Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Barber

Thomas D. Barber 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: 20100026280
    Abstract: An electromagnetic logging tool is disclosed that includes a support; and at least one four-coil array disposed on the support, wherein the at least one four-coil array comprises: a transmitter, a bucking coil, a receiver, and a trim coil. A method for balancing an induction array is disclosed that includes applying an alternating current to a transmitter of the induction array that comprises the transmitter, a bucking coil and a receiver; measuring a mutual coupling between the transmitter and the receiver; and adding an extra bucking coil, if the mutual coupling exceeds a selected criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei I. Davydychev, John F. Hunka, Thomas D. Barber, Scott S. Chesser, Bulent Finci, Jingling Karen Sun, William B. Vandermeer, Richard D. Ward
  • Patent number: 7501829
    Abstract: An electromagnetic logging that includes a support; and at least one four-coil array disposed on the support, wherein the at least one four-coil array comprises: a transmitter, a bucking coil, a receiver, and a trim coil. A method for balancing an induction array includes applying an alternating current to a transmitter of the induction array that comprises the transmitter, a bucking coil and a receiver; measuring a mutual coupling between the transmitter and the receiver; and adding an extra bucking coil, if the mutual coupling exceeds a selected criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei I. Davydychev, John F. Hunka, Thomas D. Barber, Scott S. Chesser, Bulent Finci, Jingjing (Karen) Sun, William B. Vandermeer, Richard D. Ward
  • Publication number: 20080278147
    Abstract: An electromagnetic logging tool is disclosed that includes a support; and at least one four-coil array disposed on the support, wherein the at least one four-coil array comprises: a transmitter, a bucking coil, a receiver, and a trim coil. A method for balancing an induction array is disclosed that includes applying an alternating current to a transmitter of the induction array that comprises the transmitter, a bucking coil and a receiver; measuring a mutual coupling between the transmitter and the receiver; and adding an extra bucking coil, if the mutual coupling exceeds a selected criterion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei I. Davydychev, John F. Hunka, Thomas D. Barber, Scott S. Chesser, Bulent Finci, Jingjing Karen Sun, William B. Vandermeer, Richard D. Ward
  • Patent number: 7414391
    Abstract: Techniques for calibrating an electromagnetic logging tool equipped with a plurality of antennas, with at least one antenna having its axis at an angle with respect to a tool axis, include disposing a test loop about the tool such that an axis of the tool and a plane on which the test loop lies form a tilt angle that is between about 0 and 90 degrees. An induced signal is measured at one of the antennas by energizing another of the antennas. Embodiments analyze the induced signal corresponding to a max or min extrema associated with a coupling effect due to the test loop. In other embodiments a corrected signal is compared with a calculated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Richard A. Rosthal, Gerald N. Minerbo, Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7386430
    Abstract: A method for modeling borehole effects of a transverse array induction tool includes selecting a formation-borehole model having a set of parameters, wherein the set of parameters comprises a direction of tool eccentering; determining initial values for the set of parameters; computing expected responses for a selected set of arrays from the plurality of arrays of the induction tool, wherein the computing is based on the formation-borehole model; comparing the expected responses with actual responses for the selected set of arrays; adjusting values of the set of parameters, if a difference between the expected responses and the actual responses is no less than a predetermined criterion; repeating the computing, the comparing, and the adjusting, until the difference between the expected responses and the actual responses is less than the predetermined criterion; determining the borehole effects from final values of the set of parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Barber, Tracy E. Broussard, Gerald N. Minerbo, Hanming Wang, Sofia Davydycheva
  • Patent number: 7286091
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing antenna configurations with substantially co-located axes are disclosed. A method for constructing co-located antennas includes winding a first antenna on a support, the first antenna having a first magnetic dipole in a first orientation; and winding a second antenna on the support through a first set of openings in the support, the second antenna having a second magnetic dipole in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and wherein a center of the first magnetic dipole substantially co-locates with a center of the second magnetic dipole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7091877
    Abstract: A logging tool includes a tool body; a simple transmitter comprising a single antenna disposed on the tool body; four simple receivers, each comprising a single antenna, disposed on the tool body and spaced apart from the simple transmitter to form four arrays; and an electronic module for controlling operation of the four arrays, wherein the simple transmitter is configured to generate a magnetic field having a transverse component, wherein each of the four simple receivers is sensitive to the magnetic field generated by the simple transmitter, and at least one of the four simple receivers is sensitive to the transverse component of the magnetic field generated by the simple transmitter, and wherein the four arrays are configured to provide measurements at at least three depths of investigation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Barber, Stephen D. Bonner, Dean M. Homan, Gerald N. Minerbo, Richard A. Rosthal, Kuo-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 7042225
