Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Halliburton Company

Dresser Industries, Inc.

Western Atlas International, Inc.

Nl Industries

Gyrodata, Inc.

Ahlliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Eugene J Linyaev

James Robert Birchak

Vimal Vinod Shah

Carl A Robbins

Donald Kyle

Wallace R Gardner

John W Minear

John Preston Rogers

David J Young

Paul F Rodney

Jeffrey Lee Moore

Robert Anthony Moore

Dennis E Roessler

Gordon Layne Moake

Wei Han

Arnold M Walkow

Robert L Malloy

Roy E Swanson, Jr

Alexander Lifson

Mark Anton Proett

Batakrishna Mandal

Clark E Robison

John Patrick Rodgers

Mohamed Yousef Soliman

Stephen D Bonner

Marco Serra

Timothy S Glenn

Abbas Arian

Denis P Schmitt

Ali Mese

Joakim Oscar Blanch

A J Mallett

Cam Le

Gary Lee Fickert

Gregory J Wilkinson

Tim W Geerits

Jeroen J Groenenboom

Wilbur Lee Daniel

Patrick Dennis Chesnutt

Robert Rudolph Kirby

David Swenson

Bruce Mackie

A valve for communication of a measurement while drilling system includes a first structure having a central portion and one or more elongate portions radially extending from the central portion, and a second structure having one or more portions which substantially bound a central orifice region and one or more elongate orifice regions radially extending from the central orifice region. At least one of the first structure and the second structure is configured to be rotated about a rotation axis to produce a relative rotation between the first structure and the second structure such that a flow path through which mud can flow varies as the at least one of the first structure and the second structure rotates about the rotation axis. The central portion has a maximum inscribed circle encircling the rotation axis and having a first radius and the central orifice region has a maximum inscribed circle encircling the rotation axis and having a second radius greater than the first radius.

Valve for communication of a measurement while drilling system

A shock sensing tool for use with well perforating can include a generally tubular structure which is fluid pressure balanced, at least one strain sensor which senses strain in the structure, and a pressure sensor which senses pressure external to the structure. A well system can include a perforating string including multiple perforating guns and at least one shock sensing tool, with the shock sensing tool being interconnected in the perforating string between one of the perforating guns and at least one of: a) another of the perforating guns, and b) a firing head.

Sensing shock during well perforating

One embodiment includes an apparatus that includes a piezoelectric transducer to generate an acoustic signal that is to modulate along a mandrel, wherein the piezoelectric transducer includes at least one piezoelectric element and at least one electrode that is without non-permanent joints.

Acoustic telemetry transceiver

An attenuation apparatus, system, and method are disclosed. The attenuator is attached to a pipe and includes a housing that includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The attenuator includes one or more masses, to resonate when exposed to waves including acoustic frequency components.

Low frequency acoustic attenuator

A system and method for determining blockage in a wellbore containing fluid and/or in a formation adjacent the wellbore, according to which energy is generated in the fluid and variables associated with the energy are measured.

System and method for monitoring and removing blockage in a downhole oil and gas recovery operation

A downhole crystal-based clock that is substantially insensitive to the factors that may cause frequency deviation as a result of downhole temperature. The clock may include a plurality of crystals, where a first crystal may be more stable, with respect to temperature, than a second crystal. The crystals may be thermally coupled together so that they may have substantially the same temperature. An error detector may monitor the differences between the frequencies associated with each crystal and provide this information to a storage device. This information may be determined prior to deploying the clock downhole. When deployed downhole, the signal from the error detector may be interpreted in light of the information in the storage device to provide a temperature measurement of the two crystals. The downhole temperature measurement then may be used to reduce frequency deviations in the downhole clock that may result from downhole temperatures.

Downhole clock having temperature compensation

An acoustic attenuator includes a housing having an inner side surface which defines an interior chamber and at least one dampening member both physically and acoustically coupled to the housing and projecting into the interior chamber. Acoustic energy propagating within the housing is deflected into the dampening members for acoustically dispersal within the interior chamber. In various aspects thereof, the dampening members may include one or a group of two or more generally cylindrical sleeves having one end both physically and acoustically coupled to the housing and a second end projecting into the interior chamber. Preferably, when a group of two or more cylindrical sleeves are employed, the sleeves are nested within one another. The dampening members may further include a second, oppositely disposed, group of two or more acoustic attenuators nested within one another and interdigitated with the first group of cylindrical sleeves.

