Holder For Coupon Or Sensor Patents (Class 166/250.11)
  • Patent number: 11965417
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a sensor assembly apparatus, system, and method. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a sensor assembly adapted to be integrated into a casing to be positioned in a wellbore, the sensor assembly comprising a housing; a magnet located within the housing; a magnetic sensor located within the housing to measure a magnetic measurement change resulting from a force between the magnet and magnetic particles flowing with a cement slurry inside the casing from a reverse cementing; and a sensor plug having a side with a non-flat shape that is to be in contact with the slurry flowing in the casing of the wellbore; a processor communicatively coupled to the magnetic sensor and configured to determine whether the magnetic measurement change exceeds a magnetic threshold; and determine that the slurry is flowing back up internal to the casing at or beyond a location in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hector Jesus Elizondo, Jinhua Cao
  • Patent number: 11905826
    Abstract: A method for calibrating a downhole tool may comprise disposing a downhole tool in a borehole, transmitting a signal from a master module disposed on the first device to a module disposed on the second device, transmitting a return signal from the module to the master module, receiving the return signal with the master module, measuring a tone enabled delay for the signal to travel from the master module to the module, and determining a time delay of a return signal to travel from the module to the master module. A well measurement system may comprise a downhole tool. The downhole tool may further comprise a first device and a master module disposed on the first device, wherein the master module may comprise a master transmitter and a master receiver. In examples, the downhole tool may further comprise a second device and a module disposed on the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Imran Sharif Vehra, Zinovy B. Krugliak, Randal T. Beste, Matthew Chase Griffing, Christopher A. Golla, Wenhao Chen, Rameez Balagamwala
  • Patent number: 11879323
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for isolation detection. In one implementation, a radial acoustic log is obtained. The radial acoustic log is captured using a radial sensor of an acoustic logging tool deployed within a first structure. The first structure disposed within a second structure in a subterranean environment. A radial symmetry is determined using the radial acoustic log. An eccentricity of the first structure relative to the second structure is determined based on the radial symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignees: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, PIPELINES 2 DATA (P2D) LIMITED
    Inventors: Geoff Steel, Mark Walsh, Stephen John Mayo
  • Patent number: 11840917
    Abstract: A magnetic downhole monitoring system includes a sensor configured to be lowered into a wellbore and to sense a well parameter. The sensor is housed in a magnetic material. A magnetic joint is configured to be attached to an inner surface of a wellbore tubular installed within a wellbore completion. The magnetic joint is configured to be electromagnetically activated to attract and attach to the sensor. A power cable is configured to be lowered into an annulus between the wellbore completion and the wellbore tubular. The power cable is configured to provide power through the wellbore tubular to electromagnetically activate the magnetic joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Adel Y. Aty, Abdulmalek Sulaiman Almatrodi, Majed Muhamad Alkishi, Suliman Mansour Alodhiani
  • Patent number: 11739632
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a secure communication link between a first member and a second member in a wellbore. The apparatus includes a strain sensor and at least one processor. The strain sensor is at a mating end of the second member and measures a strain at the mating end. The at least one processor determines, from the strain, when a first force applied between the first member and the second member exceeds a first force threshold that indicates that the first member and the second member are in a first mating position in which a testable communication link is established between the first member and the second member. The at least one processor tests the testable communication link between the first member and the second member at the first mating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Marc Samuelson
  • Patent number: 11732575
    Abstract: An oil well orphan well casing locator primarily used for locating abandoned well heads below ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Ronald Horning, Jr., Brian Wright
  • Patent number: 11686195
    Abstract: A system includes a surface device, preferably positioned on a surface, a downhole device, and a wireline communications system. A downlink communication between the surface device and the downhole device occurs via Hopped Frequency Shift Keying (HFSK) voltage-modulated signals. An optional uplink communication between the downhole device and the surface device may occur via Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) current-modulated signals. The downhole device may comprise an addressable switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Acuity Technical Designs, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Jackson, Brian Keith Roper, Todd K. Roper
