Patents by Inventor Kambiz A. Safinya

Kambiz A. Safinya 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).

  • Publication number: 20090001986
    Abstract: An electromagnetic receiver includes at least one sensor for measuring electromagnetic signals, and a calibration antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic signal at a first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Besson, Kamal Babour, Kambiz A. Safinya, Edward Nichols
  • Publication number: 20080238428
    Abstract: A method for determining a formation electrical property under a sea floor includes obtaining measurement data using a receiver having an impedance lower than an impedance of seawater at a measurement site; correcting the measurement data to obtain corrected data corresponding to data that would have been acquired using a receiver having an impedance matched with the impedance of the seawater; and deriving the formation property from the corrected data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Christian Besson, Kambiz Safinya, Philip Heelan, Edward Nichols
  • Publication number: 20080238429
    Abstract: A receiver for electromagnetic measurements includes a polyhedron structure having m faces, where m?4 and m?6: n electrodes each disposed on one face of the polyhedron structure, wherein 3?n?m; and at least one circuitry connected to the n electrodes for signal measurement. A method for electromagnetic measurements includes obtaining a plurality of electric current measurements using a plurality of electrodes each disposed on a surface of a polyhedron receiver, wherein the plurality of electric current measurements comprise at least three different measurements; and determining electric field components in a three dimensional space from the plurality of electric current measurements by using a number of matrices that correlate orientations of surfaces of the polyhedron receiver to a coordinate system in the three dimensional space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kambiz Safinya, Edward Nichols, Kamal Babour, Philip Heelan, Christian Besson
  • Publication number: 20080048881
    Abstract: A technique includes deploying a monitoring station near the sea surface and on the monitoring station, monitoring a position of a subsurface device as the subsurface device moves in a path between the sea surface and the sea floor. The technique includes communicating an indication of a position of the subsurface device from the monitoring station to a surface vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kambiz A. Safinya, Erik Vigen
  • Publication number: 20030040310
    Abstract: The invention concerns a mobile telephone network (XPLMN) characterised in that it comprises: (a) a radio subsystem (XBBS) and management and routing subsystem (ENSS); (b) said radio subsystem (XBBS) comprising at least a first base station (BTS) link and a second base station (XBTS) link and a link of the base station controllers (BSC, XBSC); (c) the base stations (XBTS) of the first link, communicating directly with their associated base station controllers (BSC) with specific means; (d) the base stations (XBTS) of said second link, communicating with the associated base station controller (XBSC) via the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Simon Barakat, Jean-Paul Mengus, Kambiz Safinya
  • Patent number: 5434507
    Abstract: A two-dimensional array of slot antennas which can provide two-dimensional quantitative dielectric and conductivity images of formations in the region surrounding an earth borehole. The antennas are mounted in a wall-engaging member of a logging device that is moveable through the borehole. Selected ones of the antennas are energized at given times to transmit electromagnetic energy into the formations, the electromagnetic energy being received at other antennas for processing to obtain formation properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Beren, Tarek M. Habashy, Yupai P. Hsu, David R. Mariani, Kambiz A. Safinya, M. Reza Taherian
  • Patent number: 5406206
    Abstract: A slot antenna has a square aperture and two current probes at angles to each other in the aperture. The two current probes are excited simultaneously or separately with different signals. By adjusting the amplitude or phase of the signals in the current probes, the angle of the magnetic moment of the antenna can be adjusted. An array of such antennas in an electromagnetic propagation tool for a well-logging device simultaneously provides better standoff performance by adjusting tile magnetic moment to be parallel to a borehole axis, and better image response by adjusting the magnetic moment to be perpendicular to the formation bed. The array can be excited to function as an endfire and broadside array of an electromagnetic propagation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kambiz A. Safinya, Tarek M. Habashy, Jeffrey A. Beren
  • Patent number: 5243290
    Abstract: A slot antenna has a square aperture and two current probes at angles to each other in the aperture. The two current probes are excited simultaneously or separately with different signals. By adjusting the amplitude or phase of the signals in the current probes, the angle of the magnetic moment of the antenna can be adjusted. An array of such antennas in an electromagnetic propagation tool for a well-logging device simultaneously provides better standoff performance by adjusting the magnetic moment to be parallel to a borehole axis, and better image response by adjusting the magnetic moment to be perpendicular to the formation bed. The array can be excited to function as an endfire and broadside array of an electromagnetic propagation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kambiz A. Safinya, Tarek M. Habashy, Jeffrey A. Beren
  • Patent number: 5210495
    Abstract: In a form of the disclosure, electromagnetic propagation logging measurements are made for several magnetic moment directions of the electromagnetic energy, and can be examined and/or processed retrospectively in order to select the logging information which has a particular desired characteristic, such as the sharpest imaging of bed boundaries. By scanning the magnetic moment over a wide range of angles, one is assured of obtaining logging information that has a desired attribute, such as image sharpness. This can be determined by viewing a recorded log and/or by automatically processing the log data. Information from other ones of the several logs may be useful in optimizing other attributes, such as standoff immunity or signal-to-noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tarek M. Hapashy, Jeffrey A. Beren, Kambiz A. Safinya
