Including Borehole Fluid Investigation Patents (Class 324/324)
  • Patent number: 11649726
    Abstract: An application method of a device for accurately evaluating the vertical content distribution of an undersea hydrate reservoir includes the following steps: assembling the device into a whole and screwing it into an undersea well; activating natural gas hydrates to produce gaseous substances; opening a directional guide channel corresponding to a thermal excitation system in a working state in S2, so that gaseous natural gas hydrates generated in this horizon enter a screw-in long sleeve through the directional guide channel; collecting, by a gas collection system, the gaseous natural gas hydrates; analyzing and recording components and contents in a box by an optical ranging unit and a resistivity unit; repeating S4 and S5 till the end of one collection cycle; and performing data processing and analysis. In this way, accurate evaluation of the vertical content distribution of undersea hydrates is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey
    Inventor: Jiangong Wei
  • Patent number: 11543375
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a system for determining in-situ oxidation-reduction potential in a formation having a surface separating the formation from an ambient atmosphere. The system may measure the oxidation-reduction potential in-situ, and thereby provide the most precise measurement of the oxidation-reduction potential. The formation surface may be the interface between the ambient atmosphere and the uppermost layer of the formation. The system may comprise a probe for a penetration into the formation. a reference electrode for placing on the formation surface, and a controller configured to communicate with the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ejlskov A/S
    Inventors: Palle Ejlskov Jensen, Ivan Yélamos Vela
  • Patent number: 11536564
    Abstract: Pressure-based estimation of a mobile device altitude or calibration of a pressure sensor involves machines that determine if a reference-level pressure value based on one or more measurements of pressure from a network of weather stations should or should not be used to calibrate a pressure sensor of a mobile device or to estimate an altitude of the mobile device. If reference-level pressure value should be used, the reference-level pressure value is used to calibrate a pressure sensor of a mobile device or to estimate an altitude of the mobile device. If the reference-level pressure value should not be used, a trend in pressure is determined, an estimated reference-level pressure value based on the trend is determined, and the estimated reference-level pressure value is used to calibrate a pressure sensor of a mobile device or to estimate an altitude of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: NextNav, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Dormody, Badrinath Nagarajan, Guiyuan Han
  • Patent number: 11506708
    Abstract: A balanced on-wafer load pull tuner system includes an intelligent, independent and universal mechanical balancing and contact controlling device, supporting automatic microwave single or multi-probe slide screw tuners. It allows contacting and stable on-wafer testing of sub-micrometric devices. Ultra-low loss rigid airlines (bend-lines) used to connect the tuner with the semiconductor chips, in order to improve the tuning range at the DUT reference plane, transfer mechanical movements of the wafer probes attached to the rigid bend-lines, when the tuner mobile carriages move horizontally. A precisely controlled counter-weight allows contacting the DUT and balanced load pull operation by controlling the center of gravity of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Christos Tsironis
  • Patent number: 11242745
    Abstract: A drill head for earth boring, in particular for a horizontal drilling device, includes a housing, a transmitter for generating a radio signal, an antenna and a receiver for receiving a reflected radio signal, wherein the transmitter which is adapted to generate the radio signal includes a direct digital synthesizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG, IDS GeoRadar s.r.l., Florence Engineering s.r.l., OSYS Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Manfred Schauerte, Devis Dei, Guido Manacorda
  • Patent number: 10955514
    Abstract: A low cost planar transmission line sensor and simple calibration method for measuring the complex permittivity of materials with minimal sample preparation over a wide band of radio- and microwave frequencies. The sensor is also used for measuring anisotropic dielectric properties of materials with a defined grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by The Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Jochem T. Roelvink, Samir Trabelsi
  • Patent number: 10844705
    Abstract: A downhole relative positioning system utilizes electromagnetic and survey measurements from a first well to calibrate a formation model, which is then used to improve the interpretation of measurements from a second well. Since the methods described herein utilize a differential approach, even though the exact position of each wellbore may not be accurately identified, their relative positions can be accurately identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Burkay Donderici, Clinton James Moss
  • Patent number: 10823864
