Patents by Inventor Arlette C. Nunez

Arlette C. Nunez 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).

  • Method for identification of near-surface drilling hazards
    Patent number: 5555531
    Abstract: A method is disclosed to identify existence of near-surface drilling hazards in the vicinity of a sea floor location comprising the steps of: obtaining 3D seismic data for the seafloor in the vicinity of the sea floor location; preparing high resolution 3D vertical profiles from the 3D seismic data; preparing an artificially-illuminated rendered surface based on the 3D seismic data; and identifying existence of near-surface hazards in the vicinity of the sea floor location by visual analysis of the rendered surface with reference to the high resolution 3D vertical profiles. Deep tow and geohazard surveys, which are expensive and time consuming are not required in the practice of the present invention. 3D seismic surveys that are used in the practice of the present invention have often been prepared for other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: James R. Booth, Michael C. Jacobi, Arlette C. Nunez, Jonathan S. Smith, Peter R. Tauvers, Earl H. Doyle, Jr., Fredric A. Diegel, Jr., Thomas M. Kratochvil, Brenda G. Gaudin