Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7367411 | Drilling system and method A closed-loop circulating system for drilling wells has control of the flow rates in and out of the wellbore. Kicks and fluid losses are quickly controlled by adjusting the backpressure. Kick tolerance and tripping margins are eliminated by real-time determination o... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7331469 | Vibratory separator with automatically adjustable beach A vibratory separator having a basket for supporting screen apparatus for treating material, the basket pivotably mounted on a base, vibratory apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, the material forming a pool on the screen apparatus, and a beac... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7325605 | Flexible piezoelectric for downhole sensing, actuation and health monitoring Thin flexible piezoelectric transducers are bonded to or imbedded into oilfield tubular members or structural members. The transducers may be used to telemeter data as acoustic waves through the members. By proper spacing of transducers and phasing of driving signal... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7278496 | Drilling system and method A closed-loop circulating system for drilling wells has control of the flow rates in and out of the wellbore. Kicks and fluid losses are quickly controlled by adjusting the backpressure. Kick tolerance and tripping margins are eliminated by real-time determination o... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7234519 | Flexible piezoelectric for downhole sensing, actuation and health monitoring Thin flexible piezoelectric transducers are bonded to or imbedded into oilfield tubular members or structural members. The transducers may be used to telemeter data as acoustic waves through the members. By proper spacing of transducers and phasing of driving signal... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7222681 | Programming method for controlling a downhole steering tool A method for communicating with a downhole tool located in a subterranean borehole is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments of the method include encoding data and/or commands in a sequence of varying drill string rotation rates and drilling fluid flow rates. The varying... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7216533 | Methods for using a formation tester A method of testing a downhole formation using a formation tester on a drill string. The formation tester is disposed downhole on a drill string and a formation test is performed by forming a seal between a formation probe assembly and the formation. A drawdown pist... | 05/15/2007 |
| 7100708 | Autodriller bit protection system and method A controller provides an automatic bit protection sequence for an autodriller that can be initiated during the initial stage of set down of the bit within the formation. The automatic protection sequence establishes a setpoint for a parameter of interest (such as we... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7044237 | Drilling system and method A closed-loop circulating system for drilling wells has control of the flow rates in and out of the wellbore. Kicks and fluid losses are quickly controlled by adjusting the backpressure. Kick tolerance and tripping margins are eliminated by real-time determination o... | 05/16/2006 |
| 6938497 | Acoustic flow meter in the form of a valve key An acoustic flow meter in the form of a valve key has an acoustic sensor 12 for measuring the peak sound level which occurs when the key is used to close a valve in a fluid pipeline. The peak sound level can be used to accurately calculate the flow through th... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6820702 | Automated method and system for recognizing well control events An automated method and system for recognizing a well control event includes determining a state of drilling operations. When drilling operations are in a circulating state, a benchmark for a relative flow value. The relative flow value is based on a flow of drillin... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6510270 | Sub-oceanic cable network system and method A cable system for installation on the ocean floor or under another body of water includes a plurality of sub-sea junction boxes installed at spaced locations throughout a predetermined sub-oceanic cable network. At least some of the junction boxes are lo... | 01/21/2003 |
| 6410862 | Device and method for measuring the flow rate of drill cuttings This invention relates to a device for measuring the flow rate of spoil from a drilling brought to the surface by means of a drilling fluid. The device comprises means of collecting the spoil and means of continuously measuring the weight of spoil collect... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6305216 | Method and apparatus for predicting the fluid characteristics in a well hole An improved apparatus and improved method for determining the characteristics of a multi-phase fluid along a well hole having a predefined geometric profile are presented. Various state properties of the fluid, including the temperature, pressure and spec... | 10/23/2001 |
| 6286367 | Method of evaluating the effluent of a hydrocarbon well by means of a multiphase flowmeter, and installation implementing the same A multiphase flowmeter (30) is mounted on the piping via which a multiphase fluid flows out from a hydrocarbon well, so as to measure the flow rates of the various phases of the fluid. A back-pressure valve (34) is placed in the piping downstream from the... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6234250 | Real time wellbore pit volume monitoring system and method A system is provided for monitoring in the real time the wellbore pit volume to promptly determine the occurrence of a wellbore kick and take corrective action to minimize fluid influx volume and/or drilling fluid losses. A system includes one or more lev... | 05/22/2001 |
| 6216532 | Gas flow rate measurement Once an oil well has been drilled and is producing, it is desirable to monitor the rate at which oil or gas is being delivered. It is particularly useful to know when there is a change in a fluid's output rate, for that can indicate problems with the well... | 04/17/2001 |
| 6058771 | Determination of fluid influx or efflux When drilling a borehole for an oil well it is desirable to know when fluid is passing through the walls of the borehole between the borehole itself and the formation through which the borehole is passing. It has now been discovered that useful informatio... | 05/09/2000 |
| 5975219 | Method for controlling entry of a drillstem into a wellbore to minimize surge pressure A well drilling system for drilling with gaseous drilling fluid, particularly natural gas, in a closed circulation path including an enclosure or bell nipple mounted on a wellhead between the wellbore and a rotary control head for the drillstem. The enclo... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5736637 | Downhole multiphase flow sensor A system for evaluating multiphase flow of a fluid downhole in a borehole. Dielectric permittivity electrodes generate a capacitance output signal through the fluid, and conductivity electrodes generate a conductivity output signal through the fluid. The ... | 04/07/1998 |
