Patents by Inventor Darrell Burch
Darrell Burch 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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Publication number: 20260036708Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes a reservoir configured to hold compressed gas, a first firing head coupled to the reservoir where the first firing head configured to generate seismic energy by releasing a first portion of the compressed air from the reservoir to form a first gas bubble in a seismic medium, and a second firing head coupled to the reservoir where the second firing head configured to generate seismic energy by releasing a second portion of the compressed gas from the reservoir to form a second gas bubble in the seismic medium. Moreover, at least one first fill line is coupled directly to the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2025Publication date: February 5, 2026Inventors: Darrell BURCH, Emerson Jose VERISSIMO, Timothy DUDLEY
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Patent number: 12461259Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes a reservoir configured to hold compressed gas, a first firing head coupled to the reservoir where the first firing head configured to generate seismic energy by releasing a first portion of the compressed air from the reservoir to form a first gas bubble in a seismic medium, and a second firing head coupled to the reservoir where the second firing head configured to generate seismic energy by releasing a second portion of the compressed gas from the reservoir to form a second gas bubble in the seismic medium. Moreover, at least one first fill line is coupled directly to the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: November 4, 2025Assignee: TGS-NOPEC Geophysical CompanyInventors: Darrell Burch, Emerson Jose Verissimo, Timothy Dudley
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Patent number: 12117575Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes at least two firing heads connected to a shared reservoir of compressed gas. When underwater, a controller can instruct the firing heads to fire at the same time or at different times to create gas bubbles that generate seismic energy for identifying structures underneath a body of water. If the firing heads fire at the same, the resulting gas bubble may coalesce to form a single bubble, depending on the size of the respective bubbles and the separation distance between the firing heads. In one embodiment, the firing heads are attached at opposite ends of the shared reservoir (although this is not a requirement). The length of the reservoir, which dictates in part the separation distance of the firing heads, can be set so that gas bubbles generated by the firing heads at substantially the same time coalesce.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2023Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: TGS-NOPEC Geophysical CompanyInventors: Kenneth Graeme Williamson, Paul Farmer, Joseph Richard Gagliardi, Nikolaos Bernitsas, Timothy A. Dudley, Emerson Verissimo, Darrell Burch
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Publication number: 20230251394Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes at least two firing heads connected to a shared reservoir of compressed gas. When underwater, a controller can instruct the firing heads to fire at the same time or at different times to create gas bubbles that generate seismic energy for identifying structures underneath a body of water. If the firing heads fire at the same, the resulting gas bubble may coalesce to form a single bubble, depending on the size of the respective bubbles and the separation distance between the firing heads. In one embodiment, the firing heads are attached at opposite ends of the shared reservoir (although this is not a requirement). The length of the reservoir, which dictates in part the separation distance of the firing heads, can be set so that gas bubbles generated by the firing heads at substantially the same time coalesce.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2023Publication date: August 10, 2023Inventors: Kenneth Graeme Williamson, Paul Farmer, Joseph Richard Gagliardi, Nikolaos Bernitsas, Timothy A. Dudley, Emerson Verissimo, Darrell Burch
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Patent number: 11313985Abstract: An attachment system for releasably attaching a sensor node to a cable when in a coupled state includes a clamp base and a clamp grip. The clamp base is fixed to a surface of the sensor node. The clamp base further includes a latch that is biased in a latched position when the attachment system is in both the coupled state and an uncoupled state. The clamp grip is pivotably attached the clamp base and biased in an open position when the attachment system is in the uncoupled state. The clamp grip is secured to the clamp base by the latch when the attachment system is in the coupled state.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: ION Geophysical CorporationInventors: Timothy A. Dudley, Darrell Burch, Paul Brettwood
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Publication number: 20220043173Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes a reservoir configured to hold compressed gas, a first firing head coupled to the reservoir where the first firing head configured to generate seismic energy by releasing a first portion of the compressed air from the reservoir to form a first gas bubble in a seismic medium, and a second firing head coupled to the reservoir where the second firing head configured to generate seismic energy by releasing a second portion of the compressed gas from the reservoir to form a second gas bubble in the seismic medium. Moreover, at least one first fill line is coupled directly to the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2021Publication date: February 10, 2022Inventors: Darrell BURCH, Emerson Jose VERISSIMO, Timothy DUDLEY
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Publication number: 20220003105Abstract: Embodiments herein describe apparatus, systems and methods adapted to monitor underwater wells, boreholes, drill holes, etc. (subsea wells). Depending on embodiment, the apparatus, systems and methods can be configured to capture sensor readings and/or to monitor status of a target subsea wells.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Emerson Verissimo, Darrell Burch, Andre Simon Doerfer, Felix Bircher
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Publication number: 20200393583Abstract: The embodiments herein describe a seismic source that includes at least two firing heads connected to a shared reservoir of compressed gas. When underwater, a controller can instruct the firing heads to fire at the same time or at different times to create gas bubbles that generate seismic energy for identifying structures underneath a body of water. If the firing heads fire at the same, the resulting gas bubble may coalesce to form a single bubble, depending on the size of the respective bubbles and the separation distance between the firing heads. In one embodiment, the firing heads are attached at opposite ends of the shared reservoir (although this is not a requirement). The length of the reservoir, which dictates in part the separation distance of the firing heads, can be set so that gas bubbles generated by the firing heads at substantially the same time coalesce.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2020Publication date: December 17, 2020Inventors: Kenneth Graeme Williamson, Paul Farmer, Joseph Richard Gagliardi, Nikolaos Bernitsas, Timothy A. Dudley, Emerson Verissimo, Darrell Burch
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Publication number: 20190377097Abstract: An attachment system for releasably attaching a sensor node to a cable when in a coupled state includes a clamp base and a clamp grip. The clamp base is fixed to a surface of the sensor node. The clamp base further includes a latch that is biased in a latched position when the attachment system is in both the coupled state and an uncoupled state. The clamp grip is pivotably attached the clamp base and biased in an open position when the attachment system is in the uncoupled state. The clamp grip is secured to the clamp base by the latch when the attachment system is in the coupled state.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: ION Geophysical CorporationInventors: Timothy A. Dudley, Darrell Burch, Paul Brettwood
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Publication number: 20190293821Abstract: An automated storage and retrieval system for seismic nodes includes a modular housing having a first row of rack structures and a second row of rack structures. The system further includes a first receptacle configured to couple a sensor module of a seismic node to a rack structure of the first row of rack structures for storage and reconditioning of the sensor module, and a second receptacle configured to couple a power source module of the seismic node to a rack structure of the second row of rack structures for storage and reconditioning of the power source module.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Timothy A. Dudley, Paul Brettwood, Darrell Burch, Jeff Waegelin, John Swinford