    Abstract: Gas migration rate(s) are determined using gas measurements from gas migration measurement devices. In response to the gas migration rate increasing, at least one of: air ionization measurements are collected from air ionization measurement device(s), and meteorological measurements collected from air temperature sensor(s), relative humidity sensor(s), and air pressure sensor(s). A latent heat energy release rate is determined using at least two of: the air ionization measurements, the meteorological measurements, and a numerical assimilation model. In response to the latent heat energy release rate increasing, at least one transient outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) anomaly is looked for using atmospheric measurements. In response to observing the transient OLR, at least one ionospheric anomaly is looked for using ionosphere measurements. In response to observing the at least one ionospheric anomaly, a forecast alert that an earthquake is likely to occur within one to four days is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Ertha Space Technologies
    Inventors: Dimitar Ouzounov, Sergey Pulinets
  • Patent number: 10724886
    Abstract: A conditioning accumulator (2) for use in a multiphase flow measurement system. The conditioning accumulator includes a container which has an inflow orifice connected to the end of an inflow pipe and an outflow orifice connected to the end of an outflow vessel. The lowest point of the inflow orifice is positioned at or near the bottom of a sidewall of the container. The outflow orifice is positioned in a sidewall of the container, where the lowest point of the outflow orifice is vertically offset and above the lowest point of the inflow orifice when the container is in an operational orientation. The container includes a phase distributer located next to the inflow orifice adapted to distribute the liquid and gas phases of the incoming flow from the inflow pipe within the container. An exit flow resistance device reduces/resists the outflow of liquid from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Songming Huang
  • Patent number: 10711595
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells and methods for identifying production from a region of a subterranean formation. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore extending within the region of the subterranean formation and a production tubular that defines a production conduit and extends at least partially within the wellbore. The hydrocarbon wells also include an electromagnetic transmitter, an electromagnetic receiver, and a controller. The electromagnetic transmitter is configured to provide an input electromagnetic signal to a region of the production conduit to electromagnetically excite a produced tracer material that forms a portion of a produced stream that flows within the production tubular. The electromagnetic receiver is configured to receive an electromagnetic output signal from the region of the production conduit. The controller is programmed to identify the region of the subterranean formation based, at least in part, on the output electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Brent D. Wheelock, Mehmet Deniz Ertas, Joseph W. Witt, David A. Howell
  • Patent number: 10598804
    Abstract: Gas migration rate(s) are determined using gas measurements from gas migration measurement devices. In response to the gas migration rate increasing at greater than a first rate: air ionization measurements are collected from: remote sensing air ionization measurement device(s), meteorological measurements collected from air temperature sensor(s) and relative humidity sensor(s). A latent heat energy release rate is determined using at least two of: the air ionization measurements; the meteorological measurements; and a numerical assimilation model. In response to the latent heat energy release rate increasing at greater than a second rate, transient OLR anomaly are looked for using atmospheric measurements. In response to observing the transient OLR, ionospheric anomal(ies) are looked for using ionosphere measurements collected over a fourth period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Ertha Space Technologies
    Inventors: Dimitar Ouzounov, Sergey Pulinets
  • Patent number: 10578561
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system operate to include transmitting a plurality of electromagnetic waves, over a range of frequencies, into a plurality of pipes. The secondary electromagnetic field responses, associated with the electromagnetic waves, from the plurality of pipes are measured. Selective ones of the secondary electromagnetic field responses are canceled or reduced based on a selected pipe for inspection of the plurality of pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Emilio San Martin, Reza Khalaj Amineh, Burkay Donderici
  • Patent number: 10480978
    Abstract: A method according to an aspect includes outputting gas continuously from a flow rate controller, closing a valve, obtaining a first pressure rise characteristic, outputting the gas intermittently from the flow rate controller, closing the valve, obtaining a second pressure rise characteristic, obtaining a third pressure rise characteristic, obtaining a fourth pressure rise characteristic, obtaining a first required time required from the third pressure rise characteristic, obtaining a second required time from the fourth pressure rise characteristic, obtaining an estimated time until a predetermined pressure is reached, in a case where the intermittent output of the gas is performed assuming that there is no delay time, and obtaining a parameter representing a difference between the estimated time and the second required time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Kumiko Ono, Hiroshi Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 10443371