  • Patent number: 11428096
    Abstract: A data acquisition and signal detection through radio frequency identification (RFID) system and a method of using the system are provided. The system includes a base station, a receiver, and an RFID device. The system is operable to be used with a wellbore and a drill string during a drilling process to obtain data regarding properties of the wellbore and/or the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Avinash L Ramjit, Zachary L Zbranek
  • Patent number: 11307324
    Abstract: Drilling systems and related methods are disclosed. A drilling systems may include a tool configured to be positioned at an end of a drill string adjacent a drill bit, and the tool may be configured to detect localized seismo-electromagnetic conversion from one or more predetermined positions within a medium ahead of the drill bit. The tool may include two or more pressure sources configured to generate focused acoustic and/or elastic energy at the one or more predetermined positions to generate the localized seismo-electric conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Niels Grobbe, Aime Fournier, Laurent Demanet
  • Patent number: 11286768
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole plug and abandonment system comprising a well tubular structure having an inside and a wall and being arranged in a borehole, a first plug arranged in the well tubular structure for sealing off a lower part of the well tubular structure, a second plug arranged in the well tubular structure at a distance and above the first plug isolating a confined space having a space pressure between the first plug and the second plug, wherein an abandonment device is arranged in the confined space, the abandonment device comprising: a unit configured to increase the space pressure, a sensor configured to measure a temperature and/or a pressure in the confined space, and a device communication module configured to receive an input from the sensor and to communicate signals from the abandonment device. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a downhole plug and abandonment method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: WELLTEC A/S
    Inventor: Paul Hazel
  • Patent number: 11015438
    Abstract: Methods and systems are presented in this disclosure for determining information (e.g., visual information) about locations of different fluids flowing along a casing in a wellbore. A plurality of radio frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) tags is placed in a plurality of fluids flowing through an annulus region between a casing string in the wellbore and a reservoir formation. At a plurality of sensing nodes located along the casing string, information about the fluids is gathered by communicating with the RF MEMS tags placed in the fluids. The information about fluid locations along the casing gathered by the sensing nodes is communicated to a receiving device, and appropriate operation in relation to the wellbore is performed based on the communicated information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Krishna M. Ravi, Mark W. Roberson, Scott Goodwin
  • Patent number: 10901110
    Abstract: A through-casing formation monitoring system may include a casing string positioned within a wellbore, a power source electrically coupled to a first transmitter configured to produce a magnetic field, a magnetic induction sensor positioned within the casing string such that the magnetic induction sensor allows a continued operation of the wellbore, a fiber optic cable coupled to an electro-optical transducer within the magnetic induction sensor, and an optical interrogation system configured to receive measurements from the magnetic induction sensor via the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Andrew Wilson, Ahmed Elsayed Fouda, Burkay Donderici, Tasneem A. Mandviwala
  • Patent number: 10901109
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as methods, include sampling a received signal that represents a downhole signal source, at a sampling frequency and for a sampling duration, to provide a sampled signal. Further activity may comprise detecting a frequency of a component of the sampled signal from inspection of a frequency domain representation of the sampled signal. Further activity may comprise adjusting at least one operating frequency for the downhole tool such that the at least one operating frequency is outside a frequency range from the frequency of the component of the sampled signal. Additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Chase Griffing, Faisal Farooq Shah, Chris Gao
  • Patent number: 10781660
