Patents by Inventor Neal Gregory Skinner
Neal Gregory Skinner 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).
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Patent number: 11873697Abstract: The present disclosure includes a plug for cementing a wellbore. The plug may include a cylinder. The cylinder may include at least one body including a non-conductive material with conductive filaments dispersed within the non-conductive material. The present disclosure also includes float equipment for cementing a wellbore. The float equipment may include a casing segment including an inner surface, drillable material affixed to the inner surface of the casing segment, and a check valve attached to the drillable material. The drillable material may include a non-conductive material and conductive filaments dispersed within the non-conductive material.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., SDG LLC, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Lonnie Carl Helms, Frank Vinicio Acosta Villarreal, Avinash Gopal Dharne, William M. Moeny, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20230243235Abstract: The present disclosure includes a plug for cementing a wellbore. The plug may include a cylinder. The cylinder may include at least one body including a non-conductive material with conductive filaments dispersed within the non-conductive material. The present disclosure also includes float equipment for cementing a wellbore. The float equipment may include a casing segment including an inner surface, drillable material affixed to the inner surface of the casing segment, and a check valve attached to the drillable material. The drillable material may include a non-conductive material and conductive filaments dispersed within the non-conductive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Lonnie Carl Helms, Frank Vinicio Acosta Villarreal, Avinash Gopal Dharne, William M. Moeny, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 11629587Abstract: In some embodiments, a downhole drilling system may include a pulse-generating circuit, a drill bit including a first pair of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse-generating circuit to receive a first electrical pulse from the pulse-generating circuit and form a first electrical arc between the first pair of electrodes during a pulsed drilling operation. The system further includes a sensor to record responses to the first electrical pulse during the pulsed drilling operation and a sensor analysis system communicatively coupled to the sensor, where the sensor analysis system is configured to obtain a first measurement from the sensor representing the responses recorded by the sensor during the pulsed drilling operation. Additionally, the system may determine a first value of a dielectric constant associated with a portion of a formation in proximity to the drill bit, where the first value of the dielectric constant is based on the first measurement.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, Burkay Donderici, Charles Richard Thomas Hay, Ilker R. Capoglu
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Publication number: 20220252541Abstract: Systems and methods for a treatment of chemical sensors placed in a wellbore. A method may comprise providing a chemical sensor disposed in a sensing chamber, wherein the chemical sensor is on an optical fiber installed in a wellbore; optically interrogating the chemical sensor with the optical fiber; and pumping a treatment fluid through a fluid supply line and into the sensing chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2022Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: John Laureto Maida, JR., Michel Joseph Leblanc, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 11353422Abstract: Systems and methods for a treatment of chemical sensors placed in a wellbore. A method may comprise providing a chemical sensor disposed in a sensing chamber, wherein the chemical sensor is on an optical fiber installed in a wellbore; optically interrogating the chemical sensor with the optical fiber; and pumping a treatment fluid through a fluid supply line and into the sensing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2016Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: John Laureto Maida, Jr., Michel Joseph Leblanc, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 11092539Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a presence, type, or amount of an analyte in fluid. An analyte sensor can include a substrate that includes a chiral molecule for sensing the presence of the analyte in the fluid. A property of the chiral molecule may change in response to sensing the presence of the analyte. The change in the property of the chiral molecule can cause a change in polarization of a beam of light traveling through the substrate. The presence, type, or amount of the analyte can be determined based on the change in polarization of the beam of light. The analyte sensor, along with optical fibers, can be used to determine the presence, type, or amount of an analyte in a fluid sample from a wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2015Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: William Cecil Pearl, Jr., Megan Renee Pearl, Neal Gregory Skinner, John L. Maida
