Patents by Inventor Rocco DiFoggio

Rocco DiFoggio 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).

  • Publication number: 20130118248
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for estimating a property of a fluid downhole, the apparatus including but not limited to a carrier that is conveyable in a borehole; a test cell carried by the carrier for capturing a fluid downhole; a fluid channel immersed in the fluid downhole, the fluid channel having a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first wall faces the second wall; at least on charged particle source placed at location along the first wall of the fluid channel; and at least one charged particle detector placed at a location along the second wall of the fluid channel, wherein the at least one radioactive detector is in positioned to be in particle communication with the at least one of the charged particle source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20130118730
    Abstract: Downhole tools for use in wellbores in subterranean formations comprise a body comprising at least one anomalous strengthening material. Methods of forming downhole tools for use in wellbores in subterranean formations comprise forming a body comprising at least one anomalous strengthening material. Methods of using downhole tools in wellbores in subterranean formations comprise disposing a body comprising at least one anomalous strengthening material in a wellbore in a subterranean formation. The at least one anomalous strengthening material may be exposed to a temperature within the wellbore higher than a temperature at a surface of the subterranean formation and a yield strength of the at least one anomalous strengthening material may increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20130119245
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for estimating a property of a fluid downhole, the apparatus including but not limited to a carrier that is conveyable in a borehole; a test cell carried by the carrier for capturing a fluid downhole; a fluid channel immersed in the fluid downhole, the fluid channel having a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first wall faces the second wall; at least on charged particle source placed at location along the first wall of the fluid channel; and at least one charged particle detector placed at a location along the second wall of the fluid channel, wherein the at least one radioactive detector is in positioned to be in particle communication with the at least one of the charged particle source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20130104572
    Abstract: Cooling of downhole components is effected using an expendable refrigerant, such as water. Refrigerant, in thermal communication with a component to be cooled, is evaporated in an evaporator. Vapor is removed from the evaporator and released into a borehole, in order to cool the component. A pump may be used to remove the vapor from the evaporator and force the vapor into the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20130091716
    Abstract: In one aspect a method of determining direction east is provided that in one embodiment includes dropping objects under influence of gravity, determining locations where the objects drop, and determining the direction east from the locations where the objects drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 8379207
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for estimating a fluid property include an optic member having a material within the optic member responsive to the fluid property. A detector is operably associated with the optic member that detects a change in the material, the change being indicative of the fluid property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, D. Duncan Blue, III
  • Publication number: 20130037270
    Abstract: A method is disclosed, including but not limited to positioning a tool containing an injection liquid in a well bore formed in a formation; injecting the injection liquid through a probe into the formation; and withdrawing formation fluid from the formation through the probe. A system is disclosed for performing functions useful in positioning a tool containing an injection liquid in a well bore formed in a formation; injecting the injection liquid through a probe into the formation; and withdrawing formation fluid from the formation through the probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20130000398
    Abstract: A method of measuring multiphase flow of components in a wellbore fluid mixture by selectively heating components (e.g. oil and water) in the flow with electromagnetic energy, and detecting the heated components at a known distance downstream. The flow and velocity of components in the flow stream can be estimated with the present method. Example types of electromagnetic waves include infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. The different components can be heated simultaneously or at different times. The heated components can be detected with one or more temperature probes, and oil wet or water wet probes can be used to improve thermal contact to the corresponding components in the fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20120305313
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of estimating one of inclination and orientation of a downhole device is provided that includes the features of taking pressure measurements at a plurality of locations on the downhole device in the wellbore, wherein at least one location in the plurality of locations is vertically displaced from at least one other location, and estimating the one of the inclination and orientation of the downhole device from the plurality of pressure measurements. In another aspect, a downhole tool is disclosed that in one configuration includes a device for estimating inclination and/or orientation of the downhole tool that further includes a body containing a liquid therein and a plurality of pressure sensors arranged in the body configured to provide pressure measurements of the liquid in the body, wherein a pressure sensor in the plurality of pressure sensors is vertically disposed from at least one other sensor in the plurality of sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20120303347