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thru-tubing completion including a sub-surface completion unit (SCU) system including a SCU wireless transceiver for communicating with a surface control system of a well by way of wireless communication with a down-hole wireless transceiver disposed in a wellbore of the well, one or more SCU anchoring seals having an un-deployed position (enabling the SCU to pass through production tubing disposed in the wellbore of the well) and a deployed position (to seal against a wall of the target zone of the open-hole portion of the wellbore to provide zonal isolation between adjacent regions in the wellbore) and one or more SCU centralizers having an un-deployed position (enabling the SCU to pass through the production tubing disposed in the wellbore of the well) and a deployed position (to position the SCU in the target zone of the open-hole portion of the wellbore).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Inventors: Muhammad Arsalan, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10782679
    Abstract: Processing systems and methods for receiving captured data of a data source attached with an expression of a relationship between the data source and a well construction system. The expression of the relationship between the data source and the well construction system is matched with an expression in a relationship descriptor including a description of a well construction system physical layout. The relationship descriptor also includes respective expressions of relationships between data sources and locations, equipment, and/or components of the well construction system. The expression in the relationship descriptor is one of the respective expressions. Secondary information is determined based on the captured data and the matched expression in the relationship descriptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shunfeng Zheng, Vishwanathan Parmeshwar
  • Patent number: 10655429
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thru-tubing completion including a sub-surface completion unit (SCU) system including a SCU wireless transceiver for communicating with a surface control system of a well by way of wireless communication with a down-hole wireless transceiver disposed in a wellbore of the well, one or more SCU anchoring seals having an un-deployed position (enabling the SCU to pass through production tubing disposed in the wellbore of the well) and a deployed position (to seal against a wall of the target zone of the open-hole portion of the wellbore to provide zonal isolation between adjacent regions in the wellbore) and one or more SCU centralizers having an un-deployed position (enabling the SCU to pass through the production tubing disposed in the wellbore of the well) and a deployed position (to position the SCU in the target zone of the open-hole portion of the wellbore).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Muhammad Arsalan, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10641060
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thru-tubing completion including a sub-surface completion unit (SCU) system including a SCU wireless transceiver for communicating with a surface control system of a well by way of wireless communication with a down-hole wireless transceiver disposed in a wellbore of the well, one or more SCU anchoring seals having an un-deployed position (enabling the SCU to pass through production tubing disposed in the wellbore of the well) and a deployed position (to seal against a wall of the target zone of the open-hole portion of the wellbore to provide zonal isolation between adjacent regions in the wellbore) and one or more SCU centralizers having an un-deployed position (enabling the SCU to pass through the production tubing disposed in the wellbore of the well) and a deployed position (to position the SCU in the target zone of the open-hole portion of the wellbore).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Muhammad Arsalan, Mohamed N. Noui-Mehidi
  • Patent number: 10533380
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include downhole capacitive coupling systems, and methods and apparatuses to provide an electrical connection between two downhole strings. In one embodiment, the system includes a first electrode deployed along an internal surface of a first string deployed in a wellbore, the internal surface being defined by an annulus. The system also includes a second electrode deployed along an external surface of a second string, the second string being deployed within the annulus, and the external surface of the second string and the internal surface of the first string being separated from each other by the annulus. The first electrode and the second electrode are operable to form a first capacitive coupling between said first electrode and said second electrode to transfer electrical current from the second electrode to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Stephen Michael Greci, Thomas Jules Frosell, Richard Decena Ornelaz
  • Patent number: 10428613
    Abstract: There is provided a wellbore characteristic measurement assembly comprising a dispensing mechanism and a plurality of the wellbore characteristic measurement apparatuses. Each one of the wellbore characteristic measurement apparatuses, independently, is mountable to the dispensing mechanism in a releasably retained condition. The dispensing mechanism is configured for serially dispensing each one of the wellbore characteristic measurement apparatuses, independently, into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: NCS Multistage Inc.