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Publication number: 20210238979Abstract: A system is provided for cementing a wellbore having a casing string disposed in the wellbore. The system includes a cement tool operable to be deployed down the wellbore through the casing string from a surface during cementing process of the wellbore, a fiber optic cable, and a computing device. The fiber optic cable is coupled with the cement tool such that the fiber optic cable spans the wellbore from the cement tool to the surface. The computing device is communicatively coupled with the fiber optic cable and is operable to receive and process signals from the fiber optic cable during the cementing process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Christopher Lee STOKELY, John Laureto Maida, JR., Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20210164332Abstract: A downhole drilling system is disclosed. The downhole drilling system may include a pulse-generating circuit, a drill bit including a first pair of electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse-generating circuit to receive a first electrical pulse from the pulse-generating circuit and form a first electrical arc between the first pair of electrodes during a pulsed drilling operation; a sensor to record responses to the first electrical pulse during the pulsed drilling operation; and a sensor analysis system communicatively coupled to the sensor, the sensor analysis system configured to obtain a first measurement from the sensor representing the responses recorded by the sensor during the pulsed drilling operation, and determine a first value of the dielectric constant associated with a portion of a formation in proximity to the drill bit, the first value of the dielectric constant based on the first measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2018Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, Burkay Donderici, Charles Richard Thomas Hay, Ilker R. Capoglu
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Patent number: 11015445Abstract: A property of a downhole fluid, for example, a chemical species or ion concentration, may be accurately determined and logged based on measurements received from an optical detector where the optical detector is fed information or signals from an optical system coupled to one or more electrochemical probes calibrated for one or more properties of a fluid. The one or more electrochemical probes provide a potential to the optical system based, at least in part, on exposure to the downhole fluid. The optical system receives an optical signal from a light source that is transmitted via a transmission line, such as a fiber optic cable. Downhole information from the optical system is transmitted to the surface via the same or another transmission line. Thus, the signals are in the optical domain rather than the electrical domain. Multiple properties may be measured simultaneously using the same transmission line.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2016Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Xinwei Lan, Yenny Natali Martinez, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Neal Gregory Skinner, John L. Maida
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Patent number: 10941652Abstract: Systems and methods for terahertz modulation in a terahertz frequency band from about 0.1 terahertz to about 10 terahertz propagating in a wellbore intersecting a subterranean earth formation. A transmitter generates the EM radiation in the terahertz frequency band. A modulator located in the wellbore receives the EM radiation and generates an amplitude modulated signal with the EM radiation.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2016Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ramachandhran Balasubramanian, Neal Gregory Skinner, John Laureto Maida, Wolfgang Hartmut Nitsche, Satyan Gopal Bhongale
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Patent number: 10941637Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and methods for triggering detonation of a perforating gun via optical signals are provided. An improved laser firing head may be used with an optical cable (e.g., fiber optic cable) run through the wellbore to trigger detonation of a perforating gun in response to an optical signal. The laser firing head may be activated, and the perforating gun fired, upon the application of an optical signal output from the surface and transmitted through the optical cable. The disclosed system using the laser firing head with the optical cable may be impervious to electrical interference, since the laser firing head may only fire the perforating gun when a properly modulated laser or light source is directed down the optical cable for a specific period of time.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2015Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, Etienne Samson
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Patent number: 10927666Abstract: Electromagnetic field monitoring methods and systems for obtaining data corresponding to subsurface rock formations. An electromagnetic field monitoring system includes an electromagnetic transmitter located downhole in a well bore and configured to radiate electromagnetic radiation into a subsurface formation; a fiber optic cable coupled with a fiber optic interrogator, the at least one fiber optic cable and the interrogator located at the surface; and an array of electromagnetic sensors integrally formed in the fiber optic cable and configured to detect the electromagnetic radiation radiated through the subsurface formation. A method of detecting electromagnetic radiation at the surface of an oil well includes transmitting, from an electromagnetic transmitter, electromagnetic radiation into a subsurface formation; and sensing, from the subsurface formation, electromagnetic radiation at the surface of the oil well.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, Etienne Samson, Tasneem Mandviwala
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Patent number: 10794177Abstract: An example system for detecting mud pump stroke information comprises a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) data collection system coupled to a downhole drilling system, a stroke detector coupled to a mud pump of the downhole drilling system configured to detect strokes in the mud pump and to generate mud pump stroke information based on the detected strokes, and a fiber disturber coupled to the stroke detector and to optical fiber of the DAS data collection system configured to disturb the optical fiber based on mud pump stroke information generated by the stroke detector. The system further comprises a computing system comprising a processor, memory, and a pulse detection module operable to transmit optical signals into the optical fiber of the DAS data collection system, receive DAS data signals in response to the transmitted optical signals, and detect mud pump stroke information in the received DAS data signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2015Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, Andreas Ellmauthaler, Leonardo de Oliveira Nunes, Christoper Lee Stokely, David Andrew Barfoot
