Patents by Inventor Nalin Weerasinghe

Nalin Weerasinghe 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: 11828117
    Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a hydraulic amplifier assembly, a driver, a bearing housing, and a shaft. The hydraulic amplifier assembly is configured to increase a pressure of a drilling fluid so as to produce a pressurized drilling fluid. The driver is driven by the pressure of the drilling fluid and is configured to rotate a drill bit. The bearing housing is coupled to the driver. The shaft extends through the bearing housing and is configured to be coupled to the drill bit. The shaft is driven to rotate by the driver. The hydraulic amplifier is configured to deliver the pressurized drilling fluid to the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Phillip Bailey, Daniel Nobre, Nalin Weerasinghe
  • Patent number: 11788359
    Abstract: A downhole steering system includes a substantially tubular housing, a shaft positioned within the substantially tubular housing, a first bearing and a second bearing, the first and second bearings being configured to support rotation of the shaft relative to the housing. The first bearing, the second bearing, the shaft, and the housing at least partially define a chamber therebetween. The system also includes at least one structure positioned axially between the first and second bearing and being configured to extend from an exterior of the housing in response to pressure communicated to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Marshall, Edward George Parkin, Geoffrey Charles Downton, David C. Hoyle, Nalin Weerasinghe, Dennis Patrick Chesnutt
  • Publication number: 20220316288
    Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a hydraulic amplifier assembly, a driver, a bearing housing, and a shaft. The hydraulic amplifier assembly is configured to increase a pressure of a drilling fluid so as to produce a pressurized drilling fluid. The driver is driven by the pressure of the drilling fluid and is configured to rotate a drill bit. The bearing housing is coupled to the driver. The shaft extends through the bearing housing and is configured to be coupled to the drill bit. The shaft is driven to rotate by the driver. The hydraulic amplifier is configured to deliver the pressurized drilling fluid to the drill bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Eric Johnson, Phillip Bailey, Daniel Nobre, Nalin Weerasinghe
  • Publication number: 20210404260
    Abstract: A downhole steering system includes a substantially tubular housing, a shaft positioned within the substantially tubular housing, a first bearing and a second bearing, the first and second bearings being configured to support rotation of the shaft relative to the housing. The first bearing, the second bearing, the shaft, and the housing at least partially define a chamber therebetween. The system also includes at least one structure positioned axially between the first and second bearing and being configured to extend from an exterior of the housing in response to pressure communicated to the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Marshall, Edward George Parkin, Geoffrey Charles Downton, David C. Hoyle, Nalin Weerasinghe, Dennis Patrick Chesnutt
  • Patent number: 11118408
    Abstract: A downhole steering system includes a substantially tubular housing, a shaft positioned within the substantially tubular housing, a first bearing and a second bearing, the first and second bearings being configured to support rotation of the shaft relative to the housing. The first bearing, the second bearing, the shaft, and the housing at least partially define a chamber therebetween. The system also includes at least one structure positioned axially between a the first and second bearing and being configured to extend from an exterior of the housing in response to pressure communicated to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Marshall, Edward George Parkin, Geoffrey Charles Downton, David C. Hoyle, Nalin Weerasinghe, Dennis Patrick Chestnutt
  • Publication number: 20200141188
    Abstract: A downhole steering system includes a substantially tubular housing, a shaft positioned within the substantially tubular housing, a first bearing and a second bearing, the first and second bearings being configured to support rotation of the shaft relative to the housing. The first bearing, the second bearing, the shaft, and the housing at least partially define a chamber therebetween. The system also includes at least one structure positioned axially between a the first and second bearing and being configured to extend from an exterior of the housing in response to pressure communicated to the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Marshall, Edward George Parkin, Geoffrey Charles Downton, David C. Hoyle, Nalin Weerasinghe, Dennis Patrick Chesnutt
  • Patent number: 10601464
    Abstract: Methods and systems for multiple carrier frequency, half duplex cable telemetry for a wellsite. The methods involve generating a first type of bi-directional message in a first propagation mode, generating a second type of bi-directional message in the first propagation mode and in a second propagation mode, transmitting over a cable operatively coupling a surface modem and a downhole modem the first and second types of bi-directional message sequentially in a plurality of time periods across a single frequency bandwidth, and separating each of the first and second types of bi-directional message from a most subsequently transmitted one of the first and second types of bi-directional message by a quiet time sample during which no message is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alex Olson, Nalin Weerasinghe, Kun Wang, Milos Milosevic
  • Publication number: 20190229767
