Patents by Inventor Masafumi Fukuhara

Masafumi Fukuhara 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: 9927286
    Abstract: A technique facilitates geophysical exploration and comprises deploying an optical fiber in a borehole formed in a formation. A seismic signal, e.g. seismic waves, is excited into the formation, and an optical interrogation system is used to obtain data at a plurality of fixed, sampling locations along the optical fiber. The data is processed to determine features in the formation. Based on the processed data, updated sampling locations are selected along the optical fiber to enable further analysis of the features of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Ikegami, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20160170083
    Abstract: A technique facilitates geophysical exploration and comprises deploying an optical fiber in a borehole formed in a formation. A seismic signal, e.g. seismic waves, is excited into the formation, and an optical interrogation system is used to obtain data at a plurality of fixed, sampling locations along the optical fiber. The data is processed to determine features in the formation. Based on the processed data, updated sampling locations are selected along the optical fiber to enable further analysis of the features of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Toru Ikegami, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20160130934
    Abstract: The invention relates to the area of borehole acoustics, in particular, to monitoring a logging tool position in a borehole, namely detection and estimation of a borehole logging tool eccentricity based on the measurement and analysis of mixed surface waves waveforms. The method is characterized by the steps of registering acoustic signals generated by passage of acoustic waves in the borehole while logging and detecting the misalignment of the logging tool to the axis of the borehole by the presence of mixed surface waves. A system for monitoring a looging tool position in a borehole comprising means for registering acoustic signals generated by passage of acoustic waves while logging and data processing means for detecting mixed surface waves propagating along the borehole wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Timur Vyacheslavovich Zharnikov, Masafumi Fukuhara, Igor Vitalievich Borodin, Dimitri Vladilenovich Pissarenko
  • Publication number: 20160018245
    Abstract: A system receives data corresponding to light signals in the plurality of cores, the plurality of cores including a first pair of cores spaced apart laterally along a first direction in the optical fiber, and a second pair of cores spaced apart laterally along a second direction in the optical fiber. The system determines a directional measurement of a dynamic parameter based on the data corresponding to light signals in the plurality of cores, wherein directionality of the directional measurement is indicated by a difference between a response of the first pair of cores to a stimulus and a response of the second pair of cores to the stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yamate, Kamal Kader, Soon Seong Chee, Toru Ikegami, Masafumi Fukuhara, Nalin Weerasinghe
  • Publication number: 20150301213
    Abstract: A method for processing acoustic waveforms comprises acquiring acoustic waveforms in a borehole traversing a subterranean formation and transforming at least a portion of the acoustic waveforms to produce frequency domain signals. Then model dispersion curves are generated based on an anisotropic borehole-formation model having a set of anisotropic borehole-formation parameters. The frequency-domain signals are back-propagating using the model dispersion curves to correct dispersiveness of the signals and coherence of the back-propagated signals is calculated. Alternatively the difference between the measured and the model dispersion curves is determined. Model parameters are iteratively adjusted until the coherence reaches a maximum or exceeds a selected value, or alternatively until the difference between the measured and the model dispersion curves becomes minimal or is reduced to below a selected value. Then at least a portion of the set of anisotropic borehole-formation parameters is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Timur Vyacheslavovich ZHARNIKOV, Denis Evgenievich SYRESIN, Masafumi FUKUHARA, Takeshi ENDO, Hiroaki YAMAMOTO
  • Patent number: 9081121
    Abstract: The method of a mud cake thickness determination provides sending short high-frequency signals into a formation from at least two positions located at different distances from the mud cake and recording arrival times of reflected echo signals. The mud cake thickness is determined based on the time measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timur Zharnikov, Masafumi Fukuhara, Alexander F. Zazovsky, Fernando Garcia-Osuna
  • Patent number: 8941821
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining wall thickness of a structure such as a metallic pressurized pipe. The system includes an optical fiber having a plurality of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), and a mounting for securing the FBGs over discrete portions of the exterior surface of the pipe such that strain in the pressurized pipe wall is transmitted to the FBGs. The system further includes a light source and a light sensor coupled to an end of the optical fiber. The light sensor converts light reflected back from the FBGs into electrical signals that a digital processor converts into strain measurements. The FBGs are mounted around portions of the pipe expected to have significant metal loss as well as portions of the pipe expected to have negligible metal loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Coupe, Damon Richard Roberts, Dmitry Belov, Evgeniya Myalo Deger, Masafumi Fukuhara, Yamid Pico, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos, Ian Peirce
  • Publication number: 20140283592
