Patents by Inventor Martin D. Hurlimann

Martin D. Hurlimann 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: 20160109613
    Abstract: In one aspect, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system includes a transmitter of an NMR tool to output a magnetic field pulse into a zone of interest, a receiver of the NMR tool to output an NMR echo data set produced from an interaction of the magnetic field pulse and the zone of interest, and an NMR echo processing module including a filter matched to a response of the NMR tool to output a filtered NMR echo data set from the NMR echo data set. In another aspect, a method of processing an NMR echo data set includes providing from an NMR tool the NMR echo data set produced from an interaction of a magnetic field pulse and a zone of interest, matching a filter to a response of the NMR tool, and filtering the NMR echo data set with the filter to produce a filtered NMR echo data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Paulsen, Martin D. Hurlimann, Julius Kusuma, Brian E. Boling, Soumyajit Mandal, Brian Gaddis
  • Publication number: 20150346378
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a multi-dimensional distribution function. First data and second data may be received in response to one or more radiofrequency pulses that are transmitted into a subterranean formation. The first data may include Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill data, and the second data may include diffusion editing data with initial echo spacings longer than subsequent echo spacings. The second data may be inverted. A multi-dimensional distribution function may be determined using the inverted second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Martin D. Hurlimann, Colm Ryan, Frank P. Shray, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Publication number: 20150323698
    Abstract: A method for applying a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence is described herein. The method includes applying a series of refocusing pulses to a substance within an inhomogeneous static magnetic field. Each refocusing pulse in the series of refocusing pulses includes a central axis, a total pulse duration greater than t180, and at least five segments (e.g., 5, 7, 11, 20, and 21). The phase of each segment is substantially anti-symmetric about the central axis of the refocusing pulse. In a more particular embodiment, the phase of each segment is also symmetric about the central axis of the refocusing pulse and the five segments include a substantially constant amplitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: SOUMYAJIT MANDAL, VAN D. M. KOROLEVA, TROY BORNEMAN, MARTIN D. HÜRLIMANN
  • Publication number: 20150253454
    Abstract: A coaxial nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe and related methods are described herein. The coaxial NMR probe includes a housing with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a longitudinal axis, and an interior volume. The housing contains a fluid sample that is analyzed by the probe. The coaxial NMR probe also includes an elongated conductor disposed along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The elongated conductor generates an oscillating electromagnetic field within the interior volume of the housing. The oscillating electromagnetic field produces a NMR signal within the fluid sample. The elongated conductor may also be used to receive this NMR signal. The NMR signal is then analyzed to determine information about the fluid sample. Various NMR pulse sequences for use with this coaxial probe and other coaxial probes are also described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Yi-Qiao Song, Soumyajit Mandal, Yiqiao Tang, Martin D. Hurlimann, Jeffrey Paulsen
  • Patent number: 9069098
    Abstract: An NMR apparatus disposed in a wellbore and having an array of two or more NMR sensors located at substantially the same axial position on the NMR apparatus and having different directional sensitivities is used to acquire an NMR signal from at least two of the two or more NMR sensors. The NMR signals are combined to obtain borehole information. The borehole information may include an azimuthal image of the formation surrounding the borehole. The azimuthal image may be a formation porosity image, a formation bound fluid image, a T2 distribution image, a T2 log mean image, a formation permeability image, or a formation fluid viscosity image. If two or more pre-amplifiers and receiver circuitry are also provided, the NMR signals may be combined prior to passing through the pre-amplifiers and receiver circuitry to improve the signal to noise ratio of the total signal from the desired sample space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Hopper, David G. Cory, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin D. Hurlimann
  • Publication number: 20150168585
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of analyzing a composition of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid including using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to conduct a NMR relaxation measurement, a diffusion measurement, or both on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid to obtain NMR data, using a non-NMR tool to conduct an additional measurement of a reference fluid to obtain non-NMR data wherein the additional measurement comprises gas chromatography, optical observation, or both, and using the NMR data and the non-NMR data in an inversion process to determine an indication of the composition of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid. In some embodiments, the indication is determined over 4 chain length nodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: NICHOLAS N. BENNETT, YI ZENG, LALITHA VENKATARAMANAN, DENISE E. FREED, MARTIN D. HÜRLIMANN
  • Publication number: 20150168586
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for analyzing a composition of a hydrocarbon-containing fluid. The methods include using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to conduct an NMR measurement on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid to obtain NMR data. A non-NMR tool, such as an optical tool, is used to conduct additional measurements on the hydrocarbon-containing fluid and to obtain non-NMR data on the fluid. An indication of the composition of the fluid can be determined by using the NMR data and the non-NMR data in an inversion process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Denise E. FREED, Yi-Qiao SONG, Lalitha VENKATARAMANAN, Lukasz ZIELINSKI, Nicholas A. BENNETT, Martin D. HÜRLIMANN
