| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7436184 |
Well logging apparatus for obtaining azimuthally sensitive formation resistivity measurements |
October 14, 2008 |
| An apparatus for making azimuthally sensitive resistivity measurements of a subterranean formation is disclosed. The apparatus includes a magnetically permeably ring deployed about an electrically conductive tool body. An AC voltage supply is coupled to the tool body on opposing side |
| 7426967 |
Rotary steerable tool including drill string rotation measurement apparatus |
September 23, 2008 |
| Aspects of this invention include a downhole tool (such as a steering tool) including first and second sensor sets for measuring substantially instantaneous drill string rotation rates. Each of the sensor sets includes at least one accelerometer disposed to measure cross-axial accele |
| 7414405 |
Measurement tool for obtaining tool face on a rotating drill collar |
August 19, 2008 |
| An apparatus for obtaining tool face angles on a rotating drill collar in substantially real time is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment the apparatus includes a magnetoresistive magnetic field sensor deployed in a tool body. The apparatus further includes a programmed processor c |
| 7403857 |
Enhanced measurement of azimuthal dependence of subterranean parameters with filters and/or disc |
July 22, 2008 |
| A method for estimating an azimuthal dependence of a parameter of a borehole using logging sensor measurements acquired as a function of azimuth of the logging sensors is provided. The method includes acquiring at least one logging sensor measurement and a corresponding azimuth from |
| 7388379 |
Series-resonant tuning of a downhole loop antenna |
June 17, 2008 |
| A loop antenna useful, for example, in investigation of earth formations. Embodiments of the invention provide a loop antenna circuit comprising a loop antenna disposed to generate, in response to an electromagnetic wave, a pick-up signal on an output node. Loop antenna circuit further |
| 7385400 |
Azimuthally sensitive receiver array for an electromagnetic measurement tool |
June 10, 2008 |
| An azimuthally sensitive logging while drilling tool is disclosed. The tool may be suitable, for example, to measure azimuthal variations of electrical properties of a subterranean formation. The tool includes at least one transmitter disposed to transmit electromagnetic energy and a |
| 7383897 |
Downhole steering tool having a non-rotating bendable section |
June 10, 2008 |
| A downhole steering tool is disclosed. The steering tool includes a rotatable shaft, a substantially non-rotating tool body deployed about the shaft, and a plurality of force application members deployed on the steering tool body. The steering tool further includes a bendable section |
| 7377333 |
Linear position sensor for downhole tools and method of use |
May 27, 2008 |
| Aspects of this invention include a downhole tool having first and second members disposed to translate substantially linearly with respect to one another. A magnet is deployed on the first member and a plurality of magnetic field sensors is deployed on the second member. The magnetic |
| 7363159 |
Method of determining resistivity and/or dielectric values of an earth formation as a function o |
April 22, 2008 |
| A technique of estimating electrical parameters of an earth formation accounts for spatial inhomogeneities and frequency dispersion. The results are achieved using a model which is evaluated to generate predicted values for a plurality of electrical signals measured in a borehole in |
| 7327145 |
Azimuthally focused electromagnetic measurement tool |
February 5, 2008 |
| An azimuthally sensitive electromagnetic measurement tool is provided. The tool may be suitable, for example, to measure azimuthal variations of electrical properties of a subterranean formation. The tool includes a transmitter disposed to transmit electromagnetic energy into a subte |
| 7260479 |
Method for locating casing joints using measurement while drilling tool |
August 21, 2007 |
| A method for locating casing string joints using a measurement while drilling tool is disclosed. The method includes deploying an MWD tool in a wellbore and measuring the magnetic field along a length of the wellbore. Changes in the magnetic field along the length of the wellbore are |
| 7260477 |
Estimation of borehole geometry parameters and lateral tool displacements |
August 21, 2007 |
| A method for determining a borehole geometry parameter vector and/or lateral tool displacement vectors in a borehole is provided. The method includes acquiring at least one set of standoff measurements at a corresponding time. The method also includes processing a system of equations |