    Abstract: A well logging tool includes an induction array stack disposed on a mandrel; an electronic module stack disposed adjacent the induction array stack along a longitudinal axis of the well logging tool; and a shallow electrode array arranged on a housing disposed around the electronic module stack, wherein the induction array stack comprises a transmitter antenna, a first receiver antenna, and a second receiver antenna spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis of the well logging tool, the second receiver antenna being disposed between the transmitter antenna and the first receiver antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7038457
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing antenna configurations with substantially co-located axes are disclosed. A method for constructing co-located antennas includes winding a first antenna on a support, the first antenna having a first magnetic dipole in a first orientation; and winding a second antenna on the support through a first set of openings in the support, the second antenna having a second magnetic dipole in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and wherein a center of the first magnetic dipole substantially co-locates with a center of the second magnetic dipole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7027967
    Abstract: A system and methods for indicating formation resistivity anisotropy and evaluating the vertical resistivity component by combining array induction measurements and array laterolog measurements. Formation measurements are obtained with an induction tool and a laterolog tool. Formation parameter data are derived from the induction tool measurements. The laterolog tool response is modeled using the derived formation parameter data. The formation resistivity anisotropy and/or the vertical resistivity component are determined from a comparison of the modeled laterolog tool response against the apparent measurements obtained with the laterolog tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 7027923
    Abstract: A method for determining a sonde error in a logging tool comprising a transverse array includes obtaining a first measurement using the transverse array while the logging tool is at a first height from ground in a selected orientation; obtaining a second measurement using the transverse array while the logging tool is at a second height from the ground in the selected orientation; deriving a difference measurement from the first measurement and the second measurement; determining a background signal using the difference measurement and a predetermined function, wherein the predetermined function relates earth signals in a plurality of signals obtained at the second height to a plurality of difference signals between signals obtained at the first height and the second height at a plurality of formation conductivities; and determining the sonde error by subtracting the background signal from the second measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas D. Barber, Hanming Wang
  • Patent number: 6933726
    Abstract: A well logging tool includes a conductive mandrel; an antenna array disposed around the conductive mandrel, wherein the antenna array comprises a plurality of antennas disposed on insulating supports and at least one contact spacer, the at least one contact spacer having at least one conductor channel having a contact assembly disposed therein; and a sleeve disposed over the antenna array, wherein the sleeve includes at least one electrode, the at least one electrode and the contact assembly adapted to provide a radially conductive path from an exterior of the well logging tool to the conductive mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Robert C. Smith, Gary A. Hazen, Charles Kibbe, Richard A. Rosthal, Thomas D. Barber, Stephen D. Bonner, David T. Oliver
  • Publication number: 20040113609
    Abstract: Techniques for calibrating an electromagnetic logging tool equipped with a plurality of antennas, with at least one antenna having its axis at an angle with respect to a tool axis, include disposing a test loop about the tool such that an axis of the tool and a plane on which the test loop lies form a tilt angle that is between about 0 and 90 degrees. An induced signal is measured at one of the antennas by energizing another of the antennas. Embodiments analyze the induced signal corresponding to a max or min extrema associated with a coupling effect due to the test loop. In other embodiments a corrected signal is compared with a calculated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Richard A. Rosthal, Gerald N. Minerbo, Thomas D. Barber
  • Patent number: 6710601
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for minimizing or eliminating an undesired axial electric current induced along a subsurface borehole in the process of subsurface measurements with transmitter and/or receiver antennas which are substantially time varying magnetic dipoles with their dipole moments aligned at an angle to the axis of the borehole. Some antennas are disposed within the borehole on instruments having a non-conductive support member. One instrument includes a conductive all-metal body with an antenna adapted for induction frequencies. Antenna shields adapted for controlled current flow are also provided with an all-metal instrument. Methods include providing an alternate path for the current along the instrument body. Another method includes emitting a controlled current to counter the undesired current. Another method corrects for the effect of the current using a superposition technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Rosthal, Dean Homan, Thomas D. Barber, Stephen Bonner, Brian Clark, Dzevat Omeragic