    Abstract: Disclosed is method for simulating materials subsurface to the earth. The method includes: receiving dimensions of each subsurface material to be simulated; receiving a value of a property for each of subsurface materials to be simulated; and constructing a three-dimensional physical model of the subsurface materials using a three-dimensional printer, the three-dimensional printer being configured to print one or more layers of a print material for each of the subsurface materials being represented in the model wherein dimensions and a property value of the print material for each subsurface material being represented corresponds to the dimensions and the property value for that subsurface material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Publication number: 20120272727
    Abstract: A resonator in the fluid for displacing the fluid has a sensing section and a non-sensing section. A compression contact member coupled to the mounting body compressively secures the resonator non-sensing section in a mounting body. The apparatus may further include a pressure feed through module received in the mounting body that is in signal communication with the resonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kerry L. Sanderlin, Yi Liu, Rocco Difoggio
  • Publication number: 20120267519
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus configured to detect radiation at high temperatures in a borehole penetrating the earth. The apparatus includes a scintillation material that interacts with the radiation to generate photons, at least one solid-state photodetector optically coupled to the scintillation material and configured to detect the radiation by detecting the generated photons, and at least one optical element disposed between the scintillation material and the at least one solid-state photodetector and configured to concentrate the photons generated in the scintillation material onto the at least one solid-state photodetector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anton Nikitin, Rocco DiFoggio, Alexandr Vinokurov, Mikhail Korjik
  • Publication number: 20120170406
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and compute-readable medium for detecting a gas influx event in a borehole fluid during a drilling operation is disclosed. A measurement of an acoustic velocity of the borehole fluid is obtained at an acoustic sensor disposed in a borehole. A measurement of temperature of the borehole fluid is obtained at a temperature sensor disposed in the borehole. A process compares the measurement of the acoustic velocity of the borehole fluid to the measurement of the temperature of the borehole fluid to detect the gas influx event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Daniel Duncan Blue
  • Publication number: 20120118040
    Abstract: A device for sampling fluid from an earth formation is disclosed. The device includes: an inlet port disposable in fluid communication with the fluid in a borehole; an injector including an injection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet port, the injector configured to receive a portion of the fluid and direct the fluid toward an analysis unit for analyzing constituent materials in the fluid; and a high pressure valve configured to admit the portion of the fluid at a borehole pressure and release the portion of the fluid into the injector, the portion having a volume that is less than or equal to about one microliter. A system and method for analyzing constituents of fluid in a borehole in an earth formation is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Paul Allan Bergren
  • Publication number: 20120089335
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sunil Kumar, Sebastian Csutak, Paul A. Bergren, Rocco Difoggio
  • Patent number: 8145429
    Abstract: A device for sampling fluid from an earth formation is disclosed. The device includes: an inlet port disposable in fluid communication with the fluid in a borehole; an injector including an injection chamber in fluid communication with the inlet port, the injector configured to receive a portion of the fluid and direct the fluid toward an analysis unit for analyzing constituent materials in the fluid; and a high pressure valve configured to admit the portion of the fluid at a borehole pressure and release the portion of the fluid into the injector, the portion having a volume that is less than or equal to about one microliter. A system and method for analyzing constituents of fluid in a borehole in an earth formation is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Paul Allan Bergren
  • Publication number: 20120063268
    Abstract: Pairs of acoustic transducers positioned at different radial distances in a conduit are used to measure travel times of acoustic signals in opposite directions and inclined to the direction of a fluid flow in the borehole. These contrapropagation measurements are used to estimate fluid velocity and volumetric flow rates of the fluid components in the conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher J. Powell, Rocco DiFoggio, Datong Sun, David M. Chace
  • Publication number: 20120055243
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Paul A. Bergren
  • Patent number: 8131494
    Abstract: A method to correct for a systematic error of a sensor having a plurality of accelerometers configured to measure gravitational acceleration, the method including: rotating the plurality of accelerometers about a first axis; obtaining a first set of calibration measurements from the plurality of accelerometers from the rotation about the first axis; determining a first systematic error for each accelerometer in the plurality using the first set of calibration measurements; and removing the first systematic error from sensor measurements to correct for the systematic error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel T. Georgi, Carl M. Edwards, Sheng Fang, Rocco DiFoggio, Robert A. Estes
  • Patent number: 8113041
    Abstract: A method for measuring true vertical depth in a borehole, the method including: measuring gravitational acceleration in the borehole; and determining the true vertical depth from the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Daniel T. Georgi, Robert Estes