Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080245960 | Method and Apparatus to Determine Characteristics of an Oil-Based Mud Downhole - A laser spectroscopy system can determine the identity and/or quantity of a component of a fluid at a remote location such as downhole in a wellbore or inside a pipeline, particularly at high temperature, e.g. from about 75 to 175° C. The system includes a fiber laser doped with a rare earth element (e.g. Nd | 10-09-2008 |
20080271533 | METHOD OF MEASURING BOREHOLE GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION - A sensor adapted for measuring acceleration, the sensor including a light source for illuminating an optical cavity; the optical cavity oriented for receiving light from the source, the optical cavity comprising a quality factor greater than or equal to about 10,000; and a photodetector for measuring a resonant frequency of light emitted from the optical cavity. | 11-06-2008 |
20090015834 | OPTICAL SENSORS FOR DOWNHOLE MEASUREMENTS USING BIREFRINGENT MATERIALS - A sensor for measuring in a borehole at least one of orientation, acceleration and pressure, the sensor including: a light source; a birefringent material receiving light from the source; and a photodetector for measuring light transmitted through the birefringent material to measure the at least one of orientation, acceleration and pressure. | 01-15-2009 |
20090045814 | HIGH TEMPERATURE DOWNHOLE TOOL - Apparatus and method for estimating a downhole parameter include a high-gain semiconductor device having a plurality of semiconductor layers forming an active region, the active region having a bandgap offset that provides device operation through at least the temperature environment of a downhole location, the high-gain semiconductor device being used at least in part to estimate a downhole parameter. | 02-19-2009 |
20090056434 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING FLUID CONTENT DOWNHOLE - Method and apparatus for estimating a downhole fluid parameter include a high-gain semiconductor light emitter device conveyed into a well borehole, a semiconductor light emitter having a gain region that produces light having a first center wavelength responsive to a selected fluid property, the semiconductor light emitter being carried by the carrier. The apparatus may include an electrical current source that applies an electrical current pulse train to the semiconductor light emitter and an analyzer device that analyses a first response of light emitted from the semiconductor light source after emitted light interacts with the fluid, the analyzed first response being used to estimate the fluid property using the first center wavelength. A current modulator modulates the electrical current pulse train to vary a temperature of the gain region to change the first center wavelength in the emitted light to a second center wavelength and a second response of the emitted light is analyzed by the analyzer device after interaction with the fluid to estimate the fluid property using the second center wavelength. | 03-05-2009 |
20090100925 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COATING FLEXURAL MECHANICAL RESONATORS - An illustrative embodiment is disclosed, including but not limited to an apparatus for estimating a property of a fluid downhole, including but not limited to a piezoelectric flexural mechanical resonator disposed in the fluid downhole; an electrode embedded in the piezoelectric flexural mechanical resonator; and a substantially transparent conductive coating covering the piezoelectric flexural mechanical resonator. A method is disclosed for estimating a property of a fluid downhole, the method including but not limited to embedding an electrode in a piezoelectric flexural mechanical resonator; coating the piezoelectric flexural mechanical resonator with a substantially transparent conductive coating; and disposing a piezoelectric flexural mechanical resonator disposed in the fluid downhole. | 04-23-2009 |
20090114007 | CHEMICAL SENSOR USING FOUR WAVE MIXING TECHNIQUE - A sensor for measuring a property of a chemical, the sensor including: a light source; and a mixing medium in optical communication with the light source and exposed to the chemical; wherein four wave mixing of light interacting with the mixing medium provides a signal that indicates the property. | 05-07-2009 |
20090114011 | TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE SENSOR USING FOUR WAVE MIXING TECHNIQUE - A sensor for measuring at least one of temperature and pressure in a borehole, the sensor including a mixing medium disposed in a housing adapted for insertion into the borehole, the mixing medium exposed to at least one of the temperature and the pressure; wherein the mixing medium is used for four wave mixing of light to provide a signal that indicates at least one of the temperature and the pressure. | 05-07-2009 |
20090114014 | FORCE AND ACCELERATION SENSOR USING FOUR WAVE MIXING TECHNIQUE - A sensor for measuring force, the sensor including: a light source; and a mixing medium in optical communication with the light source and exposed to the force; wherein four wave mixing of light interacting with the mixing medium provides a signal that indicates the force. | 05-07-2009 |
20090114805 | METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION OF PETROLEUM COMPOUNDS USING FREQUENCY MIXING ON SURFACES - A method for determining a chemical composition of a material in a borehole, the method including placing an analysis apparatus into the borehole; placing a sample of the material onto a metal surface of the apparatus; illuminating the sample at an interface between the sample and the metal surface with a first light beam and a second light beam; measuring sum frequency light generated from the illuminating; and analyzing the sum frequency light to determine the chemical composition of the material. | 05-07-2009 |
