3M employee and church chorister Art Fry needed something to temporarily mark pages in his hymnal. He was in luck because his colleague, Spencer Silver, accidentally developed a glue that was too weak for other purposes. After initially discouraging consumer response, Post-it Notes became a hit in 1979.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7566868 | Shielded pads for detecting subsurface radiation phenomena Apparatus and method for detecting subsurface radiation phenomena. An elongated support member, adapted for disposal within a wellbore traversing a subsurface formation, includes a recess along its longitudinal axis. A pad is linked to the support member. The pad is... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7339161 | Shielded pads for detecting subsurface radiation phenomena Apparatus and method for detecting subsurface radiation phenomena. An elongated support member, adapted for disposal within a wellbore traversing a subsurface formation, includes a recess along its longitudinal axis. A pad is linked to the support member. The pad is... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334452 | Method for characterizing materials by using a mechanical resonator Methods for monitoring a fluid composition include placing a mechanical resonator in the fluid composition and oscillating the resonator. The resonator can be a tuning fork resonator having tines oscillated in opposite directions and in opposite phases. A variable f... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7279677 | Measuring wellbore diameter with an LWD instrument using compton and photoelectric effects A method for determining the diameter of a wellbore, the wellbore being drilled by a drill string immersed in weighted mud, the weighted mud having a significant weight fraction of a heavy component. A well logging instrument having a gamma ray source and energy-sen... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7276715 | Method and apparatus for safely handling radioactive sources A system for handling a radioactive source includes a container containing a radioactive source and a cap mounted on the container to retain the radioactive source inside the container. The cap has a first locking structure and a second locking structure. The system... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7173239 | Method and apparatus for downhole quantification of methane using near infrared spectroscopy The present invention describes a unique method and apparatus for applying near-infrared spectroscopy to estimate weight percent of methane in crude oil from which one can then infer gas-oil ratio (GOR) of crude oils downhole in real time while collecting a fluid sa... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7142306 | Optical probes and probe systems for monitoring fluid flow in a well Several optical probes useful in downhole applications are provided. A first probe has a tip in the form of a cubical corner with the diagonal of the cubical corner aligned with the axis of the probe. A second probe has a tip formed in a 45° cone. In these designs,... | 11/28/2006 |
| 6951262 | Method and apparatus for suppressing waves in a borehole Methods and apparatus for suppression of wave energy within a fluid-filled borehole using a low pressure acoustic barrier. In one embodiment, a flexible diaphragm type device is configured as an open bottomed tubular structure for disposition in a borehole to be fil... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6938470 | Method and apparatus for downhole fluid characterization using flexural mechanical resonators The present invention provides a downhole method and apparatus using a flexural mechanical resonator, for example, a tuning fork to provide real-time direct measurements and estimates of the viscosity, density and dielectric constant of formation fluid or filtrate i... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6917303 | Logging sondes for use in boreholes A wireline logging sonde for sensing fluid properties in a bore hole. The sonde has a main body and a plurality of sensor capsules mounted peripherally to the main body on fingers. A sensor element is located in each sensor capsule. The sensor elements receive power... | 07/12/2005 |
| 6702010 | Apparatus and method for actuating arms In an apparatus and method for actuating arms used on a borehole data-logging tool to deploy measuring instruments against a borehole wall, a mandrel is provided. At least one arm carried by the mandrel is mounted to the mandrel to move between an expande... | 03/09/2004 |
| 6538958 | Method and apparatus for acoustics logging of fluid density and wet cement plugs in boreholes The acoustic impedance of a fluid in a borehole is determined by gating a reflected acoustic signal into a plurality of time slots, and comparing received energies of the signal for the time slots to obtain a value indicative of the acoustic impedance of ... | 03/25/2003 |
