Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090242317 | EXPANDABLE DOWNHOLE TOOL - A downhole tool, having a central axis defined, may selectively include a sensor section including one or more arms connected to the tool body with an open/close mechanism. The open/close mechanism is configured to move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the tool body. The tool also includes at least one sensor attached to the arm, and the tool may include at least one transmitter section on the tool. The transmitter is configured to transmit acoustic energy to a formation. | 10-01-2009 |
20110127042 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION USING DIVERSION - Apparatus and methods comprising a plurality of particles which are magnetically attracted to one another in response to exposure to an magnetic field, and which maintain attraction to one another after removal of the magnetic field, the attraction being disabled when the particles are demagnetized, whereby the particles operate to alter the rheological properties of a fluid in which the particles are mixed when the attraction is enabled or disabled is disclosed. | 06-02-2011 |
20110220417 | DRILL BITS AND METHODS OF DRILLING CURVED BOREHOLES - The invention provides drill bits and methods of drilling curved boreholes. One aspect of the invention provides a drill bit including a bit body and one or more blades positioned within the bit body, the one or more blades individually actuatable to a plurality of cut depths. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for drilling a curved borehole. The method includes: providing a drill string including a drill bit including a bit body and one or more blades positioned within the bit body, the one or more blades individually actuatable to a plurality of cut depths; rotating the drill string; and selectively actuating the one or more blades to a plurality of cut depths; thereby drilling a curved borehole. | 09-15-2011 |
20110242936 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO IDENTIFY LAYER BOUNDARIES IN SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - Methods and apparatus to identify layer boundaries in subterranean formations are described. An example method of identifying a layer boundary of a subterranean formation includes transmitting an acoustic signal from a transmitter into a borehole of the subterranean formation and receiving the acoustic signal at a receiver coupled to the downhole tool and spaced from the transmitter. Additionally, the example method includes logging an energy value associated with the acoustic signal received by the receiver as the downhole tool is moved in the borehole and identifying a change in the logged energy value associated with an impedance change in the subterranean formation to identify the layer boundary. | 10-06-2011 |
20110284240 | MECHANISM FOR ACTIVATING A PLURALITY OF DOWNHOLE DEVICES - A mechanism for selectively activating a plurality of downhole pathways including a) a valve having: i) a sleeve coupled for movement between an open and normally closed position; and ii) a valve magnet set mounted to the sleeve; and b) a dart for pumping in hole including a dart magnet set matched to the valve magnet set such that the dart couples to the valve when in close proximity and, in turn, the sleeve moves from the closed position to the open position. | 11-24-2011 |
20120111581 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING THE RESIDUAL BENDING AND FATIGUE IN COILED TUBING - The subject disclosure provides a reel and a gooseneck which significantly reduce residual bending of the coiled tubing. The subject disclosure discloses a gooseneck that provides reverse bending forces to reduce the residual bending as a result of the reel. Further, the subject disclosure discloses a gooseneck having an adjustable radius during the coiled tubing operations which optimizes the residual bending process. The subject disclosure also discloses a heating and cooling module. The heating and cooling modules are attached to the gooseneck and are used to reduce fatigue of the coiled tubing and elongate the life cycle of the coiled tubing. | 05-10-2012 |
20120176859 | MARINE SEISMIC STREAMERS - The subject disclosure relates to seismic streamers. More specifically, the subject disclosure relates to seismic streamers with self healing properties. | 07-12-2012 |
20120292115 | Drill Bits and Methods of Drilling Curved Boreholes - The invention provides drill bits and methods of drilling curved boreholes. One aspect of the invention provides a drill bit including a bit body and one or more blades positioned within the bit body, the one or more blades individually actuatable to a plurality of cut depths. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for drilling a curved borehole. The method includes: providing a drill string including a drill bit including a bit body and one or more blades positioned within the bit body, the one or more blades individually actuatable to a plurality of cut depths; rotating the drill string; and selectively actuating the one or more blades to a plurality of cut depths; thereby drilling a curved borehole. | 11-22-2012 |
20130020066 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION USING DIVERSION - Apparatus and method comprising a plurality of particles which are magnetically attracted to one another in response to exposure to a magnetic field, and which maintain attraction to one another after removal of the magnetic field, the attraction being disabled when the particles are demagnetized, whereby the particles operate to alter the rheological properties of a fluid in which the particles are mixed when the attraction is enabled or disabled is disclosed. | 01-24-2013 |
20130026766 | HARVESTING ENERGY FROM A DRILLSTRING - The subject disclosure relates to energy harvesting. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to harvesting energy from the relative motion between a rotary stabilizer and the drill string. In further embodiments, the subject disclosure relates to harvesting energy from vibrations in the drill string. | 01-31-2013 |
20130056225 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE REACH OF COILED TUBING - The subject disclosure generally relates to the field of elongated structures such as coiled tubing and coiled tubing applications in hydrocarbon wells. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to increasing the reach of coiled tubing by delaying the onset of buckling. | 03-07-2013 |
