Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a parameter beneath a surface of the earth includes an optical fiber disposed beneath a surface of the earth and comprising at least one fiber Bragg grating sensor configured to sense the parameter and a wide-band light source disposed beneath the surface of the earth and configured to emit light in a wide band of wavelengths to illuminate the at least one fiber Bragg grating. An optical interrogator is disposed beneath the surface of the earth and configured to receive light reflected by the at least one fiber Bragg grating sensor and to transform a shift in wavelength of the reflected light into a variation of light intensity. A photo-sensor is configured to measure intensity of light received from the optical interrogator. Electronics are coupled to the photo-sensor and configured to measure a voltage representing the light intensity at the photo-sensor to sense the parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a parameter beneath a surface of the earth includes an optical fiber disposed beneath a surface of the earth and comprising at least one fiber Bragg grating sensor configured to sense the parameter and a wide-band light source disposed beneath the surface of the earth and configured to emit light in a wide band of wavelengths to illuminate the at least one fiber Bragg grating. An optical interrogator is disposed beneath the surface of the earth and configured to receive light reflected by the at least one fiber Bragg grating sensor and to transform a shift in wavelength of the reflected light into a variation of light intensity. A photo-sensor is configured to measure intensity of light received from the optical interrogator. Electronics are coupled to the photo-sensor and configured to measure a voltage representing the light intensity at the photo-sensor to sense the parameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring fluid characteristics includes: a solid transparent body including a plurality of internally reflective surfaces defining a n-sided base having a polygonal shape and having at least three sides, each reflective surface forming a side of the polygonal shape, the plurality of surfaces configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation beam along a path within the solid transparent body from an entry area to an exit area on the solid transparent body; an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the entry area on the solid transparent body; and a detector coupled to the exit area on the solid transparent body and configured to receive at least a fraction of the reflected electromagnetic radiation beam, the detector configured to generate a signal based on the received electromagnetic radiation beam and transmit the signal to a processor for at least one of analysis of material characteristics and data storage.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for cooling a component of a downhole tool is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first desiccant configured to adsorb a refrigerant gas. A transmitter is configured to transmit electromagnetic energy into the first desiccant to enable desorption of the refrigerant gas from the first desiccant. A condenser condenses the desorbed refrigerant gas into a liquid phase. The condensed refrigerant evaporates from a liquid phase to a gaseous phase to cool the component. A second desiccant can be used, wherein the processor is configured to operate the cooling system in a first mode of operation in which the first desiccant is in thermal communication with the component and the second desiccant is thermally isolated from the component and a second mode of operation in which the second desiccant is in thermal communication with the component and the first desiccant is thermally isolated from the component.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a downhole device is provided that in one embodiment includes a refrigerant having a saturation vapor pressure and stored in a chamber, an outlet configured to allow the refrigerant to discharge from the chamber and vaporize to cool the downhole device, and a force application device configured to apply pressure on the refrigerant in the chamber to maintain the refrigerant in the chamber at or above the saturation vapor pressure of the refrigerant. In another aspect, a method of cooling a device is provided that in one embodiment includes providing a chamber containing a refrigerant therein, the refrigerant having a saturation vapor pressure, discharging the refrigerant from the chamber to cause the refrigerant to evaporate to cause a cooling effect proximate the device to be cooled, and maintaining the refrigerant at or above the saturation vapor pressure of the refrigerant.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for determining a parameter of interest of a well fluid relating to a well intersecting a subterranean formation using resonant vibration. The apparatus may include a resonator assembly. The resonator assembly may comprise a plurality of resonant tines structurally coupled to behave as a single resonator. At least one resonant tine of the plurality of resonant tines may include a soft magnetic tine head comprising soft magnetic material uncontained by a supporting surface. Each corresponding tine of the plurality of resonant tines may be formed by at least the resonant tine head and a tine shaft. Each corresponding tine may have a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the corresponding tine, the cross section including a tine head, where the cross section has a substantially continuous material composition. Each tine shaft may terminate at the tine head.

Abstract: A fluid flow control apparatus includes a biasing member applying a biasing force to a closure member, and a sealing member receiving the closure member. A dampener operatively connected to the closure member resists a force applied to the closure member. A fluid seal is formed when the biasing member presses the closure member against the sealing member. The closure member and sealing member may cooperate to control fluid flow along a fluid conduit formed in a wellbore tubular. The apparatus may include an actuator that controls the force applied to the closure member. The actuator may adjust the biasing force, and/or the dampening force. Also, a controller control the actuator may be responsive to a signal generated at a surface location, a downhole location, and/or a signal generated by a sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to detect a fluid flow. The apparatus includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to perform an NMR measurement on the fluid in a sensitive volume by establishing a magnetic field in the sensitive volume that exhibits a change in magnitude in a direction of the fluid flow when the fluid flow is radial with respect to the NMR tool and by transmitting refocus pulses, without any tipping pulse, to obtain the NMR measurement comprising spin echo signals. The system also includes a processor to receive the NMR measurement from the NMR tool and determine whether the fluid flow exists based on an amplitude of the NMR measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a borehole into the earth includes a drill string configured to drill the borehole and a high-speed camera configured to capture a series of images of the drill tubular at a speed high enough to image information of interest while the drill tubular is in operation. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to receive and process the series of images to provide the information of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of a material of interest includes an NMR tool and a processor. The NMR tool includes a transmitter antenna; a transmitter coupled to the transmitter antenna; and a receiver antenna configured to receive NMR signals in response to transmitted pulses of electromagnetic energy transmitted by the transmitter antenna. The NMR signals include at least a first signal and a second signal of a phase-alternated group of signals. The processor is configured to receive the NMR signals; receive a first system gain related to the first signal and a second system gain related to the second signal, each system gain being related to a system comprising the NMR tool and the material of interest; and calibrate the NMR signals using the first system gain and the second system gain.