    Abstract: The structural integrity and reliability of a downhole tool or mandrel may be improved by implementation of a design and configuration that does not require several separate components to be coupled together. A button recessed within an insulation layer may be installed within a groove or recess of the downhole tool. The isolation layer electrically isolates the button from the downhole tool. The button and the isolation layer are installed such that the top surface of either does not extend beyond the outer surface of the downhole tool. Recessing the button and isolation layer in this manner prevents undue wear on the downhole tool as well as the button and isolation layer. The buttons may be arranged so that when excited the buttons may detect the presence of a target objects located at various distances, directions, and orientations from the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Burkay Donderici, Baris Guner
  • Patent number: 10139517
    Abstract: A method for imaging an earth formation includes estimating an apparent resistivity (AR) value and an apparent distance to a bedding plane (AD2B) value for each of a plurality of samples derived from measurements of a time-dependent transient electromagnetic signal, estimating an inversion-based resistivity value (IB-R) and an inversion-based distance to a bedding plane (IB-D2B) value at a first sample of each consecutive depth interval, wherein each depth interval includes a plurality of consecutive samples, and determining a difference between apparent values and the corresponding inversion-based values. The method further includes generating an image of the earth formation using the AR and AD2B values for the entire interval if the difference is less than a threshold value and generating an image of the earth formation using IB-R and IB-D2B values for the entire interval if the difference is greater than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGES, A GE COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Fei Le, Gregory B. Itskovich, Marina N. Nikitenko
  • Patent number: 10107789
    Abstract: A fluid measurement system and method for determining component mixtures flowing in a conduit such as an oil well. The system includes a sensor wire for location in a well bore; a signal generator for injecting a high frequency signal along the wire; a data acquisition unit to record first reflected signals received from the wire; a system criteria unit to maintain a data set relevant to the system, and a processor unit operable to act upon the first reflected signals and the data set to establish an output indicative of component fluid within the well bore from which the mixture of fluids flowing within the well bore can be determined. An iterative process can be used with waveguide and probabilistic models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ZENITH OILFIELD TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: David Sirda Shanks, David Cyril Hendry, Alan James Fenwick
  • Patent number: 10108754
    Abstract: A method for ruggedizing an ICE design, fabrication and application with neural networks as disclosed herein includes selecting a database for integrated computational element (ICE) optimization is provided. The method includes adjusting a plurality of ICE operational parameters according to an environmental factor recorded in the database and simulating environmentally compensated calibration inputs. The method includes modifying a plurality of ICE structure parameters to obtain an ICE candidate structure having improved performance according to a first algorithm applied to the database and validating the ICE candidate structure with an alternative algorithm applied to the database. Further, the method includes determining a plurality of manufacturing ICEs based on the validation with the first algorithm and the alternative algorithm, and fabricating one of the plurality of manufacturing ICEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dingding Chen, James M. Price, Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 9952192
    Abstract: Probe for producing signals indicative of a local phase composition of a fluid flowing in a well, comprising a body of electrically insulating material having a tip adapted for contact with the fluid, at least two electrodes of conductive material located in the body on opposite sides relatively to a central axis of the body and insulated from each other, the electrodes having ends exposed to the fluid located on either side of the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: OPENFIELD SA
    Inventors: Eric Donzier, Emmanuel Tavernier, Linda Abbassi
  • Patent number: 9851319