20090180101 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING A DOWNHOLE FLUID PROPERTY - Apparatus and method for estimating a downhole fluid property using a carrier conveyable into a well borehole, one or more light sources carried by the carrier, the one or more light sources comprising at least one quantum cascade laser light source, a fluid sample cell that receives light emitted from the one or more light sources, and at least one photodetector that detects light emitted from the one or more light sources after the light interacts with a fluid in the fluid sample cell. | 07-16-2009 |
20090199630 | FIBER OPTIC SENSOR SYSTEM USING WHITE LIGHT INTERFEROMETERY - A downhole fiber optic apparatus for acquiring downhole information includes a carrier conveyable in a borehole, an electromagnetic energy emitter coupled to the carrier, and a fiber optic sensor that receives electromagnetic energy emitted from the electromagnetic energy emitter and generates an optical output signal representative of the downhole information. A method for acquiring downhole information includes conveying a carrier in a borehole, emitting electromagnetic energy from an electromagnetic energy emitter coupled to the carrier, receiving electromagnetic energy emitted from the electromagnetic energy emitter with a fiber optic sensor, and generating an optical signal representative of the downhole information using the fiber optic sensor. | 08-13-2009 |
20090283748 | SEMICONDUCTOR FOR USE IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS - A gallium-nitride semiconductor apparatus may include an active region having one or more nitride-based barrier layers that are modulation-doped using a nitride-based doped layer. An active region may have at least two nitride-based barrier layers, and a nitride-based blocking layer may be disposed between the at least two barrier layers. | 11-19-2009 |
20090284259 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOWNHOLE SPECTROSCOPY - Apparatus and method for estimating a property of a downhole fluid including a carrier that is conveyed in a borehole, and a semiconductor electromagnetic energy source carried by the carrier, the semiconductor electromagnetic energy source having an active region that includes one or more nitride-based barrier layers that are modulation-doped using a nitride-based doped layer. | 11-19-2009 |
20100148049 | METHOD OF IDENTIFICATION OF PETROLEUM COMPOUNDS USING FREQUENCY MIXING ON SURFACES - A method for estimating a chemical composition of a material in a borehole penetrating the earth, the method includes: placing an analysis unit into the borehole; placing a sample of the material onto an enhanced surface of the analysis unit, the enhanced surface having a feature configured to increase an electric susceptibility of the sample at an interface between the sample and the enhanced surface; illuminating the sample at the interface with a first light beam and a second light beam; measuring sum frequency light generated from the illuminating; and analyzing the sum frequency light to estimate the chemical composition of the material. | 06-17-2010 |
20100181472 | Method and Apparatus to Determine Characteristics of an Oil-Based Mud Downhole - A laser spectroscopy system can determine the identity and/or quantity of a component of a fluid at a remote location such as downhole in a wellbore or inside a pipeline, particularly at high temperature, e.g. from about 75 to 175° C., without additional or external cooling. The system includes a fiber laser doped with a rare earth element (e.g. Nd | 07-22-2010 |
20100220324 | DOWNHOLE SENSORS USING MANUFACTURED ANISOTROPIC PERMITTIVITY - A apparatus for use in a borehole in an earth formation. The apparatus may include: an electromagnetic source; an anisotropic permittivity material, either natural or manufactured, receiving electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic source; and a detector for estimating the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the anisotropic permittivity material as an indication of a parameter of interest. Also, a method of estimating a parameter of interest using the aforementioned apparatus. | 09-02-2010 |
20120089335 | FLUID PRESSURE-VISCOSITY ANALYZER FOR DOWNHOLE FLUID SAMPLING PRESSURE DROP RATE SETTING - Methods and apparatus for estimating a hydrocarbon fluid parameter using a hydrocarbon fluid testing module. The method may include estimating a hydrocarbon fluid parameter value where a precipitate begins to form in a hydrocarbon fluid sample. The method may also include extracting a hydrocarbon fluid sample under pre-precipitate conditions; changing at least one hydrocarbon fluid parameter, generating information indicative of precipitate formation; and communicating the estimated value of the hydrocarbon fluid parameter at the precipitate formation point. The method may also include producing hydrocarbon fluid sample from a formation using the estimated value and a bubble point. The disclosure also includes an apparatus for implementing the method. | 04-12-2012 |
20120125087 | OPTICAL METHOD FOR DETERMINING FOULING OF CRUDE AND HEAVY FUELS - A method for detecting the formation of at least one phase in a mixture, particularly a hydrocarbon mixture. The method may include using a probe to expose a portion of the mixture to electromagnetic radiation to determine the value of a parameter of interest indicative of the formation of a phase. The method may also include using the value of the parameter of interest with a correlation between a known property of the mixture and the value of a parameter of interest to detect the formation of a phase. | 05-24-2012 |
