Patents Examined by Ian J. Lobo
  • Patent number: 11524756
    Abstract: A system for ocean bottom node (OBN) deployment can include a first deployment device located on a marine vessel, a second deployment device located on the marine vessel, a first line coupled to the first deployment device and comprising a first plurality of OBNs, and a second line coupled to the second deployment device and comprising a second plurality of OBNs. The first deployment device and the second deployment device can be configured to deploy and retract the first line and the second line simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventor: Matthew E. Lyssy
  • Patent number: 11520042
    Abstract: An apparatus for artificial intelligence (AI) bathymetry is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sonic unit attached to a boat, the sonic unit configured to generate a plurality of metric data as a function of a plurality of ultrasonic pulses and a plurality of return pulses. An image processing module is configured to generate a bathymetric image as a function of the plurality of metric data, identify, as a function of the bathymetric image, an underwater landmark, and register the bathymetric image to a map location as a function of the underwater landmark. A communication module is configured to transmit the registered bathymetric image to at least a remote device. An autonomous navigation module is configured to determine a heading for the boat as a function of a path datum and command boat control to navigate the boat as a function of the heading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Mythos AI Inc
    Inventors: Geoffrey Michael Douglass, John Rogers Houston, Allen Edward Flick, Damon Allen Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11513246
    Abstract: A geophone, and method for distributing geophones around a seismic data source are described. The geophone includes a housing, a spike provided on a bottom surface of the housing, a sensor configured to sense seismic data; a processor configured to process the seismic data, a transceiver configured to transmit the processed seismic data and receive radio frequency (RF) signals wirelessly; and a power device. The power device is coupled to the sensor, the processor and the transceiver. The power device is configured to harvest energy from an environment where the geophone is located. The power device includes a solar cell provided on a top surface of the housing, a piezoelectric system provided on an edge of the housing adjacent to the top surface, and a thermoelectric generator provided on a bottom surface of the housing and a surface of the spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Naveed Iqbal, Mudassir Masood, Ali Arshad Nasir, Khurram Karim Qureshi
  • Patent number: 11506808
    Abstract: An ocean bottom node for collecting seismic data, the ocean bottom node including a compounded housing including an electronics housing and a pinger housing, electronics located inside the electronics housing, and a battery pack configured to supply electrical power to the electronics. The pinger housing is permanently open to an ambient water while the electronics housing is sealed from the ambient water, and the pinger housing is configured to selectively and directly attach to the electronics housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: Alexis Duboué, Jean-Jacques Vignaux, Matthieu Gouriou, Dominique Mainetti
  • Patent number: 11493653
    Abstract: A method of seismic exploration above a region of the subsurface of the earth containing structural or stratigraphic features conducive to the presence, migration, or accumulation of hydrocarbons comprises setting a tow depth of a resonant seismic source, producing a resonant frequency at a first amplitude with the resonant seismic source at the tow depth, detecting a depth excursion from the tow depth, reducing an amplitude of the mass from the first amplitude to a second amplitude, preventing the mass from contacting at least one of the first end stop or the second end stop based on reducing the amplitude to the second amplitude, correcting the depth excursion to return the resonant seismic source to the tow depth, and increasing the amplitude from the second amplitude to produce the resonant frequency with the resonant seismic source at the tow depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Andreas Huster, Joseph Dellinger
  • Patent number: 11487035
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for seismic data processing perform a least-squares reverse time migration method in which surface-attribute-independent coefficients for the surface attribute gathers are demigrated to reduce the computational cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventors: Adel Khalil, Carlos Alberto Da Costa Filho, Roberto Pereira, Gregório Goudel Azevedo
  • Patent number: 11480699
    Abstract: A marine seismic streamer includes plural concentrators, plural segments interposed with the plural concentrators so that a concentrator of the plural concentrators is sandwiched between two segments of the plural segments, a first high-voltage rail HV1 that extends along the plural concentrators and the plural segments, and a second high-voltage rail HV2 that extends along the plural concentrators and the plural segments. In each given concentrator i of the plural concentrators, there is a first switch SW1 placed along one of the first high-voltage rail HV1 and the second high-voltage rail HV2, a second switch SW2 placed between the first high-voltage rail HV1 and the second high-voltage rail HV2, a first local controller implemented in hardware, and a second local controller implemented in a combination of hardware and software, and having an operating system, the first local controller being separated from the second local controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: Nicolas Fradin, Xavier Brun
  • Patent number: 11473421
