Patents Represented by Attorney Fred S. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5408326
    Abstract: A dual-wavelength absorption detector is provided. The detector includes an electronics section, a three branched optical guide and a detector-cell. Each branch of the optical guide has a plurality of fibers, and at one end the branches are separated and connected to different portions of the electronics section. Two of the three branches are terminated next to LEDs having different wavelengths, a measuring wavelength and a reference wavelength. The third branch is terminated next to a photodetector. At the opposite end of the optical guide the three branches are combined to form a common end which is terminated within the detector-cell. The detector-cell includes a continuous-flow sample cell connected to a sample line. Within the detector-cell, the common end's fiber ends are held at a fixed location on one side of the sample cell with a concave mirror being located on the opposite side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Priestley J. Wang
  • Patent number: 5407638
    Abstract: A continuous-wavelength absorption detector adapted for continuous-flow detection is provided. The detector includes an electronics section, a bifurcated optical guide and a detector-cell. Each branch of the optical guide has a plurality of fibers, and at one end the branches are separated and connected to different portions of the electronics section. One of the branches is terminated next to a source for producing illumination to irradiate sample material and the other branch is terminated next to a detector for producing an absorption spectrum signal. At the opposite end of the optical guide the fibers of the two branches are combined to form a common end which is connected to the detector-cell. The detector-cell includes an approximately vertically aligned continuous-flow sample cell which is connected to a sample line and also includes a concave mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Priestley J. Wang
  • Patent number: 5400651
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the water level at the bottom of a storage tank, the water level being the product-water interface between product and water within the storage tank. The apparatus includes a sensor assembly which is located at the tank bottom. The assembly has a plurality of measurement sensors arranged in a housing having slots for product and water to enter and leave the housing. Each measurement sensor is an open-circuited co-axial transmission line with a probe at its open end which functions as a monopole antenna. In preferred embodiments, the transmission lines are quarter wavelength open-circuited coaxial transmission lines. Each probe is located at a different distance from the tank bottom to cover a measurement range. The transmission lines are excited with signals which are reflected by the probes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Michael Welch
  • Patent number: 5399816
    Abstract: A subsurface seismic source for generating seismic waves comprises a fluid supply conduit section conducting fluid downward and having a seat for receiving a blocking body transported by said fluid. Said body blocks the fluid through said section when forced against said seat by said mud. At least one piston chamber is arranged adjacent to and connected with said section, has in one end wall at one end an opening to said section above said blocking body when forced against said seat, and comprises a biased piston closing said chamber at the other end and being driven to the corresponding other end wall when the blocking body is forced against said seat. Said blocking body is forced through said seat at a predetermined mud pressure level, thereby releasing said piston, the piston colliding against the one end wall and generating seismic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Henry J. D. Lankau
  • Patent number: 5383500
    Abstract: A system for control of automatic refueling of automotive vehicles parked alongside a fuel dispenser unit which allows for a customer to control a refueling procedure without having to exit the vehicle. The control system includes a processing unit, control operating units, operating units and a communications system which is located within the vehicle to be refueled. The communications system has the capability to start, monitor and finish the refueling procedure by transmitting and receiving data signals which concern the refueling procedure such as signals which start the refueling procedure and signals which interrupt the procedure. The data signals are received by the from the vehicle into the processing unit where the signals are processed. The processed data signals are directed to control operating units. The control operating units then direct operating units in carrying out operating functions which are necessary to automatically refuel the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1995
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Sicco Dwars, Cornelis van Ouwerkerk, Caspar Verhaagen
  • Patent number: 5355324
    Abstract: A method is provided to detect leakage from a conduit through which a stream of fluid flows and to indicate when there is a leakage condition or a no leakage condition. The method includes measuring at least one variable of a group consisting of fluid pressure and fluid flow rate over a period of time and at least one location of the stream to provide a data set representing the variable at the location and over the period of time. A statistical probability of obtaining the data set from the measurement under a first hypothesis that no leakage occurs is determined and a statistical probability of obtaining the data set from the measurement under a second hypothesis that leakage occurs is determined. One of the hypotheses is selected as being true if the probability of obtaining the data set from the measurement under the selected hypothesis is larger than the probability of obtaining the data set from the measurement under the other hypothesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Xue Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 5338929
