Patents Assigned to DarkVision Technologies Inc.
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Patent number: 12505939Abstract: A bulkhead system for passing conductors between a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side. The bulkhead may be used in harsh environments to pass signals or power to sensors and actuators on one side and to sensitive electronics on the other side. The conductors run through and are bonded at sides to a body, which body is supported in the direction of the pressure differential and not highly supported in other directions.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2023Date of Patent: December 23, 2025Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Jay Roderick Hope
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Patent number: 12399276Abstract: A method and system for inspecting casings in a wellbore to determine a mechanical or sealing quality of casing connections. Casing connections may become mechanically weak or start to leak after some period of use in harsh conditions. A radial array of ultrasound transducers images the casing in-situ to create an ultrasound image, which is analyzed to detect the casing connector then analyzed a sealing band of the connector. Machine learning and image processing methods may be used to analyze the images.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: August 26, 2025Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Graham T. Manders, Kurt Kolb, Jacob Law
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Patent number: 12378870Abstract: A device and method used to inspect wellbores, cased or uncased using cameras. Improvements in downhole optical imaging are provided using telecentric lens, prisms and mirrors, or structured lighting. Stereoscopic arrangements and ultrasound sensor may provide 3D or contour information. The images are stored on the tool and analyzed later. The present tool overcomes the deficiencies currently experience by downhole camera operators, such as poor scale and perspective.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2023Date of Patent: August 5, 2025Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Timothy Luu, Graham Manders, Damian Nesbitt
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Patent number: 12285292Abstract: A device and method used to log images of target objects with ultrasound transducers. The object may be a fluid-carrying tubular, such as a pipeline. The transducers operate as phased arrays, insonifying areas of the target object with a plane wave and then storing the reflected signals. The signals are sampled and summed for each pixel, by considering various paths taken by the wave from transmitting to receiving via that pixel. Refraction and reflection from surfaces are used to determine segments of the paths.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2022Date of Patent: April 29, 2025Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Jay Roderick Hope
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Patent number: 12270787Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection device and method of inspecting parts is disclosed that uses significantly less memory and power with little drop in image quality. The device transmits on a full aperture of ultrasonic elements in a phased array but receives on only a fraction of that aperture. The device may be used downhole, in pipeline inspection or Non-Destructive Testing of manufactured parts.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: April 8, 2025Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Michael Halpenny-Mason
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Patent number: 12146856Abstract: A device and method for non-destructive testing of an object, such as a pipe, well casing, plane wing, rail track, weldment, bridge or manufactured part. A phased array of ultrasonic transducers moves relative to the part in one direction, while transmitting a steered wave in another direction to capture the texture from the object's surface. Diffuse and specular components of the received reflection signals are separated and beamformed for visualization. The object is then viewable as a 3D image with a texture map of the object's surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2023Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Graham Manders, Jay Roderick Hope
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Patent number: 12146402Abstract: Methods and devices for imaging wells using ultrasound is described. The devices include a modular imaging device having a telemetry module and a radial imaging module and/or forward imaging module. The radial imaging module includes a ring shaped phased array ultrasonic transducer array for generating images on the length of a wellbore. Various lens and housing configurations for the radial imaging module are described. The forward imaging module includes an ultrasonic transducer comprising one or more elements and having an adjustable viewpoint for generating images of obstructions found in a wellbore. Advanced imaging modes for a radial imaging module include multiple aperture and spiral wave imaging mode.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Graham T. Manders, Osman S. Malik, Stephen E. Robinson, Jay Roderick Hope
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Patent number: 12129753Abstract: A device and method for imaging, measuring and identifying multiphase fluid flow in wellbores using phased array Doppler ultrasound. The device includes a radially-configured or ring-shaped ultrasound transducer that when deployed in a well in Doppler mode can measure the velocity of radially flowing fluids in the wellbore and generate a 3D image of radial flow in the wellbore, including flowback into the wellbore after fracturing operations, or flow leaving the wellbore during water injection operations. The ring-shaped ultrasound transducer can also simultaneously operate in a B-mode to generate a B-mode image of the wellbore liner upon which the Doppler image can be overlaid. The device may also include a forward facing ultrasound transducer either instead of or in place of the ring-shaped transducer for obtaining information and images on axial flow in the wellbore in Doppler mode, and the location of phase boundaries and phase locations in B-mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2023Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Osman S. Malik, Graham T. Manders, Stephen E. Robinson
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Patent number: 12066406Abstract: A downhole imaging tool and method of operating the tool in a wellbore. An imaging sensor array at an end of the tool is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the tool to image the well by sweeping out a 2D area of the well. Actuators in the tool provide rotation and/or extension of the sensor array to change perspective. An ultrasound phased-array may be used to measure and identify features of the well or objects.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2023Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Michael Halpenny-Mason, Matt James, Graham Manders
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Patent number: 12013458Abstract: A device and method used to image conduits, such as pipes, wellbores and tubulars, with imaging sensors, such as cameras and ultrasound arrays. The speed and location of the device are determined using one or more speed sensor modules. Images are then registered to more precise axial locations along the conduit than are normally possible using wireline encoders or other methods. The conduit may be visualized to proper scale for improved analysis of defects.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 18, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Michael Halpenny-Mason, Connor Vandenberg, Kelvin Wong
