Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100245096 | OPTICAL DATA TRANSFORMATION - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive interacted energy at an optical calculation device attached to a down hole housing to be deployed in a down hole environment. Further activities may include optically compressing data carried by the interacted energy into at least one orthogonal component, using the optical calculation device, sending a signal associated with the at least one orthogonal component to a remote surface computer, and determining a property of petroleum located in the down hole environment using the remote surface computer, based on the signal. The optical calculation device may comprise a multivariate optical element (MOE). Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 09-30-2010 |
20100265509 | In situ optical computation fluid analysis system and method - A multivariate optical element (MOE) calculation device is used in an apparatus for determining a property of petroleum in real time flowing in a pipe in petroleum field stream pipes or pipe line. Multiple apparatuses are provided for determining the amount of each of a plurality of properties. An internal reflectance element (IRE) is used to determine the property of the petroleum from a surface of the petroleum flowing in a pipe. A cleaning apparatus is provided to clean the surface of the IRE in the pipe and a turbulence generator is provided in the pipe to insure homogeneity of the petroleum being analyzed prior to analysis. A bellows may be provided the apparatus housing to compensate for pressure differentials between the housing and the flowing petroleum in the pipe. Various embodiments are disclosed. | 10-21-2010 |
20120018167 | MAXIMIZING HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION WHILE CONTROLLING PHASE BEHAVIOR OR PRECIPITATION OF RESERVOIR IMPAIRING LIQUIDS OR SOLIDS - A method of flowing fluid from a formation, the method comprising: sensing presence of a reservoir impairing substance in the fluid flowed from the formation; and automatically controlling operation of at least one flow control device in response to the sensing of the presence of the substance. A well system, comprising: at least one sensor which senses whether a reservoir impairing substance is present; and at least one flow control device which regulates flow of a fluid from a formation in response to indications provided by the sensor. | 01-26-2012 |
20120084021 | Monitoring Flow of Single or Multiple Phase Fluids - Various embodiments include apparatus and methods to monitor flow of single and multiple phase fluids. Sensors of a tool can be dispersed along the tool to collect measurements to be processed using an autocorrelation operation on the collected measurements to provide information relative to the phases of the fluid. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 04-05-2012 |
20120160018 | MEASUREMENT OF FORMATION ROCK PROPERTIES BY DIFFUSION - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method to determine formation measurements, the method comprising placing a sample in a reservoir, removing aliquots from the reservoir containing the sample or continuously monitoring the reservoir or headspace as the sample and reservoir equilibrate and analyzing the aliquots or readings sufficient to provide diffusion measurements. | 06-28-2012 |
20120167692 | ENERGY INTENSITY TRANSFORMATION - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive incident energy within a chamber defining a first part of an interaction volume that attenuates the incident energy as a function of path length to provide attenuated energy. Additional activity may include simultaneously transforming the attenuated energy characterized by a substantially exponential intensity function into resultant energy characterized by a substantially polynomial intensity function. The transformation may be accomplished using an interacted energy transformation element that defines a second part of the interaction volume, the transformation element operating to intercept the attenuated energy along a plurality of path lengths. Other activity may include transmitting the resultant energy to a receiver. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 07-05-2012 |
20120211650 | Downhole Optical Radiometry Tool - Various methods and tools optically analyze downhole fluid properties in situ. Some disclosed downhole optical radiometry tools include a tool body having a sample cell for fluid flow. A light beam passes through the sample cell and a spectral operation unit (SOU) such as a prism, filter, interferometer, or multivariate optical element (MOE). The resulting light provides a signal indicative of one or more properties of the fluid. A sensor configuration using electrically balanced thermopiles offers a high sensitivity over a wide temperature range. Further sensitivity is achieved by modulating the light beam and/or by providing a reference light beam that does not interact with the fluid flow. To provide a wide spectral range, some embodiments include multiple filaments in the light source, each filament having a different emission spectrum. Moreover, some embodiments include a second light source, sample cell, SOU, and detector to provide increased range, flexibility, and reliability. | 08-23-2012 |
20120223221 | NANOFIBER SPECTRAL ANALYSIS - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to transmit energy to a nanofiber sampling coil and/or a nanofiber reference coil. Further activity may include receiving the energy as modified by evanescent interaction with a sampled material located proximate to the sampling coil and/or as modified by propagation through the reference coil, and comparing the energy modified by evanescent interaction with the energy modified by propagation through the reference coil to determine a spectroscopic property of the sampled material. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods, including the use of nanofibers and fluorescence induced by evanescent radiation to conduct spectroscopic analysis, are disclosed. | 09-06-2012 |
