Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure provides an apparatus for use downhole that includes at least one acoustic sensor. In one aspect, the acoustic sensor includes a chamber and an active element comprised of a quantum tunneling composite in the chamber. In another aspect, the acoustic sensor may further include a pair of conductive layers on a pair of sides of the active element. The chamber is filled with an electrically non-conductive fluid. The active element may be placed in the chamber in a manner that causes the active element to be responsive to acoustic waves along a selected direction or in a manner that enables the active element to be non-directional.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of a fluid in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a piezoelectric material configured to be at least partially immersed in the fluid and embedded with a first electrode pair and a second electrode pair. An electronic unit is coupled to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair and configured to measure motion impedance of the fluid caused by motion of the piezoelectric material by applying a first electrical stimulus to the first electrode pair and a second electrical stimulus to the second electrode pair and by receiving a first electrical signal from the first pair of electrodes and a second electrical signal from the second pair of electrodes to estimate the property. The resulting motion impedance measurement has a reduced influence from electrical properties of the fluid.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating a hydrocarbon fluid parameter using a hydrocarbon fluid testing module. The method may include estimating a hydrocarbon fluid parameter value where a precipitate begins to form in a hydrocarbon fluid sample. The method may also include extracting a hydrocarbon fluid sample under pre-precipitate conditions; changing at least one hydrocarbon fluid parameter, generating information indicative of precipitate formation; and communicating the estimated value of the hydrocarbon fluid parameter at the precipitate formation point. The method may also include producing hydrocarbon fluid sample from a formation using the estimated value and a bubble point. The disclosure also includes an apparatus for implementing the method.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure provides an apparatus for use downhole that includes at least one acoustic sensor. In one aspect, the acoustic sensor includes a chamber and an active element comprised of a quantum tunneling composite in the chamber. In another aspect, the acoustic sensor may further include a pair of conductive layers on a pair of sides of the active element. The chamber is filled with an electrically non-conductive fluid. The active element may be placed in the chamber in a manner that causes the active element to be responsive to acoustic waves along a selected direction or in a manner that enables the active element to be non-directional.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for changing an optical path length through a fluid downhole, comprising interspersing an optically transmissive member into a first optical path through the fluid, thereby creating a second shorter optical path through the fluid. In another embodiment, the method further comprises measuring an intensity of light, I1 transmitted through the first optical path; measuring an intensity of light, I2 transmitted through the second optical path; and estimating an optical property for the second optical path from the ratio, I1/I2. A system is disclosed for changing an optical path length through a fluid downhole, comprising a fluid passage between two optically transmissive windows for the fluid downhole, the fluid passage having a first optical path through the fluid; and an optically transmissive member for insertion into the first optical path, thereby creating a second shorter optical path through the fluid.

Abstract: A method of analyzing acoustic data, that includes determining fluid sound speed through connate fluid. The method involves sampling the fluid, sending an acoustic signal into the fluid between a first and a second reflective interface. Data is recorded that represents acoustic signals over time as they are reflecting from the interfaces. A smoothed first derivative with respect to time of the cumulative sum of squares (CSS) of the filtered amplitude data is determined. This first derivative is cross correlated to the time-shifted versions of itself.

Abstract: A cooling system in which an electronic device or other component is cooled by using one or more solid sources of liquid vapor (such as polymeric absorbents, hydrates or desiccants that desorb water at comparatively low temperature) in conjunction with one or more high-temperature vapor sorbents or desiccants that effectively transfer heat from the component to the fluid in the wellbore. Depending on the wellbore temperature, desiccants are provided that release water at various high regeneration temperatures such as molecular sieve (220-250° C.), potassium carbonate (300° C.), magnesium oxide (800° C.) And calcium oxide (1000° C.). A solid water source is provided using a water-absorbent polymer, such as sodium polyacrylate. Heat transfer is controlled in part by a check valve selected to release water vapor at a selected vapor pressure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for changing an optical path length through a fluid downhole, comprising interspersing an optically transmissive member into a first optical path through the fluid, thereby creating a second shorter optical path through the fluid. In another embodiment, the method further comprises measuring an intensity of light, I1 transmitted through the first optical path; measuring an intensity of light, I2 transmitted through the second optical path; and estimating an optical property for the second optical path from the ratio, I1/I2. A system is disclosed for changing an optical path length through a fluid downhole, comprising a fluid passage between two optically transmissive windows for the fluid downhole, the fluid passage having a first optical path through the fluid; and an optically transmissive member for insertion into the first optical path, thereby creating a second shorter optical path through the fluid.

Abstract: A method for determining orientation of an instrument with respect to earth's gravity. The method includes measuring components of earth's gravity along mutually orthogonal axes. One of the axes is substantially parallel to an axis of the instrument. Tilt of the instrument along two orthogonal axes is measured. One of the tilt axes is substantially parallel to the instrument axis. The instrument is rotated about its axis, and biases of the sensors used to measure the components of earth's gravity perpendicular to the instrument axis are calculated by averaging measurements made by these sensors during rotation. The ratio of gains of these sensors is determined from the range of amplitudes of the output of these sensors during rotation. A roll angle is determined from the bias corrected measurements of components of the earth's gravity perpendicular to the axis. The tilt measurement with respect to the two orthogonal axes is then calibrated by using the calculated roll angle.