Abstract: A system can include a filter assembly with a filter and a substance in the filter assembly, and at least one optical computing device having an integrated computational element which receives electromagnetic radiation from the substance. A method can include receiving electromagnetic radiation from a substance in a filter assembly, the electromagnetic radiation from the substance being received by at least one optical computing device having an integrated computational element, and the receiving being performed while a filter is positioned in the filter assembly. A detector may receive electromagnetic radiation from the integrated computational element and produce an output correlated to a characteristic of the substance. A mitigation technique may be selected, based on the detector output.

Abstract: A system can include a filter assembly with a filter and a substance in the filter assembly, and at least one optical computing device having an integrated computational element which receives electromagnetic radiation from the substance. A method can include receiving electromagnetic radiation from a substance in a filter assembly, the electromagnetic radiation from the substance being received by at least one optical computing device having an integrated computational element, and the receiving being performed while a filter is positioned in the filter assembly. A detector may receive electromagnetic radiation from the integrated computational element and produce an output correlated to a characteristic of the substance. A mitigation technique may be selected, based on the detector output.

Abstract: An optical computing device having a redundant light source and/or a plurality of optical elements (i.e., optical train) in order to simultaneously determine characteristics of a sample in real-time by deriving the characteristic data from the output of the optical elements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a downhole drilling tool configured to engage a formation to form a wellbore includes one or more channels formed in a bit body, the channels configured to direct electromagnetic radiation. The downhole drilling tool also includes an opto-analytical device integrated with the downhole drilling tool, the opto-analytical device configured to receive electromagnetic radiation directed through the one or more channels and detect a drilling characteristic based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining a distance between a portion of the drilling tool and the formation based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiments, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining torsion associated with drilling the wellbore based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes detecting vibrations associated with drilling the wellbore based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiments, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes detecting a characteristic of cuttings associated with drilling the wellbore based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation at an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes determining a drilling characteristic based on the received electromagnetic radiation, and detecting an event associated with drilling the wellbore based on the determined drilling characteristic.

Abstract: An optical computing device adapted to compensate for the effects of light intensity fluctuation through the use of optical elements that generate a normalization optical channel (or B Channel) having a light intensity that is substantially equal to the light intensity of the characteristic optical channel (or A Channel). As a result, highly accurate normalizations are obtained which give rise to the most accurate results from the optical computing device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes drilling a wellbore in a formation with a drilling tool. The method further includes receiving electromagnetic radiation using an opto-analytical device coupled to the drilling tool. The method also includes detecting a temperature associated with drilling the wellbore based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Determining characteristics of a formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including determining at least one characteristics of a shale formation. The determining may include: collecting optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from a portion of the shale formation; directing a first portion of the optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from the formation to a first multivariate optical element (MOE), the first MOE creates first modified electromagnetic radiation; applying the first modified electromagnetic radiation to a first detector, the first detector creates a first signal; and determining a first characteristic of the shale formation from the first signal.

Abstract: A system can include a filter assembly with a filter and a substance in the filter assembly, and at least one optical computing device having an integrated computational element which receives electromagnetic radiation from the substance. A method can include receiving electromagnetic radiation from a substance in a filter assembly, the electromagnetic radiation from the substance being received by at least one optical computing device having an integrated computational element, and the receiving being performed while a filter is positioned in the filter assembly. A detector may receive electromagnetic radiation from the integrated computational element and produce an output correlated to a characteristic of the substance. A mitigation technique may be selected, based on the detector output.

Abstract: A system includes a light source and a nonlinear converter optically coupled to and remote from the light source. The nonlinear light converter converts a light pulse received from the light source to a broadened or spectrum-shifted light pulse. The system also includes a sensor in situ with the nonlinear light converter. The sensor performs a sense operation based on the broadened or spectrum-shifted light pulse and generates an electrical signal corresponding to the sense operation. The system also includes an electro-optical interface in situ with the sensor that transforms the electrical signal to an optical signal for conveyance to a signal collection interface.

Abstract: Various implementations of optical computing devices are described herein which include a “tuning fork” probe, “spark plug” probe, “grooved tubular” and “modular” type implementation.

Abstract: In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing at least one source material; combining the at least one source material with a base fluid to form a treatment fluid; and monitoring a characteristic of the treatment fluid using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the treatment fluid.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid having a chemical reaction occurring therein. At least one integrated computational element is optically interacted with the fluid, thereby generating optically interacted light. An output signal is then produced based on the optically interacted light that corresponds to a characteristic of the chemical reaction.

Abstract: In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing an acidizing fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one acid; introducing the acidizing fluid into a subterranean formation; allowing the acidizing fluid to perform an acidizing operation in the subterranean formation; and monitoring a characteristic of the acidizing fluid or a formation fluid using at least a first opticoanalytical device within the subterranean formation, during a flow back of the acidizing fluid produced from the subterranean formation, or both.

Abstract: An optical computing device adapted to compensate for the effects of light intensity fluctuation through the use of optical elements that generate a normalization optical channel (or B Channel) having a light intensity that is substantially equal to the light intensity of the characteristic optical channel (or A Channel). As a result, highly accurate normalizations are obtained which give rise to the most accurate results from the optical computing device.

Abstract: An optical sensor network utilizing Integrated Computational Elements (“ICE”) provides the capability to measure chemical compositions in a variety of application environments in real-time. In one exemplary application, the network comprises a plurality of ICE modules distributed throughout a downhole well environment. The ICE modules are communicably coupled to a computer station which controls the operation and power consumption of the ICE modules. The computer station may selectively activate and deactivate one or more of the ICE modules to regulate power consumption and/or may select the optimal ICE modules to activate at any given time.