3076results about "Geological measurements" patented technology

A near field RF communicator has: an antenna operable to generate an RF signal to enable inductive coupling via the magnetic field of the RF signal between the antenna and another near field RF communicator or RF transponder in near field range; and a signal generator operable to generate a multi-level digital sine wave drive signal to drive the antenna to generate the RF signal, wherein the signal generator comprises a selector operable to select one or more digital sequences to provide one or more digital signals from which the digital sine wave drive signal is generated.

An in-vehicle device data communicates with Internet based data processing resources for the purpose of transacting e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business. The in-vehicle device and the Internet based data processing resources can effectuate a wide variety of e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business including accessing auto part databases, warranty, customer, and other remote databases. In addition, e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business transactions can include vehicle security and vehicle service management, data communicating Internet based radio, audio, MP3, MPEG, video, and other types of data. Furthermore, e-mail, e-commerce, and e-business transactions can include interactive advertising, promotional offers, coupons, and supporting other remote data communications.

The in-vehicle device can also include functionality for remote monitoring of vehicle performance, data communicating and accessing remote Internet based content and data, and effectuating adjustments and control of vehicle operation. Remote monitoring and control of vehicle operation can be by way of an Internet based data processing resource and can include engine control system programming and setting adjustment, vehicle monitoring, and transmission of vehicle telemetry and metric data. Vehicle telemetry and metric data can include global positioning system (GPS) data, vehicle operational data, engine performance data, and other vehicle data.

The in-vehicle device can also wirelessly data communicate with a communication interface device (COM device) or an Internet appliance. Such COM devices or Internet appliances can data communicate wirelessly with an in-vehicle device and simultaneously data communicate in a wired or wireless mode of operation to Internet based data processing resources, and to other data processing resources.

A system and method for monitoring underground drilling in which vibration is monitored by creating a model of the drill string using finite element techniques or finite difference techniques and (i) predicting vibration by inputting real time values of operating parameters into the model, and then adjusting the model to agree with measured vibration data, (ii) predicting the weight on bit and drill string and mud motor speeds at which resonance will occur, as well as when stick-slip will occur, so that the operator can avoid operating regimes that will result in high vibration, (iii) determining vibration and torque levels along the length of the drill string based on the measured vibration and torque at one or more locations, (iv) determining the remaining life of critical components of the drill string based on the history of the vibration to which the components have been subjected, and (v) determining the optimum drilling parameters that will avoid excessive vibration of the drill string.

Methods and systems are disclosed for processing data used for hydrocarbon extraction from the earth. Symmetry transformation groups are identified from sampled earth structure data. A set of critical points is identified from the sampled data. Using the symmetry groups and the critical points, a plurality of subdivisions of shapes is generated, which together represent the original earth structures. The symmetry groups correspond to a plurality of shape families, each of which includes a set of predicted critical points. The subdivisions are preferably generated such that a shape family is selected according to a best fit between the critical points from the sampled data and the predicted critical points of the selected shape family.

A tagged object includes a main body and a plurality of coded particles. Each coded particle may have a miniature body and be configured to provide a resolvable optical emission pattern when illuminate. The plurality of coded particles may be immobilized to the main body. A method for performing oilfield monitoring may include disposing of different types of tagged objects at different locations, wherein the different types of tagged objects each comprise a plurality of coded particles. Each of the coded particles may have a miniature body containing rare earth elements configured to produce a unique optical emission pattern when illuminated. The method may include allowing an event to trigger the release of one of the different types of tagged objects from one of the different locations. In addition, the method may include identifying the released tagged objects by unique optical emission patterns, in some cases in order to determining an occurrence location of the event.

A method of laying an at least partially buried fiber optic cable includes placing a fiber optic cable with at least one associated alternating electromagnetic field emitting locating transponder (AEFELT) underground such that at least one AEFELT is buried underground.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and/or apparatus for deploying wireline tools with a non-electric string. In one embodiment, a method of determining a free point of a tubular string stuck in a wellbore includes deploying a tool string in the stuck tubular with a non-electric string. The free point assembly includes a battery, a controller, and a free point tool. The method further includes activating the free point tool by the controller. The free point tool contacts an inner surface of the stuck tubular string. The method further includes applying a tensile force and/or torque to the stuck tubular string; and measuring a response of the tubular string with the free point tool.