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Patent number: 12010441Abstract: A device and method used to image wells and other fluid-carrying tubulars having localized features of interest. The device scans large areas of the tubular first in a low-resolution mode using an ultrasound sensor and in a high-resolution mode using a camera, then identifies areas that contain those localized features with some probability. The device images are stored for further image processing. The two sensors are axially spaced-apart on the device. A computer remote from the imaging device renders a visualization of the tubular and localized features using the optical and ultrasound images.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2023Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Stephen E Robinson, Kurt Kolb
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Patent number: 11983860Abstract: A method and instruction memory for processing acoustic images of a tubular to determine the surface of the tubular. The images may be acquired by an acoustic logging tool deployed into a pipe or well. A Machine Learning model is trained to recognize regions of the acoustic images that are internal to the tubular or not, in order to determine surface pixels. The surface pixels may be rendered to create visualizations of the tubular where noise and non-surface features are filtered out automatically.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2021Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Anas Mahmoud, Siavash Khallaghi
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Patent number: 11920412Abstract: A device and method used for inspecting and measuring coiled tubing, production tubing or drill pipe as it enters the well. Defects such as internal and external wall loss, cracking and deformation can be detected and quantified. The axial motion of the tubing can be measured allowing for depth measurements that are more accurate and reliable than what can be obtained using an encoder wheel system.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Graham Manders
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Patent number: 11795816Abstract: A device and method to compress and store ultrasound data from an ultrasound logging device. The logging device is deployed in a well or pipe to be logged with one or more ultrasound transducers, preferably an array of transducers. On-board the device, are processors and memory units for convolving the ultrasound data with a wavelet transformation to generate wavelet coefficients and then compress the wavelet coefficients to generate compressed wavelet coefficients. The compressed wavelet coefficients are stored on the memory units and transferred to a remote computer once the device leaves the well or pipe.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2020Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Steve Wrinch
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Patent number: 11758291Abstract: A device and method used to image wells and other fluid-carrying tubulars having localized features of interest. The device scans large areas of the tubular first in a low-resolution mode, then identifies areas that contain those localized features with some probability. The device images the identified areas in a high-resolution mode and stores the images for further image processing. The device may comprise two sensors axially spaced-apart on the device, which sensors may be electromagnetic, acoustic, or cameras.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Stephen Robinson, Kurt Kolb
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Publication number: 20230130123Abstract: A device and method used to log images of target objects with ultrasound transducers. The object may be a fluid-carrying tubular, such as a pipeline. The transducers operate as phased arrays, insonifying areas of the target object with a plane wave and then storing the reflected signals. The signals are sampled and summed for each pixel, by considering various paths taken by the wave from transmitting to receiving via that pixel. Refraction and reflection from surfaces are used to determine segments of the paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Jay Roderick HOPE
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Publication number: 20220415040Abstract: A method and instruction memory for processing acoustic images of a downhole casing to determine perforations of the tubular. The images may be acquired by an acoustic logging tool deployed into cased well. A Machine Learning model is trained to recognize regions of the acoustic images that are perforations or not, in order to calculate geometric properties of the perforation and overall casing. Renderings of the imaged casing may be overlaid with contours and properties of perforations to improve perforation, fracturing and producing operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventor: Siavash KHALLAGHI
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Publication number: 20220235651Abstract: Methods and devices for imaging wells using phased array ultrasound imaging devices is described. The devices enable high resolution real-time imaging of a well during various operations in the well, including during completions, fracturing, milling, fishing and drilling operations. The phased array ultrasound imaging devices may be integrated with other well tools, such as a bottom hole assembly (BHA), fishing tools, milling tools, fracturing tools, and drilling tools, in order to integrate imaging capabilities into such tools.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2022Publication date: July 28, 2022Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Osman S. MALIK, Graham T. Manders, Stephen E. Robinson
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Publication number: 20220215526Abstract: A method and instruction memory for processing acoustic images of a tubular to determine the surface of the tubular. The images may be acquired by an acoustic logging tool deployed into a pipe or well. A Machine Learning model is trained to recognize regions of the acoustic images that are internal to the tubular or not, in order to determine surface pixels. The surface pixels may be rendered to create visualizations of the tubular where noise and non-surface features are filtered out automatically.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2021Publication date: July 7, 2022Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Anas MAHMOUD, Siavash KHALLAGHI
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Publication number: 20220179068Abstract: A device and method used to image conduits, such as pipes, wellbores and tubulars, with imaging sensors, such as cameras and ultrasound arrays. The speed and location of the device are determined using one or more speed sensor modules. Images are then registered to more precise axial locations along the conduit than are normally possible using wireline encoders or other methods. The conduit may be visualized to proper scale for improved analysis of defects.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.Inventors: Michael HALPENNY-MASON, Connor VANDENBERG, Kelvin WONG