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a location of an optical fiber having an acoustic sensor disposed subsurface to the earth includes an acoustic emitter configured to emit a first signal having a first frequency and a second signal having a second frequency that is higher than the first frequency, the first and second emitted acoustic signals being azimuthally rotated around the borehole and an optical interrogator configured to interrogate the optical fiber to receive an acoustic measurement that provides a corresponding first received signal and a corresponding second received signal. The apparatus also includes a processor configured to (i) frequency-multiply the first received signal to provide a third signal having a third frequency within a selected range of the second frequency, (ii) estimate a phase difference between the second received signal and the third signal, and (iii) correlate the phase difference to the location of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Boyd Cooper, Matthew Thomas Raum
  • Patent number: 11467308
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to systems and methods for data collection using fiber-optic cable in a well, and analysis of the data to determine instantaneous frequency, instantaneous phase, instantaneous amplitude, and/or dominant frequency. These measures can be used to determine parameters associated with the operation of the well. The parameters can be used to control the operation of the well and/or the fracturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Payam Kavousi Ghahfarokhi, Timothy Carr, Haibin Di
  • Patent number: 11454732
    Abstract: A seismic sensor stake, system and method configured to orientate three seismic 1C sensors orthogonally in the X, Y, and Z directions. The present technology stake is configured to efficiently and effectively convert three independent seismic sensors into a single three seismic sensor unit. Multiple stakes can be inserted into the ground of a geographical area to provide highly accurate seismic survey of subterranean hydrocarbon formations. Each seismic sensor can include a slot that slidable receives a threaded member of a mounting sides of the stake. A retaining nut can secure the seismic sensor in place upon rotation of the sensor. A stake bit can be utilized with an impact hammer to form holes in hard or frozen ground for quick insertion of the stake into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Explor Geophysical Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan Robert Châtenay, Joshua Gilbert Barnet Abbott, Selina Ashley Samodien, John Gerard Bouska, Cameron Rankin
  • Patent number: 11454108
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method: Real-time measurements are received by a wellhead growth monitoring computer system from a sensor on a wellhead of a well. The sensor is directed to a fixed point on a platform grating that is facing or underneath the wellhead. The real-time measurements, including measurements of a distance from the sensor to the fixed point, are analyzed by the wellhead growth monitoring computer system, including comparing the real-time measurements to previously-received measurements from the sensor. A determination is made, by the wellhead growth monitoring computer system based on the analyzing, that wellhead growth of a wellhead structure of the well has occurred. The wellhead growth is a vertical elongation of the wellhead structure. A notification that is provided to a user includes a measure of the wellhead growth and a time at which the wellhead growth occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mishaal Abdulrahman Alelaiwy, Mutlaq Saad Alotaibi
  • Patent number: 11442190
    Abstract: An example autonomous marine survey node can include a circuitry component including circuitry of a marine survey receiver, a ballast tank coupled to the circuitry component, and a maneuvering system coupled to the circuitry component. The ballast tank can be configured to adjust a buoyancy of the autonomous marine survey node. The maneuvering system can be configured to autonomously perform aerial maneuvers and autonomously perform submersed maneuvers near an underwater surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventor: Matthew Eric Lyssy
  • Patent number: 11442191
    Abstract: Embodiments, including systems and methods, for deploying ocean bottom seismic nodes. Two or more underwater vehicles (such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)) may be deployed by a surface vessel and each connected to the surface vessel by a ROV deployment line. A catenary shape of each ROV deployment line may be modeled for more accurate and efficient subsea ROV operations. Real-time modeling and predictive modeling of the catenary shape of the deployed lines may be performed, and the surface vessel and/or ROVs may be positioned based on the modeled catenary shapes. The ROVs may be automatically positioned and/or controlled based on commands from a dynamic positioning (DP) system. An integrated navigation system (INS) may be located on the surface vessel and directly coupled to the one or more DP systems. The surface vessel may travel backwards during deployment operations and deploy one or more subsea baskets astern from the ROVs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
    Inventor: Martin John Hartland
  • Patent number: 11435494
    Abstract: A method, system and device for predicting an oil accumulation depth limit of deep and ultra-deep marine carbonate reservoirs is provided. The method includes: obtaining geological factors acting on a porosity of a deep/ultra-deep marine carbonate reservoir, standardizing absolute values of the geological factors; calculating a porosity of the deep/ultra-deep marine carbonate reservoir; acquiring ratios of oil, water and dry layers in each M % porosity interval, and acquiring a relationship between a dry layer ratio and the porosity of the deep/ultra-deep marine carbonate reservoir; recursively obtaining a relationship between the dry layer ratio and the burial depth and determining the oil accumulation depth limit of the deep/ultra-deep marine carbonate reservoir. The method, system and device solves the problem that the prior art cannot by predicting the oil accumulation depth limit directly through the relationship between the dry layer ratio and the depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Wenyang Wang, Rixiang Zhu, Xiongqi Pang, Zhangxing Chen, Yaping Wang, Tao Hu
