Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080314137 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING FORMATION PROPERTIES - This application relates to various methods and apparatus for rapidly obtaining accurate formation property data from a drilled earthen borehole. Quickly obtaining accurate formation property data, including formation fluid pressure, is vital to beneficially describing the various formations being intersected. For example, methods are disclosed for collecting numerous property values with a minimum of downhole tools, correcting and calibrating downhole measurements and sensors, and developing complete formation predictors and models by acquiring a diverse set of direct formation measurements, such as formation fluid pressure and temperature. Also disclosed are various methods of using of accurately and quickly obtained formation property data. | 12-25-2008 |
20110108277 | Formation Treatment Using Electromagnetic Radiation - A method of treating a subterranean formation includes injecting a magnetically permeable material into the formation and energizing the magnetically permeable material using electromagnetic radiation. The magnetically permeable material reacts to the electromagnetic radiation by producing heat. In some embodiments, a fracturing fluid is made magnetically permeable, injected into the formation to fracture the formation, and heated in response to electromagnetic radiation applied to the magnetically permeable material. In some embodiments, electromagnetically heated material is caused to explode. In some embodiments, the magnetically permeable material is tracked or monitored for fluid or fracture propagation. A system includes a fluid treatment tool ( | 05-12-2011 |
20110109912 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING PRESSURE SIGNALS - An apparatus comprising an encoded pressure signal propagating in a fluid flowing in a conduit. An optical fiber measurement element has a reflector on one end and is disposed around at least a portion of the conduit. A light source injects a second optical signal and a third optical signal propagating in first and second optical fibers, respectively. A delay section is disposed in the second optical fiber. The second optical signal and the third optical signal are directed into the optical fiber measurement element and are reflected back from the reflective end such that at least a portion of the reflected second and third optical signals propagate through the second and first optical fibers respectively to an optical detector. The optical detector senses an interference between the reflected optical signals and outputs a first signal related thereto. | 05-12-2011 |
20110116099 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING PRESSURE SIGNALS - An apparatus for detecting data in a fluid pressure signal in a conduit comprises an optical fiber loop comprises a measurement section and a delay section wherein the measurement section is disposed substantially circumferentially around at least a portion of the conduit, and wherein the measurement section changes length in response to the fluid pressure signal in the conduit. A light source injects a first optical signal in a first direction into the measurement section and a second optical signal in a second direction opposite the first direction into the delay section. An optical detector senses an interference phase shift between the first optical signal and the second optical signal and outputs a first signal related thereto. | 05-19-2011 |
20110290559 | SURFACE REAL-TIME PROCESSING OF DOWNHOLE DATA - A method and apparatus for controlling oil well drilling equipment is disclosed. One or more sensors are distributed in the oil well drilling equipment. Each sensor produces a signal. A surface processor coupled to the one or more sensors via a high speed communications medium receives the signals from the one or more sensors via the high speed communications medium. The surface processor is situated on or near the earth's surface. The surface processor includes a program to process the received signals and to produce one or more control signals. The system includes one or more controllable elements distributed in the oil well drilling equipment. The one or more controllable elements respond to the one or more control signals. | 12-01-2011 |
20120038115 | Anti-Extrusion Seal for High Temperature Applications - A sealing system between a tubular and a chassis. In some embodiments, the sealing system includes a sealing member and an outer ring. The sealing member is compressed between the chassis and the tubular. The sealing member has a temperature and comprises a resilient material that is expandable as the temperature increases and contractible as the temperature decreases. The outer ring is displaceable to close an annulus between an outer surface of the outer ring and the inner surface of the tubular by expansion of the sealing element, whereby the sealing member is prevented from extruding into the annulus. Further, the outer ring comprises a compliant material that is deformable under load from the sealing element as the sealing element expands. | 02-16-2012 |
20120055710 | Drill String Tubular with a Detection System Mounted Therein - A measurement system for collecting data. In some embodiments, the measurement system includes a tubular suspended downhole, the tubular having an outer surface and a flowbore extending therethrough, the flowbore conveying a fluid, a first recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular, a first detection system mounted in the first recess, a second recess formed in the outer surface of the tubular, and a second detection system mounted in the second recess. The second recess is offset relative to the first recess by at least one of an axial distance and a circumferential distance. The first detection system is operable to measure a portion of the data, and the second detection system operable to measure another portion of the data. | 03-08-2012 |
