Patents by Inventor MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN

MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN 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: 20160131630
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems, methods, and devices for determining saturation pressure of an uncontaminated fluid. Downhole saturation pressure measurements and downhole OBM filtrate contamination of a contaminated fluid may be obtained and a relationship may be determined between the saturation pressure measurements and OBM filtrate contamination. The relationship may be extrapolated to zero OBM filtrate contamination to determine the saturation pressure of the uncontaminated fluid. In some embodiments, OBM filtrate contamination may be determined from downhole saturation pressure measurements during pumpout of a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Christopher Harrison, Adriaan Gisolf, Cosan Ayan, Michael Mallari Toribio, Chetankumar Natwarlal Desai, Oliver Clinton Mullins, Matthew T. Sullivan, Elizabeth Smythe
  • Publication number: 20160091462
    Abstract: A sensor including a vibrating wire is used to measure a dew point of a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Matthew T. Sullivan, Elizabeth Jennings Smythe, John Meier
  • Publication number: 20160040533
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for characterizing a fluid including a phase transition cell to receive the fluid, a piston to control fluid pressure, a pressure gauge to measure the fluid pressure and to provide information to control the piston, and connectors to connect the cell, piston, and gauge. The exterior volume of the phase transition cell, piston, gauge, and connectors is less than about 10 liters. A method and an apparatus to characterize a fluid including observing a fluid in an phase transition cell, measuring a pressure of the fluid, and adjusting a pressure control device in response to the measuring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Matthew T. Sullivan, Elizabeth Smythe, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Robert J Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9249661
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method including exposing a first fluid to a pre-filter, observing the first fluid, introducing a second fluid to the first fluid, exposing the first and second fluids to a filter, and observing the first and second fluids wherein the observing the first fluid and observing the first and second fluids comprise optical measurements and the first fluid comprises material from a subterranean formation. Some embodiments may compare the optical measurements of the first fluid and the first and second fluids and/or estimate the first fluid's likelihood of forming precipitants with other fluids and/or the first fluid's asphaltene content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Farshid Mostowfi, Matthew T. Sullivan, Elizabeth Smythe, Abdel M. Kharrat
  • Publication number: 20150354345
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining the presence and/or rate of a flow of a fluid sample include transmitting light through the fluid sample are disclosed. The methods comprise, applying a series of thermal pulses to the fluid sample, the series comprises a time interval between each thermal pulse, detecting transmitted light using a light detector; and determining at least one of (a) whether or not the fluid is flowing and (b) a flow rate of the fluid, based on an intensity of the transmitted light corresponding to at least one time interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: John Meier, Elizabeth Smythe, Matthew T. Sullivan, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Christopher Harrison
  • Publication number: 20150309003
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining for determining asphaltene onset pressure of a formation fluid are described herein. The method includes the following processes: (a) transmitting light through a sample of the formation fluid; (b) decreasing pressure of the sample; (c) detecting intensity of the transmitted light during depressurization; (d) identifying a change in intensity of the transmitted light during depressurization; (e) increasing pressure of the sample to a fixed pressure; and (f) detecting intensity of the transmitted light at the fixed pressure and at an equilibrated light intensity. Processes (a) to (f) are repeated for a number of different fixed pressures. The asphaltene onset pressure of the formation fluid sample can be determined using (i) the intensity of the transmitted light during each depressurization and (ii) the intensity of the transmitted light at each of the different fixed pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN, CHRISTOPHER HARRISON, SHUNSUKE FUKAGAWA, ELIZABETH SMYTHE, JOHN MEIER
  • Publication number: 20150309002
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining asphaltene onset pressure of a formation fluid are disclosed herein. The method includes positioning a wellbore tool within a wellbore and drawing a formation fluid sample into the wellbore tool. The method further includes transmitting light through the sample and detecting light that is transmitted through the sample. The light is transmitted within the sample along a short path length of less than 2 mm. While the light is being transmitted, the pressure of the sample is varied. A wavelength dependent signal is determined using (i) the intensity of the transmitted light at a first wavelength and (ii) the intensity of the transmitted light at a second wavelength. The asphaltene onset pressure of the sample is determined by identifying a change in the wavelength dependent signal at a particular pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: SHUNSUKE FUKAGAWA, MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN, ELIZABETH SMYTHE, CHRISTOPHER HARRISON, JOHN MEIER
  • Patent number: 8915123
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a viscosity of oil in a mixture are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining water fractions of a mixture flowing into a downhole tool and determining viscosities of the mixture. The mixture includes water and oil. The example method also includes determining a viscosity of the oil based on the water fractions and the viscosities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Andreas Hausot, Matthew T. Sullivan, Sophie Godefroy
  • Patent number: 8910514
    Abstract: Systems and methods of determining fluid properties are disclosed. An example apparatus to determine a saturation pressure of a fluid includes a housing having a detection chamber and a heater assembly partially positioned within the detection chamber to heat a fluid. The example apparatus also includes a sensor assembly to detect a property of the fluid and a processor to identify a saturation pressure of the fluid using the property of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew T. Sullivan, Christopher Harrison, Robert J. Schroeder, Ahmad Latifzai, Elizabeth Smythe, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Douglas W. Grant
  • Patent number: 8786860