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Publication number: 20200232907Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a presence, type, or amount of an analyte in fluid. An analyte sensor can include a substrate that includes a chiral molecule for sensing the presence of the analyte in the fluid. A property of the chiral molecule may change in response to sensing the presence of the analyte. The change in the property of the chiral molecule can cause a change in polarization of a beam of light traveling through the substrate. The presence, type, or amount of the analyte can be determined based on the change in polarization of the beam of light. The analyte sensor, along with optical fibers, can be used to determine the presence, type, or amount of an analyte in a fluid sample from a wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: William Cecil Pearl, Jr., Megan Renee Pearl, Neal Gregory Skinner, John L. Maida
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Publication number: 20190234203Abstract: Systems and methods for terahertz modulation in a terahertz frequency band from about 0.1 terahertz to about 10 terahertz propagating in a wellbore intersecting a subterranean earth formation. A transmitter generates the EM radiation in the terahertz frequency band. A modulator located in the wellbore receives the EM radiation and generates an amplitude modulated signal with the EM radiation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2016Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Ramachandhran BALASUBRAMANIAN, Neal Gregory SKINNER, John Laureto MAIDA, Wolfgang Hartmut NITSCHE, Satyan Gopal BHONGALE
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Publication number: 20190227029Abstract: Systems and methods for a treatment of chemical sensors placed in a wellbore. A method may comprise providing a chemical sensor disposed in a sensing chamber, wherein the chemical sensor is on an optical fiber installed in a wellbore; optically interrogating the chemical sensor with the optical fiber; and pumping a treatment fluid through a fluid supply line and into the sensing chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: July 25, 2019Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: John Laureto Maida, JR., Michel Joseph Leblanc, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Publication number: 20190226335Abstract: A property of a downhole fluid, for example, a chemical species or ion concentration, may be accurately determined and logged based on measurements received from an optical detector where the optical detector is fed information or signals from an optical system coupled to one or more electrochemical probes calibrated for one or more properties of a fluid. The one or more electrochemical probes provide a potential to the optical system based, at least in part, on exposure to the downhole fluid. The optical system receives an optical signal from a light source that is transmitted via a transmission line, such as a fiber optic cable. Downhole information from the optical system is transmitted to the surface via the same or another transmission line. Thus, the signals are in the optical domain rather than the electrical domain. Multiple properties may be measured simultaneously using the same transmission line.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2016Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Xinwei Lan, Yenny Natali Martinez, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Neal Gregory Skinner, John L. Maida
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Patent number: 10294779Abstract: An acoustic well telemetry system has an acoustic telemetry transducer affixed to an in-well type component and a damper between the transducer and the in-well type component. The damper damps transmission from the in-well type component to the transducer of a specified frequency range. A method includes damping a specified frequency range from transmission from an in-well type component to an acoustic telemetry transducer in a well, and receiving another frequency range outside of the specified frequency range with the transducer.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donald Kyle, Michael Linley Fripp, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 10247662Abstract: Technologies are described for providing optical analysis systems using an integrated computational element that has a surface patterned to selectively reflect or transmit different wavelengths by differing amounts across a spectrum of wavelengths. In one aspect, a measurement tool contains an optical element including a layer of material patterned so that the optical element selectively transmits or reflects, during operation of the measurement tool, light in at least a portion of a wavelength range by differing amounts, the differing amounts being related to a property of a sample. The wavelength range can include wavelengths in a range from about 0.2 ?m to about 100 ?m. Additionally, the sample can include wellbore fluids and the property of the sample is a property of the wellbore fluids.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2013Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Li Gao, Michael T. Pelletier, David L. Perkins, Neal Gregory Skinner
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Patent number: 10175161Abstract: Disclosed are optical computing devices that employ birefringent optical elements configured for use in optical computing devices. One optical computing device includes a polarizer configured to generate at least x polarized light and y polarized light, a birefringent integrated computational element configured to optically interact with a substance and the polarizer, thereby generating optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the substance.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Neal Gregory Skinner, David L. Perkins