  • Patent number: 8941383
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a geometry of a borehole includes forming an nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) caliper with a plurality of coils and coupling the NMR caliper to a borehole assembly. The NMR caliper may be calibrated for porosity and the T2 of the drilling mud, prior to drilling, at the surface. After drilling commences, scans of the borehole may be conducted with each coil of the NMR caliper. Each scan may include propagating RF energy across a range of frequencies with each coil in order to excite a NMR signal at varying depths. Borehole wall distances from the NMR caliper may be determined by reviewing a plurality of T2 distributions from CPMG measurements derived from the scans. In some embodiments, borehole wall distances from the NMR caliper may be determined by reviewing porosity values derived from the scans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tim Hopper, Nicholas J. Heaton, David T. Oliver, Luis E. Depavia, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin D. Hurlimann
  • Publication number: 20140232391
    Abstract: An NMR method and apparatus for analyzing a sample of interest applies a static magnetic field together with RF pulses of oscillating magnetic field across a sample volume that encompasses the sample of interest. The RF pulses are defined by a pulse sequence that includes a plurality of measurement segments configured to characterize a plurality of relaxation parameters related to relaxation of nuclear magnetization of the sample of interest. Signals induced by the RF pulses are detected in order to derive the relaxation parameters. The measurement segments of the pulse sequence include at least one first-type measurement segment configured to characterize relaxation of spin-lattice interaction between nuclei of the sample of interest in a rotating frame (T1?) at a predefined frequency. The T1? parameter can be measured in conjunction with the measurement of other relaxation and/or diffusion parameters as part of multidimensional NMR experiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: RAVINATH KAUSIK KADAYAM VISWANATHAN, LUKASZ ZIELINSKI, MARTIN D. HÜRLIMANN
  • Publication number: 20130325348
    Abstract: Systems and methods for quickly determining wettability using a derived relationship between the two Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times T1,oil and T2,oil combined with downhole or laboratory based NMR measurements. The derived relationship between T1,oil, T2,oil and wettability can be developed empirically for example from core-sample data. Once the relationship is defined, it can be used in the field or laboratory to quickly determine wettability from NMR measurements that measure T1,oil and T2,oil directly, or a function depending on them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: ANDREA VALORI, MARTIN D. HÜRLIMANN, BENJAMIN NICOT, HENRY N. BACHMAN
  • Publication number: 20130234704
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) property are described herein. The method includes applying a static magnetic field to a substance and applying an NMR pulse sequence to the substance. The NMR pulse sequence comprises a first pulse sequence segment applied at a first frequency to a shell and a second pulse sequence segment applied at a second frequency. The first pulse sequence segment generates a resonant signal in the shell and the second pulse sequence segment generates a characteristic within the resonant signal. The resonant signal is detected and an NMR property is determined using the characteristic within the detected resonant signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARTIN D. Hürlimann, YI-QIAO SONG, SOUMYAJIT MANDAL
  • Publication number: 20130162247
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments are directed to applying a nuclear magnetic resonance sequence to a substance within an inhomogeneous static magnetic field. Various embodiments include applying a series of refocusing pulses to the substance, each refocusing pulse in the series of refocusing pulses having at least two segments, and a total pulse duration less than or equal to approximately 1.414 times T180. Various embodiments can further include applying an excitation pulse to the substance in the inhomogeneous static magnetic field, where the excitation pulse generates an initial magnetization that is aligned with a refocusing axis produced by a refocusing cycle that is performed after the excitation pulse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: MARTIN D. HÜRLIMANN, SOUMYAJIT MANDAL, VAN MAI DO, YI-QIAO SONG
  • Publication number: 20130106413
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a geometry of a borehole includes forming an nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) caliper with a plurality of coils and coupling the NMR caliper to a borehole assembly. The NMR caliper may be calibrated for porosity and the T2 of the drilling mud, prior to drilling, at the surface. After drilling commences, scans of the borehole may be conducted with each coil of the NMR caliper. Each scan may include propagating RF energy across a range of frequencies with each coil in order to excite a NMR signal at varying depths. Borehole wall distances from the NMR caliper may be determined by reviewing a plurality of T2 distributions from CPMG measurements derived from the scans. In some embodiments, borehole wall distances from the NMR caliper may be determined by reviewing porosity values derived from the scans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Tim Hopper, Nicholas J. Heaton, David T. Oliver, Luis E. Depavia, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin D. Hurlimann
  • Publication number: 20130063142