Low frequency acoustic attenuator for use in downhole applications

A drill pipe forms an acoustic transmission channel for data to be transmitted from a downhole transceiver to a surface transceiver. By positioning a first low frequency acoustic attenuator between a drill bit and the downhole transceiver, acoustic noise generated by the drill bit is attenuated. Similarly, by positioning the surface transceiver between the top of the drill pipe and a second low frequency acoustic attenuator, acoustic noise generated by surface equipment is attenuated. In this manner, the first and second low frequency acoustic attenuators serve as terminators for the acoustic transmission channel. Finally, by combining a third low frequency acoustic attenuator positioned between first and second sections of the drill pipe with first and second acoustic transceivers acoustically isolated from one another by the third low frequency acoustic attenuator and non-acoustically coupled to one another for bi-directional exchanges of signals, an acoustic repeater is provided for the transmission channel.

Drill string incorporating an acoustic telemetry system employing one or more low frequency acoustic attenuators and an associated method of transmitting data

A method and apparatus, for deploying a sensor attached to tubing in a highly deviated or horizontal wellbore, that are characterized by a stationary attachment system that securely fixes a sensor to a tubing string such that the sensor is coupled to the casing regardless of the orientation of the tubing within the wellbore. One preferred embodiment includes a clamp assembly that encloses the sensor and clamps around the cubing string. The clamp assembly further includes a plurality of contact members that provide stable contact points between the well casing and the clamp assembly. The embodiments of the present invention act to maintain the sensor in a stable coupling with the casing without any actuation required for installation.

Apparatus for attaching a sensor to a tubing string

Fluid property sensors and associated methods of calibrating sensors in a well provide enhanced well monitoring and control. In one described embodiment, an external venturi flowmeter is utilized to determine a flow rate of fluid from a zone into a tubing string, independent of flow into the tubing string of fluid produced from any upstream zone. In another described embodiment, a gamma ray fluid density sensor utilizes a unique combination of gamma ray sources and detectors to determine a density of fluid flowing through a tubing string. In yet another embodiment, external tubing string sensors are used to determine properties of fluid from a zone into a tubing string, independent of flow into the tubing string of fluid produced from any upstream zone. In still another embodiment, sensor systems for multiple independently produced zones are calibrated.

Fluid property sensors and associated methods of calibrating sensors in a subterranean well

A process and apparatus for treating a wellbore, comprising subjecting a substantially same portion of the wellbore to vibratory waves produced by a plurality of vibratory wave generators. The vibratory waves may have about the same frequency or a plurality of frequencies, and the frequencies may partially overlap, not overlap, or be modulated across a range. Additionally, the frequencies may be modulated in an oval, hoop, and flexural modes. The vibratory waves may be produced by firing the vibratory wave generators simultaneously or in sequence. Combinations of a vibrating pipe, piston pulser, or valve may be used as vibratory wave generators. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness and change of thickness of a mudcake on the interior surface of a wellbore are measured to evaluate the effectiveness of the wellbore treatment.

Method and apparatus for treating a wellbore with vibratory waves to remove particles therefrom

An axially extended downhole seismic source is disclosed. In one embodiment, the seismic source includes multiple pressure storage chambers, each having an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The inlet valve is coupled between the pressure storage chamber and the interior of the drill string, and the outlet valve is similarly coupled between the pressure storage chamber and the annular space around the drill string. A compressible fluid may be provided in the pressure storage chambers, and pistons may be positioned to contact the compressible fluid. For each pressure storage chamber, an inlet piston contacts the compressible fluid and fluid inside the drill string, while an outlet piston contacts the compressible fluid and fluid in the annular space around the drill string. When the outlet valve is closed, the inlet valve can be opened to allow pressure inside the drill string to compress the compressible fluid inside the pressure storage chamber. Subsequently closing the inlet valve and opening the outlet valve causes fluid to be ejected into the annular space, thereby generating seismic waves. The use of multiple pressure storage chambers allows the pressure front from the seismic source to be extended axially to advantageously increase the fraction of seismic energy transmitted into the formation while preventing damage to the formation.

Axially extended downhole seismic source

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Eugene J Linyaev