Patents by Inventor Kamal Babour

Kamal Babour 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).

  • Patent number: 8804462
    Abstract: A marine vibrator with improved seal is described. The marine vibrator includes a housing and piston within the housing for generating vibratory signals. The improved seal is comprised of a two-stage seal having a first seal disposed adjacent the water interface and a second seal disposed away from the water interface, thus improving the reliability of the marine vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Emmanuel Coste, Martin Howlid
  • Patent number: 8711655
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for characterizing parts of a reservoir surrounding a borehole are provided including using at least one transmitter to emit a probing signal into the borehole and at least one receiver to receive a signal representing a response of the formation to the probing signal, with the distance separating the transmitter and the receiver being variable while suspended in the borehole using for example an apparatus which can be decoupled in the borehole into a stationary and a mobile section, carrying transmitter and receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kais Gzara, Kamal Babour, Michael Wilt, Ahmed El-Banbi
  • Patent number: 8414781
    Abstract: An in-line flow separator comprises an uphill section of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid and a second denser liquid. The second liquid forms a sump extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section, and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Berard, Kamal Babour, Ibrahim Babelli
  • Patent number: 8275589
    Abstract: An efficient and cost-effective technique is provided to perform modeling of a reservoir in a subterranean structure. A compartment model of fluid compartments in a reservoir is generated, and based on the compartment model and a geomechanical model of the subterranean structure, movement of a ground surface due to volumetric change of the compartments is calculated. Satellite measurements of the ground surface are received over time, where the received satellite measurements of the ground surface over time indicate movement of the ground surface. The movement of the ground surface indicated by the received satellite measurements is compared with the calculated movement, and based on the comparing, one or more properties of the geomechanical model are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Andre Montaron, Kamal Babour, George Zangl, Rutger Gras, Andrew Pearce
  • Publication number: 20120081997
    Abstract: A marine vibrator with improved seal is described. The marine vibrator includes a housing and piston within the housing for generating vibratory signals. The improved seal is comprised of a two-stage seal having a first seal disposed adjacent the water interface and a second seal disposed away from the water interface, thus improving the reliability of the marine vibrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Emmanuel Coste, Martin Howlid
  • Patent number: 8056623
    Abstract: A subsurface formation monitoring system and method is described. The system includes a conductive piping structure positionable within a borehole extending into a subsurface formation. The conductive piping structure is electrically decoupled from a production tubing by an insulating packer. The system also includes a downhole installed conductive casing sub that has one or more sensors. The conductive casing sub is electrically coupled to the conductive piping structure. The system further includes a surface installed power and communication module that has an alternate current generator. The power and communication module is electrically coupled to the conductive piping structure via a downhole intermediate module. The alternate current generator can inject a current signal that flows downhole to the conductive casing sub and then returns with sensor measurements to the surface power and communication module via a grounded return electrode that is coupled to the subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Schmitt, Christian Chouzenoux, Kamal Babour, Paul Beguin
  • Publication number: 20110253640
    Abstract: An in-line flow separator comprises an uphill section of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid and a second denser liquid. The second liquid forms a sump extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section, and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Berard, Kamal Babour, Ibrahim Babelli
  • Patent number: 8002121
    Abstract: An in-line flow separator (1) comprises an uphill section (2) of pipeline which, in use, carries a gravitationally stratified flow of a first liquid (3) and a second denser liquid (4). The second liquid (4) forms a sump (5) extending uphill from the foot of the uphill section (2), and an interface between the first and second liquids on the uphill section is inclined from the horizontal. An extraction port (6) in the pipeline extracts the second liquid from the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Berard, Kamal Babour, Ibrahim Babelli
  • Patent number: 7999552
    Abstract: A sensor cable for surveying. The sensor cable may comprise at least one pair of current sensor electrodes and an amplifier. The current sensor electrodes may be disposed along opposite sides of the sensor cable. The current sensor electrodes may be configured to detect current in an electromagnetic field transverse to an inline direction of the sensor cable. The amplifier may be configured to amplify the current in the electromagnetic field for detection by the electrode pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Leendert Combee, James P. Brady, Martin Howlid
  • Publication number: 20110005746
    Abstract: A subsurface formation monitoring system and method is provided. The system comprises a conductive piping structure having a conductive tubing, a surface installed power and communication module coupled to the conductive piping structure, and a downhole installed conductive tubing sub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Benoit Schmitt, Christian Chouzenoux, Kamal Babour, Paul Beguin
  • Patent number: 7826972
    Abstract: A method for determining a formation electrical property under a sea floor includes obtaining measurement data using a receiver having an impedance lower than an impedance of seawater at a measurement site; correcting the measurement data to obtain corrected data corresponding to data that would have been acquired using a receiver having an impedance matched with the impedance of the seawater; and deriving the formation property from the corrected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Christian Besson, Kambiz Safinya, Philip Heelan, Edward Nichols
