Patents by Inventor John M. Michaels
John M. Michaels 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).
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Patent number: 9932131Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining orbital parameters for spacecraft are provided. A computing device can receive a first plurality of orbital parameters defining a first orbit by a first spacecraft of a particular object. The first orbit can have a corresponding first ground track over the particular object. The computing device can receive a following time for a second spacecraft. The computing device can determine a second plurality of orbital parameters for a second orbit by the second spacecraft of the particular object based on the first plurality of orbital parameters and the following time. The second orbit can have a corresponding second ground track over the particular object that follows the first ground track. The computing device can generate an output that includes the second plurality of orbital parameters.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: John M. (Michael) McVicker, Peterson L. Browning, Robert A. Hawkins, Brendan C. Schmiedekamp, Robert H. Van Nice
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Publication number: 20170233112Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining orbital parameters for spacecraft are provided. A computing device can receive a first plurality of orbital parameters defining a first orbit by a first spacecraft of a particular object. The first orbit can have a corresponding first ground track over the particular object. The computing device can receive a following time for a second spacecraft. The computing device can determine a second plurality of orbital parameters for a second orbit by the second spacecraft of the particular object based on the first plurality of orbital parameters and the following time. The second orbit can have a corresponding second ground track over the particular object that follows the first ground track. The computing device can generate an output that includes the second plurality of orbital parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: John M. (Michael) McVicker, Peterson L. Browning, Robert A. Hawkins, Brendan C. Schmiedekamp, Robert H. Van Nice
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Patent number: 8118099Abstract: A method for forming and sealing a hole in a sidewall of a borehole may include conveying a bit and a sealer into the borehole using a carrier, forming a hole in the sidewall using the bit, and introducing a sealant from the sealer to the hole along a surface portion of the bit. An apparatus for forming and sealing a hole in a sidewall of a borehole includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, and a sealer operable to introduce a sealant to the hole along a surface portion of the bit.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: February 21, 2012Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Michael J. Moody, John M. Michaels
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Patent number: 7905286Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming and sealing a hole in the sidewall of a borehole are provided. The method may include conveying a carrier into the borehole, forming the hole in the sidewall using a bit, and sealing at least a portion of the hole by leaving at least a portion of the bit in the hole. An apparatus includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, and a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, the bit including a sealing portion that seals at least a portion of the hole.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 15, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Michael J. Moody, John M. Michaels
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Publication number: 20100078170Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming and sealing a hole in a sidewall of a borehole are provided. The method may include conveying a bit and a sealer into the borehole using a carrier, forming a hole in the sidewall using the bit, and introducing a sealant from the sealer to the hole along a surface portion of the bit. An apparatus includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, and a sealer operable to introduce a sealant to the hole along a surface portion of the bit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Michael J. Moody, John M. Michaels
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Publication number: 20100078171Abstract: Apparatus and methods for forming and sealing a hole in the sidewall of a borehole are provided. The method may include conveying a carrier into the borehole, forming the hole in the sidewall using a bit, and sealing at least a portion of the hole by leaving at least a portion of the bit in the hole. An apparatus includes a carrier conveyable into the borehole, and a bit disposed on the carrier that forms the hole in a sidewall, the bit including a sealing portion that seals at least a portion of the hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2008Publication date: April 1, 2010Inventors: Michael J. Moody, John M. Michaels
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Patent number: 7621325Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Houman M. Shammai, John M. Michaels, James T. Cernosek, Michael J. Moody, Phillip Wills
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Patent number: 7346460Abstract: The present invention provides an objective bubble point pressure determination method enables new applications of downhole PV (Pressure Volume) test results such as in situ measurement of the bubble point pressure for use as a quality control parameter for sampling. The present invention provides a method and apparatus to fit data points to a curve and to smooth these points over an interval of N points. The derivative of the curve is determined to obtain peak acceleration. The peak acceleration represents the bubble point pressure. This bubble point pressure is verified by comparison to changes in fluid compressibility and visual observation of a pressure volume plot history.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Rocco DiFoggio, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee
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Patent number: 7246664Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2002Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Houman M. Shammai, John M. Michaels, James T. Cernooek, Michael J. Moody, Phillip Wills
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Publication number: 20040260497Abstract: The present invention provides an objective bubble point pressure determination method enables new applications of downhole PV (Pressure Volume) test results such as in situ measurement of the bubble point pressure for use as a quality control parameter for sampling. The present invention provides a method and apparatus to fit data points to a curve and to smooth these points over an interval of N points. The derivative of the curve is determined to obtain peak acceleration. The peak acceleration represents the bubble point pressure. This bubble point pressure is verified by comparison to changes in fluid compressibility and visual observation of a pressure volume plot history.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Rocco DiFoggio, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee
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Patent number: 6640908Abstract: A minimum volume apparatus and method is provided including a tool for obtaining at least one parameter of interest of a subterranean formation in-situ, the tool comprising a carrier member, a selectively extendable member mounted on the carrier for isolating a portion of annulus, a port exposable to formation fluid in the isolated annulus space, a piston integrally disposed within the extendable member for urging the fluid into the port, and a sensor operatively associated with the port for detecting at least one parameter of interest of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: November 4, 2003Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Stanley C. Jones, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee, Matthias Meister, Volker Krueger