| 5654504 | Downhole pump monitoring system The present invention relates to a downhole hydraulic pump monitoring system and more specifically relates to a system which detects and/or anticipates pump malfunctions by processing readings taken by a pressure transmitter on the operating pressure and ... | 08/05/1997 |
| 5631413 | Fluid holdup tool and flow meter for deviated wells A production logging tool is provided for use within a well to directly measure a velocity profile of a multiphase fluid flow within a cross-section of a well. The production logging tool includes a tool housing from which a plurality of arms are radially... | 05/20/1997 |
| 5309761 | Methods and apparatus for measuring the erodability of drilling fluid deposits Methods of measuring the erodability of drilling fluid deposits and the shear stress required to remove drilling fluid deposits formed on the walls of a well bore are provided. The methods basically include introducing a drilling fluid into a test apparat... | 05/10/1994 |
| 5303582 | Pressure-transient testing while drilling A well testing method and apparatus for reservoir characterization during a drilling operation by making use of conventional drilling facilities. The tests can be performed at various degrees of wellbore penetration in the formation. If the test is conduc... | 04/19/1994 |
| 5205165 | Method for determining fluid influx or loss in drilling from floating rigs A method of determining fluid influx or loss from a well being drilled from a floating vessel and using a drilling fluid, the method comprising monitoring the flow of fluid from the well to obtain a varying signal indicative of the variation in flow from ... | 04/27/1993 |
| 5181419 | Sampling of drilling mud A sample flow of drilling mud is taken via a pipe 14 from a shale shaker tank 10 and passed into a container 15 with a vigorous stirrer 17 and having a capacity of typically 0.40 m3. The sample flow rate and size of the container are sufficient... | 01/26/1993 |
| 5168932 | Detecting outflow or inflow of fluid in a wellbore A method is provided for detecting outflow of fluid from an offshore wellbore to a surrounding earth formation or inflow of fluid from the formation of the wellbore. The wellbore is in fluid communication with a conduit extending between the wellbore and ... | 12/08/1992 |
| 5070949 | Method of analyzing fluid influxes in hydrocarbon wells The invention relates to a method of analyzing fluid influxes into an oil well from an underground formation. During a drilling mud transient flow state, the successive values of the rate Qi or pressure pr of injection of the drillin... | 12/10/1991 |
| 5063776 | Method and system for measurement of fluid flow in a drilling rig return line Improved methods and systems are provided for determining a volumetric flow rate of mud in a return line without the aid of a velocity probe. A mud level sensor is located in a return line chimney preferably in close proximity to the bell nipple. The sens... | 11/12/1991 |
| 5018589 | Process for finding the depth of a lost return zone In a process of downhole drilling in an open hole, where the drill bit has struck a lost circulation zone in the wall of the formation, and mud circulating through the annulus during drilling has been lost into the zone and therefore circulation of the mu... | 05/28/1991 |
| 4980642 | Detection of influx of fluids invading a borehole The present invention is directed to a system, apparatus and methods for determining influx of formation fluids into a well borehole during drilling. The methods of the present invention comprise determining the dielectric constant and/or conductivity of ... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4941951 | Method for improving a drilling process by characterizing the hydraulics of the drilling system A variety of flow and pressure measurements are obtained to characterize the drilling fluids hydraulics system of the borehole drilling process. Notably, a differential pressure measurement which measures the difference between the pressure internal to an... | 07/17/1990 |
| 4840061 | Method of detecting a fluid influx which could lead to a blow-out during the drilling of a borehole This invention is intended for use in the process of drilling an oil well and has to do with a process for the detection of fluid influx which could lead to a blow-out. This process consists of measuring the inlet flow rate A of the drilling mud coming in... | 06/20/1989 |
| 4754641 | Method and apparatus for measurement of fluid flow in a drilling rig return line An improved method and apparatus is disclosed for use in a return line system of a drilling rig to determine a volumetric fluid flow rate and, therefore, to aid in detecting a kick in a well. The apparatus comprises an ultrasonic level sensor, an ultrason... | 07/05/1988 |
| 4703664 | Fluid flow measurement system sensor mounting block A system, or apparatus combination, and apparatus components, for the measurement of fluid flow. Such system, or apparatus can be used, e.g. for measuring the amount or flow of drilling fluid, or mud, introduced into a well bore, the amount or flow of mud... | 11/03/1987 |
| 4610161 | Method and apparatus for determining fluid circulation conditions in well drilling operations A method and apparatus for establishing the rate at which fluid is transferred between an offshore well 16 and the formations 20 surrounding the well 16 in the course of drilling the well 16 from a floating drilling rig 14. A drilling fluid handling syste... | 09/09/1986 |
| 4553429 | Method and apparatus for monitoring fluid flow between a borehole and the surrounding formations in the course of drilling operations A method and apparatus for establishing the rate at which fluid is transferred between a borehole 14 and the surrounding formations 16 in the course of moving drill string 20 upward or downward in the borehole 14. A bell nipple 40 is situated at the upper... | 11/19/1985 |
| 4532812 | Parametric acoustic flow meter Method and apparatus for measuring the flow velocity of drilling mud returning from the annulus of a borehole. At least two parametric acoustic pulse transducers are longitudinally disposed with respect to a conduit with a pair of acoustic receivers posit... | 08/06/1985 |
| 4527425 | System for detecting blow out and lost circulation in a borehole A drilling mud flow rate detector, including a sub adapted for being positioned in the drill string, having a sonic signal generator located near the center of the sub in both the incoming mud flow path and the return mud flow path. A set of sonic signal ... | 07/09/1985 |
| 4440239 | Method and apparatus for controlling the flow of drilling fluid in a wellbore A method for controlling the flow of drilling fluid through a subaqueous wellbore is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of continuously measuring the output flow rate (A) of the drilling fluid from the wellbore, the input flow rate (B) of the drill... | 04/03/1984 |