  • Patent number: 7822553
    Abstract: A method for determining formation electrical properties includes deploying one or more receivers for electromagnetic logging; obtaining measurement data indicative of the formation electrical properties using the deployed receivers; correcting the measurement data for receiver imperfection; and inverting the corrected measurement data to obtain one or more parameters of formation electrical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Christian Besson, Kamal Babour, Kambiz A. Safinya, Edward Nichols
  • Publication number: 20100238763
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for characterizing parts of a reservoir surrounding a borehole are provided including using at least one transmitter to emit a probing signal into the borehole and at least one receiver to receive a signal representing a response of the formation to the probing signal, with the distance separating the transmitter and the receiver being variable while suspended in the borehole using for example an apparatus which can be decoupled in the borehole into a stationary and a mobile section, carrying transmitter and receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kais Gzara, Kamal Babour, Michael Wilt, Ahmed El-Banbi
  • Patent number: 7798214
    Abstract: A subsurface formation monitoring system comprises a conductive piping positioned within a borehole extending into the formation, a surface installed power and communication module, a downhole installed conductive casing or tubing sub comprising sensor(s) mounted on the sub, a data communication module for wireless communication of sensor measurements to the surface module, and a battery for providing power to the data communication module and the sensor. The surface module is coupled to the conductive piping and to a grounded return electrode coupled to the formation, and comprises an alternate current generator that defines an ingoing signal path along the conductive piping and sub, the ingoing signal flowing from the surface module to the sub and transmitting power from the generator to the sub. A return signal comprising sensor measurements is transmitted through a return signal path flowing from the sub to the surface module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Schmitt, Christian Chouzenoux, Kamal Babour, Paul Beguin
  • Publication number: 20100217563
    Abstract: An efficient and cost-effective technique is provided to perform modeling of a reservoir in a subterranean structure. A compartment model of fluid compartments in a reservoir is generated, and based on the compartment model and a geomechanical model of the subterranean structure, movement of a ground surface due to volumetric change of the compartments is calculated. Satellite measurements of the ground surface are received over time, where the received satellite measurements of the ground surface over time indicate movement of the ground surface. The movement of the ground surface indicated by the received satellite measurements is compared with the calculated movement, and based on the comparing, one or more properties of the geomechanical model are adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: BERNARD ANDRE MONTARON, KAMAL BABOUR, GEORGE ZANGL, RUTGER GRAS, ANDREW PEARCE
  • Patent number: 7633296
    Abstract: A receiver for electromagnetic measurements includes a polyhedron structure having m faces, where m?4 and m?6: n electrodes each disposed on one face of the polyhedron structure, wherein 3?n?m; and at least one circuitry connected to the n electrodes for signal measurement. A method for electromagnetic measurements includes obtaining a plurality of electric current measurements using a plurality of electrodes each disposed on a surface of a polyhedron receiver, wherein the plurality of electric current measurements comprise at least three different measurements; and determining electric field components in a three dimensional space from the plurality of electric current measurements by using a number of matrices that correlate orientations of surfaces of the polyhedron receiver to a coordinate system in the three dimensional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kambiz Safinya, Edward Nichols, Kamal Babour, Philip Heelan, Christian Besson
  • Publication number: 20090295394
    Abstract: A sensor cable for surveying. The sensor cable may comprise at least one pair of current sensor electrodes and an amplifier. The current sensor electrodes may be disposed along opposite sides of the sensor cable. The current sensor electrodes may be configured to detect current in an electromagnetic field transverse to an inline direction of the sensor cable. The amplifier may be configured to amplify the current in the electromagnetic field for detection by the electrode pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Leendert Combee, James P. Brady, Martin Howlid
  • Publication number: 20090038793
    Abstract: A subsurface formation monitoring system comprises: a conductive piping structure 2 comprising either a conductive casing or a non conductive casing fitted with a conductive tubing, the conductive piping being positioned within a borehole BH extending into the subsurface formation GF, a surface installed power and communication module 3, and a downhole installed conductive casing or tubing sub 4A, 4B, 4C comprising at least one sensor 5, 15 mounted on the sub, a data communication module 6 for wireless communication of the sensor measurements to the surface installed power and communication module, and a powering means 7 for providing power to the data communication module 6 and the sensor 5, 15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Benoit Schmitt, Christian Chouzenoux, Kamal Babour, Paul Beguin
  • Publication number: 20090001985
    Abstract: A method for determining formation electrical properties includes deploying one or more receivers for electromagnetic logging; obtaining measurement data indicative of the formation electrical properties using the deployed receivers; correcting the measurement data for receiver imperfection; and inverting the corrected measurement data to obtain one or more parameters of formation electrical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Besson, Kamal Babour, Kambiz A. Safinya, Edward Nichols
  • Publication number: 20090001986
    Abstract: An electromagnetic receiver includes at least one sensor for measuring electromagnetic signals, and a calibration antenna configured to generate an electromagnetic signal at a first frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Besson, Kamal Babour, Kambiz A. Safinya, Edward Nichols