Patent
US 10,326,032GRAPHENE TUNNELING PHOTODETECTORS FOR HIGH-TEMPERATURE DOWNHOLE USE
Rocco DiFoggio
US
Copyright © 2026 Matter42. All rights reserved.
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,326,032Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a drilling system that may employ one or more embodiments described herein; [0008]
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sampling tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a graphene tunneling sensor portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0010]
FIG. 4 is a fl ow process for estimating a property of a fl uid downhole sample in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A downhole tool for performing downhole spectr o scop y, the downhole tool comprising: a housing configured along a carrier disposed downhole within a borehole, wherein the housing is conf igu red to fluidly separate an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing wjhendisposeddow-ihole, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater; and a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole operation within the housing and at the downhole temperature, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is c o ifigured.tm be exposed to the downhole temperature during the downhole p spectroscop y, the graphene tunneli ng phot o detector com prising: a chamber configured to have a do wnhole fl uid sample contained th erei n; a light source configured to illuminatl the doNnhol e f luid samplewithin the chamber, the light source configured to generate light at at least one of near-infrared, mi d- infrared, and fa r-I nfrared; a graphe ne tunneling sensor porti on in optical communication with the do wnh ole fluid sampleforsensig light fir th light source that_ i pilges the downboie fluid sample to estimate a property of the downhole fluid sa m ple; and a processor opera b ly connected to the graphene tunneling sensor portion and configured to estimate the propert y of th e dow nhol e fluid sa mpl e based on a si nal, rceiv -ei atlthe.graphl 1tunnel ing sensor porion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the downhole sp ectroscopy is empvt edto at least one of measu re a temperature, measure a pressure, measure a strain, and measure an acoustic wavef orm--pe4rfrmiRg-fibe-f- p1i-temet- -;r--peaing as-an-eptialisei.atea. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is part of a conduit that fluidly connects the chamber with the borehole to enable extraction of the downhole fluid sample from the borehole. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the property of t he flid sarnple comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
. Canceled
The downhole tool according to claim 3 l, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor portion comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 41, further comprising a light modulator configured between the light source and the chamber. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, wherein the chamber includes a first optical window positioned between the light source and the chamber, the first optical window configured to enable light from the light source to enter the chamber, and a second optical window positioned between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion, the second optical window configured to enable light to pass from the chamber to the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, further comprising one or more optical filters disposed between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
A method for performing a- downhole spectroscop y, the method comprising: conveying a downhole tool having a housing downhole along a carrier, wherein the housing fluidly separates an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater, the downhole tool further having a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole spectroscop y within the housing and at the downhole temperature; and performing the spectroscopy operation with the graphene tunneling photodetector, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is exposed to the downhole temperature during the spectroscopy operation, where.inthes sp ect roscopv oper iaio compises; collecting a do w nho l e fluid sample into the interior of the downhole too l; gene r ating at least one of near infrared, m id-infrared, and far infrared with a light source; _ Acts g the loxo i hole fluids ni r pie t« the-1- 1_, a eat oe f narinraEreds, mid linfrareI and far infrared generated by the lig ht source; and using a gra phene tunne ling sensor to sense lig ht that passes throu gh the downhole fluid sa rnple t o est irn ate a property of the downho l e flu id. Currently amended
The method of claim 12, wherein the downhole opet-ion spectroscopy comprises at least one of measuring a temperature, measuring a pressure, measuring a strain, a nd measuring an acoustic waveform, y,. Currently amended
. Canceled
The method according to claim 4412, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising applying a soft modeling technique to the light sensed by the graphene tunneling sensor to estimate at least one of a physical characteristic and a chemical characteristic ofthe downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412 further comprising modulating the light from the light source prior to exposing the downhole fluid sample to the light from the light source. Currently amended
The method according to claim 44 2, wherein the property comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising filtering the light after the light passes through the downhole fluid sample and prior to sensing of the light by the graphene tunneling sensor. Currently amended
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene tunneling photodetector downhole tool
graphene tunneling sensor portion (layered structure)
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene
barrier layer
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
graphene tunneling photodetector signal strength vs pyroelectric | approximately one million times larger signal than pyroelectric photodetector | graphene |
silicon photodiode shunt resistance drop with temperature | drop by factor of more than one billion |
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,326,032Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a drilling system that may employ one or more embodiments described herein; [0008]
