Weatherford/lamb, Inc.

Cidra Corporation

Qorex LLC

Other

Ascend Stair Company

3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC

Paul Eric Sanders

Alan D Kersey

Martin A Putnam

Timothy J Bailey

Robert N Brucato

James M Sullivan

Mark R Fernald

Trevor Wayne MacDougall

Matthew B Miller

Michael A Davis

Edward Michael Dowd

Christopher J Wright

James R Dunphy

Richard Todd Jones

James S Sirkis

Brian J Pike

Andrew S Kuczma

Thomas Wolfgang Engel

James Craig Novack

Bryon J Cronk

Bruce A Rabine

Jonathan D Mitchell

Richard M Vose

Steven A Mitchell

Domino Taverner

David A Krohn

Gary A Ball

Mokhtar S Maklad

Peter C Ogle

Harmeet Singh

Jon T Kringlebotn

Steve A Mitchell

William K Henthorn

Trevor W Macdougall

Embodiments of the present invention provide a stair layout template that reduces the opportunity for errors when constructing a set of stairs. Embodiments also provide a method for using the template to construct a set of stairs. The template indicates to the builder where a particular set of marks are to be made on the insides (the sides where the tread modules are attached) of both stringers. These marks include the cut marks for the bottom and top ends of the stringers and the 'screw set points' that indicate where the tread modules will be attached to the stringers. The template is reversible, with the mirrored markings on both sides, so that the process for one stringer is the mirror image of the other stringer.

Stair layout template and method for using the template

A sensing cable includes a pair of sensing fibers that are connected to one another by a U-shaped turnaround section. The turnaround section is a section of sensing fiber coated with a jacket that includes metallic components. The turnaround section is bent and, then, annealed according to a method of the present invention. The turnaround section is robust and reduced in size (i.e., radius). The sensing cable also includes an inner sleeve that surrounds the sensing fibers and an elongated outer armor casing (i.e., including an armor tube and a sealing cap) that encases a terminating end thereof. The armor tube and the sealing cap protect the sensing fiber from mechanical and chemical harm, are reduced in size and facilitate insertion of the sensing cable into downhole environments. The sensing cable has improved operating range up to 300&#xb0; C.

High temperature fiber optic turnaround

A holographic pressure sensing apparatus includes a first optical fiber with a diffractive element at its end face, and a light-coupling component for receiving from the first optical fiber end face first and second images respectively formed by interaction with the diffractive element of a first light of a first wavelength and a second light of a second wavelength. Displacement of the light-coupling component, toward or away from the first optical fiber end face, will adjust an overlap of the first and second images, such that a change in a measurement of said overlap will indicate a change of the pressure in the fluid surrounding the casing.

Multi-mode holographic pressure sensor

An optical sensor formed from an optical waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding and a large diameter generally D-shaped portion is disclosed. Axial or compressive strain across the D-shaped cross section may be determined by measuring the change in polarization or birefringence of the light output from the sensor. A layer responsive to a parameter may be disposed on a flat portion of the D-shaped portion of the sensor. The refractive index of the layer changes and/or the layer applies a strain on the sensor in response to the parameter. Changes in the refractive index of the layer alters the light output from the sensor, which is measured over time and correlated to the parameter.

Sensing device having a large diameter D-shaped optical waveguide

A sensing cable has a sensing fiber assembly, which includes a pair of sensing fibers joined by a turnaround section with a modal filter, at a terminating end of the sensing fibers. The sensing cable also includes an inner sleeve that surrounds the sensing fiber assembly and an armored casing that caps the terminating end of the inner sleeve. The sensing cable has a low profile and its components are each made of high temperature and hydrogen tolerant materials and are capable of prolonged operation at high temperatures, such as up to 300&#xb0; C., in hydrogen environments over long lengths of fiber. A distributed thermal sensing (DTS) interrogator is connected to the sensing cable and performs DTS measuring according to protocols and algorithms that leverage the modal filter of the turnaround section to calculate temperature readings along the sensing fiber assembly.

Low profile, high temperature, hydrogen tolerant optical sensing cable

Methods and apparatus relate to optical fibers suitable for use in sensing applications exposed to radiation environments. The fibers include a core of pure silica or chlorine doped silica surrounded by a fluorinated silica cladding. These glasses for the core and cladding utilize dopants that resist radiation-induced attenuation. A two step process for forming the cladding can achieve necessary concentrations of the fluorine by performing a soot deposition process in a different environment from a consolidation process where the soot is sintered into a glass. Concentration of fluorine doped into the cladding layer enables obtaining a numerical aperture that confines a mono-mode of the fiber to resist bend-induced attenuation. Dimensions of the fiber further facilitate bending ability of the fiber.

Single mode optical fiber with improved bend performance

Methods to fabricate an optical preform for draw into Polarization Maintaining (PM) or Polarizing (PZ) optical fiber are provided. The methods involve assembly of pre-shaped and pieced together bulk glass elements into preforms ('assembled preforms') for simultaneous fusing and drawing into optical fiber. These preforms form a stress-induced birefringent optical core when drawn to fiber.

Polarization controlling optical fiber preform and preform fabrication methods

A method for calculating a temperature along a length of a sensing fiber of a distributed thermal sensing (DTS) system. The sensing fiber, which has two ends, is heat resistant for operation up to 300&#xb0; C. The DTS system includes a two-channel DTS interrogator that is attached to each of the two ends of the sensing fiber. The DTS interrogator interrogates the sensing fiber from both ends, calculates a temperature difference between co-located positions along the length of the sensing fiber for each end, and determines an error associated with the temperature difference. Based on the determined error, a corrected temperature value along the length of the sensing fiber is calculated and outputted.

Method for performing optical distributed temperature sensing (DTS) measurements in hydrogen environments

Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

Wavelength sweep control

Methods and tooling for constructing a stair unit are provided. The methods incorporate tooling and tables to create templates (two for each tread) that, when laid along a series of hypotenuse marks on the stringer from the table, will dictate the geometry, cutting, and fitting to the treads, without using a framing square. Brackets are used to conjoin the stringer, tread material, and tread framing so that the tread width is not limited by the lack of strength of the tread material. The methods then incorporate the bracket in a tread module to provide further convenience and sequencing options for the assembly of the stair unit. An alternate method combines aspects of the template and the bracket to hold continuous support for the tread, accomplishing a cut stringer look. The result is less time and material expense with better strength, fit and finish.

Methods of constructing stair unit

A large diameter optical waveguide, grating, and laser includes a waveguide having at least one core surrounded by a cladding, the core propagating light in substantially a few transverse spatial modes; and having an outer waveguide dimension of said waveguide being greater than about 0.3 mm. At least one Bragg grating may be impressed in the waveguide. The waveguide may be axially compressed which causes the length of the waveguide to decrease without buckling. The waveguide may be used for any application where a waveguide needs to be compression tuned. Also, the waveguide exhibits lower mode coupling from the core to the cladding and allows for higher optical power to be used when writing gratings without damaging the waveguide. The waveguide may resemble a short 'block' or a longer 'cane' type, depending on the application and dimensions used.

Large diameter optical waveguide, grating and laser

Bracket for constructing stair unit

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Madison, CT, United States of America

Paul Eric Sanders