    Inventors: Marty Stromquist, John Edward Ravensbergen, Lyle Laun, Michael Werries, Rob Standen, Tim Johnson
  • Patent number: 10394193
    Abstract: A system includes at least one hardware processor interoperably coupled with computer memory and configured to perform operations of one or more components of the computer-implemented system. The system includes a detachable module (DM) delivery system configured to deploy, from release grooves of the NRSS and during a survey of the NRSS inside a wellbore during drilling of a well, plural DMs into an environment surrounding the NRSS, wherein the plural DMs are pre-loaded into the NRSS, and plural DMs are configured to gather and store sensing data from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Bodong Li, Chinthaka Pasan Gooneratne, Shaohua Zhou
  • Patent number: 10370961
    Abstract: A tool for use in a borehole in a geological formation may include a chassis, a drill collar surrounding the chassis, a port plug coupled between the drill collar and the chassis, RF antennas carried by the drill collar, and a multi-chip module (MCM) electronics package(s). The electronics package(s) may include a hermetically sealed electronics housing positioned between the chassis and the drill collar, a substrate within the electronics housing, RF transmitter circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one first RF antenna to transmit RF signals into the geological formation, and RF receiver circuitry on the substrate to cooperate with at least one second RF antenna to receive RF signals from the geological formation. Furthermore, an electronics housing mount may couple the electronics housing with the port plug, and the electronics housing mount may have a passageway extending therethrough for receiving the port plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Amanda Olivio, Gary A. Hazen, Fernando Garcia-Osuna, Robert Monroe Lowe, Jr., Jason Guernsey, Tao Xu, Michael C. Sakach, Mark A. Fredette, Ricardo Y. Torres, Arturo Mejia, Mia Pommier
  • Patent number: 10358889
    Abstract: A reinforced elastomeric element for a packer is disclosed. The elastomeric element is formed of a base layer, a reinforcing layer, and a top layer superimposed over the reinforcing layer to create a reinforced elastomeric element. The reinforcing layer can include instrumentation such as cabling or other devices to communicate through the elastomeric element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hossein Akbari
  • Patent number: 10267144
    Abstract: A downhole sensor system for measuring a pressure of a fluid downhole in a well, includes a well tubular structure having an inside and being arranged in a borehole with a wall and an annulus defined between the well tubular structure and the wall of the borehole, a sensor unit having a pressure unit sensor and being arranged in connection with the well tubular structure, the pressure unit sensor being adapted to measure a pressure of the fluid in the inside of the well tubular structure and/or in the annulus. The sensor unit further has a power supply and a communication module, a downhole tool with a power supply and a communication module for communication with the sensor unit. The downhole tool further comprises a pressure tool sensor adapted to measure a pressure of the fluid inside the well tubular structure substantially opposite the pressure unit sensor for comparison with the pressure measured by the pressure unit sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Welltec A/S
    Inventor: Paul Hazel
  • Patent number: 10047605
    Abstract: It is described a method and a system for wireless in-situ sampling of a reservoir fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir comprising obtaining a number of local samples of the reservoir fluid from different zones of the reservoir at given times. Local characterization of production fluid is obtained based on identifying chemical fingerprints of each of the number of local samples. This information can be used to determine local production rates from different zones in the well or from coming led wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SINVENT AS
    Inventors: Kolbjorn Zahlsen, Lars Kilaas, Paal Skjetne
  • Patent number: 9897522
    Abstract: A tool having at least one vibration sensor and at least one standoff is disposed in a contact with a material and the at least one standoff of the tool is pushed into the material. Vibration is excited by the at least one vibration source and at least one coupling frequency of the tool is measured by the at least one vibration sensor. Based on the determined coupling frequency determining a contact stiffness of the at least one standoff and the mechanical properties of the material are determined taking into account mechanical properties of the at least one standoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yamid Pico
  • Patent number: 9891343
    Abstract: A method for mapping a three-dimensional structure and obtaining information on the condition of said structure. The method includes injecting a plurality of motes into the structure causing the plurality of motes to travel through the one or more channels, the motes including a sensor and a storage, the motes being arranged designed to obtain a sensor-value measured by the sensor and to store the sensor-value in the storage, thus obtaining a time series of measured sensor-values in the storage, retrieving at least part of the plurality of motes from the structure, obtaining from said retrieved motes the time series of measured sensor-values stored in the retrieved motes, thus obtaining a set of measured time series, determining the structure or the condition by comparing the set of measured time series with a simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: INGU Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Heinrich Johannes Wörtche, Elena Talnishnikh
  • Patent number: 9879519