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sampling tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a graphene tunneling sensor portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0010]
FIG. 4 is a fl ow process for estimating a property of a fl uid downhole sample in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A downhole tool for performing downhole spectr o scop y, the downhole tool comprising: a housing configured along a carrier disposed downhole within a borehole, wherein the housing is conf igu red to fluidly separate an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing wjhendisposeddow-ihole, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater; and a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole operation within the housing and at the downhole temperature, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is c o ifigured.tm be exposed to the downhole temperature during the downhole p spectroscop y, the graphene tunneli ng phot o detector com prising: a chamber configured to have a do wnhole fl uid sample contained th erei n; a light source configured to illuminatl the doNnhol e f luid samplewithin the chamber, the light source configured to generate light at at least one of near-infrared, mi d- infrared, and fa r-I nfrared; a graphe ne tunneling sensor porti on in optical communication with the do wnh ole fluid sampleforsensig light fir th light source that_ i pilges the downboie fluid sample to estimate a property of the downhole fluid sa m ple; and a processor opera b ly connected to the graphene tunneling sensor portion and configured to estimate the propert y of th e dow nhol e fluid sa mpl e based on a si nal, rceiv -ei atlthe.graphl 1tunnel ing sensor porion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the downhole sp ectroscopy is empvt edto at least one of measu re a temperature, measure a pressure, measure a strain, and measure an acoustic wavef orm--pe4rfrmiRg-fibe-f- p1i-temet- -;r--peaing as-an-eptialisei.atea. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is part of a conduit that fluidly connects the chamber with the borehole to enable extraction of the downhole fluid sample from the borehole. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the property of t he flid sarnple comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
. Canceled
The downhole tool according to claim 3 l, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor portion comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 41, further comprising a light modulator configured between the light source and the chamber. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, wherein the chamber includes a first optical window positioned between the light source and the chamber, the first optical window configured to enable light from the light source to enter the chamber, and a second optical window positioned between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion, the second optical window configured to enable light to pass from the chamber to the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, further comprising one or more optical filters disposed between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
A method for performing a- downhole spectroscop y, the method comprising: conveying a downhole tool having a housing downhole along a carrier, wherein the housing fluidly separates an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater, the downhole tool further having a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole spectroscop y within the housing and at the downhole temperature; and performing the spectroscopy operation with the graphene tunneling photodetector, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is exposed to the downhole temperature during the spectroscopy operation, where.inthes sp ect roscopv oper iaio compises; collecting a do w nho l e fluid sample into the interior of the downhole too l; gene r ating at least one of near infrared, m id-infrared, and far infrared with a light source; _ Acts g the loxo i hole fluids ni r pie t« the-1- 1_, a eat oe f narinraEreds, mid linfrareI and far infrared generated by the lig ht source; and using a gra phene tunne ling sensor to sense lig ht that passes throu gh the downhole fluid sa rnple t o est irn ate a property of the downho l e flu id. Currently amended
The method of claim 12, wherein the downhole opet-ion spectroscopy comprises at least one of measuring a temperature, measuring a pressure, measuring a strain, a nd measuring an acoustic waveform, y,. Currently amended
. Canceled
The method according to claim 4412, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising applying a soft modeling technique to the light sensed by the graphene tunneling sensor to estimate at least one of a physical characteristic and a chemical characteristic ofthe downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412 further comprising modulating the light from the light source prior to exposing the downhole fluid sample to the light from the light source. Currently amended
The method according to claim 44 2, wherein the property comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising filtering the light after the light passes through the downhole fluid sample and prior to sensing of the light by the graphene tunneling sensor. Currently amended
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene tunneling photodetector downhole tool
graphene tunneling sensor portion (layered structure)
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene
barrier layer
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
graphene tunneling photodetector signal strength vs pyroelectric | approximately one million times larger signal than pyroelectric photodetector | graphene |
silicon photodiode shunt resistance drop with temperature | drop by factor of more than one billion |
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,326,032Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a drilling system that may employ one or more embodiments described herein; [0008]
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sampling tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a graphene tunneling sensor portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0010]