| 6308561 | Well logging apparatus A well logging device of compact reduced diameter compared to the prior art, such well logging device having both short spaced and long spaced types of gamma ray crystal detectors installed in a measurements skid that comprises a relatively small diameter... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6140637 | Method and apparatus for fluorescence logging A method of locating in situ hydrocarbons in underground formations comprises illuminating the borehole wall with light such as visible, infrared or ultraviolet light or combinations of these, from a source in a tool such as a wireline logging tool or an ... | 10/31/2000 |
| 5925879 | Oil and gas well packer having fiber optic Bragg Grating sensors for downhole insitu inflation monitoring The present invention features an apparatus comprising a packer means and a packer pressure sensing means. The packer means inflates to isolate zones in a well, such as an oil well or a gas well. The packer means responds to a material for inflating and p... | 07/20/1999 |
| 5912459 | Method and apparatus for fluorescence logging A method of locating in situ hydrocarbons in underground formations comprises illuminating the borehole wall with light such as visible, infrared or ultraviolet light or combinations of these, from a source in a tool such as a wireline logging tool or an ... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5910654 | Apparatus and method for measuring formation density in rugose boreholes A method/apparatus for determining the density of a formation traversed by a borehole having irregularities along the borehole wall preferably employs/includes a housing, a photon source, and a detector. The source preferably includes an irradiation path ... | 06/08/1999 |
| 5663559 | Microscopy imaging of earth formations Images of rock formations below the earth's surface can be obtained on a microscopic scale. A borehole tool uses a seal to isolate an interval of the formation from borehole fluids which are outside the seal. A probe of the tool engages a wall of the form... | 09/02/1997 |
| 5532481 | System for measuring epithermal neutron porosity having reduced borehole effect The invention is a system for determining the epithermal neutron decay rate of an earth formation penetrated by a wellbore. A method according to the present invention includes the steps of irradiating the formation with bursts of high energy neutrons fro... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5419395 | Eccentric fluid displacement sleeve An eccentric fluid displacement sleeve is disclosed for use with a measurement-while-drilling instrument, to convert the instrument for use in different size boreholes. The sleeve is made eccentric by either increasing or decreasing the thicknesses of pos... | 05/30/1995 |
| 5404752 | Method for measuring the velocity of water flow through nested conduits This disclosure provides a method for measuring the velocities of water volumes flowing co-directionally in separate conduits nested such as in injection or production well-bores. The method allows an oxygen activation measurement of the velocity of the w... | 04/11/1995 |
| 5371363 | Device for measuring radiation within a pipe A device for detecting radiation within a pipe having one or more carriages adapted for movement through the pipe. A set of radiation sensors is mounted on each carriage for detecting radiation on the interior of the pipe. The radiation sensors are positi... | 12/06/1994 |
| 5300770 | Apparatus for producing a porosity log of a subsurface formation corrected for detector standoff A borehole logging tool is lowered into a borehole traversing a subsurface formation and a neutron detector measures the die-away of nuclear radiation in the formation. Intensity signals are produced representing the die-away of nuclear radiation as the l... | 04/05/1994 |
| 5204529 | Method and apparatus for measuring borehole fluid density, formation density and/or borehole diameter using back-scattered gamma radiation The present invention is a formation compensated fluid density meter which includes a well logging sonde that is inserted into a borehole traversing an earthen formation. The sonde includes within it a source which emits gamma rays into the borehole fluid... | 04/20/1993 |
| 5198770 | Logging apparatus having a wall engaging pad with longitudinally aligned detecting devices The apparatus includes a pad (20) pressed against the wall of a borehole (12), the pad comprising a plurality of detecting devices (42, 43, 44, 45) disposed in alignment along the longitudinal direction of the borehole. Each detecting device includes a ho... | 03/30/1993 |
