Patents by Inventor Steven R. May

Steven R. May 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: 10527601
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include obtaining sample data associated with a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation, wherein the sample data includes a noble gas signature, a clumped isotope signature and/or a ecology signature. From the signatures, relationships between the noble gas signature; the clumped isotope signature and the ecology signature are identified and stored in memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, William G. Powell, Sumathy Raman
  • Patent number: 10330659
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include determining a noble gas signature of a sample and at least one or more of determining a clumped isotope signature of the sample and characterizing the ecology signature of the sample. Then, the method integrates signatures to determine information about the subsurface accumulation, such as the location, fluid type and quality, and volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, William G. Powell, Sumathy Raman
  • Patent number: 10309217
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons with the use of reservoir surveillance. The method includes interpreting a sample to determine noble gas signatures and clumped isotope signatures for the region of interest. Then, using the region of interest fingerprint to perform reservoir surveillance on produced fluids from the subsurface regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Michael Lawson, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, Sumathy Raman, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Cara L. Davis
  • Patent number: 9612231
    Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbons is described. The method includes performing a remote sensing survey of a survey location to identify a target location. Then, an underwater vehicle (UV) is deployed into a body of water and directed to the target location. The UV collects measurement data within the body of water at the target location, which is then analyzed to determine whether hydrocarbons are present at the target location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Pottorf, Leonard J. Srnka, William Bond, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, William P. Meurer, Daniel P. Cherney, Steven R. May, William G. Powell, Christoper J. Vandewater, Mehmet D. Ertas, Sumathy Raman, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Amelia C. Robinson, Kurt W. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 9146225
    Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbons with an underwater vehicle equipped with one or more measurement components is described. The method includes navigating the UV within the body of water; monitoring the body of water with measurement components associated with the UV to collect measurement data. The collected data from the UV is used to determine whether hydrocarbons are present and at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Pottorf, Leonard J. Srnka, William Bond, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, William P. Meurer, Daniel P. Cherney, Steven R. May, William G. Powell, Christopher J. Vandewater, Mehmet D. Ertas, Kurt W. Rudolph, Sumathy Raman, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Amelia C. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140303895
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include determining a noble gas signature of a sample and at least one or more of determining a clumped isotope signature of the sample and characterizing the ecology signature of the sample. Then, the method integrates signatures to determine information about the subsurface accumulation, such as the location, fluid type and quality, and volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, William G. Powell, Sumathy Raman
  • Publication number: 20140288853
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a presence, type, quality and/or volume of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample related thereto. The method may include obtaining sample data associated with a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation, wherein the sample data includes a noble gas signature, a clumped isotope signature and/or a ecology signature. From the signatures, relationships between the noble gas signature; the clumped isotope signature and the ecology signature are identified and stored in memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, William G. Powell, Sumathy Raman
  • Publication number: 20140284465
    Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbons with an underwater vehicle equipped with one or more measurement components is described. The method includes navigating the UV within the body of water; monitoring the body of water with measurement components associated with the UV to collect measurement data. The collected data from the UV is used to determine whether hydrocarbons are present and at the location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Robert J. Pottorf, Leonard J. Srnka, William Bond, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, William P. Meurer, Daniel P. Cherney, Steven R. May, William G. Powell, Christopher J. Vandewater, Mehmet D. Ertas, Kurt W. Rudolph, Sumathy Raman, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Amelia C. Robinson
  • Publication number: 20140250999
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons with the use of reservoir surveillance. The method includes interpreting a sample to determine noble gas signatures and clumped isotope signatures for the region of interest. Then, using the region of interest fingerprint to perform reservoir surveillance on produced fluids from the subsurface regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Lawson, Robert J. Pottorf, Steven R. May, Amelia C. Robinson, Sumathy Raman, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Cara L. Davis