    Abstract: Methods and systems for multiple carrier frequency, half duplex cable telemetry for a wellsite. The methods involve generating a first type of bi-directional message in a first propagation mode, generating a second type of bi-directional message in the first propagation mode and in a second propagation mode, transmitting over a cable operatively coupling a surface modem and a downhole modem the first and second types of bi-directional message sequentially in a plurality of time periods across a single frequency bandwidth, and separating each of the first and second types of bi-directional message from a most subsequently transmitted one of the first and second types of bi-directional message by a quiet time sample during which no message is transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Alex Olson, Nalin Weerasinghe, Kun Wang, Milos Milosevic
  • Patent number: 10087748
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for safe mode telemetry are provide. The method may include detecting a failure of an AC power supply, switching the AC power supply to a DC power supply, booting with a safe mode telemetry system by a control unit, and capturing downhole data for recording into a memory. The apparatus may include a telemetry cartridge, a control unit to detect a failure of an AC power supply, a DC power supply, and a switching device to change from the AC power supply to the DC power supply based on the control unit's detection of the failure in the AC power supply. The DC power supply of the apparatus may be used to power the telemetry cartridge after the detection of the failure. The system may further include a surface data acquisition unit and a downhole tool including the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nalin Weerasinghe, Khalid Ouaaba, Maduranga Liyanage
  • Patent number: 9911323
    Abstract: Toolstring topology mapping systems having a downhole toolstring including a master node controller and a plurality of nodes and related methods. The methods involve querying each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring for actual topology information, receiving actual topology information from each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring in response to querying, and generating a topology map of the downhole toolstring based on the actual topology information from each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring. The methods can also involve comparing the topology map with the input topology information to identify topology mismatch and then take remedial actions if needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Santoso, Takeaki Nakayama, Hiromasa Nishisaka, Yuichi Kobayashi, Nalin Weerasinghe, Milos Milosevic, Eric Jeanson, Kun Wang, Motohiro Nakanouchi
  • Patent number: 9535185
    Abstract: Methods and systems for failure point diagnostics in cable telemetry at a wellsite. The methods involve providing a system includes a cable operatively coupling between a surface modem and a downhole modem that is operatively coupled to a downhole toolstring of one or more downhole tools via a toolbus. The methods further involve generating a plurality of test signals, sequentially applying the test signals across one or more test loops in the cable telemetry system, and generating a failure point alert when at least one of the test signals fails in at least one of the test loops. The failure point alert identifies which component of the cable telemetry system caused the test signal to fail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Schlumberger technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alex Olson, Nalin Weerasinghe, Milos Milosevic, Kun Wang, Motohiro Nakanouchi, Kenji Endo, Yuichi Kobayashi, Hiromasa Nishisaka
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9154186
    Abstract: Systems and methods for toolstring communication in cable telemetry. The methods involve positioning a cable telemetry system in a wellbore. The cable telemetry system can include a surface modem, a downhole toolstring of downhole tools, a downhole modem operatively coupled to the downhole toolstring, a cable operatively coupling between the surface modem and the downhole modem, and a surface data routing module that polls and trains the cable telemetry system. The methods also involve performing a pre-transmission poll of a rate requirement for the downhole toolstring and a telemetry type for the downhole modem, applying a training phase to establish a transmission link between the surface modem and the downhole modem, configuring data obtained by the downhole toolstring for an uplink via the transmission link, and transmitting the uplink via the transmission link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromasa Nishisaka, Takeaki Nakayama, Milos Milosevic, Eric Jeanson, Nalin Weerasinghe, Kun Wang, Yuichi Kobayashi, Motohiro Nakanouchi, David Santoso, Alex Olson
  • Patent number: 9091154
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for hybrid cable telemetry. The methods can include positioning a toolstring in a wellbore. The toolstring can include an uphole telemetry cartridge and a downhole telemetry cartridge respectively adapted to send and receive telemetry data. The toolstring can also include a hybrid logging cable having optical fibers and copper conductors that can operatively couple the uphole telemetry cartridge to the downhole telemetry cartridge. The method can also include transferring data between the uphole telemetry cartridge and the downhole telemetry cartridge across the optical fibers and the copper conductors. The method can further include measuring a data transmission rate on the optical fibers and the copper conductors. The method can also include comparing the data transmission rate to a predetermined threshold. The method can further include detecting a data transmission failure when the data transmission rate falls below the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nalin Weerasinghe, Tadashi Tajima, Motohiro Nakanouchi, David Santoso, Kenji Endo
  • Publication number: 20150167451