| 7245229 |
Drill string rotation encoding |
July 17, 2007 |
| A method for communicating with a downhole device is provided. The method includes predefining an encoding language including codes understandable to the device, the codes represented in the language as predefined value combinations of drill string rotation variables such as rotation rat |
| 7243740 |
Filter assembly having a bypass passageway and method |
July 17, 2007 |
| A filter assembly including a primary flow passageway having at least one filter deployed therein and a secondary flow passageway having a bypass filter deployed therein is provided. The filter assembly further includes a bypass valve assembly configured to selectively open and close the |
| 7243719 |
Control method for downhole steering tool |
July 17, 2007 |
| A method for determining a rate of change of longitudinal direction of a subterranean borehole is provided. The method includes positioning a downhole tool in a borehole, the tool including first and second surveying devices disposed thereon. The method further includes causing the s |
| 7222681 |
Programming method for controlling a downhole steering tool |
May 29, 2007 |
| 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 rotation rates an |
| 7204325 |
Spring mechanism for downhole steering tool blades |
April 17, 2007 |
| A steering tool for use in a well bore is disclosed. The tool includes at least one extendable and retractable blade deployed thereon. The blade is elastically spring biased radially inwards towards the tool such that upon removal of an actuating force, the blade retracts. In exemplary |
| 7171310 |
Method of estimating electrical parameters of an earth formation with a simplified measurement d |
January 30, 2007 |
| Briefly, a method of estimating electrical parameters of an earth formation employs a simplified model of a measurement tool or device in transforming or normalizing data measured by the measurement tool. Electrical parameters of the earth formation, such as conductivity or dielectri |
| 7143521 |
Determination of borehole azimuth and the azimuthal dependence of borehole parameters |
December 5, 2006 |
| 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, along with a lateral |
| 7104345 |
Downhole rotatable-shaft connector assembly and method |
September 12, 2006 |
| A connector assembly for connecting with a rotatable shaft is provided. The connector assembly includes a mating sleeve threadably coupleable about the shaft and a center sleeve sized and shaped for deployment between the shaft and the mating sleeve. The center sleeve includes plural |
| 7103982 |
Determination of borehole azimuth and the azimuthal dependence of borehole parameters |
September 12, 2006 |
| 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, along with a lateral |
| 7089118 |
Shear wave velocity determination using circumferentially aligned transmitter and receiver eleme |
August 8, 2006 |
| A method for determining a formation shear wave velocity for a subterranean formation includes propagating a multi-pole acoustic signal in a borehole using an acoustic transmitter and receiving an acoustic waveform from the multi-pole acoustic signal at one or more receivers deployed |
| 7083009 |
Pressure controlled fluid sampling apparatus and method |
August 1, 2006 |
| A formation fluid sampling tool including at least one sample tank mounted in a tool collar. The tool collar includes a through bore and is disposed to be operatively coupled with a drill string such that each sample tank may receive a correspondingly preselected formation fluid sample w |
| 7075215 |
Matching layer assembly for a downhole acoustic sensor |
July 11, 2006 |
| An acoustic sensor for use in a downhole measurement tool is provided. The acoustic sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer and a matching layer assembly having at least one matching layer and a barrier layer. In various exemplary embodiments, the at least one matching layer includes |
| 7074064 |
Electrical connector useful in wet environments |
July 11, 2006 |
| A multiple contact electrical connector for interconnecting multiple power and/or communication transmission lines is provided. The invention is particularly useful in wet environments. The electrical connector includes male and female connector assemblies. A male pin assembly having |
| 7039524 |
Shear wave velocity determination using multi-pole wave |
May 2, 2006 |
| A method for determining a formation shear wave velocity for a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes propagating a multi-pole acoustic signal in a borehole using an acoustic transmitter and receiving an acoustic waveform from the multi-pole acoustic signal at at lea |