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring strain variations of a strain responsive element of a micromachined sensor device while subjected to outside parameter conditions, at least two oscillation resonance modes of said element are activated and interrogated optically. Thereby correspondingly at least two resonance frequencies are obtained. From parameter/frequency characteristics of said device correspondingly at least two parameter values are derived.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Bindert S. Douma, Peter Eigenraam
  • Patent number: 5327216
    Abstract: A remote seismic sensing system is provided which operates as a bipolarized, differential mode, LDI (laser differential interferometry) system to detect electrical signals produced at a remote location. In preferred embodiments, the system is used in seismic surveying to detect array signals. An amplified array signal (the electrical signal is coupled to an array retroreflector apparatus (target). The array signal is obtained from an array of seismic detectors, e.g., geophones or hydrophones. The amplified array signal increases the velocity of a Doppler shifting optical component on the target. The target converts a defused sensing beam into two polarized return sensing signals, both of the return sensing signals having been Doppler shifted by the target to contain frequency components that represent motions, e.g., ground motions and wind motions, that are common to both signals and to contain a difference signal which represents the array signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Albert J. Berni
  • Patent number: 5319554
    Abstract: The method sequentially determines dips and corresponding estimated dip components of traces in a panel of data. The method can be applied to any data which can be represented as a function of two coordinates. In particular, the method can be applied to seismic data traces. The method in one embodiment sums data on traces along a preselected range of trial dips on a panel of data. The energy of the summed data with their corresponding trial dip are then displayed. The dip which has the peak of maximum energy on the display is then selected as a valid dip. An estimated dip component of the selected dip is then determined and subtracted from the traces along the selected dip. The process is then repeated, sequentially, determining a dip and an estimated dip component from the panel of data until the desired number of dips and estimated dip components are determined or the residual energy of the remaining data on the traces are below a preselected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Trilochan Padhi
  • Patent number: 5317383
    Abstract: A remote sensing system is provided which operates as a bipolarized, differential mode, LDI (laser differential interferometry) system to detect an electrical signal produced at a remote location. The system is adapted to reduce the effects of turbulence induced frequency fluctuations by using an array retroreflector apparatus which converts a single sensing beam into a single return beam having two, overlapping, transversely polarized sensing signals; thus, turbulence induced noise will be common mode to both return signals and cancel at the receiver.In preferred embodiments, the system is used to remotely detect an amplified array signal from a plurality of seismic detectors (e.g., geophones or hydrophones) connected to form an array at the remote location. The target is coupled to common motions at the selected location and the amplified array signal is coupled to an optical component within the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Albert J. Berni
  • Patent number: 5289433
    Abstract: A multi-mode receiver sonde having individual receiver stations. The receiver stations have transducers which have a flat frequency response over a selected bandwidth so that there is an approximately constant ratio in amplitude and substantially little phase difference between the response signal and an input acoustic signal from a liquid containing borehole.The wide-band output response signals are combined to form composite signals which represent selected borehole propagation modes. Accurate comparisons can then be made between the composite signals obtained by separate receiver stations so that changes in phase and amplitude over distance and time can be determined.In one highly preferred embodiment, the receiver sonde has a semi-rigid receiver array. The semi-rigid receiver array is adapted to decouple noise (tool-mode noise and/or road-noise) in one location within the array from other locations within the array by using compliant spacers between the receiver stations to absorb and scatter the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cowles, Jacques P. Leveille, Paul J. Hatchell, Jesus A. Mireles, Robert D. Clifton
  • Patent number: 5289434
    Abstract: A remote sensing system is provided which operates as a bipolarized, differential mode, LDI (laser differential interferometry) system to detect motion at a remote location. The system is adapted to reduce the effects of turbulence induced frequency fluctuations by using a retroreflector apparatus which converts a single sensing beam into a single return beam having two overlapping transversely polarized sensing signals; thus, turbulence induced noise will be common mode to both return signals and cancel at the receiver. In preferred embodiments, the system is used to detect seismic motions. The retroreflector apparatus is coupled to ground motions at a selected location where it separates the sensing beam into two polarized sensing signals, frequency modulates one of the polarized sensing signals to contain frequency components that represent selected ground motions, and combines the polarized sensing signals into the return beam. The return beam is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Albert J. Berni
