Patents by Inventor Thomas Kruspe

Thomas Kruspe 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: 20140374088
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power at the surface and in a wellbore may include a downhole tool conveyed into the wellbore and a battery bank conveyed by the downhole tool. The battery bank may include a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of battery cells have substantially different power responses to a change in an ambient temperature at the downhole tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas Kruspe
  • Publication number: 20140367120
    Abstract: A fuel cell for use in downhole applications stores steam created by the chemical reaction in a desiccant like Zeolite. The fuel cell also uses ambient hydrostatic pressure to increase cell voltage and power-density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas KRUSPE, Joachim F. OPPELT
  • Publication number: 20140300889
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for determining a property of a fluid is disclosed that in one embodiment may include a transparent member having an axis and a first end substantially perpendicular to the axis and a second end having an outer surface at a first angle to the axis, a light source directing light at the first end, a detector placed spaced from the second end, the space between the second end and the detector containing a fluid, wherein the detector detects light exiting from the outer surface at a second angle to the axis and passing through the fluid, and a controller for determining the second angle from the light detected by the detector. A processor determines the bulk fluid refractive index from the light detected by the detector and a property of the fluid therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Thomas Kruspe, Sebastian Jung
  • Publication number: 20140290351
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for determining wear on a component of a tool is disclosed. An oscillating member receives a particle freed from the component as a result of the wear on the component. A measuring device measures a change in a parameter of the oscillating member resulting from receiving the particle. A processor determines the wear on the component from the change in the parameter. In one embodiment, the component may include a component of a downhole tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Thomas Kruspe
  • Publication number: 20140279772
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing signals downhole includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation and a container disposed at the carrier and configured to carry biological material. A cultured biological neural network is disposed at the container, the neural network being capable of processing a network input signal and providing a processed network output signal. One or more electrodes are in electrical communication with the neural network, the one or more electrodes being configured to communicate the network input signal into the neural network and to communicate the network output signal out of the neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Erik Pennewitz, Thomas Kruspe, Sebastian Jung
  • Patent number: 8836328
    Abstract: NMR measurements are made along with acoustic measurements using one tool. The antenna of the NMR sensor is used to create acoustic signals. Interference between the acoustic and NMR measurements is avoided due to the frequency difference, and by having the acoustic excitation during a wait time of the NMR pulse sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas Kruspe
  • Patent number: 8803521
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for insulating an antenna apparatus is provided, the method including coupling a transition piece to a bulkhead, wherein the bulkhead includes a first conductive path electrically coupled to a second conductive path in the transition piece and coupling an antenna cable to the transition piece, wherein the antenna cable includes a third conductive path electrically coupled to the second conductive path. The method further includes disposing an electrically insulating polymer on the bulkhead, transition piece, and antenna cable, wherein the insulating polymer is disposed by extrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas Kruspe
  • Publication number: 20140208790
    Abstract: A sorption cooling apparatus for cooling a region in a downhole tool deployed on a wellbore conveyance device includes a container having an interior chamber in which a first region is formed, a liquid refrigerant residing in the interior chamber, a chamber located in a second region of the downhole tool, a compact desiccant body in the chamber, and a refrigerant passage between a first region containing the liquid refrigerant and the second region containing the compact desiccant body. The vapor generated during evaporation of the liquid refrigerant passes through the vapor passage to the compact desiccant in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Erik Pennewitz, Thomas Kruspe, Sebastian Jung
  • Publication number: 20140116071
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sebastian Jung, Thomas Kruspe
  • Patent number: 8604783
    Abstract: NMR spin echo signals are measured in a borehole during drilling. Signals measured in a plurality of regions of investigation with different depths of investigation in the borehole are processed to give a radial profile of formation properties, including a potential gas kick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Kruspe, Martin Blanz
  • Patent number: 8587303
    Abstract: NMR spin echo signals are measured in a borehole during underbalanced drilling. A magnetic field gradient in the region of examination is selected to suppress an effect of a formation fluid flow on the produced signals, the fluid flow being caused by the excess of the formation pressure over the borehole fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Kruspe, Martin Blanz
  • Patent number: 8564179
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical energy in downhole tool is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, such apparatus includes a tubular configured to flow a fluid within the tubular and an energy conversion device at a selected location inside the tubular, wherein the energy conversion device comprises an active material configured to convert received pressure pulses in the fluid into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian B. Ochoa, Thomas Kruspe, Volker Krueger
  • Publication number: 20130213129
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sunil Kumar, Hendrik John, Harald Grimmer, Thomas Kruspe, Andreas Peter, Michael Koppe
  • Publication number: 20130200891
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas Kruspe, Holger Frank Thern, Gerhard Kurz
  • Publication number: 20130181707
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Martin Blanz, Thomas Kruspe
  • Publication number: 20130181706
    Abstract: An apparatus and method estimate a property of a fluid flow. The apparatus includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool performing an NMR measurement on the fluid in a sensitive volume. The apparatus also includes a processor receiving the NMR measurement from the NMR tool, determining a frequency or phase change of the spin echo signals from the NMR measurement, and estimating the property using the frequency or phase change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Martin Blanz, Thomas Kruspe
  • Publication number: 20130134971
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Martin Blanz, Christoph Meyer, Thomas Kruspe, Holger Tietjen
  • Patent number: 8373412
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole, the apparatus including: a logging tool having a source of a static magnetic field configured to polarize a region of investigation in the earth formation; a transmitter antenna disposed at the logging tool and configured to transmit electromagnetic energy into the region of investigation; at least one receiver sensor disposed at the logging tool and configured to receive NMR signals from the region of investigation in response to an interaction between the static magnetic field and the transmitted electromagnetic energy; and a processor configured to: receive the NMR signals from the at least one receiver sensor; associate the NMR signals received from the at least one receiver sensor with an azimuthal direction at which the NMR signals were received; and estimate the property from the NMR signals and the associated azimuthal directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Kruspe, Martin Blanz
  • Publication number: 20130019673
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a viscosity or density of a fluid downhole includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the earth. A pump is disposed at the carrier and configured to pump the fluid. A flow restriction element is configured to receive a flow of the fluid pumped by the pump and to reduce pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow restriction element. A sensor is configured to measure a differential pressure across the flow restriction element and to provide an output that is used to estimate the viscosity or density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Stefan SROKA, Thomas KRUSPE, Peter SCHAEFER
  • Patent number: 8330459
    Abstract: NMR spin echo signals are measured in a small borehole during drilling. Signals measured in a plurality of regions of investigation are combined to increase the signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas Kruspe, Martin Blanz