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Patent number: 6609568Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of incrementally decreasing the borehole pressure at a variable rate by controlling a test volume within the borehole. The system includes an incrementally controllable pump, closed loop feedback and a controller for drawing down the pressure of a test volume to a level just below formation pressure. This incremental drawdown system will significantly reduce the overall measurement time, thereby increasing drilling efficiency and safety.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Volker Krueger, Matthias Meister, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee, Stanley C. Jones
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Patent number: 6585045Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining permeability of a subterranean formation is provided. The apparatus and method comprise a work string, at least one selectively extendable member mounted on the work string to isolate a portion of the annular space between the work string and borehole. A predetermined distance proportional to the radius of a control port separates at least two ports in the work string. A sensor operatively associated with each port is mounted in the work string for measuring at least one characteristic such as pressure of the fluid in the isolated section.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2001Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Jaedong Lee, John M. Michaels, Volker Krueger, Matthias Meister, Per-Erik Berger
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Patent number: 6581455Abstract: An apparatus and method for obtaining samples of pristine formation or; formation fluid, using a work string designed for performing other downhole work such as drilling, workover operations, or re-entry operations. An extendable element extends against the formation wall to obtain the pristine formation or fluid sample. The apparatus includes at least one extendable gripper element for anchoring the apparatus during testing and sampling operations.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2000Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Per-Erik Berger, Volker Krueger, Matthias Meister, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee
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Publication number: 20030066646Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining the single phase integrity of a deep well formation sample that is removed to the surface comprises a vacuum jacket insulated single working cylinder divided by two free pistons into three variable volume chambers. The intermediate chamber is pre-charged with a fixed quantity of high pressure gas. Wellbore fluid freely admitted to one end chamber bears against one free piston to further compress the gas. The formation sample is pumped into the other end chamber to first, displace the wellbore fluid from the first end chamber and, sequentially, to further compress the gas to preserve the sample phase state upon removal to the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2002Publication date: April 10, 2003Applicant: Baker Hughes, Inc.Inventors: Houman M. Shammai, John M. Michaels, James T. Cernosek, Michael J. Moody, Phillip Wills
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Publication number: 20020185313Abstract: A minimum volume apparatus and method is provided including a tool for obtaining at least one parameter of interest of a subterranean formation in-situ, the tool comprising a carrier member, a selectively extendable member mounted on the carrier for isolating a portion of annulus, a port exposable to formation fluid in the isolated annulus space, a piston integrally disposed within the extendable member for urging the fluid into the port, and a sensor operatively associated with the port for detecting at least one parameter of interest of the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: Baker Hughes Inc.Inventors: Stanley C. Jones, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee, Matthias Meister, Volker Krueger
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Patent number: 6478096Abstract: A minimum volume apparatus and method is provided including a tool for obtaining at least one parameter of interest of a subterranean formation in-situ, the tool comprising a carrier member, a selectively extendable member mounted on the carrier for isolating a portion of annulus, a port exposable to formation fluid in the isolated annulus space, a piston integrally disposed within the extendable member for urging the fluid into the port, and a sensor operatively associated with the port for detecting at least one parameter of interest of the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2000Date of Patent: November 12, 2002Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Stanley C. Jones, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee, Matthias Meister, Volker Krueger
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Publication number: 20020112854Abstract: An apparatus and method capable of incrementally decreasing the borehole pressure at a variable rate by controlling a test volume within the borehole. The system includes an incrementally controllable pump, closed loop feedback and a controller for drawing down the pressure of a test volume to a level just below formation pressure. This incremental drawdown system will significantly reduce the overall measurement time, thereby increasing drilling efficiency and safety.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2001Publication date: August 22, 2002Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Volker Krueger, Matthias Meister, John M. Michaels, Jaedong Lee, Stanley C. Jones
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Publication number: 20020046835Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining permeability of a subterranean formation is provided. The apparatus and method comprise a work string, at least one selectively extendable member mounted on the work string to isolate a portion of the annular space between the work string and borehole. A predetermined distance proportional to the radius of a control port separates at least two ports in the work string. A sensor operatively associated with each port is mounted in the work string for measuring at least one characteristic such as pressure of the fluid in the isolated section.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2001Publication date: April 25, 2002Inventors: Jaedong Lee, John M. Michaels, Volker Krueger, Matthias Meister, Per-Erik Berger
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Patent number: 5770798Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaluating formation damage proximate to the surface of a rock. The invention is applicable to surface tests and to tests downhole in a borehole. A first hollow probe sealingly contacts the rock surface to define a first surface area, and the pressure within the hollow probe is decreased to monitor resulting pressure changes. A second hollow probe contacts the rock surface to define a second surface area having a different size than the first surface area, and the pressure within the hollow second probe is decreased to monitor resulting pressure changes. Differences in the observed pressure changes can be analyzed to evaluate formation damage to the rock surface and near surface. In particular, the thickness of formation damage, and permeability losses caused by such damage, can be assessed. Alternatively, fluid pressure can be injected into the first and second volumes to evaluate the subsequent pressure reduction.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1996Date of Patent: June 23, 1998Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.Inventors: Daniel T. Georgi, John M. Michaels, Michael J. Moody