    Abstract: An apparatus and method may operate to mount one or more communication assemblies relative to the exterior of a casing being placed in a borehole. Two communication assemblies can be placed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along the casing, wherein each communication assembly is configured to obtain excitation responses from electrodes of a fluid sensing component, where the excitation responses vary based on properties of fluids in one or more regions of the annulus surrounding the casing. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Roberson, Scott Goodwin, Burkay Donderici, Glenn A. Wilson, Paul F. Rodney, Vimal V. Shah, Craig W. Roddy, Krishna M. Ravi
  • Patent number: 9828851
    Abstract: Some examples of transferring data from a subsurface of a wellbore using well fluids include positioning multiple data recording devices at a subsurface location in a wellbore. When a well fluid flows through the wellbore past the subsurface location to a surface, each data recording device is configured to receive and store data describing subsurface wellbore conditions at or near the subsurface location. At least a portion of the data describing the subsurface wellbore conditions are stored on each data recording device. Each data recording device is released from the subsurface location. The well fluid flows each data recording device to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Clovis Satyro Bonavides
  • Patent number: 9800057
    Abstract: A system for transmitting electrical signals and/or electrical energy via an electrically conductive medium, in which a plurality of electric wound coils is mounted on each side of the electrically conductive medium, conductors of the plurality of electric wound coils are arranged in parallel with respect to one another and each of the plurality of electric wound coils is oriented relative to each other in such a manner that winding wires are predominantly vectorially mounted in parallel, the conductors are mounted predominantly parallel to surfaces of the electrically conductive medium, the system reacts when a current is applied to the electric wound coils, thereby generating a magnetic field and generates an eddy current which circulates between an external and an internal surface of the electrically conductive medium, and a voltage is induced in the electric wound coils from the eddy current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Techni AS
    Inventor: Harald Borgen
  • Patent number: 9726009
    Abstract: A wellbore servicing system comprising two or more sensing, tool nodes is disclosed herein. Each of the sensing, tool nodes are configured to selectively allow, disallow, or alter a route of fluid communication between an axial flowbore thereof and an exterior thereof via one or more ports. Each of the sensing, tool nodes is further configured to monitor at least one parameter. The system also includes a logging controller node wherein the logging controller node communicates with the sensing, tool nodes via a near field communication (NFC) signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary William Walton, Matthew Todd Howell, Michael Linley Fripp
  • Patent number: 9605528
    Abstract: An example method for distributed sensing in a subterranean formation may include drilling to a first depth in the subterranean formation using a drilling device and detaching a first phase of the drilling device at the first depth. The first phase may include a first coil of line and a first sensor. The drilling assembly may drill to a second depth and decouple a second phase of the drilling device, with the second phase including a second coil of line and a second sensor. Measurements may be generated at the first and second depths using the first and second sensors, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul F. Rodney
  • Patent number: 9500768
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telemetry tool for use in a well. The telemetry tool has a hollow, conductive waveguide through which a non-conductive fluid can flow. A transmitter and a receiver are disposed in the hollow interior of the waveguide, separated by some desired distance. A signal is transmitted by the transmitter, propagated by the waveguide, and received by the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vassilis Varveropoulos, Reza Taherian
  • Patent number: 9494034
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a well system component configured to reduce excessive acoustic noise that would otherwise interfere with acoustic telemetry systems. Specifically, the well system component includes a body configured to be coupled to a pipe string, at least one lobe extending radially from the body, and a pad disposed on the at least one lobe and extending radially from an outer radial extent of the at least one lobe. The well system component can be installed at critical acoustic transmission locations, such as at the location of a hanger, at or near a flex joint in a wellhead installation, and/or at or near a rig floor or deck of an offshore rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Harold Martin, Zeke Shashoua
  • Patent number: 9394756
    Abstract: Sensor assemblies are deployed in a borehole for a well, such as an oil well or other hydrocarbon recovery well. The sensor assemblies are coupled to a casing string (e.g., the exterior of the casing), and may detect RFID tags or other properties of material (e.g., fluids) in an annulus surrounding the casing string. Limited battery power for the sensor assemblies and for assemblies for communicating sensed data may be a concern, and the sensor assemblies and communication assemblies may therefore operate in different modes of varying power consumption. In certain modes, sensing operations are curtailed (or expanded) depending on particular requirements. In one case, sensor operation is expanded during active portions of a cementing operation, and curtailed prior to and thereafter. Different triggering events may cause the sensor assembly to operate in different modes at different sensing frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Roberson, Scott Goodwin, Krishna M Ravi, Craig W Roddy
