Patents by Inventor Steven F. Crary

Steven F. Crary 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: 9540922
    Abstract: An electromagnetic method for obtaining a dip azimuth angle from downhole electromagnetic measurements includes acquiring electromagnetic measurement data in a subterranean borehole from at least one measurement array. The electromagnetic measurement data is processed by a least squares method to obtain the dip azimuth angle. Related systems and apparatuses are also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xiaoyan Zhong, Gerald N. Minerbo, Steven F. Crary
  • Patent number: 9045967
    Abstract: During a drilling operation, measured data from the drilling operation may be received with a panistic inversion and risk estimate module. The panistic inversion and risk estimate module may generate a plurality of mathematical solutions from a panistic inversion that uses the measured data and one or more earth models. The one or more earth models having various parameters may be selected prior to drilling and/or while the drilling operation occurs. For each solution of the plurality of mathematical solutions generated from the panistic inversion, the panistic inversion and risk estimate module may determine if the measured data exceeds one or more probability risk thresholds associated with the drilling operation. If the measured data exceeds the probability risk threshold associated with the drilling operation, then the panistic inversion and risk estimate module may generate an alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Denis Heliot, Steven F. Crary, Jean Seydoux
  • Publication number: 20130025939
    Abstract: During a drilling operation, measured data from the drilling operation may be received with a panistic inversion and risk estimate module. The panistic inversion and risk estimate module may generate a plurality of mathematical solutions from a panistic inversion that uses the measured data and one or more earth models. The one or more earth models having various parameters may be selected prior to drilling and/or while the drilling operation occurs. For each solution of the plurality of mathematical solutions generated from the panistic inversion, the panistic inversion and risk estimate module may determine if the measured data exceeds one or more probability risk thresholds associated with the drilling operation. If the measured data exceeds the probability risk threshold associated with the drilling operation, then the panistic inversion and risk estimate module may generate an alert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: DENIS HELIOT, Steven F. Crary, Jean Seydoux
  • Publication number: 20030132749
    Abstract: An NMR measurement apparatus is potentially subject to relative motion between the apparatus and a sample. The measurement apparatus includes at least one magnet, at least one coil and circuitry that is coupled to the magnet(s) and coil(s). The circuitry is adapted to use the magnet(s) and coil(s) to perform at least one NMR measurement and indicate the results of the NMR measurement(s). The results are then analyzed to determine an effect of the motion on the measurement(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Peter Speier, Martin E. Poitzsch, Steven F. Crary
  • Patent number: 6566874
    Abstract: An NMR measurement apparatus is potentially subject to relative motion between the apparatus and a sample. The measurement apparatus includes at least one magnet, at least one coil and circuitry that is coupled to the magnet(s) and coil(s). The circuitry is adapted to use the magnet(s) and coil(s) to perform at least one NMR measurement and indicate the results of the NMR measurement(s). The results are then analyzed to determine an effect of the motion on the measurement(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Speier, Martin E. Poitzsch, Steven F. Crary
  • Patent number: 6522137
    Abstract: A downhole NMR measurement apparatus for use in a borehole includes at least one magnet, at least one RF transmission coil, at least one gradient coil and circuitry. The magnet(s) establish a magnetic field in a region of a formation that at least partially surrounds the measurement apparatus. The RF transmission coils(s) transmit RF pulses pursuant to an NMR pulse sequence into the region to, in combination with the magnetic field, induce the generation of spin echo signals from a resonance volume within the region. The gradient coil(s) establish a pulsed gradient field in the resonance volume, and the circuitry is coupled to the gradient coil(s) to control the generation of the pulsed gradient field to phase encode the spin echo signals for purposes of high resolution imaging of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Boqin Sun, Reza Taherian, Abdurrahman Sezginer, Steven F. Crary
  • Patent number: 6326784
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for obtaining an azimuthally resolved nuclear magnetic resonance measurement of an earth formation traversed by a borehole. The measurement can be made while drilling or using a wireline tool. At least one gradient coil is positioned circumferentially around the tool. A magnetic field is produced by the coil in a region of the formation facing the coil. The magnetic field is substantially parallel to the static magnetic field produced by a pair of permanent magnets which form a part of the tool. The additional field causes an additional phase shift for spins located in the region so that the spins subjected to the additional field do not form a spin-echo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Steven F. Crary, Ralf Heidler, Bruno Luong, Peter Speier
  • Patent number: 6246236
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nuclear magnetic resonance logging-while-drilling tool. The tool comprises a drill bit, drill string, a plurality of RF antennas, and at least one gradient coil. The tool further comprises a plurality of magnets that are polarized in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tool but opposite to each other. The configuration of magnets and antennas provides for at least two NMR regions of investigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Poitzsch, Steven F. Crary, Krishnamurthy Ganesan, Ralf Heidler, Bruno Luong, Peter Speier
  • Patent number: 6237404
    Abstract: There are many natural pauses during rotary drilling operations where a portion of the drill string remains stationary. Pauses include drill pipe connections, circulating time, and fishing operations. These pauses are used to obtain formation evaluation measurements that take a long time or that benefit from a quiet environment, as opposed to the naturally noisy drilling environment. Various techniques that are sensitive to the mud flow, weight-on-bit, or motion of the drill string may be used alone or in combination to identify the drilling mode and control the data acquisition sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Steven F. Crary, Ralf Heidler, Cengiz Esmersoy, Martin E. Poitzsch
  • Patent number: 6232778
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for determining the bound fluid volume (BFV) of a formation utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques in which less than full polarization occurs and in which less than a complete NMR distribution is acquired. The effect of the polarizing static magnetic field is shortened in time by applying a shortened wait time between NMR measurements so that only the bound fluid of the formation is polarized. The shortened wait time is effectuated by early application of the oscillating magnetic field to the formation which, in conjunction with a limited number of refocusing pulses, induces signals in the formation that are measured by the NMR tool. The peak amplitude of these signals corresponds to the BFV. The present invention provides information so that a partial polarization calculation curve in T2 lies almost equally between an empirical tapered cutoff curve and a theoretical tapered cutoff curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Speier, Steven F. Crary, Robert L. Kleinberg, Charles Flaum