20120232707 | ADDITIVE PHOTOMETRIC ANALYSIS - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to discharge a plurality of spike fluids into a fluid flowing in a flow channel, transmit energy to the fluid using an energy source coupled to the flow channel, receive the energy modified by the fluid as photometric energy, convert the photometric energy to at least one photometric signal, compare the at least one photometric signal with a reference signal to determine at least one photometric property of the fluid, and determine at least one component of the fluid using the at least one photometric property supplied to a generalized standard addition method (GSAM). Additional apparatus, systems, and methods, including the use of multivariate curve resolution (MCR) to refine GSAM results, are disclosed. | 09-13-2012 |
20120250017 | Interferometry-Based Downhole Analysis Tool - Various systems and methods for performing optical analysis downhole with an interferogram (a light beam having frequency components with a time variation that identifies those frequency components. The interferogram is produced by introducing an interferometer into the light path, with the two arms of the interferometer having a propagation time difference that varies as a function of time. Before or after the interferometer, the light encounters a material to be analyzed, such as a fluid sample from the formation, a borehole fluid sample, a core sample, or a portion of the borehole wall. The spectral characteristics of the material are imprinted on the light beam and can be readily analyzed by processing electronics that perform a Fourier Transform to obtain the spectrum or that enable a comparison with one or more templates. An interferometer designed to perform well in the hostile environments downhole is expected to enable laboratory-quality measurements. | 10-04-2012 |
20120300200 | OPTICAL MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Optical measurement devices including one or more sealing assemblies are described. The sealing assemblies are configured for use at relatively high temperatures and pressures, such as temperatures over 200 degrees F. and pressures over 10,000 psi. The sealing assemblies can include a deformable seal element surrounded on each side by a backup seal element. In some examples, the deformable seal element is formed of a material selected from a group consisting of a fluoroelastomer or polytetrafluoroethylene, and the backup seal elements are formed of a material selected from a group consisting of flexible graphite or metal foil. Optionally, at least one additional seal element functioning as an extrusion barrier can be placed on the opposite side of one or both backup seal elements from the deformable seal element. The additional seal element can be formed of polyether ether ketone or flexible graphite, for example. Additional devices and assemblies are described. | 11-29-2012 |
20130031970 | METHODS FOR MONITORING THE FORMATION AND TRANSPORT OF A FRACTURING FLUID USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing at least one fracturing fluid component; combining the at least one fracturing fluid component with a base fluid to form a fracturing fluid; and monitoring a characteristic of the fracturing fluid using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the fracturing fluid. | 02-07-2013 |
20130031971 | METHODS FOR MONITORING FLUIDS WITHIN OR PRODUCED FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION DURING FRACTURING OPERATIONS USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing a fracturing fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one fracturing fluid component; introducing the fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one fracture therein, thereby performing a fracturing operation in the subterranean formation; and monitoring a characteristic of the fracturing fluid or a formation fluid using at least a first opticoanalytical device within the subterranean formation, during a flow back of the fracturing fluid produced from the subterranean formation, or both. | 02-07-2013 |
20130031972 | METHODS FOR MONITORING A WATER SOURCE USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing water from a water source; monitoring a characteristic of the water using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the water; and introducing the water into a subterranean formation. | 02-07-2013 |
20130032334 | METHODS FOR MONITORING THE FORMATION AND TRANSPORT OF A TREATMENT FLUID USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing at least one source material; combining the at least one source material with a base fluid to form a treatment fluid; and monitoring a characteristic of the treatment fluid using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the treatment fluid. | 02-07-2013 |
20130032340 | METHODS FOR MONITORING THE FORMATION AND TRANSPORT OF AN ACIDIZING FLUID USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing at least one acid; combining the at least one acid with a base fluid to form an acidizing fluid; and monitoring a characteristic of the acidizing fluid using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the acidizing fluid. | 02-07-2013 |
20130032344 | METHODS FOR MONITORING FLUIDS WITHIN OR PRODUCED FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing a treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one additional component; introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; allowing the treatment fluid to perform a treatment operation in the subterranean formation; and monitoring a characteristic of the treatment fluid or a formation fluid using at least a first opticoanalytical device within the subterranean formation, during a flow back of the treatment fluid produced from the subterranean formation, or both. | 02-07-2013 |
20130032345 | METHODS FOR MONITORING FLUIDS WITHIN OR PRODUCED FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION DURING ACIDIZING OPERATIONS USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing an acidizing fluid comprising a base fluid and at least one acid; introducing the acidizing fluid into a subterranean formation; allowing the acidizing fluid to perform an acidizing operation in the subterranean formation; and monitoring a characteristic of the acidizing fluid or a formation fluid using at least a first opticoanalytical device within the subterranean formation, during a flow back of the acidizing fluid produced from the subterranean formation, or both. | 02-07-2013 |
