Patents Examined by Krystine Breier
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Patent number: 9885796Abstract: A monopole acoustic transmitter for logging-while-drilling comprising as a ring that comprises one or more piezoelectric arc segments. The ring is oriented in a plane whose normal is essentially coincident with the major axis of a logging tool in which it is disposed. The ring disposed within a recess on the outer surface of a short, cylindrical insert. The insert is inserted into a drill collar, rather than into the wall of the collar. The ring can comprise a continuous ring of piezoelectric material, or alternately arc segments or active ring segments of piezoelectric ceramic bonded to segments of other materials such as alumina to increase the frequency or heavy metals such as tungsten to reduce the frequency. The material and dimensions of the material used in-between the piezoelectric segments is chosen to alter the frequency of the ring.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Precision Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Medhat W. Mickael, Dale A. Jones
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Patent number: 9851463Abstract: The present disclosure is related to methods, systems, and machine-readable media for interference attenuation of a residual portion of seismic data, such as may be recorded in a marine seismic survey. Recorded seismic data can be separated into a portion attributed to a source and a residual portion. Seismic interference attenuation can be performed on the residual portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Rolf H. Baardman, Roald G van Borselen, Steven Fishburn, Alan Ryder
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Patent number: 9823371Abstract: Acoustic source arrays and related methods. At least some of the example embodiments are methods including towing a first source sub-array comprising a first surface float, the first surface float defines a first connection point at a proximal end of the first surface float. The method may further include towing a second source sub-array comprising a second surface float, the second surface float defines a second connection point at a proximal end of the second surface float. And during the towing of the first and second source sub-arrays, the method may include maintaining a lateral separation between the first and second connection points of the first and second surface floats by a first strut, the first strut coupled between the first connection point of the first surface float and the second connection point of the second surface float.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventor: Andrew Samuel Long
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Patent number: 9790787Abstract: A logging while drilling tool for measuring a geological formation surrounding a wellbore includes a tool body having one or more sensor pads. Each sensor pad is coupled to the tool body by an extendable coupling that is operable to adjust the radial position of the sensor pad by extending away from or retracting toward the tool body. One or more sensors are mounted to each sensor pads and the sensors are operable to obtain a measurement a property of the formation. The tool also includes a downhole control unit having a transmitter and receiver. The downhole control unit is operable to receive the measurement and transmit the measurement to a surface controller, wherein the transmitted measurement indicates a measurement resolution.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Timothy James Parker
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Patent number: 9766357Abstract: Method for optimal stacking of seismic images to remove noise and enhance signals in seismic images (101) outputted from a Reverse Time Migration (RTM) imaging process. Dip information is calculated (102) and then sorted by image point (104), for each seismic image to be stacked. A dominant dip and azimuth is determined at each image point (106), and only those events are stacked (107). If the image is still noisy or lacking in detail (108), the process may be iterated (109) to improve the selection of most likely dip and azimuth.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Young Ho Cha, William Curry
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Patent number: 9753141Abstract: Active or passive gated-sensor imaging system characterized by a minimized time period between successive sensor exposures. In the active imaging system, a light source emits light pulses toward a region of interest, and an image sensor receives reflections of the pulses reflected from objects located in a DOF to be imaged and converts the reflections into an image. Each frame of the image includes a plurality of gating cycles. Each gating cycle includes the emission of a respective light pulse and the reception of reflections of the respective pulse. A delay-time (TDELAY) is defined as the duration between the sensor exposure periods of successive gating cycles. A controller controls the operation of the light source and the image sensor, to minimize the delay-time for at least one gating cycle of an image frame, where the delay-time is adaptively determined in accordance with at least one system parameter or environmental condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Brightway Vision Ltd.Inventors: Yoav Grauer, Ofer David, Eyal Levi
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System and method for performing seismic surveys with a controlled source using maximum-power sweeps
Patent number: 9702991Abstract: The output spectrum of a controllable swept-frequency acoustic source at a given frequency can be controlled by making the rate of change of frequency equal to the desired output power spectrum divided by the squared envelope amplitude of the source output signal, both measured at the time after the start of its frequency sweep at which the sweep frequency passes through the given frequency. The system and method can also be used to correct for propagation effects outside the source by dividing the desired spectrum by the propagation effect. The method can further be used either to obtain an output spectrum of a desired shape from a source operating at maximum output or to design a sweep of a minimum feasible duration that will result in an output spectrum of a specified shape and with a specified amplitude.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.Inventors: Joseph Anthony Dellinger, Mark Francis Lucien Harper -
Patent number: 9696444Abstract: Systems, computer readable media, and program code to provide for filtering noise and/or restoring attenuated spectral components in acoustic signals, are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a system is configured for dynamically filtering each of a plurality of raw FFT data samples of a record to remove or attenuate background noise contained therein to thereby produce a corresponding plurality of cleaned FFT data samples. The sample-specific background noise is removed or attenuated by a record-specific dynamic filter to produce the corresponding cleaned FFT data samples.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Patent number: 9690003Abstract: Method for separating signals recorded by a seismic receiver and generated with at least two vibratory seismic sources driven with no listening time. The method includes receiving seismic data that includes data d recorded by the seismic receiver and data related to the first and second vibratory seismic sources; computing a source separation matrix based on the data related to the first and second vibratory seismic sources; calculating first and second earth impulse responses HA and HB corresponding to the two vibratory seismic sources, respectively, based on the data d recorded by the seismic receiver, the data related to the two vibratory seismic sources and the source separation matrix; and separating the signals recorded by the seismic receiver based on the first and second earth impulse responses HA and HB such that signals the two vibratory seismic sources are disentangled.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: June 27, 2017Assignee: CGG SERVICES SASInventor: John Sallas
