Patents by Inventor David Alumbaugh

David Alumbaugh 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).

  • Publication number: 20100231220
    Abstract: A drill string is disposed in the borehole having a BHA and a drill bit advancing the borehole. Among other BHA components, including a telemetry unit and a data acquisition unit, in a surface-to-borehole configuration a receiver (or receiver array) is positioned immediately proximate the drill bit in the borehole, while a source (or source array) is positioned at the Earth's surface. Alternatively, in a borehole-to-surface configuration the source may be positioned immediately proximate the drill bit in the borehole while a receiver (or receiver array) is positioned at the surface. The surface-to-borehole, or borehole-to-surface, system enables an electromagnetic look about while drilling operations are underway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Edward Nichols, Cengiz Esmersoy
  • Patent number: 7756642
    Abstract: To characterize an earth subterranean structure using a measurement assembly including electromagnetic (EM) receivers and one or more EM sources, measured voltage data collected by EM receivers in response to transmission by one or more EM sources is received. Based on a model, predicted EM data is computed. Inversion is iteratively performed according to a function that computes a difference between the measured voltage data and a product of a term containing the predicted EM data and a term containing distortion data that accounts at least for distortion effect by an environment of the measurement assembly. The inversion is iteratively performed to solve for parameters of the model and the distortion data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Aria Abubakar, Tarek Habashy, David Alumbaugh, Ping Zhang, Guozhong Gao, Jianguo Liu
  • Patent number: 7657391
    Abstract: A technique includes performing first electromagnetic field measurements to obtain a first set of data and performing second electromagnetic field measurements to obtain a second set of data. The first set of data is relatively sensitive to an effect caused by an air layer boundary and is relatively insensitive to the presence of a resistive body. The second set of data is relatively insensitive to the effect and is relatively sensitive to the presence of the resistive body. The technique includes combining the first and second sets of data to generate a third set of data, which is relatively insensitive to the effect and is relatively sensitive to the presence of the resistive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen, Frank Morrison
  • Publication number: 20090302852
    Abstract: Methods and related systems are described for making an electromagnetic induction survey of a formation surrounding a cased section of a borehole. An electromagnetic transmitter and/or receiver are deployed into the cased section of the borehole. One or more additional devices are used to measure the properties of a conductive casing relating to conductivity, thickness and magnetic permeability. A casing coefficient is then calculated that can then be used for the processing of the deep-sensing induction measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Cyrille Levesque, David Alumbaugh, Richard Rosthal, Hong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20090261832
    Abstract: An EMI-Seismic logging tool for use in a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore, wherein the system makes electromagnetic and seismic measurements simultaneously using an EM receiver array for both measurements. A method of simultaneously making electromagnetic and seismic measurements in a subterranean formation is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Luis Eduardo DePavia, David Alumbaugh
  • Patent number: 7565244
    Abstract: Characterizing a reservoir with electromagnetic imaging surveys includes normalizing measured voltage data by transmitter moment, sorting the normalized voltage data into common receiver profiles, densely resampling transmitter locations using common positions for the receiver profiles, coarsely resampling the data at discreet transmitter locations, defining a starting model for inversion, weighting the data by a factor, converting the normalized voltage data to ratios, calculating a conductivity image using a ratio inversion method, and verifying that an inversion has converged and the image is geologically reasonable. The image can then be displayed. The invention can be used for cross-well, surface-to-borehole, and borehole-to-surface measurements by which the effects of steel casing are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Ping Zhang, Edward Nichols, Frank Morrison, Aria Abubakar, Tarek Habashy
  • Publication number: 20090157320
    Abstract: To characterize an earth subterranean structure using a measurement assembly including electromagnetic (EM) receivers and one or more EM sources, measured voltage data collected by EM receivers in response to transmission by one or more EM sources is received. Based on a model, predicted EM data is computed. Inversion is iteratively performed according to a function that computes a difference between the measured voltage data and a product of a term containing the predicted EM data and a term containing distortion data that accounts at least for distortion effect by an environment of the measurement assembly. The inversion is iteratively performed to solve for parameters of the model and the distortion data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Aria Abubakar, Tarek Habashy, David Alumbaugh, Ping Zhang, Guozhong Gao, Jianguo Liu
  • Publication number: 20090157316
    Abstract: Characterizing a reservoir with electromagnetic imaging surveys includes normalizing measured voltage data by transmitter moment, sorting the normalized voltage data into common receiver profiles, densely resampling transmitter locations using common positions for the receiver profiles, coarsely resampling the data at discreet transmitter locations, defining a starting model for inversion, weighting the data by a factor, converting the normalized voltage data to ratios, calculating a conductivity image using a ratio inversion method, and verifying that an inversion has converged and the image is geologically reasonable. The image can then be displayed. The invention can be used for cross-well, surface-to-borehole, borehole-to-surface, and single-well (borehole-to-borehole) measurements by which the effects of steel casing are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Ping Zhang, Edward Nichols, Frank Morrison, Aria Abubakar, Tarek Habashy
  • Publication number: 20090150124
    Abstract: One embodiment of the invention involves a method for determining whether an electromagnetic survey will be able to distinguish between different subsurface conditions in an area that includes developing a three-dimensional electromagnetic property model of the area, and simulating an electromagnetic response of a field electromagnetic data acquisition system using the three-dimensional electromagnetic property model to determine if expected differences in an electromagnetic response of a electromagnetic data acquisition system are within detectability limits of the system. Another embodiment involves a model-based method of inverting electromagnetic data associated with a subsurface area that includes developing a three-dimensional electromagnetic property model of the area, and restricting changes that may be made to the model during the electromagnetic data inversion process. Other related embodiments of the inventive method are also described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Wilt, Herve Denaclara, Ping Zhang, David Alumbaugh, Thor Johnsen