    Abstract: A pressure response to low frequency harmonic pressure oscillations generated in a borehole by at least one oscillation source is registered by at least one acoustic sensor. A phase shift of stationary pressure oscillations registered by the acoustic sensor relatively to the low frequency harmonic pressure oscillations of the oscillation source and a ratio between an amplitude of the stationary pressure oscillations registered by the acoustic sensor and an amplitude of the low frequency harmonic pressure oscillations of the oscillation source are determined. A thickness of a mudcake is determined and based on the results a cake piezoconductivity or a fluid mobility or both are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Timur Vyacheslavovich Zharnikov, Masafumi Fukuhara, Alexander Zazovsky, Fernando Garcia-Osuna
  • Publication number: 20140233354
    Abstract: At least one acoustic sensor registers a pressure response to a low-frequency non-oscillating pressure signal generated in a borehole by at least one source. At least one characteristic of a transient process of pressure change is determined from the registered signal. A thickness of a mudcake is determined. Then, based on the values received, a mudcake piezoconductivity or a fluid mobility or both are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timur Vyacheslavovich Zharnikov, Masafumi Fukuhara, Alexander Zazovsky, Fernando Garcia-Osuna
  • Publication number: 20140196885
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunetsu Onodera, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Brian W. Cho, Ahmed Al-Jubori, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 8448704
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shunetsu Onodera, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Brian W. Cho, Ahmed Al-Jubori, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20120170405
    Abstract: The method of a mud cake thickness determination provides sending short high-frequency signals into a formation from at least two positions located at different distances from the mud cake and recording arrival times of reflected echo signals. The mud cake thickness is determined based on the time measured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Timur Zharnikov, Masafumi Fukuhara, Alexander F. Zazovsky, Fernando Garcia-Osuna
  • Publication number: 20120120769
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Shunetsu ONODERA, Hitoshi SUGIYAMA, Brian W. CHO, Ahmed H. AL-JUBORI, Masafumi FUKUHARA
  • Publication number: 20120099097
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining wall thickness of a structure such as a metallic pressurized pipe. The system includes an optical fiber having a plurality of Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs), and a mounting for securing the FBGs over discrete portions of the exterior surface of the pipe such that strain in the pressurized pipe wall is transmitted to the FBGs. The system further includes a light source and a light sensor coupled to an end of the optical fiber. The light sensor converts light reflected back from the FBGs into electrical signals that a digital processor converts into strain measurements. The FBGs are mounted around portions of the pipe expected to have significant metal loss as well as portions of the pipe expected to have negligible metal loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Coupe, Damon Richard Roberts, Dmitry Belov, Evgeniya Myalo Deger, Masafumi Fukuhara, Yamid Pico, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos, Ian Peirce
  • Patent number: 8127841
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shunetsu Onodera, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Brian W Cho, Ahmed Al-Jubori, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Patent number: 8122951
    Abstract: Methods and systems of measuring in-situ time variant temperature for subsurface formations utilizing an active heating and/or cooling device and temperature sensors for purposes of characterizing hydrocarbon-bearing formations by deriving formation thermal properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Fukuhara, Kasumi Fujii, Yoko Morikami
  • Patent number: 8061470
    Abstract: Deploying systems and methods for deploying a plurality of seismic devices into a borehole comprising a cable including a plurality of inter-connected cable segments and ellipsoid seismic units with at least two rows of offset seismic protrusions to establish at least three points of contact between the seismic units and adjacent cylindrical surface of a borehole casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuki Endo, Gbenga Onadeko, Masafumi Fukuhara
  • Publication number: 20110132082
    Abstract: This invention relates to well logging instrumentation, specifically, to measuring devices which use an advanced slip-free borehole contact interaction mechanism. A measuring probe for an oil and gas wells and/or casings includes a main body and at least one robotic arm, fixed to the main body and provided with a polygonal rotating contact tip at the arm's free end. The measuring probe is used as a measuring device and provides a successive slip-free continuous contact between the rotating surface of the tip and the inner wall of the oil & gas wells and/or casings. The tip is furnished with at least one sensor that picks up the geological formations response to a signal emitted directly to the geological formation via the points of contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yamid Pico, Masafumi Fukuhara, Clement Kostov
  • Publication number: 20110120703
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: SHUNETSU ONODERA, HITOSHI SUGIYAMA, BRIAN W. CHO, AHMED H. AL-JUBORI, MASAFUMI FUKUHARA
  • Patent number: 7886820
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring any incursion of particulate matter from a gas hydrate formation into a well casing used for the production of the gas hydrate and determining the degree of incursion of particulate material within the distal end of the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shunetsu Onodera, Hitoshi Sugiyama, Brian W. Cho, Ahmed H. Al-Jubori, Masafumi Fukuhara