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Patent number: 9684087Abstract: Methods of providing for filtering noise and/or restoring attenuated spectral components in acoustic signals, are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a method includes dynamically filtering each of a plurality of raw FFT data samples of a record to remove or attenuate background noise contained therein to thereby produce a corresponding plurality of cleaned FFT data samples. The sample-specific background noise is removed or attenuated by a record-specific dynamic filter to produce the corresponding cleaned FFT data samples. The method can also include restoring the attenuated high-frequency components of the cleaned data samples through application of a record-specific Restoring Processor at least partially defined by a portion of the cleaned data samples and a Gain Function to thereby produce cleaned and restored data samples, and applying an inverse transformation to convert the cleaned and restored data samples into cleaned and restored data samples in time domain data.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Patent number: 9671511Abstract: A method for de-ghosting marine seismic trace data is described. A reference seismic trace and a candidate seismic trace are selected from acquired seismic data. The acquired seismic data is gathered using a configuration wherein either a first streamer and a second streamer are disposed at different depths relative to one another and are laterally offset relative to one another, or using a configuration wherein a first source and a second source are disposed at different depths relative to one another and are laterally offset from one another. The reference seismic trace and the candidate seismic trace are processed, e.g., to perform normal moveout correction and/or vertical datum shifting, and the processed reference seismic trace is de-ghosted using the processed, candidate seismic trace.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2013Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: CGG SERVICES SASInventor: Richard Winnett
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Patent number: 9646414Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling a three-dimensional (3D) geological structure to improve maximum continuity interpolation. An integration method describes local anisotropic effects and introduces interpolation techniques to perform the interpolation between two points of interest along a direction of maximum continuity and across fault surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Landmark Graphics CorporationInventors: Marko Maucec, Jeffrey M Yarus, Lu Ming Liang
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Patent number: 9645270Abstract: Method for mitigating coherent noise and seismic data using an adaptively varying filter. The strongest and most coherent pattern (53), generally associated with the geology, is adaptively removed (56) from the original seismic data, producing an intermediate product that consists predominantly of noise. These noise data are then removed from the original input data (57) to produce a significantly more interpretable seismic volume.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Mark W. Dobin, Guo-Shi Li
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Patent number: 9638818Abstract: A technique is designed to facilitate obtaining of acoustic data. The technique comprises traversing a tool through a subterranean formation from a first depth to subsequent depths. The tool receives a seismic signal during predetermined time windows. The seismic signal is generated by a seismic source which is activated at varying times relative to the predetermined time windows based on the depth of the tool.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Neil Kelsall, Mathieu Will, Philip Neville Armstrong, Philippe Lesaffre
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Patent number: 9632194Abstract: A technique includes determining at least one attribute of a slowness vector associated with a seismic gather based on pressure data and an indication of particle motion that is measured by at least one seismic sensor while in tow.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Massimiliano Vassallo, Clement Kostov, Alfonso Gonzalez
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Patent number: 9631480Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to emit acoustic pulses into a drilling fluid in a well bore, using a first acoustic transducer in a downhole tool, and detecting the acoustic pulses after reflection from the wall of the well bore, using a second acoustic transducer in the downhole tool. The faces of the first and second acoustic transducers are non-parallel. Further activities include emitting additional acoustic pulses into the drilling fluid using the second acoustic transducer, and detecting them using the second acoustic transducer. The acoustic velocity of the drilling fluid can be determined based on respective travel times. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are described.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2009Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Paul Cooper, Kristopher V Sherrill, Ricardo Ortiz, Daniel Flores, Batakrishna Mandal
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Patent number: 9632207Abstract: A seismic survey is conducted by positioning an array of remote acquisition units (RAUs). Each of the RAUs records seismic data derived torn one or more geophones in digital form in local memory. The data is collected by a harvester unit traversed across the survey territory as by an aircraft using point-multipoint communications, and subsequently transferred from the harvester unit to a central control unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: SERCEL ENGLAND LIMITEDInventors: Steven William Wilcox, John Christopher Whelan, Jonathan Alexander
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Patent number: 9618638Abstract: A technique includes designing a streamer, which includes a cable and seismic sensors based at least in part on a relationship between vibration noise and a bending stiffness of the cable.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2011Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Oeyvind Teigen, Nicolas Goujon, Lars Borgen
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Patent number: 9594181Abstract: The presently disclosed technique includes a method that compensates for constantly changing headings as occur during coil shooting acquisition. In one aspect, the presently disclosed techniques include a computer-readable program storage medium comprising: accessing a set of heading data for a seismic spread acquired while traversing a curved path; and normalizing the accessed heading data to a dynamic frame of reference defined relative to the seismic spread.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2009Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Stig Solheim, Kjell Saeten
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Patent number: 9581723Abstract: Methods for characterizing a geological formation, the methods include retrieving measured data provided by a measuring tool along one or more logged borehole length for a borehole, another borehole or both in order to produce a borehole imaging log. Selecting depth-defined intervals of the borehole imaging log as training images for inputting in a multi-point geostatistical model. Determining pattern based simulations for each training image using a pixel-based template of the multi-point geostatistical model so as to obtain training image patterns. Using the pattern based simulation of each training image to assign to each of the training image a corresponding training image pattern. Constructing from the training image patterns one or more fullbore image log of a borehole wall of the borehole. Repeat the second to fourth steps through the one or more logged borehole length in order to construct fullbore images from successive, adjacent training images.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Neil Francis Hurley, Tuanfeng Zhang