  • Patent number: 5201220
    Abstract: A borehole apparatus detects the presence of gas within a formation fluid sample. A light source transmits light rays to an interface between the fluid sample and the flow line. The interface reflects the light rays toward a detector array. The detector array detects light rays having angles of incidences extending from less than the Brewster angle to more than the critical angle for gas. A data base stores information concerning the Brewster angle and critical angle of gas for a plurality of gas volume categories. A processor determines the percentage of gas present in the formation fluid sample and categorizes the fluid sample as high as, medium gas, low gas, and no gas based on the signal from the detector array and the information from the data base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Oliver C. Mullins, Daniel R. Hines, Masaru Niwa, Kambiz A. Safinya
  • Patent number: 5167149
    Abstract: A borehole apparatus detects the presence of gas within a formation fluid sample. A light source transmits light rays to an interface between the fluid sample and the flow line. The interface reflects the light rays toward a detector array. The detector array detects light rays having angles of incidences extending from less than the Brewster angle to more than the critical angle for gas. A data base stores information concerning the Brewster angle and critical angle of gas for a plurality of gas volume categories. A processor determines the percentage of gas present in the formation fluid sample and categorizes the fluid sample as high gas, medium gas, low gas, and no gas based on the signal from the detector array and the information from the data base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Oliver C. Mullins, Daniel R. Hines, Masaru Niwa, Kambiz A. Safinya
  • Patent number: 4994671
    Abstract: A borehole apparatus for analyzing the composition of a formation fluid is disclosed and generally comprises a testing chamber, a means for directing a sample of fluid into the chamber, a light source which emits at least near infrared rays, a spectral detector, a data base means, and a processing means. The light source is preferably an incandescent lamp and the testing chamber includes a window which is substantially optically transparent to at least one near infrared light, and preferably also the near ultraviolet and visible light of the source. The light source is directed at least partly towards the window in the chamber either via collimation or fiber optics. The spectral detector means is preferably a spectrometer which detects and measures the spectra of the light which has been transmitted through and the light which is backscattered by the fluid sample. The preferred data base means stores the spectra at different pressures and temperatures of water, gas, and a plurality of oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kambiz A. Safinya, Jeffrey A. Tarvin
  • Patent number: 4855912
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for investigating earth formations surrounding a borehole operates by selectively heating a region of the formations, and measuring the thermal response to obtain useful information concerning the characteristic length scales of the pores in the heated region. The thermal response is obtained indirectly by measuring the electrical conductivity response. The invention can be utilized to obtain, inter alia, indications of porosity, permeability, and the distribution of pore geometries. In accordance with an embodiment of the method of the invention, the following steps are performed: heating a region of the formations with a series of pulses of microwave electromagnetic energy; measuring the conductivity characteristic of the region which result from the heating pulses; and determining a property of the region of the formations from the measured conductivity characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Jayanth R. Banavar, David L. Johnson, Sidney R. Nagel, Kambiz A. Safinya
  • Patent number: 4839644
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for wireless two-way communication in a cased borehole having tubing extending therethrough. A downhole communications subsystem is mounted on the tubing. The downhole subsystem includes a downhole antenna for coupling electromagnetic energy in a TEM mode to and/or from the annulus between the casing and the tubing. The downhole subsystem further includes a downhole transmitter/receiver coupled to the downhole antenna, for coupling signals to and/or from the antenna. An uphole communications subsystem is located at the earth's surface, and includes an uphole antenna for coupling electromagnetic energy in a TEM mode to and/or from the annulus, and an uphole receiver/transmitter coupled to the uphole antenna, for coupling the signals to and/or from the uphole antenna. In accordance with a feature of the invention, the annulus contains a substantially non-conductive fluid (such as diesel, crude oil, or air) in at least the region of the downhole antenna and above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Kambiz A. Safinya, Roger W. McBride
  • Patent number: 4652829
    Abstract: An electromagnetic logging apparatus is disclosed which employs dielectric-filled button antennas, in conjunction with tuning elements, to obtain improved operation. The apparatus can be used to measure the dielectric constant of formations surrounding a borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Kambiz A. Safinya
  • Patent number: 4603297
    Abstract: The disclosure is applicable to a borehole logging device of the type which includes an elongated body suspendable in a borehole and having at least one transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna mounted in spaced relation in the body. Energizing signals are applied to the transmitting antenna to produce electromagnetic energy, a portion of which is received at the receiving antenna after being affected by earth formations surrounding the borehole. In accordance with the disclosed invention, a region of the body is loaded with a dielectric material having a dielectric constant selected to minimize, at the receiving antenna, the effect of spurious transverse magnetic mode components of standing wave electromagnetic energy within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Kambiz A. Safinya