20130062514 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING A DOWNHOLE FLUID PROPERTY USING A MINIATURE INTEGRATED CIRCUIT SPECTROMETER - An apparatus for estimating a property of a downhole fluid includes a carrier that is conveyable in a borehole, a test cell carried by the carrier for capturing the downhole fluid, an integrated circuit positioned inside of the test cell, and an electromagnetic energy source that emits an electromagnetic energy beam having a first bandwidth. A first filter is formed on the integrated circuit in electromagnetic energy communication with the first electromagnetic energy beam. A flow path is formed in the integrated circuit wherein the flow path contains the downhole fluid in the test cell and is in electromagnetic energy communication with a portion of the electromagnetic energy beam. An electromagnetic energy detector is in electromagnetic energy communication with a portion of the electromagnetic energy beam that has interacted with the downhole fluid for estimating the property of the downhole fluid. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063149 | REDUCING FLUID CAPACITANCE AND CONDUCTANCE EFFECTS ON PIEZOELECTRIC RESONATOR MEASUREMENTS - An apparatus for estimating a property of a fluid in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a piezoelectric material configured to be at least partially immersed in the fluid and embedded with a first electrode pair and a second electrode pair. An electronic unit is coupled to the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair and configured to measure motion impedance of the fluid caused by motion of the piezoelectric material by applying a first electrical stimulus to the first electrode pair and a second electrical stimulus to the second electrode pair and by receiving a first electrical signal from the first pair of electrodes and a second electrical signal from the second pair of electrodes to estimate the property. The resulting motion impedance measurement has a reduced influence from electrical properties of the fluid. | 03-14-2013 |
20130107258 | Downhole Sensors Using Anisotropic Permittivity | 05-02-2013 |
20130118734 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING A DOWNHOLE FLUID PROPERTY USING A RARE EARTH DOPED LASER - A method and apparatus are disclosed for estimating a property of a downhole fluid, the apparatus including but not limited to a carrier that is conveyable in a borehole; a test cell carried by the carrier for capturing the downhole fluid; a rare earth doped electromagnetic energy source in electromagnetic energy communication with the downhole fluid in the test cell; and an electromagnetic energy detector in electromagnetic energy communication with electromagnetic energy emitted by the rare earth doped electromagnetic energy source that has interacted with the fluid for estimating the property of the downhole fluid. | 05-16-2013 |
20130119994 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING A PROPERTY OF A DOWNHOLE FLUID - An apparatus is disclosed for estimating a property of a downhole fluid, the apparatus including but not limited to a test cell that receives the downhole fluid; a swept frequency electromagnetic energy source that emits electromagnetic energy toward the downhole fluid in the test cell; an electromagnetic/mechanical device that is immersed in the fluid and receives the emitted electromagnetic energy, wherein the emitted electromagnetic energy being emitted is swept about a resonant frequency for the electromagnetic/mechanical device; and an electromagnetic energy detector in electromagnetic communication with the electromagnetic/mechanical device immersed in the fluid, the electromagnetic energy detector producing an output signal indicative of the downhole fluid property. A system and method for estimating a property of a downhole fluid are also disclosed. | 05-16-2013 |
20130134981 | CRYSTAL SENSOR MADE BY ION IMPLANTATION - Disclosed is a method for producing a crystal sensor. The method includes selecting a crystal configured to sense a property of interest. The method further includes implanting ions in the crystal using ion-implantation to produce a conductive region within the crystal where the conductive region is capable of providing a signal to sense the property of interest. Also disclosed is a method and apparatus for estimating a property of interest using the crystal sensor in a borehole penetrating the earth. | 05-30-2013 |
20140027626 | OPTICAL PHOTODETECTOR FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE OPERATION - An apparatus configured for estimating a parameter of interest in a borehole using at least one photodiode configured to generate signals, the at least one photodiode including a substance configured to reduce current leakage of the at least one photodiode in a downhole temperature environment. The method may include using the apparatus under downhole conditions. | 01-30-2014 |
20140131034 | High Precision Locked Laser Operating at Elevated Temperatures - A system, method and apparatus for operating a laser at a downhole location is disclosed. A gas is configured to receive an output of a laser and to absorb a selected wavelength of the laser corresponding to a selected spectral line of the gas. A pressure device reduces broadening of the selected spectral line related to a temperature at the downhole location. A photodetector receives light from the gas chamber and provides a measurement related to the received light. A processor alters an operating parameter of the laser using the obtained measurement to operate the laser. | 05-15-2014 |