  • Patent number: 9394785
    Abstract: An apparatus and method may operate to mount one or more communication assemblies relative to the exterior of a casing being placed in a borehole. Two communication assemblies can be placed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along the casing, wherein each communication assembly is configured to obtain data from RFID tags in one or more azimuthally oriented regions of the annulus surrounding the casing, and to interrogate RFID tags in a first fluid in the borehole. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Goodwin, Mark W. Roberson, Craig W Roddy, Krishna M Ravi
  • Patent number: 9394784
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon well (e.g., oil well) may be monitored during to determine whether a fault exists during an operation such as injecting sealant (e.g., cement) into the borehole. RFID tags may be mixed in a wellbore fluid (e.g., drilling mud, cement, etc.), placed into a borehole, and then tracked within the borehole by communication assemblies with RFID sensors. Data may be obtained by interrogating RFID tags in one or more azimuthally oriented regions of an annulus surrounding a casing of the borehole. Fluid distribution in the annulus will be evaluated with respect to azimuthally offset regions of the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Roberson, Scott Goodwin, Craig W Roddy, Krishna M Ravi
  • Patent number: 9238962
    Abstract: A logging tool capable of making different types of measurements is provided, and a plurality of measurements on a formation are obtained. Certain mineral properties of the formation are assumed and a mixed properties theorem for the formation is invoked. Upper and lower velocity limits for sonic waves traveling through the formation are determined using the above information. Biot's constant is also computed using the above information. LWD data on the formation is obtained and an effective stress is determined. A total stress is determined and, from that and the other information, a pore pressure is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alexis S. Husser, Colin Michael Sayers, Aron Kramer, John P. Horkowitz, Geoff Weller
  • Publication number: 20150101802
    Abstract: A method of tracking an intelligent fluid in a well bore, comprising: providing an intelligent fluid; introducing the intelligent fluid into the well bore; sensing one or more well bore characteristics with the intelligent fluid; and wirelessly relaying data on the one or more well characteristics to the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: George Allen FULLER, Jiten Devender KAURA, Curtis Len WILIE
  • Publication number: 20150096746
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a property of a downhole fluid includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the earth, a fluid extraction device disposed at the carrier and configured to extract a sample of the downhole fluid, and a probe cell having a window to receive the sample. The apparatus further includes a light source to illuminate the sample through the window with light photons, and a photodetector to receive light photons through the window that have interacted with the downhole fluid and generate a signal indicative of an amount of the received light photons. The generated signal is indicative of the property. The photodetector has an optical cavity having a semiconductor that has a difference between a valence energy band and a conduction energy band for electrons that is greater than the energy of each of the received light photons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Sebastian Csutak
  • Publication number: 20150083408
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that includes a tool string including one or more perforating guns, a conveyance operably coupled to the tool string at a socket coupling location and configured to help convey the tool string downhole, a load-measuring device arranged on the tool string and including one or more tension sensors configured to measure tensile load on the conveyance, the load-measuring device further including communication equipment capable of transmitting one or more uphole signals, wherein the one or more uphole signals includes measurement signals corresponding to the tensile load, and a computer system locatable at or near the surface location and communicably coupled to the tool string, the computer system being configured to receive and process the one or more uphole signals and further configured to transmit one or more downhole signals to the tool string to operate the one or more perforating guns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Randolph S. Coles
  • Publication number: 20150068738
    Abstract: A multi-zone monitoring system allowing simultaneous measurement of separate zones of multi-zone wellbore formations comprising a multi-component umbilical containing both electrical lines and a hydraulic fluid lines, an inflatable isolation packer that can traverse through the wellbore and be inflated with hydraulic fluid to seal off a portion of the wellbore wherein the inflatable isolation packer is connected to a hydraulic line of the multi-component umbilical, wherein the inflatable isolation packer further comprises: one or more cable bypass feed throughs for the umbilical's electric and hydraulic fluid lines, wherein the hydraulic line is attached to the inflatable isolation packer with compression fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: GAS SENSING TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Mike Wayne, Stuart Leach
  • Patent number: 8960281