    Abstract: According to aspects of the present disclosure, systems and methods for measuring fluid resistivity are described herein. An example system may include a non-conductive tube. The non-conductive tube may be filled with a fluid, such as a formation fluid or drilling fluid, whose resistivity needs to be determined. A transmitter may be disposed around an outer surface of the non-conductive tube. A first receiver may be disposed around the outer surface of the non-conductive tube, and a second receiver may be positioned within a bore of the non-conductive tube. The transmitter may generate a primary electromagnetic field in a fluid within the tube, which may in turn generate an eddy current and a secondary electromagnetic field. The first and second receivers may be used to identify the eddy current and the resistivity of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bittar, Jing Li
  • Patent number: 9677962
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure sensor including an electromagnetic resonator with waveguide having a dielectric material with a dielectric permittivity that varies with temperature. There is an excitation circuit configured to propagate an electromagnetic field through the resonator and a device for heating the resonator. There is also a device for detecting the electromagnetic resonant frequency of the resonator and a device for determining the pressure of the gas surrounding the sensor as a function of the detected resonant frequency of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventor: Denis Mercier
  • Patent number: 9638027
    Abstract: An assembly can include a casing string with an outer surface. The assembly can also include an antenna for wirelessly communicating data by generating a surface wave that propagates along an interface surface. The antenna can be positioned coaxially around the casing string. The antenna can include a cylindrically shaped conductor that is positionable coaxially around an outer surface of a casing string for generating a magnetic field component of the surface wave that is non-transverse to a direction of propagation of the surface wave along the interface surface. The antenna can also include a pair of conductive plates positioned at an angle to the cylindrically shaped conductor for generating an electric field component of the surface wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark W. Roberson
  • Patent number: 9335433
    Abstract: A method and system for calculating formation porosity is presented. The method includes calculating formation porosity of a borehole by obtaining complex dielectric constant measurements with a high frequency dielectric tool. Next, a dielectric constant of formation water is derived from the complex dielectric constant measurements. Finally, a formation porosity is determined based at least in part on the measured complex dielectric constant and the derived dielectric constant formation water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Li, Gary Kainer, Marvin Rourke, Michael Bittar
  • Patent number: 9063052
    Abstract: An inline measuring apparatus (10) is operable to measure hydrate, wax, break-through of formation water and/or scale (150) on an inside surface of a wall (100) of a pipe (40) for guiding fluid. The apparatus (10) includes an electronics unit (30) coupled to a sensor arrangement (20) disposed in a spatial extensive manner into the wall (100) of the pipe (40) for sensing the growth (150). The electronics unit (30) in cooperation with the sensor arrangement (20) Is operable to perform a series of dielectric measurements at a plurality of interrogating frequencie s for determining a nature and spatial extent of the growth (150). The sensor arrangement (20) includes a plurality of sensors have mutually different sensing characteristics in relation to their spatial sensing region and/or their sensitivity to different fluid components present in operation within the pipe (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: TECOM AS
    Inventors: Kjetil Folgeroe, Jan Kocbach
  • Patent number: 9035657
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for conducting an electromagnetic borehole-to-surface survey of a formation surrounding a borehole. Such methods include deploying a dipole transmitter into the borehole to a depth of investigation, deploying an array of electromagnetic receivers outside of the wellbore, and measuring a response of the formation at the array of electromagnetic receivers deployed outside of the wellbore, for example at the surface. From the response of the formation a property of the formation can be determined based on the response of the formation measured at the array of electromagnetic receivers. For the scenario of a cased well, a local reference receiver may be added at a location proximate the borehole to measure the effective magnetic moment of the transmitter inside the casing, and normalize the formation response in order for a more accurate determination of a formation characteristic, such as resistivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Richard A. Rosthal
  • Publication number: 20150130468
    Abstract: A fluid monitoring apparatus includes a housing and a tracer sensor attached to an exterior of the housing. The housing has at least one flow passage for a fluid sample and a port for the tracer sensor to monitor the fluid sample in the housing. In one example, the monitoring apparatus may include a plurality of tracer sensors attached to the housing, wherein the tracer sensors are interchangeably attached to the housing. In one embodiment, the monitoring apparatus may be attached to a first well for detecting the presence of a tracer in the first well, wherein the tracer is supplied from a second well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Sean M. CHRISTIAN, Daniel Charles BOYDE
