Patents by Inventor Stephen H. Poland

Stephen H. Poland 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: 7610960
    Abstract: A correlation system is provided to allow association of readings from a cable that is supported by a string but that is coiled around or has slack in one or many locations to a specific location along the string itself. Heat sources can be placed along the string to periodically or continuously give off heat that can be detected by a cable such as a fiber optic. The location of the sources along the string is known and the location along the cable is determined from the location on the cable where the heat generated by the source is sensed. One or more sources can be used and correlation can be by periodic sampling or in real time. The sources may by powered locally or from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Luis E. Mendez, Stephen H. Poland
  • Patent number: 7557339
    Abstract: An optical positioning monitoring system is disclosed. The system has an optical sensing member disposed on a wellbore pipe, such as the tubing or production casing. When a tool comprising an actuating member acts on the optical sensing member, an optical signal is returnable from the optical sensing member indicating the position of the tool. The optical sensing member may include an optical fiber and/or any known optical sensors. The actuating member can be a force applicator or a heat applicator. Alternatively, the optical sensing member can be located on the tool and the actuating member can be located on the tubing or production casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen H. Poland, Stephen E. Hester
  • Publication number: 20080264631
    Abstract: A correlation system is provided to allow association of readings from a cable that is supported by a string but that is coiled around or has slack in one or many locations to a specific location along the string itself. Heat sources can be placed along the string to periodically or continuously give off heat that can be detected by a cable such as a fiber optic. The location of the sources along the string is known and the location along the cable is determined from the location on the cable where the heat generated by the source is sensed. One or more sources can be used and correlation can be by periodic sampling or in real time. The sources may by powered locally or from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Luis E. Mendez, Stephen H. Poland
  • Patent number: 7433551
    Abstract: A fiber optic system including a plurality of optical sensors, each with an identification system is disclosed. The fiber optic system includes a fiber, a demodulator, and at least one coupler, optical sensor and corresponding identification system. The identification system is powered by light shunted from the fiber by the coupler to a modulating device. The modulating device modulates the light and transmits it to a power converting device, which transforms the light energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy powers a high temperature integrated circuit upon which is stored a digital identification of a respective optical sensor. The integrated circuit, upon being powered up, sends a modulated response back up to the surface through the modulating device. Alternatively, a passive identification system is described, wherein identification information for a sensor is encoded onto the optical beam as it passes through reflective devices along the length of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen H. Poland, Clark D. Boyd, Brooks A. Childers
  • Patent number: 7379631
    Abstract: A multi-core distributed temperature sensing optical fiber is described, wherein the arrangement and construction of at least two cores provides a spectral attenuation corrected (e.g., corrected for hydrogen and/or stress on the fiber) temperature measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen H. Poland, Daniel S. Homa
  • Publication number: 20070286561
    Abstract: A multi-core distributed temperature sensing optical fiber is described, wherein the arrangement and construction of at least two cores provides a spectral attenuation corrected (e.g., corrected for hydrogen and/or stress on the fiber) temperature measurement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Stephen H. Poland, Daniel S. Homa