light resulting from an interaction between light from the coherent light source and one of the cells. Light scattering analysis logic is responsive to the detectors and operative to determine a property of a liquid sample in each of the sample cells based on the detected scattered light.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an instrument for measuring characteristics of particles suspended in a fluid is disclosed. It includes a closed wall surface defining a fractionation channel having a input opening, an output opening, and a flow axis that spans downstream from the input opening for the channel to the output opening. A force application subsystem has a force application output oriented perpendicular to at least part of the flow axis of the fractionation channel. A particle characteristic measurement subsystem is located hydraulically downstream from at least a portion of the closed wall surface defining the fractionation channel, and includes a sensor positioned to sense a property of the suspended particles in the potential measurement subsystem as well as a signal output responsive to the sensor.

Abstract: An anchor tool having a housing, a one-way restrictor device in fluid communication with the housing, and a stabilizer affixed to the housing. The one-way restrictor device is configured to allow restricted flow in a first direction, and to allow flow in a second direction.

Abstract: An actuatable wellbore isolation assembly comprising a housing generally defining an axial flowbore and comprising a mandrel portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion, a radially expandable isolating member positioned circumferentially about a portion of the housing, a sliding sleeve circumferentially positioned about a portion of the mandrel of the cylindrical housing, the sliding sleeve being movable from, a first position in which the sliding sleeve retains the expandable isolating member in a narrower non-expanded conformation to a second position in which the sliding sleeve does not retain the expandable isolating member in the narrower non-expanded conformation, and an actuator assemblage configured to selectively allow movement of the sliding sleeve from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A high-throughput optical suspension characterization instrument is disclosed, which can include hydraulically separate and at least partially transparent sample containers. A selection mechanism is operative to selectively direct light from a light source (12) through different ones of the sample containers along an optical axis, and an off-axis scattering detector (38,24) is responsive to scattered light from the light source after it has interacted with a sample. Phase analysis light scattering is used to determine the electrophoretic mobility and zeta potential of samples. A second instrument is disclosed, wherein all sample containers are illuminated simultaneously. Transmitted light is collected by a camera. The electrophoretic mobility and hydrodynamic size of the samples may be determined.

Abstract: An anchor tool having a housing, a one-way restrictor device in fluid communication with the housing, and a stabilizer affixed to the housing. The one-way restrictor device is configured to allow restricted flow in a first direction, and to allow flow in a second direction.

Abstract: A method for perforating and fracturing a wellbore in a single trip may include installing one or more reservoir access subs on a liner at pre-determined intervals. The method may also include running the liner into the wellbore, securing the liner to the wellbore, and running a bottomhole assembly into the wellbore. The method may further include activating at least one of the reservoir access subs so as to allow fluid communication between the liner and the wellbore, and fracturing at least one interval proximate the activated reservoir access sub. The steps of running the bottomhole assembly into the wellbore, activating the reservoir access subs, and fracturing the interval may be performed in a single trip into the wellbore.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a multi-sample liquid scattering measurement apparatus is disclosed. It includes a coherent light source having an optical output axis, with sample cells that each include a volume that intersects with the optical output axis. Detectors are each positioned to detect scattered light resulting from an interaction between light from the coherent light source and one of the cells. Light scattering analysis logic is responsive to the detectors and operative to determine a property of a liquid sample in each of the sample cells based on the detected scattered light.

Abstract: In one general aspect, an instrument for measuring characteristics of particles suspended in a fluid is disclosed. It includes a closed wall surface defining a fractionation channel having a input opening, an output opening, and a flow axis that spans downstream from the input opening for the channel to the output opening. A force application subsystem has a force application output oriented perpendicular to at least part of the flow axis of the fractionation channel. A particle characteristic measurement subsystem is located hydraulically downstream from at least a portion of the closed wall surface defining the fractionation channel, and includes a sensor positioned to sense a property of the suspended particles in the potential measurement subsystem as well as a signal output responsive to the sensor.