20120125077 | DOWNHOLE INSTRUMENT CALIBRATION DURING FORMATION SURVEY - A downhole sensor calibration apparatus includes a rotational or gimbaling mechanism for guiding a sensing axis of an orientation responsive sensor through a three-dimensional orbit about three orthogonal axes. A method includes using measurements taken over the three-dimensional orbit to calibrate the sensor and determine other characteristics of the sensor or tool. | 05-24-2012 |
20130080063 | MUD PULSE TELEMETRY - Mud pulse telemetry. The various embodiments are directed to methods and systems of encoding data in a mud pulse telemetry system, where at least a portion of the data is encoded the time between pressure transitions. Moreover, the various embodiments are directed to detection methods and systems that detect the pressure transitions at the surface. | 03-28-2013 |
20130128276 | Apparatus and Method for Detecting Pressure Signals - An apparatus for detecting data in a fluid pressure signal in a conduit comprises an optical fiber loop comprises a measurement section and a delay section wherein the measurement section is disposed substantially circumferentially around at least a portion of the conduit, and wherein the measurement section changes length in response to the fluid pressure signal in the conduit. A light source injects a first optical signal in a first direction into the measurement section and a second optical signal in a second direction opposite the first direction into the delay section. An optical detector senses an interference phase shift between the first optical signal and the second optical signal and outputs a first signal related thereto. | 05-23-2013 |
20130141733 | Apparatus and Method for Detecting Pressure Signals - An apparatus comprising an encoded pressure signal propagating in a fluid flowing in a conduit. An optical fiber measurement element has a reflector on one end and is disposed around at least a portion of the conduit. A light source injects a second optical signal and a third optical signal propagating in first and second optical fibers, respectively. A delay section is disposed in the second optical fiber. The second optical signal and the third optical signal are directed into the optical fiber measurement element and are reflected back from the reflective end such that at least a portion of the reflected second and third optical signals propagate through the second and first optical fibers respectively to an optical detector. The optical detector senses an interference between the reflected optical signals and outputs a first signal related thereto. | 06-06-2013 |
20130328442 | MAGNETOSTRICTIVE POWER SUPPLY FOR BOTTOM HOLE ASSEMBLY WITH ROTATION-RESISTANT HOUSING - A power supply includes a rotor having an undulated surface ( | 12-12-2013 |
20130343918 | HYDRAULIC PUMP WITH SOLID-STATE ACTUATOR - A hydraulic pump includes a port and a piston assembly fluidically coupled to the port. The piston assembly includes a piston and a solid-state actuator, where a shape change of the solid-state actuator is induced when a field is applied to the solid-state actuator, and where alternating shape changes of the solid-state actuator provide reciprocating movement to the piston. | 12-26-2013 |
20140041881 | SINGLE TRIP LINER SETTING AND DRILLING ASSEMBLY - A liner assembly ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140239745 | ROTARY TO LINEAR CONVERTER FOR DOWNHOLE APPLICATIONS - A device generates electrical energy from mechanical motion in a downhole environment. The device converts rotary motion into a linear strain in a magnetostrictive material. The device includes a rotor, a magnetostrictive element, and an electrically conductive coil. The rotor rotates within a stator of a drill string. The magnetostrictive element is attached to the rotor by a first ball joint. The magnetostrictive element is configured to experience axial strain in response to rotational movement of the rotor. The magnetostrictive element includes a second ball joint on an end of the magnetostrictive element opposite the first ball joint. The electrically conductive coil is disposed in proximity to the magnetostrictive element. The electrically conductive coil is configured to generate an electrical current in response to a change in flux density of the magnetostrictive element. | 08-28-2014 |
20140284937 | VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTER - The system is a drilling bearing device. The device includes an outer body structure, and inner body structure, and a loading structure. The inner body structure is disposed at least partially within the outer body structure. The inner body structure moves relative to the outer body structure. The loading structure is disposed between the outer body structure and the inner body structure. The loading structure facilitates adjustment of a position of the inner body structure relative to the outer body structure relative to the outer body structure resulting from mechanical wear in the device. The loading structure substantially prevents displacement of the inner body structure relative to the outer body structure in response to a reciprocating displacement to maintain a substantially constant relative location. | 09-25-2014 |
20150025806 | MUD PULSE TELEMETRY - Mud pulse telemetry. The various embodiments are directed to methods and systems of encoding data in a mud pulse telemetry system, where at least a portion of the data is encoded the time between pressure transitions. Moreover, the various embodiments are directed to detection methods and systems that detect the pressure transitions at the surface. | 01-22-2015 |