Patents by Inventor Nicholas Heaton

Nicholas Heaton 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: 11947069
    Abstract: A method can include accessing a measurement model in memory of a downhole tool; determining an optimal parameter set using a processor of the downhole tool and the measurement model; and performing at least one measurement using at least one sensor of the downhole tool operated according to the optimal parameter set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yiqiao Tang, Yi-Qiao Song, Nicholas Heaton, Martin Hurlimann, Scott DiPasquale, Diogenes Molina, Albina Rishatovna Mutina
  • Publication number: 20240084267
    Abstract: The present invention provides recombinant viral segments comprising an artificial intron, DNA constructs encoding these viral segments, and recombinant viruses comprising these viral segments. Also provided are methods of making and using the recombinant viruses described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas HEATON, Heather FROGGATT, Kaitlyn BURKE, Benjamin CHAMBERS, Rebecca LEONARD, Ryan CHAPARIAN
  • Publication number: 20230236336
    Abstract: A method for detecting net relative motion between a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool and a specimen includes disposing the NMR tool and the specimen in sensory range of one another, causing the NMR tool to make NMR measurements of the specimen, and processing the NMR measurements to detect net relative motion between the NMR tool and the specimen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Shin Utsuzawa, Nicholas Heaton, Albina Rishatovna Mutina, Martin Hurlimann
  • Patent number: 11668850
    Abstract: A method can include controlling radio frequency emission circuitry of a nuclear magnetic resonance unit to emit radio frequency energy according to a first set of parameters that comprises a first wait time for an even number of sequence repeats with positive and negative phases and to emit radio frequency energy according to a second set of parameters that includes a second wait time for a single sequence with a single phase, where the second wait time is greater than the first wait time; and acquiring, via antenna circuitry and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, nuclear magnetic resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicholas Heaton
  • Patent number: 11493661
    Abstract: A method can include triggering an assessment of pulse width of an X degree pulse of a downhole NMR tool; responsive to the assessment, determining an optimal pulse width of the X degree pulse; acquiring NMR measurements using the downhole NMR tool and the optimal pulse width; and characterizing a formation using at least a portion of the NMR measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anatoly Dementyev, Nicholas Heaton, Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Henry Bachman
  • Publication number: 20220229203
    Abstract: A method can include controlling radio frequency emission circuitry of a nuclear magnetic resonance unit to emit radio frequency energy according to a first set of parameters that comprises a first wait time for an even number of sequence repeats with positive and negative phases and to emit radio frequency energy according to a second set of parameters that includes a second wait time for a single sequence with a single phase, where the second wait time is greater than the first wait time; and acquiring, via antenna circuitry and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, nuclear magnetic resonance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventor: Nicholas Heaton
  • Patent number: 11294093
    Abstract: A method can include controlling radio frequency emission circuitry of a nuclear magnetic resonance unit to emit radio frequency energy according to a first set of parameters that comprises a first wait time for an even number of sequence repeats with positive and negative phases and to emit radio frequency energy according to a second set of parameters that includes a second wait time for a single sequence with a single phase, where the second wait time is greater than the first wait time; and acquiring, via antenna circuitry and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, nuclear magnetic resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicholas Heaton
  • Publication number: 20210199838
    Abstract: A method can include accessing a measurement model in memory of a downhole tool; determining an optimal parameter set using a processor of the downhole tool and the measurement model; and performing at least one measurement using at least one sensor of the downhole tool operated according to the optimal parameter set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Yiqiao Tang, Yi-Qiao Song, Nicholas Heaton, Martin Hurlimann, Scott DiPasquale, Diogenes Molina, Albina Rishatovna Mutina
  • Patent number: 11047938
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnet on a nuclear magnetic resonance logging tool includes identifying a desired magnetic field strength at a predetermined depth of investigation, receiving a set of magnet segments configured for deployment on the logging tool in a magnet arrangement which make up a magnet array on the logging tool, processing a magnetic strength and an angular offset of selected magnet segments and their unique location in the magnet array to compute corresponding magnetic field strength solutions at the predetermined depth of investigation, selecting one magnet arrangement solution that minimizes a difference between the magnetic field strength solution and the desired magnetic field strength at the predetermined depth of investigation, and deploying the magnet segments on the logging tool according to the selected magnet arrangement solution to fabricate the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Utsuzawa, Anatoly Dementyev, Nicholas Heaton, Cole Mann
  • Publication number: 20210003734
    Abstract: A method can include controlling radio frequency emission circuitry of a nuclear magnetic resonance unit to emit radio frequency energy according to a first set of parameters that comprises a first wait time for an even number of sequence repeats with positive and negative phases and to emit radio frequency energy according to a second set of parameters that includes a second wait time for a single sequence with a single phase, where the second wait time is greater than the first wait time; and acquiring, via antenna circuitry and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, nuclear magnetic resonance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventor: Nicholas Heaton
  • Patent number: 10677956
    Abstract: A method for measuring one or more properties of a formation includes applying a magnetic field to a subterranean formation using a downhole tool. A radiofrequency signal is transmitted into the subterranean formation that is exposed to the magnetic field. The radiofrequency signal induces a transverse magnetization in the subterranean formation, and the transverse magnetization induces an initial voltage signal in the downhole tool. The initial voltage signal is amplified using a first amplifier in the downhole tool such that the first amplifier outputs a first amplified voltage signal. The first amplified voltage signal is introduced to an input of the first amplifier, such that the first amplifier amplifies the first amplified voltage signal and outputs a second amplified voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Soumyajit Mandal, Van D. M. Koroleva, Gabriela Leu, Payam Tabrizi, Nicholas Heaton, Martin D. Hurlimann, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Publication number: 20200088904