An object location system and method is provided for locating objects. The system includes an RFID reader, an angle calculator, and a distance calculator to determine which of a plurality of zones an object is located in or passing through. An RFID tag is affixed with the object that is to be located. The RFID reader transmits signals to the RFID tag and receives backscatter-modulated signals from the RFID tag at one or more RFID antennas. From those received signals, the angle calculator determines an angle of position of the RFID tag relative to the RFID antenna. From the angle of position the zone in which the object is located is determined.

A method and apparatus for performing wide area terrain mapping. The system comprises a digital elevation map (DEM) and mosaic generation engine that processes images that are simultaneously captured by an electro-optical camera (RGB camera) and a LIDAR sensor. The image data collected by both the camera and the LIDAR sensor are processed to create a geometrically accurate three-dimensional view of objects viewed from an aerial platform.

Apparatus is provided for calibrating a probe having a position sensor and an ultrasonic transducer. The apparatus includes a test fixture, which includes an ultrasonic target disposed therein at a known position. A computer is adapted to receive a position signal generated by the position sensor while the transducer is in alignment with the ultrasonic target, determine an orientation of the probe in a frame of reference of the test fixture, and determine calibration data for the probe responsive to the orientation of the probe.

The invention relates to a method for predicting the performance of large-scale hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir floods. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for predicting performance of a patterned flooding process in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, said formation being penetrated by a plurality of injector wells and producer wells, comprising the steps of: determining flow-based pairs of injector to producer wells [FIG. 4, item 78a] (first well pairs) using a geological model [item 76]; developing a connective pore volume distribution curve for each first well pair item [78b]; selecting at least two first well pairs (selected well pairs) that reflect narrow and wide connective pore volume distributions that correspond to high and lower oil recovery levels; developing a 3-D simulation model for each selected well pair, performing a reservoir simulation for each selected well pair for the corresponding flooding process; and generating prototype performance curves for each selected well pair. An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a method for predicting the performance of large-scale hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir floods where injection well location, production well location, a process parameter, or a well processing rate is modified.

The present invention discloses a method for performing a stochastic analysis of one or more hydrocarbon reservoir exploitation strategies taking into consideration one or more uncertain parameters. The method optimizes an objective function that considers the gain in value of a reservoir management goal attributable to these exploitation strategies. The methodology may be used to decide whether or not to implement a strategy. Alternatively, it may be used to decide which competing strategy will yield the maximum benefit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the value of information obtained from the installation of additional sensors or new measurements is also considered.

The present invention relates to the development of tracer fluids, more generally, that of aqueous liquids, intended to be injected under pressure in an oil reservoir, for example from an injection well up to a production well.

The object of the invention is to propose a new method of study of a solid medium, i.e. an oil reservoir, by diffusion of a liquid (i.e. injection waters) containing tracers, through said solid medium, which is simple to implement and economical and which remedies the drawbacks of the known tracers for injection waters of oil reservoirs.

This method essentially consisting of injecting, in this solid medium, an injection liquid comprising a nanoparticle-based tracer having average dimensions comprised between 20 and 200 nm, detectable by means of one or several S signals at dilutions of less than or equal to 10⁻⁷, adapted to form a stable colloidal suspension in a saline medium, at least a portion of which is constituted of a core and a coating provided with an adjustable hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and comprising at least one organic and/or organosilicon component; recovering the liquid having diffused; and analyzing this liquid having diffused to measure the quantity of tracer by detection of the signal or signals S.

System for determining the occupancy of a seat in a vehicle using a variety of transducers and pattern recognition technologies and techniques that applies to any combination of transducers that provide information about seat occupancy. These include weight sensors, capacitive sensors, inductive sensors, ultrasonic, optical, electromagnetic, motion, infrared, and radar among others. The system includes a processor coupled to the transducers for receiving the data from the transducers and processing the data to obtain an output indicative of the current occupancy state of the seat. An algorithm is resident in the processor and is created from a plurality of data sets, each representing a different occupancy state of the seat and being formed from data from the transducers while the seat is in that occupancy state. The algorithm produces the output indicative of the current occupancy state of the seat upon inputting a data set representing the current occupancy state of the seat and being formed from data from the transducers. The algorithm may be a neural network or neural fuzzy algorithm generated by an appropriate algorithm-generating program.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for making in situ thermal property determinations utilizing a heat source employed in wellbore stabilization procedures, well drilling, or well perforating, for example. In particular, using a heat source, such as a laser driller, to enable formation temperature measurements. Based on these measurements, thermal properties of the formation may be inferred.

