Intel Corporation

Statoil Petroleum As

Silixa Limited

Statoil Pertoleum As

Kjetil Johannessen

Daniel Finfer

Ansheng Liu

Bjarne Bugten

Robert Aasheim

Håvard Nasvik

Frank Møller Nielsen

Lisbeth Vold

Einar Skavland Idsø

Henning Jansen

Dominik Andreas Breu

Havard Nasvik

An apparatus for determining properties of fluid flowing into a well includes an inflow channel providing a path for fluid to a pipe, a heater arranged to heat at least part of the fluid in the inflow channel, and a temperature sensor arranged to measure the temperature of the fluid in the inflow channel.

Inflow channel for determining properties of fluid flowing therethrough

The invention relates to the use of distributed optical fibre sensors for distributed acoustic sensing, and in particular, modal analysis of distributed acoustic data obtained in-well to monitoring well integrity. By determining one or more acoustic modes corresponding to distributed speed of sound measurements within the wellbore, and analysing variations in the distributed speed of sound measurement it is possible to derive information relating to a formation and/or fluid in the wellbore.

Method of acoustic surveying

Methods, a system and antennas are provided for transmitting or receiving signals from a hydrocarbon production well. The well comprises a well bore formed in a formation, a production liner/tubing extending axially along the well bore, and an inductive coupling disposed around the liner/tubing. The liner tubing is electrically coupled to the formation at two axially separated locations and is electrically isolated from the formation between the locations. For transmitting, an alternating current signal to the inductive coupling to induce a current in the liner/tubing, the liner tubing forming a dipole antenna that generates an electromagnetic radiation signal propagating through the formation. For receiving, the dipole antenna is exposed to an electromagnetic radiation signal propagated through the formation which induces an alternating current signal in the tubing and the current signal is detected at the inductive coupling.

Electro-magnetic antenna for wireless communication and inter-well electro-magnetic characterization in hydrocarbon production wells

One aspect relates to a method of installing a transmission system in a hydrocarbon production well. The transmission system is operable for transmitting power and/or control signals down the well or for transmitting data signals back up the well. The well comprises a main well bore, a production tubing inside the main well bore and a branch off the production tubing. The branch comprises a side track tubing. The method includes: providing a sensor and/or load assembly in the branch; installing a first inductive coupler of an induced current transmission arrangement around the production tubing in the main well bore, and connecting the sensor/load assembly to the first inductive coupler via a communication link. Another aspect relates to a hydrocarbon production well installation.

Signal and power transmission in hydrocarbon wells

The invention relates to the use of distributed optical fiber sensors for distributed acoustic sensing, and in particular, modal analysis of distributed acoustic data obtained in-well to monitoring well integrity. By determining one or more acoustic modes corresponding to distributed speed of sound measurements within the wellbore, and analyzing variations in the distributed speed of sound measurement it is possible to derive information relating to a formation and/or fluid in the wellbore.

A pipe section for coupling to one or more pipe sections in order to form an elongate tubular. The pipe section has an optical fiber extending along a longitudinal axis of the pipe section and a waveguide disposed near one end of the pipe section and is in optical communication with the optical fiber to guide light in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Optical connector

A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid in oil and/or gas production, involving a control device or an autonomous valve () operating by the Bernoulli principle and comprising a moveable disk or body () provided within a housing () for opening and closing said valve (), involving use of a material () within the valve () that changes its properties as to shape and/or volume and/or elastic modulus when exposed to a chemical substance contained in the flow of fluid and thus altering said flow of fluid.

Flow control device and flow control method

A first optical probe is used to test a planar lightwave circuit. In one embodiment, a second probe is used in combination with the first probe to test the planar lightwave circuit by sending and receiving a light beam through the planar lightwave circuit.

Optical probe for wafer testing

A planar lightwave circuit comprises a waveguide that is thermally-compensating. The waveguide comprises a cladding and a core that comprises two regions running lengthwise through the core. One region has a negative thermo-optic coefficient; the other region has a positive thermo-optic coefficient.

Thermal compensation of waveguides by dual material core having positive thermo-optic coefficient inner core

Optical structures useful in splitters, couplers, combiners, and switches are provided. An example optical structure has a Y-branch configuration that includes a linear taper segment and two branching waveguides. A straight section extends between the linear taper segment and the two branching waveguides to reduce losses during splitting/combining operation. The straight section may be used in Y-branch configurations having a blunt section, as well as configurations without a blunt section. Straight sections formed of a single segment and of multiple segments are shown, and the straight sections may be formed of substantially parallel outer walls or fanning-out outer walls. Further, in some embodiments, the branching waveguides form acute angles at the boundaries with the straight segment.

Optimized Y-branch design

An arrayed waveguide grating including a waveguide array extending between two free propagation regions is disclosed. One free propagation region is coupled to an input waveguide, and the other free propagation region is coupled to output waveguides. In an example, the input-side free propagation region has two sections that are moveable relative to one another. Movement is achieved by using, for example, a thermally responsive actuator that moves the input waveguide a desired distance to compensate for a temperature change. An arm formed of a low thermal expansion coefficient metal may be used as a thermally responsive actuator moving a substrate. In another example, both the input side and the output side free propagation regions have sections moveable relative to one another and, therefore, less movement is required to correct for thermal variations. An N&#xd7;N arrayed waveguide grating may also be formed.

Apparatus for thermal compensation of an arrayed waveguide grating

A semiconductor waveguide is disclosed which includes a substrate coated with a cladding. A core is embedded in the cladding. The core includes a plurality of discreet stacked layers of core material surrounded by cladding material. The cladding and core layers each include silica and silicon nitride with the core layers having a higher nitrogen content than the cladding material. The core is fabricated by carefully manipulating the process parameters of a PECVD process.

Optical waveguide with layered core and methods of manufacture thereof

A device that compensates for focal point drift of transmitted optical beams caused by ambient temperature changes by using a position adjuster to adjust the alignment of channels of a target planar lightwave circuit ('PLC'). The channels of the target PLC may taper open. In one implementation, the device may also use a birefringence plate to compensate for polarization dependent focal point drift.

Techniques to guide optical signals

A first waveguide and a second waveguide are aligned by applying an alignment dot on end surfaces of the cores of first and second waveguides. The alignment dots are positioned in close proximity to one another, and are melted together. Surface tension pulls the first and second waveguides into alignment.

Growing community of inventors

Trondheim, Norway

Kjetil Johannessen