Abstract: A media displacement device has a body configured to be positioned radially outwards of a tool having an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic energy to or receiving electromagnetic energy from an earth formation. The body is made of materials causing less power loss to electromagnetic energy transmitted or received by the tool than the media the body is configured to displace.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of a downhole fluid includes: a flexural mechanical resonator having at least one magnetic permeable element traversing a pressure-retaining wall with a portion of the magnetic permeable element protruding into the fluid, the portion of the magnetic permeable element protruding into the fluid being configured to oscillate; and a monitor for receiving a response of the flexural mechanical resonator to estimate the property.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component includes: at least one strain sensitive device disposed proximate to a surface of a component of a drilling assembly or disposed within a material forming the component; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain sensitive device, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain sensitive device and detect at least one of erosion, crack formation and crack propagation in the component surface. An apparatus for measuring strain on a downhole component includes: at least one strain gauge deposited on a surface of a drive shaft or disposed within a material forming the drive shaft; and a processor in operable communication with the at least one strain gauge, the processor configured to detect changes in the at least one strain gauge and detect conditions affecting operation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring fluid characteristics includes: a solid transparent body including a plurality of internally reflective surfaces defining a n-sided base having a polygonal shape and having at least three sides, each reflective surface forming a side of the polygonal shape, the plurality of surfaces configured to direct the electromagnetic radiation beam along a path within the solid transparent body from an entry area to an exit area on the solid transparent body; an electromagnetic radiation source coupled to the entry area on the solid transparent body; and a detector coupled to the exit area on the solid transparent body and configured to receive at least a fraction of the reflected electromagnetic radiation beam, the detector configured to generate a signal based on the received electromagnetic radiation beam and transmit the signal to a processor for at least one of analysis of material characteristics and data storage.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for estimating a parameter of interest of an earth formation using a model based on NMR data, imaging data, and NMR tool response characteristics. The method may include constructing a model of the earth formation. The method may also include constructing a predictive model for estimating the parameter of interest. The apparatus may include an NMR tool and at least one processor configured to estimate the parameter of interest. The apparatus may also include an imaging tool configured to acquire the imaging data.

Abstract: A method, system and drilling apparatus for directional drilling are disclosed. A drill bit is located at a downhole end of a drill string in a borehole. A length of the borehole between a surface location and the drill bit at the downhole end of a drill string is determined and an azimuth angle and inclination of the drill bit is obtained. The length of the borehole may be determined by recording an arrival time at a downhole location of an acoustic pulse travelling from a surface location to the downhole location and determines the travel time and borehole length therefrom. A downhole processor determines a position and orientation of the drill bit from the determined length, azimuth angle and inclination and alters a steering parameter of the drill bit using the determined position and orientation of the drill bit to obtain a selected trajectory for drilling the borehole.

Abstract: A well stimulation method includes using a well formation containing fractures and placing proppant in the fractures. A plurality of individual particles of the proppant includes a core containing a swellable material. The method includes swelling the core and increasing a size of the fractures using the swelling core. A proppant particle includes a core containing a swellable material and a dissolvable layer encapsulating the core.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to detect a fluid flow. The apparatus includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool to perform an NMR measurement on the fluid in a sensitive volume by establishing a magnetic field in the sensitive volume that exhibits a change in magnitude in a direction of the fluid flow when the fluid flow is radial with respect to the NMR tool and by transmitting refocus pulses, without any tipping pulse, to obtain the NMR measurement comprising spin echo signals. The system also includes a processor to receive the NMR measurement from the NMR tool and determine whether the fluid flow exists based on an amplitude of the NMR measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus detects a fluid flow. The apparatus includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool configured to perform an NMR measurement on the fluid in a sensitive volume by establishing a magnetic field in the sensitive volume and transmitting a sequence of refocus pulses, without a tipping pulse, the NMR measurement comprising spin echo signals. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to detect a presence of the fluid flow in the sensitive volume based on the spin echo signals.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for strands of conductor oriented in a first direction; and strands of soft magnetic material oriented in a second direction that is different from the first direction evaluating a downhole fluid from a borehole intersecting an earth formation. The method may include filtering magnetic particles in the downhole fluid by activating a switchable magnetic filter when the downhole fluid enters a sample chamber in the borehole. The downhole fluid may include formation fluid. The filter may include a wire mesh comprising strands of conductor oriented in a first direction; and strands of soft magnetic material oriented in a second direction. The method may also include cleaning the switchable magnetic filter by deactivating the switchable magnetic filter. Cleaning the switchable magnetic filter may include removing filtered particles using a fluid. The fluid may be at least one of: i) the downhole fluid; and ii) engineered fluid.