Abstract: A downhole well system can use a fiber optic cable that can be positioned downhole along a length of a wellbore. The well system may include a top plug, a bottom plug, or both that are used to contain a cement slurry during a cementing operation. The movement of the top plug and bottom plug may cause acoustic noise along the downhole portion of the casing. A reflectometer may detect the acoustic noise from strain in the fiber optic cable and determine a location of the top plug or bottom plug downhole.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for reverse circulation cementing a tubular string in a wellbore. One such method includes reverse circulating cement slurry down an annulus defined between the tubular string and the wellbore. During the reverse circulation, a flow control device located in the tubular string is closed to prevent, or at least reduce, flow of the cement slurry from the annulus into the tubular string. The closure of the flow control device causes a pressure pulse in the wellbore. After the flow control device is closed, the reverse circulation is stopped. During a time interval between the closure of the flow control device and the stoppage of the reverse circulation, a shock absorber associated with the flow control device absorbs the pressure pulse in the wellbore so that a pressure in the wellbore is maintained within an acceptable range.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for reverse circulation cementing a tubular string in a wellbore. One such method includes reverse circulating cement slurry down an annulus defined between the tubular string and the wellbore. During the reverse circulation, a flow control device located in the tubular string is closed to prevent, or at least reduce, flow of the cement slurry from the annulus into the tubular string. The closure of the flow control device causes a pressure pulse in the wellbore. After the flow control device is closed, the reverse circulation is stopped. During a time interval between the closure of the flow control device and the stoppage of the reverse circulation, a shock absorber associated with the flow control device absorbs the pressure pulse in the wellbore so that a pressure in the wellbore is maintained within an acceptable range.

Abstract: A downhole well system can use a fiber optic cable that can be positioned downhole along a length of a wellbore. The well system may include a top plug, a bottom plug, or both that are used to contain a cement slurry during a cementing operation. The movement of the top plug and bottom plug may cause acoustic noise along the downhole portion of the casing. A reflectometer may detect the acoustic noise from strain in the fiber optic cable and determine a location of the top plug or bottom plug downhole.

Abstract: A method of determining which users are experts and which tags are appropriate without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is described. The level of a user's expertise is determined based on previous tags, the categorization of one or more tags, and the rating of the tags previously left by the user. The appropriateness of a tag is based on previous tagging of information by the user, by the number of times a user has tagged information with the same categorization, and the rating of a user.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed in which participants in a communication session contribute tags—during the course of the communication session—such that the tags are visible to at least some of the participants as the communication session progresses. This creates a “live” collaborative tagging environment. Tags are contributed by some or all the participants on the communication session. The tags are displayed as they are generated. Moreover, one who declines to speak on the communication session can still actively tag. In this way, a tagger can participate and contribute in a collaborative live manner while the communication session is in progress. This approach departs from traditional “after the fact” or “note-taking” techniques in the prior art.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are disclosed for changing an image-capturing position of a mobile phone camera using a mirror device. In one embodiment of the invention, the mirror device has a first mirror surface which reflects an image into a second mirror surface that further reflects and redirects the image into a lens of a mobile phone camera. Furthermore, the mirror device also has a material positioned between the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface to enable tilting of mirror surfaces, wherein the material typically contains a non-reflective surface and one or more hinges. It is preferred that the mirror device also has Velcro surfaces which attach to a surface exposing the mobile phone camera. In addition, a software program can be used to invert the image reflected into the lens of the mobile phone camera.

Abstract: A method of determining which users are experts and which tags are appropriate without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is described. The level of a user's expertise is determined based on previous tags, the categorization of one or more tags, and the rating of the tags previously left by the user. The appropriateness of a tag is based on previous tagging of information by the user, by the number of times a user has tagged information with the same categorization, and the rating of a user.

Abstract: A method to easily, quickly and visually identify experts, relevant tags, information associated with the experts, important topics, and emerging trends without some of the disadvantages of the prior art is disclosed. The present invention provides a novel user interface that connects general queries, users, tags, and information sources together.