Saudi Arabian Oil Company

Baker Hughes Corporation

Christopher Powell

Huseyin Rahmi Seren

Sebastian Csutak

Max Deffenbaugh

Sunder Ramachandran

Jose Oliverio Alvarez

Miguel Gonzalez

Gregory D Ham

Gregory Bernero

Rocco DiFoggio

Louis Perez

David M Chace

Mohamed Larbi Zeghlache

Paul Allan Bergren

Peter W Reittinger

Datong Sun

Srdjan Stankovic

An untethered device includes a tool and a ballast weight. The ballast weight includes an attachment plate that is securable to the tool, a dissolvable ballast, and attachment elements that secure the dissolvable ballast to the attachment plate. At least one of the attachment elements is dissolvable to release the dissolvable ballast from the attachment plate.

Downhole robots with dissolvable fail-safe ballast

Embodiments of the invention provide an untethered apparatus for measuring properties along a subterranean well. According to at least one embodiment, the untethered apparatus includes a housing, and one or more sensors configured to measure data along the subterranean well. The data includes one or more physical, chemical, geological or structural properties in the subterranean well. The untethered apparatus further includes a processor configured to control the one or more sensors measuring the data and to store the measured data, and a transmitter configured to transmit the measured data to a receiver arranged external to the subterranean well. Further, the untethered apparatus includes a controller configured to control the buoyancy or the drag of the untethered apparatus to control a position of the untethered apparatus in the subterranean well. The processor includes instructions defining measurement parameters for the one or more sensors of the untethered apparatus within the subterranean well.

Method and device for obtaining measurements of downhole properties in a subterranean well

Today, chemical rockets are the most expensive components of a launch; even reusable boosters require costly fuel, ongoing maintenance, and long durations between launches. As a result, far too many space bound opportunities are prohibitively expensive. However, kinetic launchers offer an economical alternative for projecting payloads into orbit. Harnessing angular velocity, a centrifuge gradually accelerates its payload to hypersonic speeds within a vacuum sealed chamber; upon reaching the desired speed, its airlock opens and the payload is released into the atmosphere. Flux-Pinned Superconductors offer a radical advancement to this technology; wherein, Flux Pinning is used to levitate and stabilize the launch package while reinforcing the entire platform against centrifugal stress. These Flux-Pinned joints require no power, lubricant or physical contact, while providing limitless stiffness that is essentially impervious to mechanical wear. Ultimately, we believe this centrifugal launch design will dramatically reduce the market's reliance on traditional chemical rockets.

Superconducting Centrifugal Launcher

An untethered apparatus for measuring properties along a subterranean well includes a housing, and one or more sensors configured to measure data along the subterranean well. The data includes one or more physical, chemical, geological or structural properties in the subterranean well. The untethered apparatus further includes a processor configured to control the one or more sensors measuring the data and to store the measured data, and a transmitter configured to transmit the measured data to a receiver arranged external to the subterranean well. Further, the untethered apparatus includes a controller configured to control the buoyancy or the drag of the untethered apparatus to control a position of the untethered apparatus in the subterranean well. The processor includes instructions defining measurement parameters for the one or more sensors of the untethered apparatus within the subterranean well.

An untethered apparatus for measuring properties along a subterranean well. According to at least one embodiment, the untethered apparatus includes a housing, and one or more sensors configured to measure data along the subterranean well. The data includes one or more physical, chemical, geological or structural properties in the subterranean well. The untethered apparatus further includes a processor configured to control the one or more sensors measuring the data and to store the measured data, and a transmitter configured to transmit the measured data to a receiver arranged external to the subterranean well. Further, the untethered apparatus includes a controller configured to control the buoyancy or the drag of the untethered apparatus to control a position of the untethered apparatus in the subterranean well. The processor includes instructions defining measurement parameters for the one or more sensors of the untethered apparatus within the subterranean well.

Pairs of acoustic transducers positioned at different radial distances in a conduit are used to measure travel times of acoustic signals in opposite directions and inclined to the direction of a fluid flow in the borehole. These contrapropagation measurements are used to estimate fluid velocity and volumetric flow rates of the fluid components in the conduit.

Simultaneous ultrasonic cross-correlation and transit time measurements for multiphase flow rate analysis

A method and apparatus are provided for insulating electrical connections to a resonator from fluid downhole under extreme pressure and temperature conditions downhole. The method and apparatus provide a pliable insulator that maintains electrical isolation between a resonator electrical connection during exposure to high pressures downhole. The insulator is substantially chemically non reactive so that the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the resonator electrical connections during exposure to fluids downhole. The insulator has a thermal coefficient of expansion in a range so that the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the resonator electrical connections during exposure to high temperatures downhole.

Method and apparatus for insulating a resonator downhole

A method and apparatus are provided for insulating electrical connections to a resonator from fluid downhole under extreme pressure and temperature conditions downhole. The method and apparatus provide a pliable insulator that maintains electrical isolation between resonator electrical connections during exposure to high pressures downhole. The insulator is evacuated or placed in a vacuum prior to curing to remove bubbles from the insulator material. The insulator is then heat cured. The insulator is substantially chemically non reactive so that the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the resonator electrical connections during exposure to fluids downhole. The insulator has a thermal coefficient of expansion in a range so that the insulator maintains electrical isolation between the resonator electrical connections during exposure to high temperatures downhole.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Christopher Powell