  • Patent number: 11422279
    Abstract: A method for estimating a borehole condition using a Stoneley measurement is provided. The method comprises recording acoustic waveforms obtained from one or more receivers, applying a time window to the acoustic waveforms to extract Stoneley components, computing energies of the Stoneley components within a frequency band, and obtaining at least one of borehole conditions based on the energies of Stoneley components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Oliver Skelton, Osman Hamid, Mohammed Ahmed Mohiuddin
  • Patent number: 11422273
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques are disclosed relating to sensor housing and spacer carrier assemblies. In various embodiments, a spacer carrier provides a cavity through a body of the spacer carrier and a first alignment element positioned at a first end of the cavity. In some embodiments, a sensor housing is configured to be deployed within the cavity through the body of the spacer carrier. The sensor housing may include a housing body configured to receive a sensor and a second alignment element configured to interface with the first alignment element. In various embodiments, the first and second alignment elements are configured to maintain an orientation of the sensor housing within the cavity when the sensor housing is inserted into the spacer carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Robert Alexis Peregrin Fernihough, Lakshmi Subramanian, Andre Stenzel
  • Patent number: 11422280
    Abstract: A method for determining properties of a laminated formation traversed by a well or wellbore employs measured sonic data, resistivity data, and density data for an interval-of-interest within the well or wellbore. A formation model that describe properties of the laminated formation at the interval-of-interest is derived from the measured sonic data, resistivity data, and density data for the interval-of-interest. The formation model represents the laminated formation at the interval-of-interest as first and second zones of different first and second rock types. The formation model is used to derive simulated sonic data, resistivity data, and density data for the interval-of-interest. The measured sonic data, resistivity data, and density data for the interval-of-interest and the simulated sonic data, resistivity data, and density data for the interval-of-interest are used to refine the formation model and determine properties of the formation at the interval-of-interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sushil Shetty, Qiwei Zhan, Lin Liang, Austin Boyd, Smaine Zeroug, Vanessa Simoes, Fabio Cesar Canesin
  • Patent number: 11422274
    Abstract: Systems and methods of performing a seismic survey are provided. The system includes a seismic data acquisition unit having a transmitter window disposed in a first aperture of a lid, and having a receiver window disposed in a second aperture of the lid. A first gasket is positioned between the transmitter window and the first aperture to provide a clearance greater than a threshold to allow the transmitter window to deform. A second gasket is positioned between the receiver window and the second aperture to provide a clearance greater than the threshold to allow the receiver window to deform. At least one of the transmitter window and the receiver window of the seismic data acquisition unit are configured to pass at least one of optical and electromagnetic communications to or from an extraction vehicle via at least one of a transmitter window and a receiver window of the extraction vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
    Inventors: Michael Morris, William Guyton, Matthew Stubbe, Chris Nikirk
  • Patent number: 11415720
    Abstract: A method for generating acoustic images corrected for distortions caused by attenuation of the ultrasonic signal by the mud may comprise disposing a downhole tool into a borehole, transmitting a pressure pulse from at least one transducer into the borehole, recording an echo with the at least one transducer, measuring a travel time, measuring an amplitude, determining a geometry of the borehole, determining a location of the downhole tool in the borehole, calculating an incident angle, mapping a mud attenuation, and correcting an image. A system for generating acoustic images corrected for distortions caused by attenuation of the ultrasonic signal by the mud comprising a downhole tool that may comprise a measuring assembly, wherein the measuring assembly comprises at least one transducer and wherein the at least one transducer is configured to emit a pressure pulse and record an echo. The system may further comprise an information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Weng, Peng Li, Chung Chang, Richard Coates, Rodney Allen Marlow, Xiang Wu, Yao Ge, Jing Jin
  • Patent number: 11417305
    Abstract: An hourglass transducer including a longitudinal driver, a shell, and a pair of endcaps is provided. The driver drives the transducer. The pair of endcaps is attached to ends of the driver and cap the shell enclosing the transducer. The shell includes a first shell end, a second shell end, and a pleated geometry. The first shell end and second shell end are structured with circular cross sections. The pleated geometry is between the first shell end and the second shell end. A perimeter of the pleated geometry is the same as perimeters of the circular cross sections of the first shell end and the second shell end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Patrick M. Brogan, Daniel Brogan, John C. Cochran