A system, program product, and method for monitoring and managing a plurality of marine riser assets is provided. The system can include one or more floating vessels each carrying a shipboard computer, a plurality of riser assets to be tracked and monitored, a riser asset identification sensor positioned to identify select riser assets being deployed to establish a riser string, one or more riser joint instrument modules positioned along the length of the riser string to provide riser asset load data, a centralized data warehouse to store riser asset identification and loading data for riser assets deployed at multiple remote vessel locations, and a riser lifecycle management server and riser lifecycle management program product adapted to monitor riser asset conditions, issue automated service alerts based on actual use information, maintain routine and non-routine maintenance records, manipulate and categorize riser assets, and automatically generate an accurate riser system configuration as was actually deployed for any particular drilling/completion operation.

A method, system and apparatus for real-time reservoir model updating using ensemble Kalman filters is described. The method includes a conforming step for bring bringing static and dynamic state variables into conformance with one another during a time step of the updating. Also, an iterative damping method is used in conjunction with the conformance step to account for nonGaussian and nonlinear features in a system. Also, a re-sampling method is described which reduces the ensemble size of reservoir models which are to be updated.

An apparatus and method for low frequency asset tracking includes a low frequency transmitter tag associated with a cargo container or other high value commodity, a plurality of receivers that detect low frequency signals, and a microprocessor that uses algorithms and/or data pertaining to the propagation characteristics of the signal to locate the position of the container or high value commodity. The tag may include sensors to monitor container properties or conditions, such as temperature, motion, intrusion, RF fields, or other properties of interest. Sensor data may be modulated on the low frequency transmitter signal.

A communications system, such as part of a real-time location system, includes a transmitter that can be part of a location processor, tag emission reader or tag interrogator that generates a frequency shift key (FSK) modulated wireless communication signal representative of digital data and transmits the communications signal over a wireless communications channel. A receiver such as incorporated within a tag transceiver used in the real-time location system receives the FSK modulated communication signal. The receiver includes a circuit for calculating the magnitude of low and high tones of the FSK modulated communication signal and a threshold for amplitude shift keyed (ASK) channel data and FSK channel data to derive the digital data even in the presence of on-tone jammers in the communications channel.

The present invention contemplates implementation of transitory downhole video imaging and/or spectral imaging for the characterization of formation fluid samples in situ, as well as during flow through production tubing, including subsea flow lines, for permanent and/or long term installations. The present invention contemplates various methods and apparatus that facilitate one-time or ongoing downhole fluid characterization by video analysis in real time. The methods and systems may be particularly well suited to permanent and periodic intervention-based operations.

A method for predicting localized damage and naturally occurring fractures in a subsurface region is provided. This invention uses a hybrid FEM-DEM (i.e. finite-discrete element) framework combined with a fracture risking analysis and fracture initiation and propagation criteria, to model the transition of rock from a state of continuum to discontinuum. The risking analysis combines results from other natural fracture prediction tools (e.g. displacement discontinuity method, restoration analyses, curvature analysis, analytical solutions, continuum analysis) to augment FEM-DEM solutions, such as by providing remote and local boundary conditions and identifying potential regions of anticipated damage and fracturing. Natural fractures and damage information is extracted from the modeling results and may be used directly for predictions or used as input into other fracture analysis tools or techniques. The FEM-DEM and risking techniques can be incorporated into a variety of numerical simulation software packages that use a finite-discrete method solver.

The invention relates to an evaluation method of a shale oil resource potential in shale strata series. The evaluation method comprises the steps that essential data are sorted, wells are selected evenly in work areas, models are built, organic geochemistry well logging is verified, shale oil grading evaluation standard is built, a classification standard of the shale strata series is put forward, light dydrocarbon and heavy hydrocarbon in the shale oil in the shale strata series are revised, saturation adsorption oil mass of shale is calculated, shale oil resource potential is evaluated in a grading mode according to the grading standard, shale saturation adsorption oil mass is determined with application of a geochemical data statistic analysis graphic method, then movable quantity of shale oil is calculated, and shale oil resource quantity of a sandstone thin interlayer of the shale strata series is calculated with utilization of the 'hole-oil saturation' method. According to the evaluation method of the shale oil resource potential in the shale strata series, due to the fact that the concept of the shale strata series is put forward and built, the scientific space position of the shale oil is clearly determined. The evaluation method further puts forwards a calculation method of the shale saturation adsorption oil quantity and the shale oil movable quantity, and significance is provided for judging whether a work area has a shale oil development value.

