Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8186212 | Shock and vibration environmental recorder for wellbore instruments A wellbore instrument includes a housing configured to traverse a subsurface wellbore. A shock and vibration sensor disposed in the housing and is mounted on a carrier disposed in the housing. The carrier includes at least two, laterally movable elements each having... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8117907 | Caliper logging using circumferentially spaced and/or angled transducer elements A downhole tool includes circumferentially spaced and/or angled transducer elements. In one embodiment a standoff sensor has at least three piezoelectric transducer elements, at least a first element of which is configured to both transmit and receive ultrasonic ene... | 02/21/2012 |
| 7516655 | Downhole fluid characterization based on changes in acoustic properties with pressure Techniques for evaluating physical aspects of a formation fluid from within a wellbore include changing pressure on a sample of the formation fluid and transmitting at least one acoustic pulse through the fluid sample and analyzing acoustic information collected. Ap... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7513147 | Piezocomposite transducer for a downhole measurement tool An acoustic sensor for use in a downhole measurement tool includes a piezo-composite transducer element. In various exemplary embodiments, the acoustic sensor further includes a composite backing layer, at least one matching layer, and a barrier layer deployed at an... | 04/07/2009 |
| 7376522 | Method and system for determining the direction of fluid flow In an exemplary implementation of a method and system for determining the direction of fluid flow, one or more sound transducers are positioned in proximity to a conduit, each such sound transducer generating a signal representative of a selected characteristic of a... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7367392 | Wellbore apparatus with sliding shields Wellbore apparatus including an elongated tubular adapted for disposal within the wellbore. The tubular having an elongated recess formed on its exterior surface along the longitudinal axis. The recess is adapted to accept and house a component therein. A shield dis... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7357030 | Apparatus and methods for determining at least one characteristic of a proximate environment Methods and an apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of an environment are disclosed. A vibrational energy may be imparted into an environment and a magnitude of damping of the vibrational energy may be measured and at least one characteristic of the... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7334651 | Kick warning system using high frequency fluid mode in a borehole Techniques for detecting a kick in a borehole include acquiring a set of measurements with a sonic tool in the borehole; determining borehole mud slowness from the set of measurements; and comparing the mud slowness with a selected criterion, wherein the determining... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7317989 | Method and apparatus for chemometric estimations of fluid density, viscosity, dielectric constant, and resistivity from mechanical resonator data The present invention provides a chemometric equation to estimate fluid density, viscosity, dielectric constant and resistivity for a formation fluid sample downhole. The chemometric estimates can be used directly as estimated values for fluid density, viscosity, di... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7277358 | Apparatus, method and system for digitally transmitting acoustic pulse gun signals The present invention is directed to overcoming analog transmission difficulties by digitizing transducer signals at or near the transducer of an acoustic pulse gun and then transmitting the transducer signals in a digital form so that the signals can be recovered w... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7275420 | Fluid sensor fixture for dynamic fluid testing A system that facilitates measurement, analysis, and automatic maintenance of fluid comprises a fluid, and a casing that includes a plurality of apertures is immersed in the fluid. The apertures are opened to permit the fluid to enter the casing and closed to confin... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7263880 | 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 pretest piston positionable in fluid communication with the formation, and a series of flowlines pressure gauges, and valves configured to selecti... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7249968 | Electrical connections for harsh conditions Apparatuses are provided which basically comprise a socket which has at least two contiguous passages formed therein which are adapted to receive exposed wire and/or insulated wire. Bonding materials and crimp joints, alone or in combination, are provided to further... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7240546 | Method and apparatus for downhole detection of CO2 and H2S using resonators coated with CO2 and H2S sorbents A formation fluid sample is exposed to a rigidly-supported semi-permeable membrane such as silicone rubber to permit diffusion of gases and vapors from the formation fluid into a vacuum chamber, while at the same time, blocking the passage of any liquids. The membra... | 07/10/2007 |
| 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 |
| 7207397 | Multi-pole transmitter source Methods and apparatus facilitating logging-while-drilling (LWD) using a multi-pole acoustic transmitter source. The multi-pole transmitter source enables measurement of formation velocities, including shear wave velocities through formations that are slower than vel... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7178396 | Accoustical apparatus and method for measuring water level in a ground water well having obstructions An acoustic distance measuring device adapted to measure the level of water in a ground water well by first emitting a sonic low frequency acoustic pulse and measuring the time-of-flight for each reflected pulse from the surface of the water in the well. Each reflec... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7162918 | 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... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7152467 | Parallel seismic depth testing using a cone penetrometer A parallel seismic tester utilizing a cone penetrometer to test the depth of a foundation or the like comprises three important elements: the cone penetrometer which houses a receiver, an impactor to impact the structure, and data gathering and analyzing equipment. ... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7104116 | Fluid sensor fixture for dynamic fluid testing A system that facilitates measurement, analysis, and automatic maintenance of fluid comprises a fluid, and a casing that includes a plurality of apertures is immersed in the fluid. The apertures are opened to permit the fluid to enter the casing and closed to confin... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7082821 | Method and apparatus for detecting torsional vibration with a downhole pressure sensor A method and apparatus for detecting torsional vibration, or stick-slip, in a drill string while drilling is described. The method comprises sampling a downhole pressure sensor and using embedded filter schemes and algorithms to determine, based on the pressure samp... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7055388 | Ultrasonic sensor system for horizontally polarized transversal waves The invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor system, especially for controlling a resistance welding process. Said system comprises at least one receiver which is used to detect the ultrasonic signals from the area to be examined. At least two piezoelectric sensors... | 06/06/2006 |