| 7036363 |
Acoustic sensor for downhole measurement tool |
May 2, 2006 |
| 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, and a barrier layer dep |
| 7027926 |
Enhanced measurement of azimuthal dependence of subterranean parameters |
April 11, 2006 |
| A method for estimating an azimuthal dependence of a parameter of a borehole using logging sensor measurements acquired as a function of azimuth of the logging sensors is provided. The method includes acquiring at least one logging sensor measurement and a corresponding azimuth from |
| 7009363 |
Optimized battery life in multiple battery applications |
March 7, 2006 |
| Various apparatus and methods of supplying regulated battery power to an electrical device, such as a downhole tool, are provided. In one aspect, a method of providing power to an electrical device is provided that includes providing a plurality of batteries and providing a plurality of |
| 7003401 |
Adjustment for frequency dispersion effects in electromagnetic logging data |
February 21, 2006 |
| Method and apparatus are provided for adjusting electromagnetic well logging data for effects of frequency dispersion. In exemplary embodiments, a model is provided for estimating an electrical property of an earth formation as a function of frequency. The model is derived, for each |
| 7002484 |
Supplemental referencing techniques in borehole surveying |
February 21, 2006 |
| A method for surveying a borehole is disclosed which uses first and second gravity measurement devices disposed at corresponding first and second positions in the borehole and a supplemental reference measurement device disposed at the first position. Exemplary supplemental reference |
| 6995500 |
Composite backing layer for a downhole acoustic sensor |
February 7, 2006 |
| An acoustic sensor for use in a downhole measurement tool is provided. The acoustic sensor includes a piezoelectric transducer and a backing layer having at least one powder material disposed in an elastomeric matrix material. In various exemplary embodiments, the backing layer includes |
| 6985814 |
Well twinning techniques in borehole surveying |
January 10, 2006 |
| A method for surveying a borehole is provided. The method includes providing a tool having a magnetic field measurement device disposed thereon and positioning the tool in a borehole. Magnetic interference vectors are determined at at least two positions in the borehole by comparing |
| 6937023 |
Passive ranging techniques in borehole surveying |
August 30, 2005 |
| A method for determining the location of a target subterranean structure from within an adjacent borehole is disclosed which uses first and second gravity measurement devices disposed at corresponding first and second positions in the adjacent borehole and a magnetic field measurement de |
| 6894274 |
Estimation of formation porosity using water measurement |
May 17, 2005 |
| Methods and systems for enabling estimations of porosity that are less sensitive to standoff and borehole size effects, and less reliant on corrective techniques for such effects. In one embodiment, a method is provided for estimating porosity of a formation using a downhole neutron |
| 6892137 |
Adjustment for frequency dispersion effects in electromagnetic logging data |
May 10, 2005 |
| Method and apparatus are provided for adjusting electromagnetic well logging data for effects of frequency dispersion. In exemplary embodiments, a model is provided for estimating an electrical property of an earth formation as a function of frequency. The model is derived, for each |
| 6882937 |
Downhole referencing techniques in borehole surveying |
April 19, 2005 |
| A method for determining rotational offset between first and second gravity measurement devices deployed on a downhole tool is disclosed. The method includes positioning the tool in a previously surveyed section of a borehole that provides a historical survey including at least three |
| 6761232 |
Sprung member and actuator for downhole tools |
July 13, 2004 |
| A downhole tool for use in a well bore is provided. The tool includes a tool body and at least one elongated sprung member deployed on an outer surface thereof. The sprung member is configured to lie in a rest position substantially parallel to the outer surface and further includes at l |
| 6591195 |
Method of and apparatus for independently determining the resistivity and/or dielectric constant |
July 8, 2003 |
| Techniques are provided to transform attenuation and phase measurements taken in conjunction with a drilling operation into independent electrical parameters such as electrical resistivity and dielectric values. The electrical parameters are correlated with background values such that |