  • Patent number: 9000776
    Abstract: A method for estimating the characteristic impedance of a structure comprising the following steps: providing a current probe comprising a magnetic core having an aperture therein and a primary winding wrapped around the core; measuring, with a calibrated vector network analyzer (VNA), the impedance (Zop) of the current probe while in an open configuration wherein nothing but air occupies the aperture and the current probe is isolated from a ground; measuring, with the VNA, the impedance (Zsh) of the current probe while in a short configuration, wherein the current probe is electrically shorted; measuring, with the VNA, the impedance (Zin) of the current probe while the current probe is mounted to the structure such that the structure extends through the aperture; and calculating an estimated characteristic impedance (Z?mast) of the structure according to the following equation: Z?mast=(Zin?Zsh)(Zop?Zsh)/(Zop?Zin).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Daniel W. Tam, Randall A. Reeves, John H. Meloling
  • Publication number: 20150077119
    Abstract: The invention discloses three-dimensional focusing induced polarization equipment for advance geological prediction of a water inrush disaster source in underground engineering, comprising a constant-current multiplex transmitter, an intelligent multichannel receiver, an automatic multi-electrode switch, an industrial personal computer, an observation electrode array and shielding electrodes, wherein electrodes in the observation electrode array are respectively used as a source electrode and observation electrodes; the industrial personal computer controls the constant-current multiplex transmitter to transmit currents of the same polarity to the shielding electrodes and the source electrode, so that the currents of the source electrodes are nearly directed straight ahead of a driving face under the action of the shielding electrodes; the observation electrodes are used for scanning data acquisition, and the data are fed back to the industrial personal computer through the intelligent multi-channel receiver;
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shucai Li, Bin Liu, Lichao Nie, Qingmei Sui, Jie Song, Tingyu Hao, Yuqiang Cao, Faye Zhang, Jing Wang, Zhengyu Liu, Huaifeng Sun
  • Publication number: 20150054512
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a volume fraction of a formation fluid in a sample having a filtrate contaminant includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole; a downhole fluid extraction device disposed at the carrier and configured to extract a sample of a formation fluid through a wall of the borehole; and a dielectric spectrometer and configured to transmit electromagnetic energy into the extracted sample at a plurality of frequencies and to measure a plurality of responses to determine a permittivity of the extracted sample fluid as a function of frequency. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to receive the permittivity of the extracted sample as a function of frequency from the dielectric spectrometer and to estimate the volume fraction of the formation fluid using a permittivity at a selected frequency in the plurality of frequencies for the sample as measured by the dielectric spectrometer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 8957683
    Abstract: Disclosed dielectric logging tools and methods employ three or more receive horn antennas positioned between at least two transmit antennas, which can also be horn antennas. The logging tools can operate in the range between 100 MHz and 10 GHz to provide logs of formation permittivity, formation conductivity, standoff distance, and electrical properties of material in the standoff gap. Logs of water-saturated porosity and/or oil movability can be readily derived. The presence of additional receive antennas offers a significantly extended operating range, additional depths of investigation, increased measurement accuracy, and further offers compensation for tool standoff and mudcake effects. In both wireline and logging while drilling embodiments, at least some disclosed dielectric logging tools employ a set of three axially-spaced receive antennas positioned between pairs of axially-spaced transmit antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Bittar, Jing Li
  • Patent number: 8931553
    Abstract: Electrically conductive proppants and methods for detecting, locating, and characterizing same are provided. The electrically conductive proppant can include a substantially uniform coating of an electrically conductive material having a thickness of at least 500 nm. The method can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a wellbore extending into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein, injecting into the fracture a fluid containing the electrically conductive proppant, electrically energizing the earth at or near the fracture, and measuring three dimensional (x, y, and z) components of electric and magnetic field responses at a surface of the earth or in an adjacent wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignees: CARBO Ceramics Inc., Sandia Coporation
