Abstract: A method of improving the ability of plastic layers of a multi-layered optical disc to bond to adhesive materials includes exposing the plastic layers to a plurality of ions. In one embodiment, one side of a plastic layer of a multi-layered optical disc is exposed to a plurality of non-reactive ions, an adhesive material is applied to the side of the plastic layer that was exposed to the plurality of ions, and a second layer of the optical disc is secured to the adhesive material. In another embodiment, a plurality of ions is formed by directing gas molecules through an electric field, and at least 25% of the width of the plastic layer of the multi-layered optical disc is exposed to the plurality of ions at about the same time. The plastic layer is positioned so that the ions contact the plastic layer while the ions still have a charge, and the disc is moved so that at least 25% of the surface of the plastic layer is exposed to the plurality of ions.

Abstract: A method for determining a molecular property of each constituent in a mixture of hydrocarbons includes deriving at least one dynamic parameter for each constituent in the mixture from NMR data measured on the mixture; and calculating the molecular property for the each constituent in the mixture from the at least one dynamic parameter for each constituent. The step of deriving the at least one dynamic parameter may include generating a model that includes a plurality of components for the constituents of the mixture and iteratively modifying the model components to optimize the model with respect to the NMR data. The at least one dynamic parameter includes a parameter selected from the group consisting of a longitudinal relaxation time, a transverse relaxation time, a ratio of longitudinal to transverse relaxation time, and a diffusion rate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus to make a nuclear magnetic resonance measurement on a flowing fluid using varied wait times. In one method, NMR measurements are made by: a) flowing the fluid through a static magnetic field; b) applying a group of oscillating magnetic field pulses to the flowing fluid, wherein the group of pulses is comprised of an initial pulse and one or more refocusing pulses; c) detecting magnetic resonance signals from the flowing fluid; d) after a wait time, repeating (b) and (c) one or more times, wherein at least two of the repetitions have varied wait times; and e) analyzing the detected magnetic resonance signals to extract information about the flowing fluid. Further, varied wait time measurements may be useful in determining the flow rate of the sample.

Abstract: A method for processing Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logging data in the presence of coherent transient signals and offsets is disclosed. The method comprises the addition of R and X-Channel transients and offsets to the relaxation model appropriate for a user selected pulse sequence. The effects of the ringing and offsets are automatically compensated for by fitting R and X-Channel spin-echo data to the relaxation model.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and compositions related to &agr;7 acetylcholine nicotinic receptor genes, in particular, the human &agr;7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene. The human &agr;7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene is associated with the pathophysiological aspects of the disease schizophrenia. The present invention further provides methods and compositions to screen populations for abnormal &agr;7 alleles, as well as methods and compositions for development of therapeutics.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus to make a nuclear magnetic resonance measurement on a flowing fluid using varied wait times. In one method, NMR measurements are made by: a) flowing the fluid through a static magnetic field; b) applying a group of oscillating magnetic field pulses to the flowing fluid, wherein the group of pulses is comprised of an initial pulse and one or more refocusing pulses; c) detecting magnetic resonance signals from the flowing fluid; d) after a wait time, repeating (b) and (c) one or more times, wherein at least two of the repetitions have varied wait times; and e) analyzing the detected magnetic resonance signals to extract information about the flowing fluid. Further, varied wait time measurements may be useful in determining the flow rate of the sample.

Abstract: A method for determining downhole reservoir wettability includes acquiring a first set of NMR measurements of formation fluids in earth formations at a selected axial depth; inverting the first set of the NMR measurements to produce a first distribution of a spin relaxation parameter for a fluid component in the formation fluids; acquiring a second set of NMR measurements of a formation fluid sample removed by a formation fluid testing tool at the selected axial depth, the formation fluid sample being kept at a substantially same pressure and temperature as those of the formation fluids in the earth formations at the selected axial depth; inverting the second set of NMR measurements to produce a second distribution of the spin relaxation parameter for the fluid component in the formation fluid sample; determining the reservoir wettability from a comparison of the first and second distributions of the spin relaxation parameter.

Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbon-bearing zones in a formation penetrated by a wellbore includes acquiring at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, each of the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements acquired from a volume of investigation at a different radial depth from the wellbore; and determining whether the formation bears hydrocarbons by comparing the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. A method for detecting fines invasion in a formation surrounding a wellbore includes acquiring at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, each of the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements acquired from a volume of investigation at a different radial depth from the wellbore; and determining whether the fines invasion has occurred by comparing the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements.

Abstract: A method for evaluating formation fluids includes measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance property related to a total volume of the formation fluids, measuring a dielectric property related to an electromagnetic wave travel time, measuring a bulk density, and solving a set of linear response equations representing a reservoir fluid model to determine fractional fluid volumes from the nuclear magnetic resonance property, the dielectric property, and the bulk density.

Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbon-bearing zones in a formation penetrated by a wellbore includes acquiring at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, each of the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements acquired from a volume of investigation at a different radial depth from the wellbore; and determining whether the formation bears hydrocarbons by comparing the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements. A method for detecting fines invasion in a formation surrounding a wellbore includes acquiring at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, each of the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements acquired from a volume of investigation at a different radial depth from the wellbore; and determining whether the fines invasion has occurred by comparing the at least two nuclear magnetic resonance measurements.

Abstract: A method for determining downhole reservoir wettability includes acquiring a first set of NMR measurements of formation fluids in earth formations at a selected axial depth; inverting the first set of the NMR measurements to produce a first distribution of a spin relaxation parameter for a fluid component in the formation fluids; acquiring a second set of NMR measurements of a formation fluid sample removed by a formation fluid testing tool at the selected axial depth, the formation fluid sample being kept at a substantially same pressure and temperature as those of the formation fluids in the earth formations at the selected axial depth; inverting the second set of NMR measurements to produce a second distribution of the spin relaxation parameter for the fluid component in the formation fluid sample; determining the reservoir wettability from a comparison of the first and second distributions of the spin relaxation parameter.