    Abstract: Apparatus including a sensor-containing body is disposable within a flowbore of a downhole tool. The apparatus also comprises an adjustable engagement mechanism that is coupled to the body. The engagement mechanism has a first position that allows the body to move longitudinally through the flowbore, and a second position that prevents movement of the body relative to the flowbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: Brandon Charles Epperson, Gregory Christopher Grosz, Alison Paige McVea
  • Patent number: 8955586
    Abstract: An electronic transmitter assembly used in directional boring, the housing of the assembly being configured for receiving a beacon. The housing and cover of the assembly are configured to provide transmission windows along each side of the cover rather than in the center of the cover. The beacon contained within the housing is configured to have a forward isolator on one end and a rear isolator on the other end to isolate the beacon from shock during boring operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Earth Tool Company, LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Randa, Robert F. Crane, Steven W. Wentworth
  • Patent number: 8939204
    Abstract: A method of communication comprising: providing a string of a plurality of connected components (2,3,5,6,7), one or more vessels running along the string to form a continuous fluid path (13); incorporating a device (3) into the string so that the device is in communication with the fluid path; inserting the string into a borehole (18) so that the device is located below a surface into which the borehole is formed and the fluid path extends from the surface to the device; providing a pressure sensor at the surface, adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid in the fluid path; filling it with a pressurized fluid; over a communication period, venting fluid, under the control of the device, from the fluid path (13) to an exterior of the string (17) at the device on occasions, so that the resulting decrease in pressure in the fluid in the fluid path can be detected by the pressure sensor; and during the communication period introducing fluid into the fluid path at a rate below 30 gallons/minute [0.113 m3/minute].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Manufacturing and Services Limited
    Inventor: Bruce McGarian
  • Publication number: 20150007977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a parameter of a production fluid in a wellbore by providing an initially blocked isolated communication path between a sensor and an aperture formed in a sleeve. The isolated communication path is subsequently unblocked to allow measurements of the parameter of the production fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey John LEMBCKE, Charles D. PARKER, Jason Scott KIDDY, Iain GREENAN
  • Patent number: 8844627
    Abstract: An intelligent well system and method has a sand face completion and a monitoring system to monitor application of a well operation. Various equipment and services may be used. In another aspect, the invention provides a monitoring system for determining placement of a well treatment. Yet another aspect of the invention is an instrumented sand screen. Another aspect is a connector for routing control lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney J. Wetzel, Peter V. Howard, Craig D. Johnson, Sudhir Pai, David R. Smith, Jake A. Danos, Patrick W. Bixenman
  • Patent number: 8826972
    Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes, in one embodiment, a substantially planar recessed surface for mounting and retaining a component. The platform is configured to electrically couple the component to a transmission line at a non-end point thereof. An outer contour of the component does not exceed an outer contour of the platform, and the outer contour of the platform does not exceed an outer contour of the transmission line. The transmission line is configured to link to a downhole network, and the component is configured to affect a signal on the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Intelliserv, LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Flint, Monte L. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20140238669
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magnetically autonomously clamping a downhole component in a select direction of a borehole casing. The systems can include a sensor package that obtains a downhole measurement in a position in a cased borehole. The systems can include an integral magnetic clamp that removably clamps the downhole component (e.g., a downhole seismic shuttle) to the cased borehole. The systems can include a directional detector that outputs a select direction of the cased borehole relative to the downhole component. The systems can include a downhole controller that activates a portion of the integral magnetic clamp of the downhole component closest to the select direction output by the directional detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryuki Odashima, Tatsuki Endo, Shantonu Ray, Koichi Naito
  • Patent number: 8780336
    Abstract: A motor assembly for a submersible pump which includes capability of detecting or monitoring one or more operating parameters for the motor, including temperature, pressure and strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Suresha R. O'Bryan, Katankumar K. Sheth, Michael C. Nuckels
  • Patent number: 8579026
    Abstract: A safety apparatus for catching a test fixture released from a shaft of a downhole tool during the uphole calibration and testing of the shaft force generation capability of the tool. The safety apparatus includes a hollow body having a distal end that will partially envelope the test fixture to catch the test fixture once the test fixture is released from the downhole tool. The safety apparatus further includes a proximal end portion that is releasably securable to the body of the tool. A method for testing and calibrating the tool is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Darrell Housden, Kenneth Thomas Black