Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.

Gas Research Institute

James E Masino

Roger Lynn Schultz

James Robert Birchak

John W Minear

Thomas E Ritter

Michael Thomas Pelletier

Batakrishna Mandal

Li Gao

Paul F Rodney

David L Perkins

Mark Anton Proett

William Joseph Soltmann

Bruce H Storm, Jr

Christopher A Golla

Raj Pai

Burkay Donderici

Christopher Michael Jones

Brock Wayne Watson

James Martin Price

Lizheng Zhang

James Joseph Freeman

Aditya B Nayak

Robert K Michael

Nestor Rodriguez

William Wade Samec

James W Stroud

Mack H Brown

Chris Golla

Bruce H Storm

Disclosed herein are methods and system for formation fluid sampling. In at least some embodiments, the method includes pumping formation fluid from a public flow line of a downhole tool via a private flow line into a detachable sample chamber. The method also includes isolating the private flow line from the public flow line. The method also includes collecting measurements of the formation fluid in the private flow line. The method also includes associating the measurements with the detachable sample chamber.

Formation fluid sampling methods and systems

A fluid is received into a sample tube. A processor causes an energy to be applied to the sample tube to induce vibration in the sample tube at a resonant frequency of the sample tube containing the fluid. The processor stops the supply of energy to the sample tube. The processor monitors an amplitude of the vibration of the sample tube as the amplitude of the vibrations diminish over a period of time. The processor uses the monitored amplitude to calculate an Rof the sample tube containing the fluid. The processor uses the calculated Rto calculate the viscosity of the fluid.

Viscosity sensor

An illustrative method for measuring a fluid viscosity that includes vibrating a tube containing a fluid of interest, obtaining a vibration signal from the vibrating tube, deriving a system energy loss rate measurement from the vibration signal, calculating an energy loss rate for the fluid of interest from the system energy loss rate measurement and a reference energy loss rate measurement, and generating a viscosity measurement of the fluid of interest based on the energy loss rate for the fluid of interest and a density of the fluid of interest.

Fluid viscometer suitable for downhole use

Systems, tools, and methods are presented for processing a plurality of spectral ranges from an electromagnetic radiation that has been interacted with a fluid. Each spectral range within the plurality corresponds to a property of the fluid or a constituent therein. In one instance, a series of spectral analyzers, each including an integrated computational element coupled to an optical transducer, forms a monolithic structure to receive interacted electromagnetic radiation from the fluid. Each spectral analyzer is configured to process one of the plurality of spectral ranges. The series is ordered so spectral ranges are processed progressively from shortest wavelengths to longest wavelengths as interacted electromagnetic radiation propagates therethrough. Other systems, tools, and methods are presented.

Optical processing of multiple spectral ranges using integrated computational elements

In a downhole environment, utilizing one or more ICE modules, in response to detecting light by one or more channels of a light to voltage converter, the detected light is converted into one or more voltages. The light has previously interacted with a downhole substance and has been processed by an integrated computational element. The one or more voltages are converted into one or more analog frequencies. The one or more analog frequencies are converted into one or more digital frequencies. One or more intensities are determined from one or more digital frequencies. One or more components of the substance are determined in response to the determined one or more intensities.

Frequency based measurement of characteristics of a substance

Data retrieval tags, drillstring communications systems and methods, and computer programs are disclosed. The data retrieval tag includes an insulator substrate, at least one analog memory cell disposed on the insulator substrate and an antenna coupled to the analog memory.

Data retrieval tags

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of power conversion systems and methods employing synchronous multi-phase AC-to-DC conversion. In one embodiment, a power converter comprises a transistor bridge and a switching controller that operates the transistor bridge in response to AC voltage threshold crossings. The switching controller may include a period counter to measure times between threshold crossings, and a delay counter to trigger a delayed state transition for the transistor bridge. One disclosed method embodiment comprises: receiving multiple phased alternating voltages; comparing each phased alternating voltage to a threshold; determining a period associated with voltage threshold crossings; triggering state transitions at some fraction of the period after each threshold crossing; and placing a transistor bridge into a configuration associated with a current state. For each state, the transistor bridge configuration is designed to couple phased alternating voltages to two output terminals in a sequence that produces a non-alternating voltage difference.

