Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100222125 | Lottery Transaction Device, System and Method with Paperless Wagering and Payment of Winnings - A lottery device, system and method incorporate lottery and non-lottery transaction capabilities within a single device that also provides for paperless wagering and payment of winnings. As part of the present invention, a transaction instrument facilitates typical consumer transactions as well as transactions related to lottery offerings and can use a reader terminal component to associate lottery tickets with the transaction instrument. | 09-02-2010 |
20100272314 | OBSTRUCTION DETECTOR - An optical reader of a form is discussed where the form has a stored known boundary or boundaries. When the boundaries in a captured image do not match those of the stored known boundaries, it may be determined that an obstruction exists that will interfere with a correct reading of the form. The boundary may be printed, blank, and may include quiet areas, or combinations thereof in stored known patterns. A captured image of the form is compared to retrieved, stored boundary information and differences are noted. The differences may be thresholded to determine if an obstruction exists. If an obstruction is detected, the operator may be signaled, and the location may be displayed or highlighted. The form may be discarded or obstruction may be cleared and the form may be re-processed. | 10-28-2010 |
20110069893 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DOCUMENT LOCATION AND RECOGNITION - Templates of known forms are stored in computer system. The templates are digitized pixels on which connected component analyses are performed resulting in a first list of components. Five to ten of those components are selected to create an ordered feature list for each form. The computer system then captures an optical image of a form positioned on the top of a stack of forms. The optical image is digitized and stored in the computer (or processor) system as a captured digital image of pixels. A connected component analysis is performed on the captured digital image that results in a second list of image components. Image components on the second list are compared to those on the first list and then each succeeding feature in one of the ordered feature lists. If the comparison is successful, the form is known and other marks on the form may then be processed. If the comparison is unsuccessful, a new feature list is tried. | 03-24-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090301635 | Method for Curing an Inflatable Packer - A method of curing an inflatable packing is provided that includes providing a packer assembly having an inflatable packer around a mandrel; a polyamide bandage around the inflatable packer; and a sealing layer around both the polyamide bandage and the inflatable packer to from an airtight seal about the inflatable packer, wherein the method further includes curing the assembled packer assembly. | 12-10-2009 |
20090301715 | Single Packer System For Use In A Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer layer that expands to create a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. The drain is located in the outer layer between its axial ends for collecting formation fluid which is routed from the drain to an axial end of the outer layer via a fluid flow passage. Mechanical fittings are mounted at the axial ends of the outer layer, and at least one of the mechanical fittings comprises one or more flow members coupled to the flow passage to direct the collected fluid from the packer. The one or more flow members are designed to move in a manner that freely allows radial expansion and contraction of the outer layer. | 12-10-2009 |
20090308604 | Single Packer System for Collecting Fluid in a Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having a plurality of sample collectors disposed along an expandable packer element. An anti-expansion device also is deployed along the expandable packer element to limit expansion in localized regions. Limiting the expansion can provide additional space or an increased production surface that facilitates collection of samples. | 12-17-2009 |
20100071898 | Single Packer System for Fluid Management in a Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer. | 03-25-2010 |
20100288511 | System and Method for Enhancing Packer Operation and Longevity - A technique improves the formation of dependable seals along wellbores. A packer is constructed with a plurality of elastomeric layers and an internal mechanical layer that extend between mechanical extremities. One or more of a variety of features can be added to, or used in conjunction with, the packer to reduce wear and the potential for detrimental damage during use of the packer. | 11-18-2010 |
20110036597 | Fiber Reinforced Packer - A technique enables construction of a simplified inflatable packer. An inflatable packer is constructed with a packer reinforcement layer having at least one fiber layer. The fiber layers provide both mechanical and anti-extrusion qualities in a relatively simple and small package. Depending on the desired application, the inflatable packer also comprises an inner bladder layer and other potential layers, such as an outer seal layer. Mechanical extremities are used to secure longitudinal ends of the various packer layers, including the packer reinforcement layer. | 02-17-2011 |