    Inventors: Chad Cannan, Lewis Bartel, Terrence Palisch, David Aldridge
  • Patent number: 8928322
    Abstract: A method for determining water saturation in a subsurface formation include determining an invasion depth in the formation from a plurality of measurements made within a wellbore drilled through the formation. The measurements have different lateral depths of investigation into the formation. Carbon and oxygen in the formation are measured at substantially a same longitudinal position as at a position of the determining the invasion depth. The measured carbon and oxygen and the invasion depth are used to determine the water saturation in a substantially uninvaded part of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard Montaron
  • Publication number: 20140375321
    Abstract: Provided herein is a sensor device that may include a first electrode pair, a second electrode pair, and a detector. The first electrode pair may be covered with a protective film. The second electrode pair may have at least a portion thereof exposed to liquid. The detector may be configured to detect a property of the liquid by using a value concerning an electrical conductivity of the liquid as determined by using the second electrode pair and a value concerning a capacitance of the first electrode pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: AISAN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Ikeya
  • Publication number: 20140375320
    Abstract: A correction method for resistivity measurements of formation surrounding a borehole includes deploying a logging tool in the borehole and having a standoff in between the logging tool and the wall of the borehole, measuring a total current entering into the pair of current electrodes, computing a leakage current in the sensor pad caused by an internal capacitive impedance between the pair of current electrodes and the main body of the sensor pad, computing a measuring current to enter into the formation for the resistivity measurements by subtracting the leakage current from the total current, computing an external capacitive impedance between the current electrodes and the formation, utilizing a pre-built chart to obtain a geometric factor based on the external capacitive impedance, and computing resistivity of the formation based on the geometric factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Yue Liu, Qihui Zhao, Qingjie Bai, Yuzhou Lu, Zhong Wang, Suming Wu, Ce Liu
  • Patent number: 8901933
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a tool and method for determining a downhole parameter. The tool is located in mud surrounded by a formation and comprising a first electrode spaced at a distance from the formation for measuring a first impedance. There is a second electrode located at a second distance from the formation for measuring a second impedance. There is a processing unit for measuring a difference between the first impedance and the second impedance and wherein the parameter is determined based on the difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Hayman
  • Patent number: 8901932
    Abstract: The invention is concerned with a tool and method for imaging a formation through a substantially non-conductive medium. The tool comprises first circuitry for injecting a current into the formation, wherein a complex impedance to the current is measured. Second circuitry for determining a phase angle of an impedance of the non-conductive medium and third circuitry for determining a component of the complex impedance that is orthogonal to the phase angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew Hayman
  • Patent number: 8893782
    Abstract: A fluid sensor (and method) for determining at least one parameter of a fluid of a wellbore is provided. The fluid sensor has a base positionable in the wellbore, a base electrode operatively positionable in the insulation, and a raised electrode having at least one base portion and at least one raised portion. The base comprises insulation. The base portion is operatively positionable in the insulation. The at least one raised portion is positionable a distance above the base electrode such that a space is defined therebetween for the passage of the wellbore fluid therethrough. A voltage is applied across the base electrode and the raised electrode to generate a current therebetween whereby at least one parameter of the wellbore fluid may be determined. The fluid sensor is deployable into the wellbore via the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Philip S. Cheung
  • Publication number: 20140333307
    Abstract: A downhole salinity measurement and logging sensor system has multiple cells, each to measure conductivity, temperature and pressure of fluids at depths of interest in a wellbore. The multiple cells protect against effects of non-homogeneous wellbore fluids. The system also determines salinity of the liquid in the wellbore from conductance measurements, and stores the salinity data along with the temperature and pressure readings from the well. The sensors of conductivity, temperature and pressure are made using micro-fabrication technologies, and the system is packaged to comply with harsh downhole environments. The system may be deployed in the well with coiled tubing (CT), wireline or vehicles with a robotic system. The system can be deployed with an onboard memory, or with wireline surface access for real time access to measurement data or programming the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Talha Jamal Ahmad, Mohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