FIG. 4 is a fl ow process for estimating a property of a fl uid downhole sample in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A downhole tool for performing downhole spectr o scop y, the downhole tool comprising: a housing configured along a carrier disposed downhole within a borehole, wherein the housing is conf igu red to fluidly separate an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing wjhendisposeddow-ihole, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater; and a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole operation within the housing and at the downhole temperature, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is c o ifigured.tm be exposed to the downhole temperature during the downhole p spectroscop y, the graphene tunneli ng phot o detector com prising: a chamber configured to have a do wnhole fl uid sample contained th erei n; a light source configured to illuminatl the doNnhol e f luid samplewithin the chamber, the light source configured to generate light at at least one of near-infrared, mi d- infrared, and fa r-I nfrared; a graphe ne tunneling sensor porti on in optical communication with the do wnh ole fluid sampleforsensig light fir th light source that_ i pilges the downboie fluid sample to estimate a property of the downhole fluid sa m ple; and a processor opera b ly connected to the graphene tunneling sensor portion and configured to estimate the propert y of th e dow nhol e fluid sa mpl e based on a si nal, rceiv -ei atlthe.graphl 1tunnel ing sensor porion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the downhole sp ectroscopy is empvt edto at least one of measu re a temperature, measure a pressure, measure a strain, and measure an acoustic wavef orm--pe4rfrmiRg-fibe-f- p1i-temet- -;r--peaing as-an-eptialisei.atea. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is part of a conduit that fluidly connects the chamber with the borehole to enable extraction of the downhole fluid sample from the borehole. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the property of t he flid sarnple comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
. Canceled
The downhole tool according to claim 3 l, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor portion comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 41, further comprising a light modulator configured between the light source and the chamber. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, wherein the chamber includes a first optical window positioned between the light source and the chamber, the first optical window configured to enable light from the light source to enter the chamber, and a second optical window positioned between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion, the second optical window configured to enable light to pass from the chamber to the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, further comprising one or more optical filters disposed between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
A method for performing a- downhole spectroscop y, the method comprising: conveying a downhole tool having a housing downhole along a carrier, wherein the housing fluidly separates an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater, the downhole tool further having a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole spectroscop y within the housing and at the downhole temperature; and performing the spectroscopy operation with the graphene tunneling photodetector, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is exposed to the downhole temperature during the spectroscopy operation, where.inthes sp ect roscopv oper iaio compises; collecting a do w nho l e fluid sample into the interior of the downhole too l; gene r ating at least one of near infrared, m id-infrared, and far infrared with a light source; _ Acts g the loxo i hole fluids ni r pie t« the-1- 1_, a eat oe f narinraEreds, mid linfrareI and far infrared generated by the lig ht source; and using a gra phene tunne ling sensor to sense lig ht that passes throu gh the downhole fluid sa rnple t o est irn ate a property of the downho l e flu id. Currently amended
The method of claim 12, wherein the downhole opet-ion spectroscopy comprises at least one of measuring a temperature, measuring a pressure, measuring a strain, a nd measuring an acoustic waveform, y,. Currently amended
. Canceled
The method according to claim 4412, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising applying a soft modeling technique to the light sensed by the graphene tunneling sensor to estimate at least one of a physical characteristic and a chemical characteristic ofthe downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412 further comprising modulating the light from the light source prior to exposing the downhole fluid sample to the light from the light source. Currently amended
The method according to claim 44 2, wherein the property comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising filtering the light after the light passes through the downhole fluid sample and prior to sensing of the light by the graphene tunneling sensor. Currently amended
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene tunneling photodetector downhole tool
graphene tunneling sensor portion (layered structure)
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene
barrier layer
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
graphene tunneling photodetector signal strength vs pyroelectric | approximately one million times larger signal than pyroelectric photodetector | graphene |
silicon photodiode shunt resistance drop with temperature | drop by factor of more than one billion |
Patent
Atlas literature
Patent
US 10,326,032Patent drawings and their descriptions. Click a drawing to enlarge it.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a drilling system that may employ one or more embodiments described herein; [0008]
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sampling tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a graphene tunneling sensor portion in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0010]
FIG. 4 is a fl ow process for estimating a property of a fl uid downhole sample in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Claims define the patent's legal scope. Independent claims stand alone; dependent claims (nested) narrow them. Click a claim to expand its dependents.