Synchronous multi-phase AC-to-DC converter

Methods and systems for operating integrated circuits at temperatures higher than expected ambient temperatures. The heating may be of entire circuit boards, portions of the circuit boards (such as the components within a multiple-chip module) and/or single devices. Methods and related systems may be used in any high temperature environment such as downhole logging tools, and the devices so heated are preferably of silicon on insulator semiconductor technology.

Method and apparatus for maintaining a multi-chip module at a temperature above downhole temperature

In at least some embodiments, electronic devices suitable for use at temperatures in excess of 200 C. may comprise an integrated circuit fabricated on a silicon carbide substrate, and a thick passivation layer. In other embodiments, electronic devices suitable for use at temperatures in excess of 200 C. may comprise an integrated circuit formed from silicon located on a sapphire substrate, and a thick passivation layer. The electronic devices may be implemented in the context of hydrocarbon drilling and production operations.

High temperature electronic devices

Embodiments of methods and apparatus for high temperature operation of electronics according to the invention are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention generally includes an integrated circuit package having a substrate. A plurality of integrated circuits are coupled to a surface of the substrate. A lid is positioned above the substrate facing the surface. One or more pieces of compliant and thermally conductive material are compressed between at least one of the integrated circuits and the lid. The lid defines in part an enclosed volume containing the compliant and thermally conductive material.

Method and apparatus for high temperature operation of electronics

Various embodiments of an electrical motor, a brushless DC motor controller, and applications thereof. In one embodiment, a fluid-moving device is provided with a brushless DC motor and a motor controller. The controller may include a set of comparators and a clocked digital circuit. The set of comparators are each configured to determine a voltage polarity on a respective winding of a stator. The clocked digital circuit is configured to receive polarity signals from the comparators and configured to detect in the polarity signals zero crossings having an expected crossing direction. The clocked digital circuit is also configured to determine a commutational sequence for energizing windings on the stator. Other embodiments may include a disk drive, an implantable medical device, a vehicle, and a downhole tool.

Digital adaptive sensorless commutational drive controller for a brushless DC motor

In some embodiments, apparatus and systems, as well as methods, may include providing an analog temperature output responsive to a combination signal comprising a combination of an analog compensation output and a reference signal, and converting the analog temperature output to a digital temperature output responsive to an analog reference signal output, perhaps according to a polynomial function. Providing a digital compensation output corresponding to the digital temperature output, and converting the digital compensation output to the analog compensation output responsive to the analog reference signal output may also be included.

Temperature compensation apparatus, systems, and methods

Devices and methods for controlling brushless, sensorless DC motors are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electrical motor is provided with a rotor, a stator, and a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The ASIC is configured to energize stator windings in a commutational sequence to drive the rotor. A motor controller embodiment is provided with a set of comparators and a clocked digital circuit. Each comparator determines a voltage polarity on a respective stator winding. The clocked digital circuit receives polarity signals from the comparators and detects zero crossings having an expected crossing direction, which are then used to determine a commutational sequence for energizing stator windings. A method embodiment is provided for driving DC motor windings. One method embodiment includes: receiving polarity signals, measuring intervals, and advancing a commutation state.

A measurement device is provided that determines fluid properties from vibration frequencies of a sample cavity. In one embodiment, the measurement device includes a sample flow tube, vibration source and detector mounted on the tube, and a measurement module. The sample flow tube receives a flow of sample fluid for characterization. The measurement module employs the vibration sources to generate vibrations in the tube. The measurement module combines the signals from the vibration detector on the tube to determine properties of the sample fluid, such as density, viscosity, compressibility, water fraction, and bubble size. The measurement module may further detect certain flow patterns such as slug flow, for example. To measure the sample fluid density, the measurement module determines the resonant frequency of the sample flow tube. The density can then be calculated according to a formula that compensates for the temperature and pressure of the system.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

James E Masino