  • Publication number: 20140333308
    Abstract: Disclosed is an advanced detector system and method using a forward three-dimensional induced polarization method for a TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) construction tunnel. A narrow detection space of a full-face excavated tunnel is fully used, a controller controls doors of a source and measuring electrode compartment and a shielding electrode compartment to open and controls a corresponding hydraulic delivery device to automatically and quickly arrange a source electrode system, a measuring electrode system and a shielding electrode system. Under the action of a shielding current system, tomography detection supply current is directed ahead of the working face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Shucai Li, Bin Liu, Zhengyu Liu, Lichao Nie, Chao Song, Huaifeng Sun, Chunjin Lin, Chuanwu Wang, Xinji Xu, Lei Xu, Tingyu Hao, Hao Zhou
  • Patent number: 8860415
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods for manufacturing an apparatus and methods for measuring a fluid resistivity are provided. An apparatus for measuring a fluid resistivity includes a fluid column defining structure, two current injecting electrodes, voltage measurement electrodes, and two additional electrodes. The fluid column defining structure is configured to allow a fluid, whose resistivity is to be measured, to fill a fluid column inside the fluid column defining structure. The two current injecting electrodes are configured to inject a known current into the fluid column. The voltage measurement electrodes are configured to measure a voltage across a measurement column included in the fluid column. The two additional electrodes disposed inside the fluid column defining structure, outside of the positions of the two current injecting electrodes in the longitudinal direction are electrically connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sondex Wireline Limited
    Inventors: Scott Kennedy, Timothy Johnson, Douglas MacLean
  • Patent number: 8841899
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electro-magnetic tomography including: a modulator configured to modulate a generated transmit reference signal using a pseudo-noise signal; a transmitter configured to transmit the signal modulated by the modulator; a receiver configured to receive a signal transmitted from a transmitter; an amplitude detector configured to compare an amplitude magnitude between the signal received by the receiver and the transmit reference signal to measure a received amplitude; and a demodulator configured to demodulate the signal received by the receiver using the pseudo-noise signal to generate a cyclic signal, compare a phase between the transmit reference signal and the cyclic signal to measure the phase of the cyclic signal, and determine the phase of the received signal based on the phase of the measured cyclic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Soon-Ik Jeon, Hyuk-Je Kim, Seong-Ho Son
  • Publication number: 20140253128
    Abstract: A fluid measurement system (10, 110, 210) and method of fluid mix determination over a sampling length (25) in a well bore (12). A pulse generator is nm in the well bore from which is suspended a cable (24) with two conductors having a length equal to the sampling length. A high frequency pulse is injected along the cable and from the detected response average propagation velocities over the various reflections are used to determine the mixture of fluids. Embodiments are described which improve the determination such as using a cable with sections of alternating impedance, helically wound cable, providing multiple signal generators, incorporating a mathematical model, analysing the analogue signal response, providing a reference cable and incorporating an optical distributed temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: David Sirda Shanks, David Cyril Hendry
  • Patent number: 8823379
    Abstract: The invention relates to a logging tool (1) for determining properties of a fluid (2) surrounding the tool arranged downhole in a casing (3) comprising a wall (4) and having a longitudinal extension. The logging tool has a substantially longitudinal cylindrical shape with a longitudinal axis and, when seen in cross-section, a periphery (5). Moreover, the logging tool comprises a plurality of electrodes (6) arranged spaced around the longitudinal axis in the periphery of the tool so that the fluid flows between the electrodes and the casing wall and a means for measuring the capacitance between two electrodes in all possible combinations giving n*(n?1)/2 capacitance measurements for n electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Welltec A/S
    Inventors: Jørgen Hallundbaek, Jimmy Kjaersgaard-Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8773132
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for evaluating and measuring the geometry of a fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Conocophillips Company
    Inventors: Peter M. Eick, Joel D. Brewer, Frank D. Janiszewski
  • Patent number: 8754650
