Magician Harry Houdini patented a "Diver's Suit" enabling the wearer to "quickly divest himself of the suit while being submerged and to safely escape and reach the surface of the water."
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8156799 | Rotating fluid flow measurement device and method Fluid flow measurement device and method. In one embodiment, a tool comprises a rotating arm with a sensor pad to measure fluid flow into or out of the casing wall. The arm maintains the sensor pad in close proximity to the casing inner wall. The tool diameter is va... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8006551 | Methods and compositions for removing residues and substances from substrates using environmentally friendly solvents Environmentally friendly solvents used to dissolve or remove residues and/or substances from substrates wherein the residue and/or substance is contacted with a Generally Recognized As Safe solvent to dissolve the residue and/or substance in the solvent followed by ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7435597 | Assays for zero-valent transition metals in sedimentary rocks using carbon monoxide with application to oil and gas exploration The present invention is directed to novel assays for zero-valent transition metals. The novel assays of the present invention are generally methods or processes for quantitatively and/or qualitatively evaluating the presence of zero-valent transition metals on and/... | 10/14/2008 |
| 7418865 | Method and apparatus for ultrasound velocity measurements in drilling fluids The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for determining the velocity of an ultrasound pulse in drilling fluids in downhole environments. A method for determining a velocity of ultrasound propagation in a drilling fluid in a downhole environment includes emit... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7363717 | System and method for using rotation sensors within a borehole A system and method for using a survey tool within a borehole is provided. The survey tool includes a plurality of rotation sensors each having a sensing axis and a direction of least acceleration sensitivity. The sensing axes of the plurality of rotation sensors ar... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7350410 | System and method for measurements of depth and velocity of instrumentation within a wellbore A survey tool for use in a wellbore includes a downhole portion having an axis. The downhole portion is adapted to move within the wellbore with the axis generally parallel to the wellbore. The survey tool further includes a first acceleration sensor mounted at a fi... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7340853 | Iron with fabric contact detector An electric iron having a housing (1) and a soleplate (2) in which at least one outlet opening (10;15;34;45) is provided, means (8;19;28;39;43) for generating a fine liquid spray or foam or steam, and means (5) for delivering said ... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331143 | Seismic base isolation by electro-osmosis A structure is isolated from a seismic event by inducing soil liquefaction in an isolation layer beneath the structure and soil foundation zone, such as by activating an electro-osmosis gradient toward the isolation layer, during the seismic event, based on detectio... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7318343 | System for detecting gas in a wellbore during drilling A system is provided for detecting the presence of formation gas in a stream of drilling fluid flowing through a wellbore during drilling of the wellbore. The system has at least one sensor chamber connectable to a drill string for drilling the wellbore, each sensor... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7311142 | Apparatus and method for aquiring information while drilling A downhole tool positionable in a wellbore for penetrating a subterranean formation includes a housing having at least one protuberance extending therefrom. The protuberance has at least one centralizing section and a protective section. A probe is positioned in the... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7308934 | Fracturing isolation sleeve An apparatus operatively coupled to a well having a production casing positioned therein, the apparatus including a first device having and internal bore, a second device having an internal bore, and a fracture isolation sleeve disposed at least partially within the... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7299132 | Method and system for pre-drill pore pressure prediction A method for pore pressure prediction. The method includes obtaining a stress sensitivity coefficient, obtaining a compressional wave (P-wave) velocity and a shear wave (S-wave) velocity for a pre-drill location and obtaining a first predicted pore pressure. Further... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7290443 | Method for measuring formation properties with a time-limited formation test An apparatus and method for determining at least one downhole formation property is disclosed. The apparatus includes a probe and a pretest piston positionable in fluid communication with the formation, and a series of flowlines pressure gauges, and valves configure... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7292504 | Seismic sensors A method for compensating the effect of gravity on seismic sensors such as geophones and a gravity effect-free seismic sensor are disclosed. The gravity effect-free seismic sensor of the present invention includes primary sensor (100) operatively responsive t... | 11/06/2007 |
| 7282698 | System and method for monitoring a well An optical fiber extends down hole from an OFDR. A first set of sensors with a centrally-located reference reflector is disposed over a first fiber length, and a second set of sensors with a centrally-located reference reflector is disposed over a second fiber lengt... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7274989 | Borehole equipment position detection system It is important to know the precise position of equipment when testing of the BOP, testing the wellhead, flow testing the well, kick control, well circulation and testing of spool trees between the wellhead and the BOP. Accordingly, there is provided a system for de... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7261168 | Methods and apparatus for using formation property data This application relates to various methods and apparatus for rapidly obtaining accurate formation property data from a drilled earthen borehole. Once obtained, the formation property data, including formation fluid pressure, may be corrected, calibrated and supplem... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7239154 | Soil penetrating electrode with conical taper This disclosure describes a Soil Penetrating Electrode with Conical Taper for use with instrumentation for measurement of the electrical properties of soil in situ. The Electrode shape and configuration solves problems of stable and reliable contact with the soil, r... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7230543 | Downhole clock synchronization apparatus and methods for use in a borehole drilling environment Geophysical measurement system employed during the drilling of a well borehole. The system employs a reference clock disposed within equipment at the surface of the earth and a borehole assembly which houses a downhole clock and at least one sensor. The borehole ass... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7219747 | Providing a local response to a local condition in an oil well A method and apparatus for providing a local response to a local condition in an oil well are disclosed. A sensor is provided to detect a local condition in a drill string. A controllable element is provided to modulate energy in the drill string. A controller is co... | 05/22/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7207215 | System, method and apparatus for petrophysical and geophysical measurements at the drilling bit Measurement of petrophysical and geophysical data of formations in a wellbore using a long gauge bit having at least one sensor therewith. The at least one sensor may be installed in at least one flute of the long gauge bit and/or in the long gauge portion thereof. ... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7204309 | MWD formation tester A formation testing tool is described herein, including a formation probe assembly having an extendable sampling probe surrounded by a cylindrical sleeve. The sleeve is configured to engage a metal skirt having an elastomeric seal pad coupled thereto. The skirt and ... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7192221 | System for preventing seismic liquefaction of ground in urbanized area A system for preventing seismic liquefaction of the ground in an urban area built on reclaimed land consisting of a loose fine grained layer vulnerable to liquefaction underlain with a soft cohesive layer liable to uneven settlement. The system includes a plurality ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7187620 | Method and apparatus for borehole sensing The present invention provides an apparatus and method for sensing subsurface data. One embodiment of the invention comprises a shuttle attached to a conveyance where the conveyance and shuttle are adapted to be spooled downhole into a borehole for sensing seismic d... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7187784 | Borescope for drilled shaft inspection Visual inspection of an interior surface of a borehole. A housing adapted to be lowered in the borehole supports a portable camera for generating images of a portion of the interior surface of the borehole and a light source for illuminating an area adjacent the cam... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7178788 | Even reeving system for a top drive earth drilling machine An earth drilling machine includes a mast, a crown block assembly mounted on the mast top for providing a drilling line having front sheaves, a fast line sheave mounted to a crown block sheave for reeving the drilling line, a drawworks drum, and a traveling frame as... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7178627 | Methods for use in detecting seismic waves in a borehole The invention provides methods and apparatus for detecting seismic waves propagating through a subterranean formation surrounding a borehole. In a first embodiment, a sensor module uses the rotation of bogey wheels to extend and retract a sensor package for selectiv... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7178392 | Determining the pressure of formation fluid in earth formations surrounding a borehole A method for determining formation fluid pressure in earth formation surrounding a borehole wall uses a downhole probe coupled to a variable-volume cavity. The probe is driven into contact with formation at the borehole wall. The method includes expanding the volume... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7168310 | Accuracy of shaly sand formation evaluation A novel process and methodology in deterministic formation evaluation is provided. The formation evaluation results can accurately quantify formation attributes, such as clay-volume, clay-bound-water, effective-porosity and water saturation in shaly sands. Total-por... | 01/30/2007 |
| 7165759 | Crown block dead line anchor The line system on a drilling rig is arranged to place the dead line clamp at the upper end of the derrick. A dead line anchor sheave is preferably located to accept wraps of the dead line to insure reduced load on the dead line clamp. The anchor sheave is preferabl... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7165634 | Method and apparatus for cementing drill strings in place for one pass drilling and completion of oil and gas wells The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are des... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7152466 | Methods and apparatus for rapidly measuring pressure in earth formations Methods and apparatus for rapidly measuring pressure in earth formations are disclosed. According to a first embodiment of the apparatus, a probe is provided with a movable piston having a sensor built into the piston. According to a second embodiment of the apparat... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7147068 | Methods and apparatus for cementing drill strings in place for one pass drilling and completion of oil and gas wells The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are des... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7143521 | Determination of borehole azimuth and the azimuthal dependence of borehole parameters A method for determining a borehole azimuth in a borehole is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes acquiring at least one standoff measurement and a tool azimuth measurement at substantially the same time. Such measurements are then processed, ... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7128149 | Apparatus and methods for improved fluid displacement in subterranean formations Apparatus and methods for determining suitable displacement fluids for use in subterranean cementing operations, and methods of cementing that use such displacement fluids, are provided. Examples of methods include methods of water-wetting an annulus in a subterrane... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7114579 | System and method for interpreting drilling date A method is disclosed for identifying potential drilling hazards in a wellbore, including measuring a drilling parameter, correlating the parameter to depth in the wellbore at which selected components of a drill string pass, determining changes in the parameter eac... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7114385 | Apparatus and method for drawing fluid into a downhole tool An apparatus and method for drawing fluid from a subterranean formation into a downhole tool positioned in a wellbore penetrating the formation is provided. A probe body is extended from the downhole tool for engagement with the wellbore wall. The probe body has at ... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7116555 | Acoustic and thermal energy management system An acoustic and thermal energy management system and method comprising a microprocessor and a thermal mass positioned at a distance from the microprocessor, the microprocessor and thermal mass being thermally connected to the microprocessor in a manner to transfer t... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7111685 | Downhole sampling apparatus and method A method and apparatus for reducing debris in a perforation in a wellbore extending from the wellbore into a subterranean formations is provided. A housing is positioned in the wellbore, and an arm is extended therefrom. One or more plugs are positionable in the per... | 09/26/2006 |