    Abstract: Accurate, real-time detection of dew point of a gaseous sample can be accomplished using the systems and techniques described herein. A gaseous sampling chamber defining an interior volume includes a patterned structure having a roughened surface exposed to the gaseous sampling chamber. The patterned structure includes an open volume accessible by the roughened surface, for example, representing at least about 10% of the interior volume of the gaseous sampling chamber. An illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the patterned structure. A light detector is configured to receive at least a portion of illumination returned from the patterned structure. A condensate detector is configured to determine a presence of a condensate on the roughened surface in response to an optical property of the patterned surface as modified by the presence of dew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Robert J. Schroeder, Matthew T. Sullivan, Bradley Martin, Albert Ballard Andrews, Oliver Clinton Mullins
  • Publication number: 20130255368
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a viscosity of oil in a mixture are disclosed herein. An example method includes determining water fractions of a mixture flowing into a downhole tool and determining viscosities of the mixture. The mixture includes water and oil. The example method also includes determining a viscosity of the oil based on the water fractions and the viscosities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Andreas Hausot, Matthew T. Sullivan, Sophie Godefroy
  • Publication number: 20130219997
    Abstract: Systems and methods of determining fluid properties are disclosed. An example apparatus to determine a saturation pressure of a fluid includes a housing having a detection chamber and a heater assembly partially positioned within the detection chamber to heat a fluid. The example apparatus also includes a sensor assembly to detect a property of the fluid and a processor to identify a saturation pressure of the fluid using the property of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Matthew T. Sullivan, Christopher Harrison, Robert J. Schroeder, Ahmad Latifzai, Elizabeth Smythe, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Douglas W. Grant
  • Publication number: 20130186185
    Abstract: Vibrating wire viscometers are disclosed herein. An example viscometer includes a housing defining a chamber and a wire holder disposed in the chamber. The wire holder has an elongated, electrically insulating body and a channel extending along a length of the body. A wire is at least partially disposed in the channel and coupled to the wire holder at opposing ends of the wire holder to tension the wire and electrically isolate the wire from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Matthew T. Sullivan, Jacques Jundt
  • Publication number: 20130188169
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method including exposing a first fluid to a pre-filter, observing the first fluid, introducing a second fluid to the first fluid, exposing the first and second fluids to a filter, and observing the first and second fluids wherein the observing the first fluid and observing the first and second fluids comprise optical measurements and the first fluid comprises material from a subterranean formation. Some embodiments may compare the optical measurements of the first fluid and the first and second fluids and/or estimate the first fluid's likelihood of forming precipitants with other fluids and/or the first fluid's asphaltene content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: CHRISTOPHER HARRISON, FARSHID MOSTOWFI, MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN, ELIZABETH SMYTHE, ABDEL M. KHARRAT
  • Patent number: 8484003
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to process measurements of wires vibrating in fluids are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a downhole assembly and a surface assembly. The downhole assembly including a sensor to measure a waveform representative of a motion of a wire vibrating within a fluid at a downhole location in a wellbore, a waveform modeler to compute a model parameter from the measured waveform, and a first telemetry module to transmit the computed model parameter to a surface location. The surface assembly including a second telemetry module to receive the computed model parameter from the downhole assembly, and a viscosity analyzer to estimate a viscosity of the fluid from the computed model parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Christopher Harrison, Matthew T. Sullivan, Michael Stangeland, Anthony Smits, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin
  • Publication number: 20130100453
    Abstract: Accurate, real-time detection of dew point of a gaseous sample can be accomplished using the systems and techniques described herein. A gaseous sampling chamber defining an interior volume includes a patterned structure having a roughened surface exposed to the gaseous sampling chamber. The patterned structure includes an open volume accessible by the roughened surface, for example, representing at least about 10% of the interior volume of the gaseous sampling chamber. An illumination source is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the patterned structure. A light detector is configured to receive at least a portion of illumination returned from the patterned structure. A condensate detector is configured to determine a presence of a condensate on the roughened surface in response to an optical property of the patterned surface as modified by the presence of dew.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Robert J. Schroeder, Matthew T. Sullivan, Bradley Martin, Albert Ballard Andrews, Oliver Clinton Mullins
  • Publication number: 20100269579
    Abstract: A gas separation and detection tool for performing in situ analysis of borehole fluid is described. The tool operates by introducing a reagent to a test sample and causing the resulting mixture to flow through a microfluidic channel where optical testing is performed. The optical testing detects a change in a characteristic of the reagent in response to expose to one or more particular substances in the test sample. The test sample may be borehole fluid, a mixture of borehole fluid and scrubbing fluid subsequently mixed with reagent, a mixture of reagent and gas separated from borehole fluid, or a mixture of scrubbing fluid and gas separated from borehole fluid which is subsequently mixed with reagent. A membrane may be employed to separate one or more target gasses from the borehole fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: JIMMY LAWRENCE, DAN E. ANGELESCU, CHRISTOPHER HARRISON, TSUTOMU YAMATE, MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN, ROBERT J. SCHROEDER, RONALD E.G. VAN HAL, BHAVANI RAGHURAMAN
  • Publication number: 20100241407
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to process measurements of wires vibrating in fluids are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a downhole assembly and a surface assembly. The downhole assembly including a sensor to measure a waveform representative of a motion of a wire vibrating within a fluid at a downhole location in a wellbore, a waveform modeler to compute a model parameter from the measured waveform, and a first telemetry module to transmit the computed model parameter to a surface location. The surface assembly including a second telemetry module to receive the computed model parameter from the downhole assembly, and a viscosity analyzer to estimate a viscosity of the fluid from the computed model parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: KAI HSU, CHRISTOPHER HARRISON, MATTHEW T. SULLIVAN, MICHAEL STANGELAND, ANTHONY SMITS, ANTHONY ROBERT HOLMES GOODWIN