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method to determine a characteristic of a subsurface formation using electromagnetic coupling components. A downhole logging tool having one or more transmitters and one or more receivers, and being capable of measuring the electromagnetic coupling components is provided. The electromagnetic coupling components are measured using the downhole logging tool and used to form a 3-D Lateral Indicator and/or a 3-D Longitudinal Indicator. The 3-D Lateral Indicator and/or the 3-D Longitudinal Indicator are used to determine the characteristic of the subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Legendre, Fabienne Legendre
  • Patent number: 8749246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining a maximum leakage current in unearthed power supply networks with a plurality of conductors. The method comprises the steps of: feeding of a measurement signal UP with a measurement frequency fPuls into a conductor arrangement, setting the measurement frequency fPuls, measuring a line-to-line voltage UL-E for each conductor, determining a maximum occurring line-to-line voltage UL-Emax from the measured line-to-line voltages UL-E, determining a voltage UZe across a measurement resistance RM for calculating a leakage impedance ZE, calculating the leakage impedance ZE, and calculating a maximum leakage current THC. The device comprises a signal generator for feeding in the UP with the fPuls, a network coupling circuit between the signal generator and the conductor arrangement, a voltage measuring circuit for measuring the UL-E, and an impedance measuring circuit for determining the Ze by means of the determining of the UZe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Bender GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Oliver Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8736270
    Abstract: A technique utilizes the acquisition of data from desired subterranean regions via a logging system. The logging system is constructed for use in a wellbore and comprises a transmitter module having a transmitter antenna. Additionally, the logging system utilizes a receiver module spaced from the transmitter module and having a receiver antenna. The transmitter antenna and the receiver antenna are oriented to enable sensitivity in desired directions, such as ahead of the logging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Seydoux, Emmanuel Legendre, Reza Taherian
  • Publication number: 20140111207
    Abstract: A system and method for deep detection of petroleum and hydrocarbon deposits is disclosed. The system includes a sensing array that includes a plurality of electrodes positioned in the ground at a testing site, a sensing device, and a system for generating a seismic event that generates below-ground signals that are received by the sensing array. The system enables detection and depth determination of underground features such as petroleum and hydrocarbon deposits at greater depths compared to conventional systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: AquaLocate LLC
    Inventor: Ervin Kraemer
  • Publication number: 20140062487
    Abstract: Systems, tools and techniques for generating downhole parameters of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation and having a downhole fluid (108) therein are provided. A downhole tool with sensor pads (118a, 118b, 118c, 118d) is positioned in the wellbore (106) for emitting an electrical signal therefrom and for measuring the electrical signal. A downhole fluid unit is provided for generating downhole fluid measurements from the measured electrical signal passing through the downhole fluid and for generating a downhole fluid distribution profile (430) based on the downhole fluid measurements whereby separation of the downhole fluid may be indicated. A formation unit may be provided for generating formation measurements from the measured electrical signal passing through the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Richard Bloemenkamp
  • Publication number: 20140060819
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for determining surface wetting of a metallic material with changing well fluids. In general, the methods according to the invention include measuring electrical impedance spectroscopy (“EIS”) for a system simulating downhole conditions for the wetting of a surface. Methods and apparatuses for making EIS measurements model double-layer capacitance at a downhole surface in a well, from which the nature and quantification of the wetting of the surface can be inferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sairam KS. Pindiprolu, Dennis Willie Gray, Venkata Gopala Rao Palla
  • Publication number: 20140002088
    Abstract: Downhole water level detecting apparatus for detecting the level of water in a formation in the region of a well installation. The detecting apparatus includes a transmitter for applying electrical signals to a signaling loop at a first location. The signaling loop includes a downhole metallic structure of the well installation and an earth return. The detecting apparatus also includes a detector for monitoring electrical signals in the signaling loop, and an evaluation unit arranged for determining a level of water in the formation relative to the downhole metallic structure in dependence on the monitored signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Expro North Sea Limited
    Inventors: Steven Martin Hudson, Robert Charles Bromwich, Alexandra Vasil'evna Rogacheva, Bridget Mary Weston