| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080201079 | Method and apparatus for remote characterization of faults in the vicinity of boreholes - A method and system for characterization of fault conditions within a subterranean volume. In one embodiment, the system comprises means for generating a mathematical model of stress conditions within the volume, from which breakout conditions along a borehole trajectory can be predicted. The system further comprises means for sensing actual breakout conditions along a borehole extending through the volume. Predictive breakout data is compared with the actual sensed breakout conditions to assess the degree of correlation between the predictive data and the actual data, and thus the accuracy of the stress model. Means are provided for enabling a user to cause the mathematical model to be revised to reflect the presence of at least one active fault plane in the volume, where the presumed fault plane is not intersected by the borehole. The revised model is used to generate new predictive breakout data. The process of revising the stress model and assessing the correlation between predictive breakout conditions derived from the model and actual breakout conditions is repeatable in an iterative fashion to achieve an optimal correlation and hence an optimally accurate stress model reflecting fault conditions in the vicinity of but not necessarily penetrated by the borehole. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20090065252 | System and Method for Stress Field Based Wellbore Steering - A system and method for the geomechanical steering of the orientation of a wellbore is disclosed. In one embodiment, any available a priori data regarding the stress characteristics of a region of interest are used to develop a preliminary stress model for the region. A geosteered drilling operation is thereafter commenced, with the trajectory being steered in a direction relative to the stress model of the region. While drilling, real-time data is obtained from conventional down-hole instrumentation. The real-time data is used to refine the stress model for the region, such that the trajectory can be guided on an ongoing basis to achieve an optimal relationship with the measured stress characteristics of the region. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090185446 | Identification of Stress in Formations Using Angles of Fast and Slow Dipole Waves in Borehole Acoustic Logging - Cross-dipole measurements are obtained in a borehole. By estimating a direction of polarization of the fast shear mode at low and high frequencies and comparing the estimated distances, a cause of anisotropy is established. Formation stresses and directions may be estimated. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20100286918 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING PROPERTIES OF EARTH FORMATIONS - A method of predicting a property of an earth formation includes: injecting a fluid into at least one pre-existing feature of the formation at a plurality of constant pressures or flow rates; measuring a response from the at least one pre-existing feature at each of the plurality of constant pressures or flow rates; and estimating at least one property of the at least one pre-existing feature based on the response. An apparatus for predicting a property of an earth formation is also disclosed. | 11-11-2010 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090118639 | Active Stylet Safety Shield - A bone needle assembly has a cannula and a stylet including a shaft received in a cannula shaft. A stylet safety shield is carried by the stylet to cover a sharp tip of the stylet shaft when removed from the cannula shaft after the bone is penetrated. The stylet includes a shield release device that moves the shield somewhat out of a handle member of the stylet when the stylet is released from the cannula, so that the safety shield can be more easily grasped. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090326481 | DISCRIMINATING ORAL-TIP ADAPTOR - An adaptor for discriminating connection of an oral tip of a source of liquid enteral product to a feeding line. In one embodiment, the adaptor includes an internal stop in the body having a contact surface that is angled with respect to a transverse plane extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the connection port so that if the standard luer tip is inserted into the connection port, the luer tip does not make flush contact with the contact surface. In another embodiment, the adaptor includes an external stop surrounding the connection port generally adjacent to the first open end of the body. The adaptor may include an umbrella valve. In other embodiments, the adaptor includes a fluid release opening in fluid communication with the connection port extending generally radially through the adaptor body at a location spaced from the longitudinal ends of the body. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100217152 | Device for Shielding a Sharp Tip of a Cannula and Method of Using the Same - A safety device for shielding a sharp tip of a tubular needle includes a shaft sized and shaped for being received into the passage of the tubular needle through a first end of the passage and extending to a second end of the passage. A shield is associated with the shaft and is constructed for receiving and substantially shielding the sharp tip of the needle. A catch is associated with the shaft. The catch prevents the withdrawal of the shaft from the passage of the needle when the shield is shielding the sharp tip of the needle. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100217153 | Device for Shielding a Sharp Tip of a Cannula and Method of Using the Same - A safety device for shielding a sharp tip of a tubular needle includes a shaft sized and shaped for being received into the passage of the tubular needle through a first end of the passage and extending to a second end of the passage. A shield is associated with the shaft and is constructed for receiving and substantially shielding the sharp tip of the needle. A catch is associated with the shaft. The catch prevents the withdrawal of the shaft from the passage of the needle when the shield is shielding the sharp tip of the needle. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100280410 | Needle Assembly with Removable Depth Stop - A needle assembly ( | 11-04-2010 |
| 20110015579 | Safety Reset Key and Needle Assembly - A needle assembly includes a mounting structure and a needle mounted on the mounting structure and extending outwardly from the mounting structure. The needle has a longitudinal axis, a sharp end and a central axial passageway. A safety shield is associated with the needle and includes a tubular housing having distal and proximal ends. The distal end of the housing has a funnel-shaped surface. A reset key is configured to engage the distal end of the housing. The reset key includes a support. A shaft extending from the support is adapted for inserting into the distal end the housing. The funnel-shaped surface guides the shaft into the housing to register the reset key with the safety shield. | 01-20-2011 |