  • Patent number: 6690170
    Abstract: The invention refers to antenna configurations for electromagnetic logging tools. The antennas have one or more electrical conductors disposed on a dielectric substrate wrapped around a core or disposed directly on the core. The conductor or conductors are arranged such that the antenna has a first magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core. The invention also refers to antennas adapted for mutual balancing using interleaved conductive paths or disks to alter the magnetic dipole moments to mutually balance the antenna system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Gary A. Hazen, Richard A. Rosthal, David L. Smith, Thomas D. Barber, Paul Michael Ray, Jacques R. Tabanou
  • Publication number: 20040017197
    Abstract: Techniques for implementing antenna configurations with substantially co-located axes are disclosed. A method for constructing co-located antennas includes winding a first antenna on a support, the first antenna having a first magnetic dipole in a first orientation; and winding a second antenna on the support through a first set of openings in the support, the second antenna having a second magnetic dipole in a second orientation, wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation, and wherein a center of the first magnetic dipole substantially co-locates with a center of the second magnetic dipole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: KUO-CHIANG CHEN, THOMAS D. BARBER
  • Patent number: 6680613
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for minimizing or eliminating an undesired axial electric current induced along a subsurface borehole in the process of subsurface measurements with transmitter and/or receiver antennas which are substantially time varying magnetic dipoles with their dipole moments aligned at an angle to the axis of the borehole. Some antennas are disposed within the borehole on instruments having a non-conductive support member. One instrument includes a conductive all-metal body with an antenna adapted for induction frequencies. Antenna shields adapted for controlled current flow are also provided with an all-metal instrument. Methods include providing an alternate path for the current along the instrument body. Another method includes emitting a controlled current to counter the undesired current. Another method corrects for the effect of the current using a superposition technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Rosthal, Dean Homan, Thomas D. Barber, Stephen Bonner, Brian Clark, Dzevat Omeragic
  • Publication number: 20030184304
    Abstract: The invention refers to antenna configurations for electromagnetic logging tools. The antennas have one or more electrical conductors disposed on a dielectric substrate wrapped around a core or disposed directly on the core. The conductor or conductors are arranged such that the antenna has a first magnetic dipole moment substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the core. The invention also refers to antennas adapted for mutual balancing using interleaved conductive paths or disks to alter the magnetic dipole moments to mutually balance the antenna system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Dean M. Homan, Gary A. Hazen, Richard A. Rosthal, David L. Smith, Thomas D. Barber, Paul Michael Ray, Jacques R. Tabanou
  • Patent number: 6624634
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for minimizing or eliminating an undesired axial electric current induced along a subsurface borehole in the process of subsurface measurements with transmitter and/or receiver antennas which are substantially time varying magnetic dipoles with their dipole moments aligned at an angle to the axis of the borehole. Some antennas are disposed within the borehole on instruments having a non-conductive support member. One instrument includes a conductive all-metal body with an antenna adapted for induction frequencies. Antenna shields adapted for controlled current flow are also provided with an all-metal instrument. Methods include providing an alternate path for the current along the instrument body. Another method includes emitting a controlled current to counter the undesired current. Another method corrects for the effect of the current using a superposition technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Rosthal, Dean Homan, Thomas D. Barber, Stephen Bonner, Brian Clark, Dzevat Omeragic
  • Publication number: 20030155924
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for minimizing or eliminating an undesired axial electric current induced along a subsurface borehole in the process of subsurface measurements with transmitter and/or receiver antennas which are substantially time varying magnetic dipoles with their dipole moments aligned at an angle to the axis of the borehole. Some antennas are disposed within the borehole on instruments having a non-conductive support member. One instrument includes a conductive all-metal body with an antenna adapted for induction frequencies. Antenna shields adapted for controlled current flow are also provided with an all-metal instrument. Methods include providing an alternate path for the current along the instrument body. Another method includes emitting a controlled current to counter the undesired current. Another method corrects for the effect of the current using a superposition technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard A. Rosthal, Dean Homan, Thomas D. Barber, Stephen Bonner, Brian Clark, Dzevat Omeragic