Patents by Inventor Steven HELMORE

Steven HELMORE 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: 11989832
    Abstract: A method for constructing a three-dimensional representation of an internal surface of a conduit comprises obtaining a plurality of images of the internal surface of the conduit, for example from a camera mounted on an inspection tool, constructing, from the plurality of images, a composite image of the internal surface, providing a shape model of the internal surface, constructing, using the shape model, a three-dimensional mesh of the internal surface, and constructing a three-dimensional representation of the internal surface by assigning a pixel value from the composite image to a corresponding node of the mesh. The three-dimensional representation may be derived from two or more sets of images obtained under different image acquisition conditions, such as different camera angles, lighting conditions or spectral sensitivities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: E.V. OFFSHORE LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven Helmore, Christopher Scott, Philip Brown, Jonathan Thursby
  • Patent number: 11828157
    Abstract: Methods for correcting for non-centred tool geometry in image data obtained by a conduit inspection tool are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention apply to inspection tools with one or multiple sideview cameras and to inspection tools with downview cameras. The methods include obtaining at least two overlapping images of the internal surface of the conduit using the tool, identifying one or more features common to at least a pair of the overlapping images, determining, based on the positions of the or each common feature, the position of the tool with respect to a longitudinal axis of the conduit, determining a correction function based on the position of the tool and applying the correction function to the image data. Methods for determining the dimension of a feature of interest on the internal surface of the conduit are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: E.V. OFFSHORE LIMITED
    Inventors: Christopher Scott, Philip Brown, Steven Helmore, Jonathan Thursby, David Tynewydd, James Crisafulli
  • Patent number: 11649715
    Abstract: A method for determining a corrected axial displacement parameter of a conduit inspection tool, in particular a downhole inspection tool, during transit of the tool axially along a conduit is disclosed. The tool used in the method has an imaging device and may be attached to a control module with a connecting line. The method comprises obtaining successive axially overlapping images of an internal wall of the conduit, determining, from the images, an observed axial displacement parameter of the tool as a function of transit time, identifying, in the images, a plurality of reference points, determining an estimated axial displacement parameter of the tool over an of transit time between successive reference points, and computing the corrected axial displacement parameter of the tool by applying a correction factor to the observed axial velocity of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: E.V. OFFSHORE LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven Helmore, Christopher Scott, Jonathan Thursby, Philip Brown, Fraser Louden, Tobben Tymons
  • Publication number: 20210088546
    Abstract: A method for determining a corrected axial displacement parameter of a conduit inspection tool, in particular a downhole inspection tool, during transit of the tool axially along a conduit is disclosed. The tool used in the method has an imaging device and may be attached to a control module with a connecting line. The method comprises obtaining successive axially overlapping images of an internal wall of the conduit, determining, from the images, an observed axial displacement parameter of the tool as a function of transit time, identifying, in the images, a plurality of reference points, determining an estimated axial displacement parameter of the tool over an of transit time between successive reference points, and computing the corrected axial displacement parameter of the tool by applying a correction factor to the observed axial velocity of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Steven HELMORE, Christopher SCOTT, Jonathan THURSBY, Philip BROWN, Fraser LOUDEN, Tobben TYMONS
  • Publication number: 20210087920
    Abstract: Methods for correcting for non-centred tool geometry in image data obtained by a conduit inspection tool are disclosed. Embodiments of the invention apply to inspection tools with one or multiple sideview cameras and to inspection tools with downview cameras. The methods include obtaining at least two overlapping images of the internal surface of the conduit using the tool, identifying one or more features common to at least a pair of the overlapping images, determining, based on the positions of the or each common feature, the position of the tool with respect to a longitudinal axis of the conduit, determining a correction function based on the position of the tool and applying the correction function to the image data. Methods for determining the dimension of a feature of interest on the internal surface of the conduit are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher SCOTT, Philip BROWN, Steven HELMORE, Jonathan THURSBY, David TYNEWYDD, James CRISAFULLI
  • Patent number: 10885649
    Abstract: A method of constructing a three-dimensional model of an internal surface of a tubular structure comprises obtaining image data from an area of the internal surface of the structure, obtaining measured height profile data from the internal surface in a plurality of sub-regions of the area, for example using a multi-finger caliper tool, determining image properties from the image data, correlating the measured height profile data with the image properties in the sub-regions, and constructing expected height profile data for at least part of the area outside the sub-regions using the correlated measured height profile data and image properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: E.V. OFFSHORE LIMITED
    Inventors: Steven Helmore, Christopher Scott, Jonathan Thursby, Fraser Louden
  • Publication number: 20200394839
    Abstract: A method for constructing a three-dimensional representation of an internal surface of a conduit comprises obtaining a plurality of images of the internal surface of the conduit, for example from a camera mounted on an inspection tool, constructing, from the plurality of images, a composite image of the internal surface, providing a shape model of the internal surface, constructing, using the shape model, a three-dimensional mesh of the internal surface, and constructing a three-dimensional representation of the internal surface by assigning a pixel value from the composite image to a corresponding node of the mesh. The three-dimensional representation may be derived from two or more sets of images obtained under different image acquisition conditions, such as different camera angles, lighting conditions or spectral sensitivities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Inventors: Steven HELMORE, Christopher SCOTT, Philip BROWN, Jonathan THURSBY
  • Publication number: 20200302625
    Abstract: A method of constructing a three-dimensional model of an internal surface of a tubular structure comprises obtaining image data from an area of the internal surface of the structure, obtaining measured height profile data from the internal surface in a plurality of sub-regions of the area, for example using a multi-finger caliper tool, determining image properties from the image data, correlating the measured height profile data with the image properties in the sub-regions, and constructing expected height profile data for at least part of the area outside the sub-regions using the correlated measured height profile data and image properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Steven HELMORE, Christopher SCOTT, Jonathan THURSBY, Fraser LOUDEN