  • Patent number: 5274603
    Abstract: A marine seismic cable section with stress members and internal wiring located within the cable section in a manner which reduces internal bending stresses upon the cable section when wound upon a storage reel. Stress members are at least near a horizontal plane passing through and at approximately equal distances from the center line of the cable section. Internal wiring is located in a vertical crisscrossing pattern down the length of the cable section. In one important embodiment, the cable section contains an elastomeric filler material to retain and support stress members, internal wiring and other internal components at their desired location and to prevent damage to internal wiring and components due to external stress when the cable section is wound on a cable reel. Stress relief sections are also provided to further reduce bending stress within the seismic cable section in other embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Anthony M. Zibilich, Jr., Yoram Shoham
  • Patent number: 5199659
    Abstract: A marine cable retrieval apparatus for retrieving marine seismic cable on board a ship which reduces longitudinal tension force on the cable at the cable storage reel when the cable storage reel (drum) is winding up the cable. Marine cable is subject to a tension force which can damage the marine cable when it is placed on a storage reel. The apparatus of this application reduces the tension on a portion of marine cable so that the portion can be retrieved upon a storage reel. The apparatus includes a collar attached to the marine cable and a cable retrievel tool which is placed around the marine cable. The cable retrieval tool has a biasing mechanism which will allow the tool to pass over the collar attached to the marine cable when it is moving away from the ship, but when it is moving toward the ship the biasing mechanism will engage the collar. The cable retrieval tool exerts an opposing force on the collar to the longitudinal tension force on marine cable trailing behind the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Shell Offshore Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony M. Zibilich, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5197716
    Abstract: A marine cable deployment apparatus for deploying marine seismic cable from a ship which reduces tension force on the cable at the cable storage reel when the cable storage reel (drum) is winding out the cable. Marine cable is subject to a longitudinal tension force which can damage the marine cable when it is deployed from a storage reel. The apparatus of this application reduces the longitudinal tension force on a portion of marine cable so that the portion of cable can be deployed from a storage reel. The apparatus includes a collar attached to the marine cable and a cable deployment tool which is placed around the marine cable. The cable deployment tool has dogs which engage the collar and a locking ring which holds the dogs in place. The cable is deployed with the deployment tool accompanying the deployed cable. A line between the deployment tool and the ship provides an opposing force to the longitudinal tension force on the cable trailing behind the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Shell Offshore Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Zibilich, Jr., Garron J. Chaisson, Mancel C. Beam
  • Patent number: 5173879
    Abstract: A method is provided for adaptive minimum-phase deconvolution. The deconvolution method removes source and receiver wavelet variations in a surface-consistent manner from traces of a seismic survey which has the traces indexed by source and receiver locations. A plurality of source-pairs and a plurality of a receiver-pairs are selected from the traces. Each source-pair has two designated sources and each receiver-pair has two designated receivers. Cross-correlations are performed on traces in each source-pair which have common receivers to provide a source-pair cross-correlation signal for each common receiver. Cross-correlation are performed on traces in each receiver-pair which have common sources to provide a receiver-pair cross-correlation signal for each common source. The cross-correlation signals of each receiver-pair and each source-pair are stacked to provide stacked cross-correlation signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Vu K. Cung, Kattemalvadi R. S. Devi, Elliott G. Flowers, Jr., Chris T. Corcoran, Stephen J. Chapman
  • Patent number: 5132938
    Abstract: A method to adjust a common subsurface feature on seismic traces associated with line misties is provided so that the seismic traces are consistent about the common subsurface feature. The method uses traces which are uniquely located in an x-y coordinate system to reflect the actual location of the traces with respect to an intersection. In this method traces can be associated with a line of seismic data or can be isolated traces such as well-log synthetics or vertical seismic profiles. The traces make up sets of data. An intersection is selected and representative traces from two sets of data are initially selected and form trace pairs. A time gate is determined about a common subsurface features of interest on the representative traces. The time gate isolates a trace gate about the common subsurface feature on each trace leaving only the trace gates in the trace pairs. A time delay is determined for each trace pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: William L. Walters