20130064039 | ACOUSTIC LOGGING WHILE DRILLING TOOL WITH ACTIVE CONTROL OF SOURCE ORIENTATION - The subject disclosure relates to sonic logging while drilling. A transmitter and at least one receiver are mounted on a drill collar for performing sonic investigations of the formation traversing a borehole. | 03-14-2013 |
20130160995 | REDUCING AXIAL WAVE REFLECTIONS AND IDENTIFYING STICKING IN WIRELINE CABLES - Techniques are described for axial vibration control of wireline tools and cables during logging operations. In undesirable cases the axial vibrations may lead to or exasperate the stick-slip problems of the logging tool. Control systems and strategies to minimize vibrations are described. Techniques are also described for identifying and inhibiting the sticking of the cable. A described system includes a surface actuator and a sensor. The actuator generates an axial wave on the wireline cable which travels down the cable. If there is sticking of the cable, a reflection can also occur at the location of sticking. This shift in the transmission of the wave on the wireline cable is used to identify the onset and/or presence of sticking. | 06-27-2013 |
20130246029 | TECHNIQUE FOR ESTABLISHING PREDICTIVE REACH THROUGH A DEVIATED WELL - A method of estimating extended reach for a downhole line traversing a deviated section of a well. The method may include storing line and well architectural and physical data and then performing a static analysis of substantially axial-exclusive estimated friction between the line and well wall during conveyance (which may be thought of as the contact force due to interference therebetween). A one dimensional dynamic analysis may then be performed. Thus, based on these factors, speed of the conveyance, vibration parameters of an incorporated vibration tool, etc., an efficient simulation of the conveyance may be run. | 09-19-2013 |
20140021825 | NON-STATIONARY MULTI-FREQUENCY VIBRATION ENERGY HARVESTING WITH TUNABLE ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE - The present application relates to energy harvesting. More particularly, the present application relates to harvesting energy from non-stationary, multi-frequency mechanical vibrations using a tunable electrical circuit. | 01-23-2014 |
20140048334 | DIRECTIONAL DRILLING USING MAGNETIC BIASING - Apparatus and methods are disclosed for directionally drilling an earth formation where magnet arrays are utilized to provide net lateral force between a first member coupled to a drill bit and another member that either extends through or around the first member. | 02-20-2014 |
20140048337 | MINIMIZING STICK-SLIP WHILE DRILLING - According to the invention, a method for designing a rotary drill bit for drilling a cavity in a medium is disclosed. The method may include determining a characteristic of a drillstring with which the rotary drill bit is coupled. The method may also include determining an initial number of groups of cutters for the rotary drill bit, where each group of cutters includes a plurality of cutters substantially aligned along a different radius of the drilling face. The method may moreover include determining a characteristic of the medium relative to a characteristic of the cutters. The method may additionally include determining a characteristic of a rotational motion source used to rotate the rotary drill bit. The method may further include determining the angles of pitch between each of the groups of cutters to minimize an amount of sticking or slipping of the bit in the medium during a drilling operation. | 02-20-2014 |
20140116675 | WIRELINE TOOL CONFIGURATIONS HAVING IMPROVED RETRIEVABILITY - A first wireline tool embodiment includes a segmented tool body having a joint deployed between each adjacent pair of tool body sections. The joint may be configured to extend axially (causing a relative axial displacement of the adjacent tool body sections) when the wireline tool is subject to an axial load. The joint may include, for example, a compliant joint or a protractible joint. The joint may be further configured to cause a relative rotation between the adjacent tool body sections when the wireline tool is subject to axial load. A second wireline tool embodiment includes a plurality of standoff rings deployed about an outer surface of a rigid tool body. The standoff rings engage helical grooves in the outer surface of the tool body such that axial displacement of the tool body causes the standoff rings to rotate. | 05-01-2014 |
20140174726 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING OSCILLATION DOWNHOLE - A technique employs the use of oscillations downhole to facilitate a desired functionality of a downhole tool. According to this technique, a tool is initially conveyed downhole and operated to perform a function that relates to a downhole application. The operational efficiency of the tool is improved by creating oscillating forces which vibrate the tool to achieve a desired result, e.g. freeing the tool from a stuck position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140192618 | ACTIVE ATTENUATION OF VIBRATIONS RESULTING FROM FIRING OF ACOUSTIC SOURCES - An acoustic logging tool is provided with a first acoustic source that generates an acoustic signal primarily directed into the formation, the acoustic signal including a noise signal carried axially along the tool, a second acoustic source adapted to generate a noise canceling signal along the tool that actively and significantly cancels the noise signal, and a plurality of acoustic sensors axially spaced from each other along the tool and spaced from the first acoustic source and the second acoustic source. The acoustic sensors receive and record indications of pressure signals resulting from the acoustic signal and the noise canceling signal. The pressure signal indications may be processed in order to generate information regarding the formation. | 07-10-2014 |
20140299319 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR ACTIVATING A PLURALITY OF DOWNHOLE DEVICES - A mechanism for selectively activating a plurality of downhole pathways is disclosed. The method includes a casing segment which includes a plurality of casing ribs, a valve which includes a sleeve coupled for movement between an open and normally closed position, a rocker member mounted to the sleeve, a dart for pumping in hole including a dart profile matched to the rocker member profile such that the dart profile couples to the rocker member profile when in close proximity and, in turn, the sleeve moves from the closed position to the open position. | 10-09-2014 |