| 5153431 | Well logging radioactive detector assembly A radioactive energy detector for well logging utilizes a Dewar flask. The Dewar flask has an inner housing containing a gamma ray detector. An outer housing surrounds the inner housing, with the annular clearance being evacuated. A window section is inte... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5101104 | Carrier apparatus for radioactive well logging instrument A carrier apparatus for a radioactive well logging instrument is disclosed that includes an elongated generally cylindrical tool body adapted for wireline suspension within a well borehole and mounting an elongated sensor pad assembly carrying a radioacti... | 03/31/1992 |
| 5092423 | Downhole seismic array system A seismic array system for receiving seismic signals at spaced-apart points in a wellbore is deployable on coiled tubing from the surface through an isolator apparatus mounted on the wellhead. The array includes spaced-apart geophone sondes which have hyd... | 03/03/1992 |
| 5090039 | Inspecting coiled tubing for well operations A coiled tubing injection unit for injecting a continuous length of coiled steel tubing into a wellbore for performing well operations includes an x-ray inspection apparatus arranged to continuously monitor the wall section of the tubing as it is inserted... | 02/18/1992 |
| 5068531 | Method and apparatus for producing a porosity log of a subsurface formation corrected for detector standoff A borehole logging tool is lowered into a borehole traversing a subsurface formation and a neutron detector measures the die-away of nuclear radiation in the formation. A model of the die-away of nuclear radiation is produced using exponential terms varyi... | 11/26/1991 |
| 4978851 | Method and apparatus for measuring subsurface characteristics using pulsed neutron/gamma ray logging Methods and apparatus for directly and more accurately assaying radiological characteristics of elements with a subsurface formation surrounding a bore hole. An instrument is provided which comprises a pulsed neutron source, a high resolution gamma ray de... | 12/18/1990 |
| 4939362 | Borehole fluid density well logging means and method The present invention is a density meter which includes a well logging sonde that is inserted into a borehole traversing an earthen formation. The sonde includes within it a source which emits gamma rays into the borehole fluid and a detector assembly whi... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4862090 | Measuring pad arrangement for a logging sonde In order to increase the angular field of observation of a logging sonde usable, in particular for dip metering, the sonde is equipped with measuring pads each comprising two independent flaps. The flaps of the same pad are hinged to a central element whi... | 08/29/1989 |
| 4692617 | Method and system for neutron lifetime logging A borehole logging tool for neutron lifetime logging of subterranean formations surrounding a borehole includes a pulsed source of fast neutrons and a radiation detector for measuring neutrons returning to the borehole from the irradiated formations surro... | 09/08/1987 |
| 4588951 | Arm apparatus for pad-type logging devices An apparatus is described for urging the measuring pad of a well logging sonde into engagement with the wall of a borehole. A relatively long primary arm on which the pad is mounted includes an actuator, and is pivotally connected to the body of the well ... | 05/13/1986 |
| 4506219 | Borehole tool outrigger arm displacement control mechanism As the outrigger arms of a borehole logging tool are flexed inwardly and outwardly according to the diameter of the borehole opening through which they pass, the corresponding axial displacements of the ends of the arms are controlled to determine the axi... | 03/19/1985 |
| 4486658 | Water flow well logging sonde and method of water flow sensing An improved radioactivity well logging sonde for sensing fluid flow in an earthen formation from a borehole traversing the formation in which the borehole also contains salt water includes a neutron source for irradiating the earthen formation with neutro... | 12/04/1984 |
| 4480186 | Compensated density well logging tool Disclosed is an improved compensated density well logging apparatus which provides a mechanical linkage driven by an electric gear motor for extension of a thin cylindrical pad containing radioactive source and detection equipment exteriorly of the tool h... | 10/30/1984 |
| 4432143 | Well logging apparatus An elongated body member having a plurality of crank arms pivotally attached thereto, such crank arms disposed generally symmetrically around the perimeter of the body member. At a first end of each crank arm is a contact pad for maintaining substantial c... | 02/21/1984 |
| 4342911 | Focused nuclear interface survey instrument and method of determining density changes in mining and storage wells The instrument and method locate anomalies and the interface between two materials having little difference in their density in a mining or storage well. More particularly, the method comprehends the generation of gamma rays and the detection of scattered... | 08/03/1982 |