The invention describes a selection and arbitration method for reading a population of RFID transponders (tags). The transponders are selected or de-selected individually, or in one or more groups, using one or more command signals from a reader. The command signals from the reader include selection or de-selection criteria for selecting or de-selecting transponders by moving them between different states by setting or resetting a command flag, such as a flip-flop, in the transponders. The different transitional states include a Ready state, an Active state, a Standby state, a Singulated state and a Quiet state.

The invention relates to a method of coordinating and stabilizing the delivery of wind generated power, such as to a power grid, so as to avoid sudden surges and spikes, despite wind speed fluctuations and oscillations. The method preferably uses a plurality of windmill stations, including a number of immediate use stations, energy storage stations, and hybrid stations, wherein energy can be used directly by the power grid, and stored for later use when demand is high or wind availability is low. The method contemplates forming an energy delivery schedule, to coordinate the use of direct energy and energy from storage, based on daily wind speed forecasts, which help to predict the resulting wind power availability levels for the upcoming day. The schedule preferably sets a reduced number of constant power output periods during the day, during which time energy delivery levels remain substantially constant, despite fluctuations and oscillations in wind speed and wind power availability levels.

A communications system includes a first wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications over a first frequency band, and a second wireless communications system configured to provide wireless communications using at least a portion of the first frequency band. The system includes an inter-system communications link between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system. The inters-system communications link is used to coordinate the use of the first frequency band. The system further includes an interference reducer configured to reduce interference between the first wireless communications system and the second wireless communications system. Related methods are also disclosed.

An apparatus and method for analyzing known data, storing the known data in a pattern database (“PDB”) as a template is provided. Additional methods are provided for comparing new data against the templates in the PDB. The data is stored in such a way as to facilitate the visual recognition of desired patterns or indicia indicating the presence of a desired or undesired feature within the new data. The apparatus and method is applicable to a variety of applications where large amounts of information are generated, and/or if the data exhibits fractal or chaotic attributes.

A metallic resin cover constitutes a portion of an outer wall of a human detection device in which a detection electrode of a capacitance sensor is provided, and which detects whether a human touches or approaches the human detection device. The metallic resin cover includes a covered body; and a metal layer that has a metal-object discretely arranged structure in which a plurality of metal objects are discretely arranged. The metal layer covers an outer surface of the covered body.

A security checkpoint includes a personal scanning portal, a parcel scanning portal and a controller for ensuring substantially simultaneous scanning of a person and the parcel associated with the person. The controller also adjusts the level of scrutiny at each portal based on scanned data received at the other portal and based on information in a database relating to the specific person at the security checkpoint.

Provided is a detector system for detecting a plurality of items each having at least one RFID tag attached thereto. The detector system may include a presence detector and/or a message detector. The presence detector may include a signal reader which receives modulated carrier frequencies from the RFID tags during a predetermined response time period for comparison to a reference level. The signal reader may be configured as a power integrator or a constellation discriminator. The power integrator sums the power contained in signals transmitted by the RFID tags by integration for comparison to an environmental noise level measurement taken during a quiet period. For the constellation discriminator, bits contained in the modulating message are compared to the bit pattern of a predetermined reference constellation. The detector system may be configured as a 3-state detector which combines the presence detector with a message detector that indicates the identification code of the RFID tags.

A stabilized field sensor apparatus collects field data, in particular magnetic field data, with reduced motion noise. The apparatus includes a tear drop shaped housing, a tow frame in the housing, a plurality of vibration isolating dampers spaced around the frame, a base assembly mounted to the dampers, a support pedestal having a bottom end fixed to the base assembly and an upper free end, a single spherical air bearing connected to the upper free end of the pedestal, an instrument platform with a lower hollow funnel having an upper inside apex supported on the air bearing for a one point support, principal and secondary gyro stabilizers for maintaining pivotal and rotational stability, and at least one field sensor mounted to the instrument platform for collecting the field data while being stabilized against motion noise including vibration, pivoting and rotation from the base assembly, from the tow frame and from the housing. Stabilization of the instrument platform is enhanced by preserving accurate balance through a dynamic balancing system whereby small masses are moved under computer control to maintain the center of mass of the instrument platform at the center of rotation of the spherical air bearing. The dynamic stabilization process is made more precise by actively vibrating the instrument platform by a set of linear vibrators.