Patents by Inventor Peter M. Duncan

Peter M. Duncan 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: 8705316
    Abstract: A method for passive seismic surveying includes deploying seismic sensors in a plurality of spatially distributed wellbores disposed above a volume of subsurface formations to be evaluated. The sensors in each wellbore form a line of sensors. Each sensor generate optical or electrical signals in response to seismic amplitude. The seismic signals from each sensor are recorded for a selected period of time. The response of the seismic sensor recordings is beam steered to at least one of a selected point and a selected volume in the subsurface. At least one microseismic event is identified in the beam steered response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Thornton, Leo Eisner, Peter M. Duncan
  • Patent number: 8218394
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic interferometry tomography includes detecting seismic signals from within the Earth's subsurface over a time period using an array of seismic sensors, the seismic signals being generated by seismic events within the Earth's subsurface. The method further includes adaptively velocity filtering the detected signals. The method further includes cross-correlating the velocity filtered seismic signals to obtain a reflectivity series at a position of each of the seismic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Chuntao Liang, Michael P. Thornton, Peter M. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20110242934
    Abstract: A method for passive seismic surveying includes deploying seismic sensors in a plurality of spatially distributed wellbores disposed above a volume of subsurface formations to be evaluated. The sensors in each wellbore form a line of sensors. Each sensor generate optical or electrical signals in response to seismic amplitude. The seismic signals from each sensor are recorded for a selected period of time. The response of the seismic sensor recordings is beam steered to at least one of a selected point and a selected volume in the subsurface. At least one microseismic event is identified in the beam steered response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Michael P. Thornton, Leo Eisner, Peter M. Duncan
  • Patent number: 7986587
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic emissions includes detecting seismic signals originating from within the Earth's subsurface over a selected time period using an array of seismic sensors deployed proximate the Earth's surface. Hypocenters of seismic events in the subsurface are determined from the detected signals. Seismic signals detected at selected ones of the seismic sensors are cross-correlated to signals detected at other selected ones of the seismic sensors. The cross-correlated signals are processed to obtain a reflectivity series at a geodetic position of the selected one of the seismic sensors. A spatial distribution of at least one seismic property in the subsurface is determined using the determined hypocenters and the reflectivity series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D Lakings
  • Publication number: 20100315902
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic interferometry tomography includes detecting seismic signals from within the Earth's subsurface over a time period using an array of seismic sensors, the seismic signals being generated by seismic events within the Earth's subsurface. The method further includes adaptively velocity filtering the detected signals. The method further includes cross-correlating the velocity filtered seismic signals to obtain a reflectivity series at a position of each of the seismic sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Chuntao Liang, Michael P. Thornton, Peter M. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20100238765
    Abstract: A method for determining seismic anisotropy of subsurface rock formations includes measuring passive seismic signals at a plurality of locations above an area of the Earth's subsurface to be surveyed. The compressional- and shear-wave arrival times from at least one origin location of a seismic event occurring in the subsurface are determined from the measured seismic signals. The arrival times are inverted to obtain values of the seismic anisotropy parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventors: Vladimir GRECHKA, Petr KOLINSKY, Leo EISNER, Peter M. DUNCAN, Michael P. THORNTON
  • Patent number: 7663970
    Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes transforming seismic signals recorded at selected positions into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D Lakings, Roderick A. Flores
  • Publication number: 20090238040
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic emissions includes detecting seismic signals originating from within the Earth's subsurface over a selected time period using an array of seismic sensors deployed proximate the Earth's surface. Hypocenters of seismic events in the subsurface are determined from the detected signals. Seismic signals detected at selected ones of the seismic sensors are cross-correlated to signals detected at other selected ones of the seismic sensors. The cross-correlated signals are processed to obtain a reflectivity series at a geodetic position of the selected one of the seismic sensors. A spatial distribution of at least one seismic property in the subsurface is determined using the determined hypocenters and the reflectivity series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20090185448
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic emission tomography includes detecting seismic signals from within the Earth's subsurface over a time period using an array of seismic sensors, the seismic signals being generated by seismic events within the Earth's subsurface. The method further includes inducing a seismic event within the Earth's subsurface during at least a segment of the time period over which the seismic signals are detected. The method further includes cross-correlating seismic signals detected at each of the seismic sensors to obtain a reflectivity series at a position of each of the seismic sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20080068928
    Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes transforming seismic signals recorded at selected positions into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D. Lakings, Roderick A. Flores