    Abstract: A method can include triggering an assessment of pulse width of an X degree pulse of a downhole NMR tool; responsive to the assessment, determining an optimal pulse width of the X degree pulse; acquiring NMR measurements using the downhole NMR tool and the optimal pulse width; and characterizing a formation using at least a portion of the NMR measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Anatoly Dementyev, Nicholas Heaton, Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Henry Bachman
  • Publication number: 20190324101
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnet on a nuclear magnetic resonance logging tool includes identifying a desired magnetic field strength at a predetermined depth of investigation, receiving a set of magnet segments configured for deployment on the logging tool in a magnet arrangement which make up a magnet array on the logging tool, processing a magnetic strength and an angular offset of selected magnet segments and their unique location in the magnet array to compute corresponding magnetic field strength solutions at the predetermined depth of investigation, selecting one magnet arrangement solution that minimizes a difference between the magnetic field strength solution and the desired magnetic field strength at the predetermined depth of investigation, and deploying the magnet segments on the logging tool according to the selected magnet arrangement solution to fabricate the magnet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Shin Utsuzawa, Anatoly Dementyev, Nicholas Heaton, Cole Mann
  • Patent number: 10429535
    Abstract: A method for determining at least one characteristic of a geological formation having a borehole therein may include collecting nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data of the geological formation adjacent the borehole, and collecting non-NMR data for the geological formation adjacent the wellbore. The method may further include performing a Monte Carlo analysis based upon a combination of the collected NMR and non-NMR data to determine the at least one characteristic of the geological formation having a bounded uncertainty associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicholas Heaton, Jack LaVigne
  • Patent number: 10408898
    Abstract: A method to produce a magnet arrangement, the method having steps of selecting a depth of investigation to be achieved by a downhole tool, identifying a desired magnetic field strength at the depth of investigation, producing a set of magnets to be incorporated into the downhole tool, sorting the set of magnets based on a quality of each of the magnets and optimizing the set of magnets such that the quality of each of the magnets results, when arranged, in the desired magnetic field strength at the depth of investigation and wherein the optimizing minimizes a cost function of the set of magnets produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shin Utsuzawa, Anatoly Dementyev, Nicholas Heaton, Cole Mann
  • Patent number: 10295631
    Abstract: An arrangement for shielding an NMR tool from electromagnetic noise, having a nuclear magnetic resonance tool configured to send and receive signals, a first shield configured around a nuclear magnetic resonance antenna of the nuclear magnetic resonance tool and a second shield configured to reduce the effects of eddy currents in the first shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anatoly Dementyev, Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Gabriela Leu, Nicholas Heaton
  • Publication number: 20190100761
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to compositions (including polynucleotides, constructs, fusion proteins, vectors, and cells) and methods of using such compositions for enhancing gene expression, protein production and viral replication. More specifically, the invention relates to use of m6A sequences and/or YTHDF polypeptides to enhance gene expression or viral replication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: Duke University
    Inventors: Bryan R. Cullen, Edward M. Kennedy, Hal P. Bogerd, Anand Kornepati, Nicholas Heaton, David Courtney
  • Patent number: 10215829
    Abstract: A method to process information from a wellbore tool is disclosed having steps of placing a wellbore nuclear magnetic resonance tool in a wellbore to a scan a geological formation, activating the nuclear magnetic resonance tool to send signals to and receive signals from the geological formation, acquiring the received signals from the geological formation wherein the received signals have an echo shape, storing the echo shape according to at least one of a quadrature phase and a nominal signal phase, computing an echo shape from all of the received signals, determining a presence of a noise from the received signals, defining a noise filter based upon the received signals from the nuclear magnetic resonance tool and using the filter to remove noise from the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicholas Heaton
  • Patent number: 10185051
    Abstract: A method to calibrate a nuclear magnetic resonance tool is disclosed having steps of starting a nuclear magnetic resonance sequence from the nuclear magnetic resonance tool, disabling an active damping circuit in the nuclear magnetic resonance tool, collecting auxiliary calibration data for the nuclear magnetic resonance tool, estimating a natural Q value for the nuclear magnetic resonance tool, determining an optimal active damping setting for the tool, deploying the optimal active damping setting for the tool, collecting nuclear magnetic resonance response data generated from the nuclear magnetic resonance sequence and calibrating the nuclear magnetic resonance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Diogenes David Molina, Eugene Janssen, Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Nicholas Heaton, Vassilis Varveropoulos
  • Publication number: 20180299579
    Abstract: A method for measuring one or more properties of a formation includes applying a magnetic field to a subterranean formation using a downhole tool. A radiofrequency signal is transmitted into the subterranean formation that is exposed to the magnetic field. The radiofrequency signal induces a transverse magnetization in the subterranean formation, and the transverse magnetization induces an initial voltage signal in the downhole tool. The initial voltage signal is amplified using a first amplifier in the downhole tool such that the first amplifier outputs a first amplified voltage signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Soumyajit Mandal, Van D. M. Koroleva, Gabriela Leu, Payam Tabrizi, Nicholas Heaton, Martin D. Hurlimann, Yi-Qiao Song