Abstract: A method for processing Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logging data in the presence of coherent transient signals and offsets is disclosed. The method comprises the addition of R and X-Channel transients and offsets to the relaxation model appropriate for a user selected pulse sequence. The effects of the ringing and offsets are automatically compensated for by fitting R and X-Channel spin-echo data to the relaxation model.

Abstract: A method for determining a molecular property of each constituent in a mixture of hydrocarbons includes deriving at least one dynamic parameter for each constituent in the mixture from NMR data measured on the mixture; and calculating the molecular property for the each constituent in the mixture from the at least one dynamic parameter for each constituent. The step of deriving the at least one dynamic parameter may include generating a model that includes a plurality of components for the constituents of the mixture and iteratively modifying the model components to optimize the model with respect to the NMR data. The at least one dynamic parameter includes a parameter selected from the group consisting of a longitudinal relaxation time, a transverse relaxation time, a ratio of longitudinal to transverse relaxation time, and a diffusion rate.

Abstract: A method of determining the displacements of a logging tool during a measurement interval of the logging tool in a borehole includes obtaining a set of accelerometer signals corresponding to accelerations of the logging tool along each of three orthogonal axes of the logging tool during the measurement interval. The method further includes calculating a lower bound for the displacements of the logging tool during the measurement interval when the initial velocity and the gravitational acceleration are unknown. The lower bound on the displacements of the logging tool is used to flag the validity of the measurements made by the logging tool.

Abstract: A form of the invention is directed to a method for determining properties of earth formations surrounding a borehole, including the following steps: (a) providing a logging device that is moveable through the borehole; (b) transmitting electromagnetic energy from the logging device into the formations, and receiving nuclear magnetic resonance spin echoes at the logging device; (c) performing step (b) a plurality of times, with a respective plurality of different transmitting and/or receiving conditions to obtain a plurality of measurements; (d) generating a formation model that includes a plurality of model components for a brine phase and a plurality of model components for a native oil phase; (e) modifying the model components to optimize the model with respect to the measurement signals; and (f) outputting model components of the optimized model.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining gas corrected porosity using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and density measurements is disclosed. The total porosity (TCMR) or an earth formation is determined using an NMR tool. A log output is generated that indicates the density of the formation. The density porosity of the formation is determined from the log output. The difference between the TCMR-density porosity log accurately indicates the presence of gas. A gas corrected porosity, .phi., and gas saturation, S.sub.g, are determined based upon the density porosity and TCMR.

Abstract: Methods that allow in-situ calculations of critical petrophysical parameters including, but not limited to, .phi..sub.t, S.sub.xot, Q.sub.v, F, and R.sub.w are provided. Also, NMR clay bound water may be used to estimate a continuous Q.sub.v. In combination with other resistivity logs, such as SP, R.sub.xo and R.sub.deep, R.sub.w can be determined. With the exception of the saturation exponent n, all Archie parameters and other computational equivalents are continuously determined directly from well logs. The methods therefore allow S.sub.w to be determined more accurately, which leads to improved estimation of hydrocarbon reserves. The method is extended to complex lithology with additional tools. In complex lithology, permeability estimation is also improved using a method that estimates bound fluid volume. Also, an uncertainty analysis of the gas-corrected parameters is also provided.

Abstract: When a pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logging tool is traversing a wellbore, a NMR well logging method includes magnetizing the hydrogen nuclei in a formation traversed by the tool with a static magnetic field, waiting for a first period of time W.sub.1, energizing the formation with oscillating RF pulses, collecting a first plurality of spin echo signals, waiting a second period of time W.sub.2 which is different from the first period of time W.sub.1, energizing the formation with oscillating RF pulses, collecting a second plurality of spin echo signals, waiting a third period of time W.sub.3 which is different from both the second period of time W.sub.2 and the first period of time W.sub.1, energizing the formation with oscillating RF pulses, collecting a third plurality of spin echo signals, etc. The first, second and third, etc. plurality of spin echo signals corresponding to the different wait times are input to a signal processing apparatus disposed in the tool.

Abstract: A system includes a wellbore tool disposed in a wellbore and a surface apparatus disposed at a surface of the wellbore. Prior to operating the tool to take an initial measurement, the wellbore tool is first calibrated to take into account magnetic junk which is magnetically attracted to and accumulated on a magnet housing of the tool. To calibrate the tool, a new tuning frequency, called the Larmor frequency, is determined, and the tool is tuned to the new Larmor frequency before taking an initial measurement. The wellbore tool and the surface apparatus each include a processing system. Each processing system includes a memory. A first part of a tuning frequency determination software is stored in the memory of the tool, and a second part of the frequency determination software is stored in the memory of the surface apparatus. To determine the tuning frequency, the processing system in the wellbore tool initiates execution of the first part of the tuning frequency determination software.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus adapted to be disposed in a wellbore is electrically connected to a surface apparatus disposed at a surface of the wellbore. When disposed in the wellbore, the wellbore apparatus receives a plurality of input signals from an earth formation traversed by the wellbore which are representative of characteristics of the earth formation. The wellbore apparatus includes a data compression apparatus which receives the input signals and compresses the input signals prior to transmission of the compressed input signals uphole to the surface apparatus. The data compression apparatus compresses the input signals by first subdividing the plurality of input signals into a plurality of groups, where the number of the plurality of groups is much less than the number of the plurality of input signals, and then generating one value for each group.