20130032545 | METHODS FOR MONITORING AND MODIFYING A FLUID STREAM USING OPTICOANALYTICAL DEVICES - In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. The opticoanalytical devices can be used for monitoring various processes in which fluids are used. The methods can comprise providing a fluid in a fluid stream and monitoring a characteristic of the fluid using a first opticoarialytical device that is in optical communication with the fluid in the fluid stream. | 02-07-2013 |
20130034842 | Systems and Methods for Analyzing Microbiological Substances - Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring a fluid for the purpose of identifying microbiological content and/or microorganisms and determining the effectiveness of a microbiological treatment. One method of monitoring a fluid includes containing the fluid within a flow path, the fluid including at least one microorganism present therein, optically interacting electromagnetic radiation from the fluid with at least one integrated computational element, thereby generating optically interacted light, receiving with at least one detector the optically interacted light, and generating with the at least one detector an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid, the characteristic of the fluid being a concentration of the at least one microorganism within the fluid. | 02-07-2013 |
20130046473 | Analyzing Fluid Within a Context - A processor accepts sensor data about a geological formation from a sensor. The sensor data is such that processing the sensor data using a processing technique to estimate a parameter of the geological formation without a constraint, whose value is not yet known, produces a plurality of non-unique estimates of the parameter. The processor accepts more than two time-displaced images of fluid sampled from the geological formation. The time displacements between the images are substantially defined by a mathematical series. The processor processes the images to determine the constraint. The processor processes the sensor data using the processing technique constrained by the constraint to estimate the parameter of the geological formation. The processor uses the estimated parameter to affect the drilling of a well through the geological formation. | 02-21-2013 |
20130056626 | Downhole Spectroscopic Detection of Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulfide - The present invention relates to a method for measuring the characteristics of a downhole fluid. The method for measuring the characteristics of a downhole fluid includes passing a downhole fluid sample through an analyzer, analyzing the downhole fluid sample by illuminating the downhole fluid sample with light from a light source and detecting light that interacts with the fluid sample. The method is applicable to detecting carbon dioxide and/or hydrogen sulfide directly in a downhole environment. | 03-07-2013 |
20130068940 | SPECTROSCOPIC NANOSENSOR LOGGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Logging systems and methods that employ nanosensors to obtain spectral measurements downhole. The nanosensors can be dispersed in borehole fluids (including cement slurries) that circulate, diffuse, or get injected in a borehole. Because the nanosensors have diameters on the order of | 03-21-2013 |
20130087723 | DOWNHOLE SOURCES HAVING ENHANCED IR EMISSION - Light sources are provided with enhanced low-frequency (e.g., near infrared) emission. Some disclosed embodiments include a filament and at least one re-radiator element. The filament heats the re-radiator element to a steady-state temperature that is at least one quarter of the filament's absolute temperature. As disclosed herein, the increased surface area provided by the re-radiator element provides enhanced IR radiation from the light source. Patterning or texturing of the surface can further increase the re-radiator element's surface area. Various shapes such as disks, collars, tubes are illustrated and can be combined to customize the spectral emission profile of the light source. Some specific embodiments employ a coating on the bulb as the re-radiator element. The coating can be positioned to occlude light from the filament or to augment light from the filament, depending on the particular application. The various re-radiator elements can be positioned inside or outside the bulb. | 04-11-2013 |
20130104642 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETERMINING CONSTITUENT COMPONENTS OF A FLUID SAMPLE | 05-02-2013 |
20130122595 | DETERMINING FORMATION FLUID COMPOSITION - Apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool or tool body, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient in a receiving section, to detect the differentiated gas components with a detector, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. A reaction section and a vacuum section may be used for waste consumption and/or absorption. | 05-16-2013 |
20130197809 | RECONSTRUCTING DEAD OIL - A computer accepts dead-oil properties of a reservoir fluid sampled from a well. The dead-oil properties are the measured composition of the reservoir fluid after volatile components of the reservoir have substantially vaporized. The computer analyzes the dead-oil properties and a constraint to produce estimated live-oil properties of the reservoir fluid. The live-oil properties are the composition of the reservoir before the volatile components have substantially vaporized. The computer uses the estimated live-oil properties to make a decision regarding the well. | 08-01-2013 |
20130295677 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING FORMATION FLUID COMPOSITION - In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may operate to draw a formation fluid sample into a sampling port included in a down hole tool, to vaporize some part of the fluid sample to substantially fill an injection port with a gas phase, to differentiate gas components in the gas phase to provide differentiated gas components along a concentration gradient, to detect the differentiated gas components, and to determine a fingerprint of the differentiated gas components. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 11-07-2013 |
20130312481 | FLUID PROPERTIES INCLUDING EQUATION OF STATE MODELING WITH OPTICAL CONSTRAINTS - The invention relates to a method of determining an unknown property or information of a reservoir fluid. The method includes measuring a set of responses of a measuring instrument to the fluid and measuring one or more physical or chemical properties of the fluid. The method further includes determining the unknown property or information of the fluid based on the relationship between the instrument responses and the measured properties of the fluid using equation-of-state (EOS) model. | 11-28-2013 |