| 7036363 | Acoustic sensor for downhole measurement tool An acoustic sensor for use in a downhole measurement tool is provided. The acoustic sensor includes a piezo-composite transducer element. In various exemplary embodiments, the acoustic sensor further includes a composite backing layer, at least one matching layer, a... | 05/02/2006 |
| 6962071 | Method for improved measurement of local physical parameters in a fluid-filled cavity The present invention relates to remotely determining local physical parameters in a fluid-filled cavity (e.g. heart cavities, blood vessels, industrial container) by means of ultrasound waves and encapsulated or stabilised gas bubbles. A measuring method, a method ... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6957157 | Tracking vibrations in a pipeline network Tracking vibrations on a pipeline network includes installing multiple vibration recorders on the pipeline network, with each recorder including a sensor, a timer, a processor, and a digital communication device. At each vibration recorder, vibration signals are rec... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6941819 | Apparatus and method for determining the dynamic mechanical properties of a cement sample An apparatus for determining dynamic mechanical properties of a cement sample. The apparatus includes an isolator located within a cavity defined by a body. The isolator has an attached end that engages the body proximate a narrow end of the cavity. A space between ... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6938469 | Method for determining properties of formation fluids A method is disclosed for downhole determination of the resistivity of fluids from formations surrounding an earth borehole, including the following steps: providing a formation testing logging device that includes a coil and a flow line passing axially through the ... | 09/06/2005 |
| 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 |
| H2116 | Method for detecting, locating, and characterizing single and multiple fluid-filled fractures in fractured formations A method to analyze full waveform multiple (i.e., monopoles, dipoles, quadrupoles) acoustic measurements in a fluid-filled borehole, surrounded by a system of fractures oriented parallel to the axis of the borehole. The method uses new measurement attributes, herein... | 04/05/2005 |
| 6792798 | Ultrasonic cylindrical resonator to facilitate bubble point pressure measurement The present invention discloses an acoustic resonator device capable of nucleating bubbles in a formation fluid under borehole-like conditions wherein the static pressure is higher than the bubble point pressure. The device is comprised of one or more coaxial layers... | 09/21/2004 |
| 6758090 | Method and apparatus for the detection of bubble point pressure The present invention discloses a method and apparatus to detect bubbles in a fluid sample to determine if gases are present, wherein an ultrasonic source is used and its properties monitored. Fluctuations in the ultrasonic source's electrical properties indicate th... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6608565 | Downward communication in a borehole through drill string rotary modulation A method for downward communication in a borehole containing a pipe string, comprising the steps of: imparting a series of rotary motions to an upper portion of the string, the rotary motions representing at least two levels of a coded data sequence, the ... | 08/19/2003 |
| 6567006 | Monitoring vibrations in a pipeline network The invention relates to acoustic detection of leaks in a pipeline using locally-intelligent, data-adaptive monitors deployed for a period of time. Monitors are initialized by a base station. Following deployment, monitors receive vibration signals at pro... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6490916 | Method and system of fluid analysis and control in a hydrocarbon well A system and method of fluid analysis in a hydrocarbon borehole is disclosed. Acoustic energy is emitted into the production fluid downhole at a level which causes a phase transition in the fluid. The pressure associated with the phase transition is deter... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6227044 | Methods and apparatus for detecting torsional vibration in a bottomhole assembly The invention provides a method of detecting, at the surface, the occurrence of torsional vibration in a bottomhole assembly mounted on the drill string of a rotary drilling system. The method includes the steps of: ascertaining natural frequencies of tor... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6082193 | Pipeline monitoring array An array of acoustic sensors spaced along a cable is deployed in a fluid filled concrete pipeline and the sensors are monitored to find acoustic anomalies, particularly anomalies resulting from breakage of a reinforcing wire for the concrete. The location... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6065332 | Method and apparatus for sensing and displaying torsional vibration A method and apparatus for sensing and displaying the magnitude of torsional vibrations. A transducer provides a signal indicative of the torsional vibrations being experienced by a rotating member. The magnitude of the frequency components of the signal ... | 05/23/2000 |
| 5886255 | Method and apparatus for monitoring mineral production Long-term changes in the distribution of a mineral in a subsurface deposit, due to commercial production of the mineral, are monitored by suitable instrumentation. The monitoring instrumentation is installed in combination with commercial mineral producti... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5874676 | Method and apparatus for acoustically investigating a casing with a swept frequency pulse An apparatus and method for using swept frequency energy to inspect a casing or other body is disclosed. A transducer (75) transmits a swept frequency pulse at a casing and receives the reflection resulting from the pulse's impact against the casing. The ... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5763773 | Rotating multi-parameter bond tool A multi-part logging tool that allows measurement of several distinct independent parameters, which are in turn used to solve for secondary parameters that give information about the properties of the cement outside the casing. Secondary parameters affect... | 06/09/1998 |