    Abstract: An NMR apparatus disposed in a wellbore and having an array of two or more NMR sensors located at substantially the same axial position on the NMR apparatus and having different directional sensitivities is used to acquire an NMR signal from at least two of the two or more NMR sensors. The NMR signals are combined to obtain borehole information. The borehole information may include an azimuthal image of the formation surrounding the borehole. The azimuthal image may be a formation porosity image, a formation bound fluid image, a T2 distribution image, a T2 log mean image, a formation permeability image, or a formation fluid viscosity image. If two or more pre-amplifiers and receiver circuitry are also provided, the NMR signals may be combined prior to passing through the pre-amplifiers and receiver circuitry to improve the signal to noise ratio of the total signal from the desired sample space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy Hopper, David G. Cory, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin D. Hurlimann
  • Publication number: 20130057277
    Abstract: A method for determining surface relaxivity of a rock formation in a wellbore includes using measurements of nuclear magnetic resonance properties of the rock formation made from within a wellbore penetrating the rock formations includes determining nuclear magnetic relaxation properties from the measurements of the nuclear magnetic resonance properties. A diffusion property of the rock formation is determined from the measurements of the nuclear magnetic resonance properties. The surface relaxivity of the rock formation is determined from the relaxation properties and the diffusion property. The surface relaxivity and other nuclear magnetic resonance properties are used to infer wettability and/or fluid saturation of the rock formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Lukasz Zielinski, Martin D. Hürlimann (Hurlimann), Philip Singer, Raghu Ramamoorthy
  • Patent number: 8362767
    Abstract: A method for utilizing received formation data to determine one or more fluid instance such as reservoir wettability while in one of a subterranean environment or a surface environment. The method comprising: (a) obtaining at least one set of formation data wherein the set of formation data includes magnetic resonance data from two or more samples within an approximate common characteristic region in the reservoir; (b) computing from the at least one set of received formation data a first fluid instance of the one or more fluid instance using at least two mathematical variables from the group consisting of one of oil saturation, water saturation, T1, T2, diffusion coefficient, tortuosity from long time diffusion coefficient or some combination thereof; and (c) interpreting the computed first fluid instance as at least one wettability property between the fluids in a formation located in the subterranean environment and the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Martin D. Hürlimann, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Patent number: 8278922
    Abstract: A method for utilizing received formation data to determine one or more fluid instance such as reservoir wettability while in one of a subterranean environment or a surface environment. The method comprising: (a) obtaining at least one set of formation data wherein the set of formation data includes magnetic resonance data from two or more samples within an approximate common characteristic region in the reservoir; (b) computing from the at least one set of received formation data a first fluid instance of the one or more fluid instance using at least two mathematical variables from the group consisting of one of oil saturation, water saturation, T1, T2, diffusion coefficient, tortuosity from long time diffusion coefficient or some combination thereof; and (c) interpreting the computed first fluid instance as at least one wettability property between the fluids in a formation located in the subterranean environment and the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Martin D. Hurlimann, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Publication number: 20120229135
    Abstract: A method for utilizing received formation data to determine one or more fluid instance such as reservoir wettability while in one of a subterranean environment or a surface environment. The method comprising: (a) obtaining at least one set of formation data wherein the set of formation data includes magnetic resonance data from two or more samples within an approximate common characteristic region in the reservoir; (b) computing from the at least one set of received formation data a first fluid instance of the one or more fluid instance using at least two mathematical variables from the group consisting of one of oil saturation, water saturation, T1, T2, diffusion coefficient, tortuosity from long time diffusion coefficient or some combination thereof; and (c) interpreting the computed first fluid instance as at least one wettability property between the fluids in a formation located in the subterranean environment and the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin D. Hurlimann, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Publication number: 20120001629
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for tools having non-resonant circuits for analyzing a formation and/or a sample. For example, nuclear magnetic resonance and resistivity tools can make use of a non-resonant excitation coil and/or a detection coil. These coils can achieve desired frequencies by the use of switches, thereby removing the requirement of tuning circuits that are typical in conventional tools.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: TIM HOPPER, David G. Cory, Julius Kusuma, Yi-Qiao Song, Martin D. Hurlimann, Martin E. Poitzsch
  • Publication number: 20100237860
    Abstract: A method for utilizing received formation data to determine one or more fluid instance such as reservoir wettability while in one of a subterranean environment or a surface environment. The method comprising: (a) obtaining at least one set of formation data wherein the set of formation data includes magnetic resonance data from two or more samples within an approximate common characteristic region in the reservoir; (b) computing from the at least one set of received formation data a first fluid instance of the one or more fluid instance using at least two mathematical variables from the group consisting of one of oil saturation, water saturation, T1, T2, diffusion coefficient, tortuosity from long time diffusion coefficient or some combination thereof; and (c) interpreting the computed first fluid instance as at least one wettability property between the fluids in a formation located in the subterranean environment and the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Martin D. Hurlimann, Yi-Qiao Song