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for safe mode telemetry are provide. The method may include detecting a failure of an AC power supply, switching the AC power supply to a DC power supply, booting with a safe mode telemetry system by a control unit, and capturing downhole data for recording into a memory. The apparatus may include a telemetry cartridge, a control unit to detect a failure of an AC power supply, a DC power supply, and a switching device to change from the AC power supply to the DC power supply based on the control unit's detection of the failure in the AC power supply. The DC power supply of the apparatus may be used to power the telemetry cartridge after the detection of the failure. The system may further include a surface data acquisition unit and a downhole tool including the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2014
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Nalin Weerasinghe, Khalid Ouaaba, Maduranga Liyanage
  • Publication number: 20140354446
    Abstract: Cable telemetry synchronization systems and methods. The synchronization can involve positioning downhole equipment into a wellbore via a cable operatively coupled to a surface module that can include a telemetry system master clock. The downhole equipment can include a toolbus master node and at least one slave node module having a node clock operatively coupled to the toolbus master node. The synchronization can also involve sending a frame start command to the at least one slave node module from the toolbus master node at predetermined intervals, receiving a clock value from each of the at least one slave node module, calculating a clock offset for each of the at least one slave node module, and sending an absolute clock value and the calculated clock offset for each of the at least one slave node module via a downlink synchronization command to the at least one slave node module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Takeaki Nakayama, Yuichi Kobayashi, Kun Wang, Nalin Weerasinghe, Milos Milosevic, David Santoso, Yasumasa Fujisawa, Thi Huong Lien Nguyen, Tsubasa Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20140292530
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for hybrid cable telemetry. The methods can include positioning a toolstring in a wellbore. The toolstring can include an uphole telemetry cartridge and a downhole telemetry cartridge respectively adapted to send and receive telemetry data. The toolstring can also include a hybrid logging cable having optical fibers and copper conductors that can operatively couple the uphole telemetry cartridge to the downhole telemetry cartridge. The method can also include transferring data between the uphole telemetry cartridge and the downhole telemetry cartridge across the optical fibers and the copper conductors. The method can further include measuring a data transmission rate on the optical fibers and the copper conductors. The method can also include comparing the data transmission rate to a predetermined threshold. The method can further include detecting a data transmission failure when the data transmission rate falls below the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nalin Weerasinghe, Tadashi Tajima, Motohiro Nakanouchi, David Santoso, Kenji Endo
  • Publication number: 20140152456
    Abstract: Methods and systems for failure point diagnostics in cable telemetry at a wellsite. The methods involve providing a system includes a cable operatively coupling between a surface modem and a downhole modem that is operatively coupled to a downhole toolstring of one or more downhole tools via a toolbus. The methods further involve generating a plurality of test signals, sequentially applying the test signals across one or more test loops in the cable telemetry system, and generating a failure point alert when at least one of the test signals fails in at least one of the test loops. The failure point alert identifies which component of the cable telemetry system caused the test signal to fail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alex Olson, Nalin Weerasinghe, Milos Milosevic, Kun Wang, Motohiro Nakanouchi, Kenji Endo, Yuichi Kobayashi, Hiromasa Nishisaka
  • Publication number: 20140152459
    Abstract: Methods and systems for multiple carrier frequency, half duplex cable telemetry for a wellsite. The methods involve generating a first type of bi-directional message in a first propagation mode, generating a second type of bi-directional message in the first propagation mode and in a second propagation mode, transmitting over a cable operatively coupling a surface modem and a downhole modem the first and second types of bi-directional message sequentially in a plurality of time periods across a single frequency bandwidth, and separating each of the first and second types of bi-directional message from a most subsequently transmitted one of the first and second types of bi-directional message by a quiet time sample during which no message is transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alex Olson, Nalin Weerasinghe, Kun Wang, Milos Milosevic
  • Publication number: 20140152460
    Abstract: Toolstring topology mapping systems having a downhole toolstring including a master node controller and a plurality of nodes and related methods. The methods involve querying each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring for actual topology information, receiving actual topology information from each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring in response to querying, and generating a topology map of the downhole toolstring based on the actual topology information from each of the plurality of nodes in the downhole toolstring. The methods can also involve comparing the topology map with the input topology information to identify topology mismatch and then take remedial actions if needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Santoso, Takeaki Nakayama, Hiromasa Nishisaka, Yuichi Kobayashi, Nalin Weerasinghe, Milos Milosevic, Eric Jeanson, Kun Wang, Motohiro Nakanouchi