Patents by Inventor James L. Simmons

James L. Simmons has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • System and method for orienting seismic energy receivers to yield discriminated vertical shear waves
    Patent number: 6564150
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, orienting seismic energy sources and seismic energy receivers to substantially separate a compressional wave from a vertical shear wave. The method includes reflecting a seismic energy from a subsurface interface to produce a reflected seismic energy wave that has a compressional energy and vertical shear energy associated therewith. A first seismic energy receiver is oriented such that it is aligned with an angle of emergence of the reflected seismic energy wave to thereby maximize the vertical shear energy received by a second seismic energy receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignees: Board of Regents for the University of Texas, Vecta Technologies, LP
    Inventors: Allen L. Gilmer, Bob A. Hardage, James L. Simmons, Jr.
  • System and method for orienting seismic energy sources and receivers to yield discriminated horizontal and vertical shear waves
    Patent number: 6498990
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, orienting seismic energy sources and seismic energy receivers to yield discriminated horizontal and vertical shear modes. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) an initial matrix representing wave energy produced by a selected seismic energy source and received by a selected seismic energy receiver, (2) a first transforming matrix that cooperates with the initial matrix to orient the selected seismic energy source with respect to the selected seismic energy receiver and (3) a second transforming matrix that cooperates with the initial matrix to orient the selected seismic energy receiver with respect to the selected seismic energy source, the initial matrix thereby transformed into a successive matrix containing the discriminated horizontal and vertical shear modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Vecta Technology
    Inventors: Bob A. Hardage, James L. Simmons, Allen L. Gilmer
  • System and method for orienting seismic energy sources and receivers to yield discriminated horizontal and vertical shear waves
    Publication number: 20020057628
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, orienting seismic energy sources and seismic energy receivers to yield discriminated horizontal and vertical shear modes. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) an initial matrix representing wave energy produced by a selected seismic energy source and received by a selected seismic energy receiver, (2) a first transforming matrix that cooperates with the initial matrix to orient the selected seismic energy source with respect to the selected seismic energy receiver and (3) a second transforming matrix that cooperates with the initial matrix to orient the selected seismic energy receiver with respect to the selected seismic energy source, the initial matrix thereby transformed into a successive matrix containing the discriminated horizontal and vertical shear modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Bob A. Hardage, James L. Simmons, Allen L. Gilmer
  • System and method for orienting seismic energy receivers to yield discriminated vertical shear waves
    Publication number: 20010004727
    Abstract: A system for, and method of, orienting seismic energy sources and seismic energy receivers to substantially separate a compressional wave from a vertical shear wave. The method includes reflecting a seismic energy from a subsurface interface to produce a reflected seismic energy wave that has a compressional energy and vertical shear energy associated therewith. A first seismic energy receiver is oriented such that it is aligned with an angle of emergence of the reflected seismic energy wave to thereby maximize the vertical shear energy received by a second seismic energy receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: Allen L. Gilmer, Bob A. Hardage, James L. Simmons