...that the x-ray was discovered purely by accident? When German physicist Wilhelm Konrad von Roentgen was experimenting with cathode rays in 1895, he put an activated Crookes tube in a book and went out to lunch. When he returned, he discovered that a key that had also been placed in the book showed up as an image on the developed film!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7649473 | Physically segmented logical token network Token authorized packet exchange between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein. ... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7619540 | Apparatus and methods for determining isotropic and anisotropic formation resistivity in the presence of invasion A logging tool includes a tool body; a simple transmitter comprising a single antenna disposed on the tool body; four simple receivers, each comprising a single antenna, disposed on the tool body and spaced apart from the simple transmitter to form four arrays; and ... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7570175 | Node discovery in physically segmented logical token network Token authorized node discovery between a plurality of store-and-forward nodes in a downhole networking environment and respective applications for data processing and communication are described herein. ... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7532129 | Apparatus and methods for conveying and operating analytical instrumentation within a well borehole A borehole conveyance system that integrates wireline type downhole instrumentation into the drill string tripping operations that are typically performed in a borehole drilling operation to increase the types of measurements that can be obtained during the drilling... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7518526 | Method and system for displaying scanning data for oil well tubing based on scanning speed A method for analyzing a tubing section with multiple sensors at a consistent speed to improve the analysis and grading of tubing retrieved from an oil well. An analysis speed can be pre-set or input based on the tubing being analyzed and the sensors employed. The a... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7477160 | Wireless communications associated with a wellbore A subsea communication system includes addressable nodes in a wellbore and addressable nodes on a floor, where the nodes in the wellbore and on the floor are able to communicate wirelessly with each other, such as through a formation. ... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7443312 | Downhole telemetry system having discrete multi-tone modulation with QAM fallback Improved communication systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a downhole communications system comprises a downhole transceiver and a surface transceiver. The surface transceiver receives a discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulated uplink signal from the do... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7424176 | Optical fiber termination apparatus and methods of use, and optical fiber termination process Apparatus and methods for terminating and anchoring fiber optic connections are disclosed. One apparatus includes a sealed body enclosing a passage for one or more optical fibers terminating in connections proximate a first end of the sealed body, the sealed body ha... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7416028 | Telemetry system for the bi-directional communication of data between a well point and a terminal unit situated on the surface A telemetry system for bi-directional communication of data between a well point and a terminal unit situated on a surface, which can be used inside drilling or production strings. The system includes data transmission and optional reception devices. An active vehic... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7400263 | Method and system for performing operations and for improving production in wells A method for performing operations and for improving production in a well includes the steps of: providing radio identification devices at known locations in the well, and providing a reader device configured to read the identification devices, and to control the op... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7400262 | Apparatus and methods for self-powered communication and sensor network A system for communicating between a first location and a second location comprises a jointed tubular string having a first section and a second section connected at a connection joint, with the tubular string having a fluid in an internal passage thereof. A first a... | 07/15/2008 |
| 7385523 | Apparatus and method for downhole well equipment and process management, identification, and operation A method for operating a downhole tool. The method includes moving an instrument through a wellbore, and the instrument includes a first non-acoustic transponder that is adapted to detect identification codes. An identification code detected from at least one second... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7372777 | Sonic instrumentation apparatus and method for cement bond logging A longitudinally segmented acoustic transducer for a cement bond logging (CBL) tool having a plurality of adjoining PZT ring-like segments driven synchronously in parallel by one or more pulses and caused to vibrate in an anti-resonant mode, substantially below the ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7350448 | Perforating apparatus, firing assembly, and method A firing assembly for activating a perforating device comprising a module having a first chamber and a second chamber. The firing assembly comprises a firing head for transferring ballistic energy to the perforating device, said firing head having a detonator and a ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7348892 | Pipe mounted telemetry receiver Methods and apparatus for receiving a telemetry signal with a receiver that is moveably disposed within a drillstring. In certain embodiments, the system comprises a surface module coupled to the upper end of a drillstring, an upper module detachably connected to th... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7347271 | Wireless communications associated with a wellbore A subsea communication system includes devices in a wellbore and devices on a floor, where the devices in the wellbore and on the floor are able to communicate wirelessly with each other, such as through a formation. ... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7336199 | Inductive coupling system An inductive coupling system including a mandrel and an inner sleeve and outer housing that surround and rotate relative to the mandrel. The system also includes a mandrel electronics system and a housing electronics system that communicate electronically using a ma... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7327634 | Rotary pulser for transmitting information to the surface from a drill string down hole in a well A rotary pulser for transmitting information to the surface from down hole in a well by generating pressure pulses encoded to contain information. The pressure pulses travel to the surface where they are decoded so as to decipher the information. The pulser includes... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7324010 | Acoustic telemetry systems and methods with surface noise cancellation Acoustic telemetry systems and methods with surface noise cancellation. One illustrative embodiment may include an acoustic telemetry system comprising a transmitter configured to generate an acoustic information signal that propagates along a drillstring, and a rec... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7324898 | System and method for determining a more accurate resistivity model of a geological formation using time-lapse well logging data A system and a method for estimating a model of a geological formation are provided. The geological formation has a wellbore extending therethrough. The method includes obtaining a first resistivity log associated with the geological formation from a LWD sensor in t... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7322410 | Controllable production well packer An apparatus and method for operating an electrically powered device in a packer using the piping structure of the well as an electrical conductor for providing power and/or communications. The electrically powered device may comprise an electrically controllable va... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7319638 | Hydraulic oscillator for use in a transmitter valve An oscillating valve driven by the pressure in a mud pulser develops a pressure variation in the mud pulse signal that is at a frequency that is different than the frequencies of the mud system. The oscillating valve is coupled to or integral with the pulse drive cy... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7315256 | Magnetic signalling in pipelines Method systems and apparatus for signalling within pipelines. The systems methods and apparatus make use of a unit locatable within a tubular piece of metallic structure for the transmission and/or reception of signals. The unit includes a magnetic material core ( | 01/01/2008 |
| 7305305 | System and method for remotely controlling logging equipment in drilled holes A system and a method for remotely controlling logging equipment in drilled holes are provided. The method includes inputting a first command associated with either a logging tool or a hoist device coupled to the logging tool utilizing an input device operably coupl... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7295491 | High impact communication and control system A system and method in accordance with the invention communicator remotely with remotely controllable down hole tools in a well bore at a drilling installation. At the surface, high energy pressure impulses directed into the tubing or the annulus, or both, being at ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7291303 | Method for bonding a transmission line to a downhole tool An apparatus for bonding a transmission line to the central bore of a downhole tool includes a pre-formed interface for bonding a transmission line to the inside diameter of a downhole tool. The pre-formed interface includes a first surface that substantially confor... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7289909 | Method for borehole measurement of formation properties The present invention is a method of estimating formation properties by analyzing acoustic waves that are emitted from and received by a bottom hole assembly. A bottom hole assembly may be deployed in a borehole to estimate formation properties. From the bottom hole... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284601 | Casing conveyed well perforating apparatus and method Disclosed is a device and method for externally perforating a well-bore casing. The perforating apparatus is attached to the outside of the casing itself and is conveyed along with the casing when it is inserted into the well bore. The perforation is accomplished us... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7284489 | Casing conveyed well perforating apparatus and method Disclosed is a device and method for externally perforating a well-bore casing. The perforating apparatus is attached to the outside of the casing itself and is conveyed along with the casing when it is inserted into the well bore. The perforation is accomplished us... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7283061 | Method and system for performing operations and for improving production in wells A method for performing operations and for improving production in a well includes the steps of: providing radio identification devices at known locations in the well, and providing a reader device configured to read the identification devices, and to control the op... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7283060 | Control apparatus for automated downhole tools A method and apparatus for a computer controlled apparatus for use in wellbore completions. A touch-screen is provided that facilitates commands and information that is entered by an operator ordering movement of a downhole tool. In another embodiment, real-time inf... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7280432 | Oscillating shear valve for mud pulse telemetry An oscillating shear valve system for generating pressure fluctuations in a flowing drilling fluid comprising a stationary stator and an oscillating rotor, both with axial flow passages. The rotor oscillates in close proximity to the stator, at least partially block... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7277162 | Dynamic performance monitoring of long slender structures using optical fiber strain sensors A method is described using optical fiber technology to measure the vibration characteristics of long slender structures subjected to dynamic disturbances imposed by water or wind generated loads. The method is based on making bending strain measurements at selected... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7275602 | Methods for expanding tubular strings and isolating subterranean zones Methods and apparatus for expanding tubulars are disclosed. The tubulars may be part of a tubular string for isolating one or more zones within a wellbore. In one embodiment, the tubular string includes a first expandable zone isolation unit disposed on a first side... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7274990 | Downhole library of master wavelets for VSP-while-drilling applications A controllable seismic source is used in a seismic-while-drilling system for obtaining VSP data. Coded information is sent downhole about the signal generated by said controllable source. The information about the seismic source is used for reconstructing the source... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7273102 | Remotely actuating a casing conveyed tool A technique that is usable with a subterranean well includes communicating a wireless stimulus downhole in the well and actuating a casing conveyed tool in response to the communication. ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7261162 | Subsea communications system A subsea communications module includes an interface to communicate with a surface facility over a communications link using a packet-based protocol. The communications link can be implemented with a fiber optic line, wire-based line, and/or other types of communica... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7259688 | Wireless reservoir production control A reservoir production control system includes a plurality of wells for producing a reservoir linked to a central computer over a downhole communication network and a surface communication network. Both the downhole and the surface communication networks are wireles... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7256706 | Hybrid well communication system A hybrid, hardwired and wireless well communication system having a fiber optical, electrical or other signal transmission conduit extending from the wellhead into the well and one or more wireless signal transducers that are located at a distance from the conduit a... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7257050 | Through tubing real time downhole wireless gauge A telemetry system having: a pipe; a SCADA box acoustically coupled to the pipe; and a gauge inserted in the pipe, the gauge comprising: an acoustic wave generator; a coupler mechanically connected to the acoustic wave generator, wherein the coupler is engageable an... | 08/14/2007 |