20110272150 | WELL FLUID SAMPLING SYSTEM FOR USE IN HEAVY OIL ENVIRONMENTS - A technique involves sampling fluids in a well environment. An expandable packer is constructed with an outer seal layer. At least one sample drain is positioned through the outer seal layer, and a heater element is deployed in the at least one sample drain. In one embodiment, the heater element is deployed proximate a radially outlying surface of the expandable packer. Additionally, a temperature sensor may be positioned proximate the at least one sample drain to monitor temperature in the environment heated by the heater element. | 11-10-2011 |
20130228279 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING PACKER OPERATION AND LONGEVITY - A technique improves the formation of dependable seals along wellbores. A packer is constructed with a plurality of elastomeric layers and an internal mechanical layer that extend between mechanical extremities. One or more of a variety of features can be added to, or used in conjunction with, the packer to reduce wear and the potential for detrimental damage during use of the packer. | 09-05-2013 |
20130306309 | Single Packer System For Fluid Management In A Wellbore - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer. | 11-21-2013 |
20130341016 | Sampling Assembly With Outer Layer Of Rings - A sampling assembly has an inner expandable packer, and an outer layer formed by rings may be disposed about and/or may be positioned on the outer surface of the inner expandable packer member. Drains may be positioned between the rings and may be located under ports positioned between the rings. Flowlines may be connected to the drains, may be positioned in the rings and may extend through the rings. For each of the ports, a plate may be positioned between the port and the laterally adjacent port. The flowlines may be connected to a downstream component, such as a fluid analysis module, a fluid containment module and/or the like. | 12-26-2013 |
20140020890 | Sampling Assembly For A Single Packer - A sampling assembly of a single packer assembly may have more guard drains than sampling drains. The single packer assembly having the sampling assembly may be deployed in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, and the single packer assembly may be deployed on a wireline cable or another deployment or conveyance. The number and the area of the sampling drains, the number and the area of the guard drains, and the positions of the sampling drains and the guard drains may be designed so that the guard drains which are operational may provide a fluid intake rate exceeding a predetermined threshold if one of the guard drains is congested and/or blocked. | 01-23-2014 |
20140116718 | SINGLE PACKER WITH A SEALING LAYER SHAPE ENHANCED FOR FLUID PERFORMANCE - A system and/or a method collects formation fluids using a single packer with expansion rings and/or an irregular sealing layer. The packer may have an expansion ring extending around an outer circumference. The expansion ring may seal a portion of a wellbore to sample fluid from a formation. An irregular sealing layer may facilitate leaking between drains of the packer. The irregular sealing layer may have grooves through which fluid may flow. The irregular sealing layer may be composed of fibers and/or plastic. | 05-01-2014 |
20140131031 | FILTRATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A PACKER - Filtration systems, methods and/or apparatuses for use on a packer system are provided. Filtration assemblies and/or filters may prevent mud, gravel, and/or other solids from clogging and/or entering drains on a packer. The filters and/or filtration assemblies may have multiple dynamic components to prevent debris from entering the packer system. Rotary filters, cylindrical filters, and/or belt filters may be used to clear fluid obstructions from sampling drains. Helices and/or turbines may harness power of fluid flowing through the drains and/or flowlines to operate moving dynamic components of systems and/or apparatuses. The filters and/or filtration assemblies may be interchangeable such that various filters may be used on a single packer system. | 05-15-2014 |
20140144625 | SYSTEM AND METHOD RELATED TO A SAMPLING PACKER - A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer. The single packer comprises an outer bladder with drains positioned in the outer bladder to obtain formation fluid samples. Features also may be incorporated into the single packer to limit sealing in the circumferential spaces between the drains and to provide a larger sampling surface than provided simply via the drain surface area. | 05-29-2014 |
20140151039 | Expandable Filtering System For Single Packer Systems - An arrangement having a body with at least one drain provided in the body is disclosed. The drain is configured to receive fluid when the body is expanded from a first unexpanded condition to a second expanded condition. At least one flowline is connectable to the drain. A screen is positioned over the drain and is configurable to expand from the first unexpanded condition to the second expanded condition. | 06-05-2014 |