Patents by Inventor D. Richard Metzbower
D. Richard Metzbower 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).
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Patent number: 9316756Abstract: Reservoir monitoring system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment. The installing may be by: placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable; mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable; and communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2012Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventors: Aaron B. Smith, D. Richard Metzbower
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Publication number: 20140046599Abstract: Reservoir monitoring system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising installing a hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring system in a marine environment. The installing may be by: placing a base unit at the sea floor, the base unit communicatively coupled to a computer system at the surface, the communicative coupling by way of an umbilical cable; mechanically coupling a first termination module to the base unit, the termination module coupled to a first sensor cable; and communicatively coupling the first sensor cable to the umbilical cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2012Publication date: February 13, 2014Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventors: Aaron B. SMITH, D. Richard METZBOWER
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Publication number: 20080192570Abstract: A lateral force and depth control device for a seismic streamer includes an inner housing including a coupling at each longitudinal end thereof. The couplings are configured to mate with a corresponding coupling at a longitudinal end of a streamer segment. The device includes an outer housing rotatably supported on the inner housing. A signal communication device is configured to transfer at least one of electrical power and signals between the inner housing and the outer housing while enabling relative rotation therebetween. A plurality of control surfaces are rotatably coupled to the outer housing and arranged about the circumference of the outer housing. The control surfaces are coupled to the outer housing by releasable couplings. A first controllable actuator and a second controllable actuator are disposed in the outer housing and functionally coupled to at least a first and a second one of the control surfaces, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2007Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventors: Stig Rune Lennart Tenghamn, Steven J. Maas, Jon Falkenberg, D. Richard Metzbower
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Patent number: 7222534Abstract: An optical accelerometer includes a beam and at least one optical fiber affixed to one side of the beam such that deflection of the beam changes a length of the optical fiber. A device for sensing the change in length of the optical fiber is functionally coupled to the at least one fiber. A seismic sensor system includes at least two accelerometers, oriented such that their sensitive axes are at least partially aligned along mutually orthogonal directions. Each accelerometer includes a beam, and at least one optical fiber affixed to one side of the beam such that deflection of the beam changes a length of the at least one optical fiber. A device for sensing the change in length of the optical fiber is functionally coupled to the at least one fiber of each accelerometer.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower
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Patent number: 7142481Abstract: An apparatus for making a marine seismic streamer includes a conveyor for transporting assembled mechanical harness from a storage device therefor to a storage device for storing completed marine streamer. The apparatus includes a first extruder for filling the harness with a void fill material and a second extruder for depositing jacketing material onto the filled harness both extruders being intermediate the two storage devices. A means for changing state of the void filling material is disposed proximate an outlet of the first extruder. In one embodiment, the means for changing state includes a radiation source.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: D. Richard Metzbower, Steven J. Maas
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Patent number: 6982925Abstract: A method and system for interrogating a seismic sensor in a seismic cable having modular sensing stations spaced along the seismic cable and a connection module head end of the sensor sections, that includes dropping, at the connection modules, a wavelength of light from an input bus telemetry fiber that includes multiple wavelengths of light, distributing the dropped wavelength of light to the seismic sensor, returning the dropped wavelength from the seismic sensor to a return telemetry fiber, remultiplexing the dropped wavelength of light onto the return bus telemetry, and amplifying, in the seismic cable, the returned dropped wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower, Ian McMillan
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Patent number: 6970396Abstract: A method for attaching seismic sensors in a seismic cable that includes a strength member inside a cable jacket with a fiber tube wound around the strength member and a sensor station base attached around the cable wherein the jacket is removed, at least one fiber tube is extracted and a seismic sensor is attached to the fiber tube.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2004Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower, Ian McMillan
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Patent number: 6850461Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for interrogating of optical seismic sensors in a seismic cable. According to various example embodiments of the invention, distribution, return, and amplification of optical signals is performed near sensors for improvement of modularity of construction, signal-to-nose ratios, and simplicity of operations.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.Inventors: Steven J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower, Ian McMillan
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Patent number: 6827597Abstract: A connector is disclosed for joining two cable ends. The connector includes a load transfer plug adapted to couple to a strength member in each end of the cable. A connector insert assembly is coupled to an inner portion of each load transfer plug. Conductor terminals are disposed in corresponding openings of the insert. The terminals protrude from the insert. An alignment sleeve holder is coupled to one of the insert assemblies. The alignment sleeve holder includes alignment sleeves for receiving the protruding terminals. A housing element is sealingly coupled to an exterior of each of the plugs. The housing elements are adapted to coupled to each other and to urge the connector insert assemblies into contact with each other, and to transfer axial load between the plug coupled to each end of the cable. The housing elements have rotational and axial alignment features on corresponding surfaces. The housing elements are adapted to be removed from the plugs without uncoupling the cable from the plug.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2003Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.Inventors: D. Richard Metzbower, Slawomir Bielinski, Steven J. Maas, Jeffrey J. Bowlus, Andre Stenzel
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Publication number: 20040013040Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for interrogating of optical seismic sensors in a seismic cable. According to various example embodiments of the invention, distribution, return, and amplification of optical signals is performed near sensors for improvement of modularity of construction, signal-to-nose ratios, and simplicity of operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Steven J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower, Ian McMillan
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Patent number: 6549488Abstract: There is provided a fiber-optic hydrophone having a compliant sensing mandrel coaxial with and adjacent to a rigid reference mandrel. A first optical fiber is wound around the compliant sensing mandrel and a second optical fiber is wound around the reference mandrel. The first and second optical fibers comprise different arms of an interferometer. Flexible sealing members, such as O-rings, seal the compliant sensing mandrel to the hydrophone. One O-ring is disposed near each end of the sensing mandrel. A cylindrical support member is disposed inside the sensing mandrel. At least a portion of the support member is spaced from the sensing mandrel so as to provide a sealed cavity between the sensing mandrel and the support member. The sealed cavity is filled with air or similar compliant substance.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: PGS Americas, Inc.Inventors: Steve J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower
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Publication number: 20030035344Abstract: There is provided a fiber-optic hydrophone having a compliant sensing mandrel coaxial with and adjacent to a rigid reference mandrel. A first optical fiber is wound around the compliant sensing mandrel and a second optical fiber is wound around the reference mandrel. The first and second optical fibers comprise different arms of an interferometer. Flexible sealing members, such as O-rings, seal the compliant sensing mandrel to the hydrophone. One O-ring is disposed near each end of the sensing mandrel. A cylindrical support member is disposed inside the sensing mandrel. At least a portion of the support member is spaced from the sensing mandrel so as to provide a sealed cavity between the sensing mandrel and the support member. The sealed cavity is filled with air or similar compliant substance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: February 20, 2003Inventors: Steven J. Maas, D. Richard Metzbower