20130314709 | OPTICAL DATA TRANSFORMATION - Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive interacted energy at an optical calculation device attached to a down hole housing to be deployed in a down hole environment. Further activities may include optically compressing data carried by the interacted energy into at least one orthogonal component, using the optical calculation device, sending a signal associated with the at least one orthogonal component to a remote surface computer, and determining a property of petroleum located in the down hole environment using the remote surface computer, based on the signal. The optical calculation device may comprise a multivariate optical element (MOE). Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed. | 11-28-2013 |
20140070083 | METHODS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FILTERS PER OPTICAL PATH IN A DOWNHOLE SPECTROMETER - Downhole spectrometer tools are provided with two ways to increase the number of filters on an optical path. A first approach employs multiple filter wheels that rotate alternately in a common plane to intersect the optical path. Portions of the wheels are cut out to avoid mechanical interference between the wheels. A second approach drives the one or more filter wheels with a wobble that causes the filters to trace one or more hypocycloidal curves that each intersect the optical path. | 03-13-2014 |
20140078499 | Systems and Methods for Inspecting and Monitoring a Pipeline - Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline, one or more optical computing devices arranged on the pig adjacent the inner surface of the pipeline for monitoring at least one substance present on the inner surface. The optical computing devices include at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the at least one substance and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the at least one substance. A signal processor is communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device for receiving the output signal of each optical computing device and determining the characteristic of the at least one substance. | 03-20-2014 |
20140080223 | Systems and Methods for Inspecting and Monitoring a Pipeline - Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline and having first and second ends, one or more optical computing devices arranged on at least one of the first and second ends for monitoring a fluid within the pipeline. The optical computing devices including at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the fluid and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the fluid. The system also includes a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device for receiving the output signal of each optical computing device and determining the characteristic of the fluid as detected by each optical computing device. | 03-20-2014 |
20140080224 | Systems and Methods for Inspecting and Monitoring a Pipeline - Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline and having a housing that defines a conduit therein for providing fluid communication through the pig, one or more optical computing devices arranged on the conduit for monitoring a bypass fluid flowing through the conduit. The one or more optical computing devices including at least one integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the bypass fluid and generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the bypass fluid. A signal processor is communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device for receiving the corresponding output signals and determining the characteristic of the fluid. | 03-20-2014 |
20140081594 | Systems and Methods for Inspecting and Monitoring a Pipeline - Disclosed are systems and methods for inspecting and monitoring an inner surface of a pipeline. One system includes a pig arranged within the pipeline, the pipeline being divided into first and second radial divisions, and first and second sets of optical computing devices arranged on the pig adjacent the inner surface of the pipeline, the first set being configured to monitor a first substance on the first radial division and the second set being configured to monitor a second substance on the second radial division. Each optical computing device includes an integrated computational element configured to optically interact with the first or second substance and thereby generate optically interacted light, and at least one detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light and generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the first or second substance. | 03-20-2014 |
20140252251 | Systems and Methods for Inspecting and Monitoring a Pipeline - An example method includes introducing a movable inline inspection device into a pipeline, the movable inline inspection device having a housing that defines a conduit therein which provides fluid communication through the movable inline inspection device in the form of a bypass fluid, the conduit having one or more optical computing devices arranged thereon for monitoring the bypass fluid, wherein each optical computing device has at least one integrated computational element arranged therein, generating an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the bypass fluid with at least one detector arranged within each optical computing device, receiving the output signal from each optical computing device with a signal processor communicably coupled to the at least one detector of each optical computing device, and determining with the signal processor the characteristic of the bypass fluid detected by each optical computing device. | 09-11-2014 |
20140338900 | MEASURING AN ADSORBING CHEMICAL IN DOWNHOLE FLUIDS - Interaction of adsorbing chemicals with a downhole tool presents inaccuracies in the adsorbing chemical measurement and analysis. The principles of the present disclosure provide a method and system of sampling fluids including an adsorbing chemical in a subterranean reservoir. One method may include modeling an interaction between the adsorbing chemical and a downhole tool, applying the model to a measurement of the adsorbing chemical, and adjusting the measurement in response to applying the model. | 11-20-2014 |