A downhole tool for performing downhole spectr o scop y, the downhole tool comprising: a housing configured along a carrier disposed downhole within a borehole, wherein the housing is conf igu red to fluidly separate an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing wjhendisposeddow-ihole, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater; and a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole operation within the housing and at the downhole temperature, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is c o ifigured.tm be exposed to the downhole temperature during the downhole p spectroscop y, the graphene tunneli ng phot o detector com prising: a chamber configured to have a do wnhole fl uid sample contained th erei n; a light source configured to illuminatl the doNnhol e f luid samplewithin the chamber, the light source configured to generate light at at least one of near-infrared, mi d- infrared, and fa r-I nfrared; a graphe ne tunneling sensor porti on in optical communication with the do wnh ole fluid sampleforsensig light fir th light source that_ i pilges the downboie fluid sample to estimate a property of the downhole fluid sa m ple; and a processor opera b ly connected to the graphene tunneling sensor portion and configured to estimate the propert y of th e dow nhol e fluid sa mpl e based on a si nal, rceiv -ei atlthe.graphl 1tunnel ing sensor porion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the downhole sp ectroscopy is empvt edto at least one of measu re a temperature, measure a pressure, measure a strain, and measure an acoustic wavef orm--pe4rfrmiRg-fibe-f- p1i-temet- -;r--peaing as-an-eptialisei.atea. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is part of a conduit that fluidly connects the chamber with the borehole to enable extraction of the downhole fluid sample from the borehole. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 1, wherein the property of t he flid sarnple comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
. Canceled
The downhole tool according to claim 3 l, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor portion comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 41, further comprising a light modulator configured between the light source and the chamber. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, wherein the chamber includes a first optical window positioned between the light source and the chamber, the first optical window configured to enable light from the light source to enter the chamber, and a second optical window positioned between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion, the second optical window configured to enable light to pass from the chamber to the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
The downhole tool according to claim 31, further comprising one or more optical filters disposed between the chamber and the graphene tunneling sensor portion. Currently amended
A method for performing a- downhole spectroscop y, the method comprising: conveying a downhole tool having a housing downhole along a carrier, wherein the housing fluidly separates an interior of the housing from a borehole area external to the housing, the borehole having a downhole temperature of 125 0 C or greater, the downhole tool further having a graphene tunneling photodetector located within the housing configured to perform the downhole spectroscop y within the housing and at the downhole temperature; and performing the spectroscopy operation with the graphene tunneling photodetector, wherein the graphene tunneling photodetector is exposed to the downhole temperature during the spectroscopy operation, where.inthes sp ect roscopv oper iaio compises; collecting a do w nho l e fluid sample into the interior of the downhole too l; gene r ating at least one of near infrared, m id-infrared, and far infrared with a light source; _ Acts g the loxo i hole fluids ni r pie t« the-1- 1_, a eat oe f narinraEreds, mid linfrareI and far infrared generated by the lig ht source; and using a gra phene tunne ling sensor to sense lig ht that passes throu gh the downhole fluid sa rnple t o est irn ate a property of the downho l e flu id. Currently amended
The method of claim 12, wherein the downhole opet-ion spectroscopy comprises at least one of measuring a temperature, measuring a pressure, measuring a strain, a nd measuring an acoustic waveform, y,. Currently amended
. Canceled
The method according to claim 4412, wherein the graphene tunneling sensor comprises a first graphene layer, a second graphene layer, and a barrier layer disposed between the first graphene layer and the second graphene layer. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising applying a soft modeling technique to the light sensed by the graphene tunneling sensor to estimate at least one of a physical characteristic and a chemical characteristic ofthe downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412 further comprising modulating the light from the light source prior to exposing the downhole fluid sample to the light from the light source. Currently amended
The method according to claim 44 2, wherein the property comprises at least one of a fluid viscosity, a presence of a gas in the downhole fluid sample, an amount of gas, and a presence of contamination in the downhole fluid sample. Currently amended
The method according to claim 4412, further comprising filtering the light after the light passes through the downhole fluid sample and prior to sensing of the light by the graphene tunneling sensor. Currently amended
Layer stacks claimed or described, ordered top of device to substrate.
graphene tunneling photodetector downhole tool
graphene tunneling sensor portion (layered structure)
Materials described outside the worked examples.
graphene
barrier layer
Performance values and ranges asserted in the specification or claims.
| Property | Value | Material |
|---|---|---|
graphene tunneling photodetector signal strength vs pyroelectric | approximately one million times larger signal than pyroelectric photodetector | graphene |
silicon photodiode shunt resistance drop with temperature | drop by factor of more than one billion |
silicon
Si
| — |
Temperature | 25–232 °C | — |
silicon
Si
| — |
Temperature | 25–232 °C | — |
silicon
Si
| — |
Temperature | 25–232 °C | — |
silicon
Si
| — |
Temperature | 25–232 °C | — |