  • Publication number: 20140256055
    Abstract: A method for detecting hydrocarbons is described. The method includes performing a remote sensing survey of a survey location to identify a target location. Then, an underwater vehicle (UV) is deployed into a body of water and directed to the target location. The UV collects measurement data within the body of water at the target location, which is then analyzed to determine whether hydrocarbons are present at the target location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Robert J. Pottorf, Leonard J. Srnka, William Bond, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Michael Lawson, William P. Meurer, Daniel P. Cherney, Steven R. May, William G. Powell, Christoper J. Vandewater, Mehmet D. Ertas, Sumathy Raman, Aaron B. Regberg, A. Lucie N'Guessan, Amelia C. Robinson, Kurt W. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 6850864
    Abstract: A method of analyzing dip in a seismic data volume in which a horizontal gradient is calculated in a first direction in the seismic data volume. A vertical gradient is calculated at data locations in the seismic data volume corresponding to the locations at which the horizontal gradient was calculated. Dip is calculated in the first direction from the horizontal gradient in the first direction and the vertical gradient. Repetition of the process for the entire seismic data volume results in a dip volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Dominique Gillard, Brian P. West, Steven R. May, John E. Eastwood, Michael D. Gross
  • Patent number: 6823266
    Abstract: A method for predicting the connectivity of seismic objects identified by seed detection or similar methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Marek K. Czernuszenko, Steven R. May, Yao C. Cheng, Paul A. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20040153247
    Abstract: A method for predicting the connectivity of seismic objects identified by seed detection or similar methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Marek K. Czernuszenko, Steven R. May, Yao C. Cheng, Paul A. Dunn
  • Patent number: 6662111
    Abstract: A method of calculating reflection curvature in a seismic data volume wherein an apparent dip value is calculated in a first direction to generate a first apparent dip volume. A horizontal gradient is calculated in the first direction in the first apparent dip volume using a specified length scale to generate a first curvature volume. The process may be repeated one or more times, and the individual curvature volumes combined to generate a combined curvature volume for the seismic data volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Brian P. West, Steven R. May, Dominique Gillard, John E. Eastwood, Michael D. Gross, Thomas J. Frantes
  • Patent number: 6560540
    Abstract: A method for training a probabilistic neural network to map seismic attributes or similar quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Brian P. West, Steven R. May
  • Publication number: 20030055598
    Abstract: A method of analyzing dip in a seismic data volume in which a horizontal gradient is calculated in a first direction in the seismic data volume. A vertical gradient is calculated at data locations in the seismic data volume corresponding to the locations at which the horizontal gradient was calculated. Dip is calculated in the first direction from the horizontal gradient in the first direction and the vertical gradient. Repetition of the process for the entire seismic data volume results in a dip volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Dominique Gillard, Brian P. West, Steven R. May, John E. Eastwood, Michael D. Gross
  • Publication number: 20030009289
    Abstract: A method of calculating reflection curvature in a seismic data volume wherein an apparent dip value is calculated in a first direction to generate a first apparent dip volume. A horizontal gradient is calculated in the first direction in the first apparent dip volume using a specified length scale to generate a first curvature volume. The process may be repeated one or more times, and the individual curvature volumes combined to generate a combined curvature volume for the seismic data volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Brian P. West, Steven R. May, Dominique Gillard, John E. Eastwood, Michael D. Gross, Thomas J. Frantes
  • Publication number: 20020183932
    Abstract: A method for training a probabilistic neural network to map seismic attributes or similar quantities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Brian P. West, Steven R. May
  • Patent number: 6438493
    Abstract: Seismic facies are identified in a volume of seismic data, wherein, first, a plurality of initial textural attributes representative of the volume of seismic data are calculated. Next, a probabilistic neural network is constructed from the calculated initial textural attributes. Then, final textural attributes are calculated throughout the volume of seismic data. Finally, the calculated final textural attributes are classified using the constructed probabilistic neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co.
    Inventors: Brian P. West, Steven R. May
  • Publication number: 20020042677
    Abstract: Seismic facies are identified in a volume of seismic data, wherein, first, a plurality of initial textural attributes representative of the volume of seismic data are calculated. Next, a probabilistic neural network is constructed from the calculated initial textural attributes. Then, final textural attributes are calculated throughout the volume of seismic data. Finally, the calculated final textural attributes are classified using the constructed probabilistic neural network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Brian P. West, Steven R. May