  • Publication number: 20090132166
    Abstract: To process subterranean survey data, measurement data is collected by a receiver positioned in deep water, where the collected measurement data is responsive to signals emitted by at least one signal source located at or near an air-water interface of the body of water. The measurement data is processed to reduce a predetermined signal component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen, Kevin Eyl, Stephen Allan Horne, Edward Nichols
  • Publication number: 20090043554
    Abstract: To update a subterranean model, an initial subterranean model is provided, and based on the initial subterranean model, changes to subterranean parameters are predicted using a reservoir simulator. Electromagnetic data representing characteristics of a subterranean structure is computed according to the predicted changes to the subterranean parameters, and the initial subterranean model is modified based on comparing the computed electromagnetic data with observed electromagnetic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Horne, David Alumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20090005992
    Abstract: Characterizing a reservoir with electromagnetic imaging surveys includes normalizing measured voltage data by transmitter moment, sorting the normalized voltage data into common receiver profiles, densely resampling transmitter locations using common positions for the receiver profiles, coarsely resampling the data at discreet transmitter locations, defining a starting model for inversion, weighting the data by a factor, converting the normalized voltage data to ratios, calculating a conductivity image using a ratio inversion method, and verifying that an inversion has converged and the image is geologically reasonable. The image can then be displayed. The invention can be used for cross-well, surface-to-borehole, and borehole-to-surface measurements by which the effects of steel casing are reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Ping Zhang, Edward Nichols, Frank Morrison, Aria Abubakar, Tarek Habashy
  • Publication number: 20090005993
    Abstract: To characterize an earth subterranean structure using a measurement assembly including electromagnetic (EM) receivers and one or more EM sources, measured voltage data collected by EM receivers in response to transmission by one or more EM sources is received. Based on a model, predicted EM data is computed. Inversion is iteratively performed according to a function that computes a difference between the measured voltage data and a product of a term containing the predicted EM data and a term containing distortion data that accounts at least for distortion effect by an environment of the measurement assembly. The inversion is iteratively performed to solve for parameters of the model and the distortion data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aria Abubakar, Tarek Habashy, David Alumbaugh, Ping Zhang, Guozhong Gao, Jianguo Liu
  • Patent number: 7471089
    Abstract: An electrode array for electric and magnetic measurements in a marine environment includes a first set of electrodes connected to a first cable, wherein the first set of electrodes and the first cable are configured to sink to a sea floor in the marine environment; a second set of electrodes connected to a second cable, wherein the second set of electrodes and the second cable are connected to the first cable and configured to float in the marine environment such that the second set of electrodes and the second cable maintain a distance from the sea floor when the first cable sits on the sea floor, and an instrument package connected to the first cable and the second cable, wherein the instrument package is configured to receive voltage signals measured by the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Zerilli, Ugo Conti, David Alumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20080281667
    Abstract: A technique that is usable with a well includes providing a model so predict measurements that are received by receivers due to transmission by sources baaed on estimated positions of the receivers relative to sources. The estimated positions each have at least two dimensions. At least some of the receivers and the sources are located in the well. On a computer, the estimated positions are automatically refined based on a comparison of the predicted measurements and actual measurements that are obtained by the receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jiuping Chen, Ping Zhang, Michael Wilt, Edward Nichols, David Alumbaugh
  • Publication number: 20080169817
    Abstract: To perform a survey of a subterranean structure behind a subsea surface, at least one sensor module is provided in a subsea environment, where the at least one sensor module comprises at least one magnetic field sensor. Measurement data is received from the magnetic field sensor, and an electric field along a particular direction is determined based on the measurement data to perform the survey of the subterranean structure, wherein the particular direction is generally orthogonal to the subsea surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank Morrison, Stephen Allan Horne, David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen
  • Patent number: 7400977
    Abstract: To survey a subterranean structure, first measurement data according to a first electromagnetic survey technique and second measurement data according to a second, different electromagnetic survey technique are received. An output value for surveying the subterranean structure is computed based on the first and second measurement data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen, Huntly F. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20080091356
    Abstract: To survey a subterranean structure, first measurement data according to a first electromagnetic survey technique and second measurement data according to a second, different electromagnetic survey technique are received. An output value for surveying the subterranean structure is computed based on the first and second measurement data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen, Huntly F. Morrison
  • Publication number: 20080015809
    Abstract: A technique includes using a first sensor to perform a first electromagnetic field measurement to obtain first data, which is indicative of the presence of a resistive body. The first data is relatively sensitive to an effect that is caused by an air layer boundary. The technique includes using a second sensor to perform a second electromagnetic field measurement to obtain second data, which is indicative of the presence of the resistive body. The second data is relatively sensitive to the effect, and the first and second sensors are either both magnetic field sensors or both electric field sensors. The technique includes combining the first and second data to generate third data, which is relatively insensitive to the effect and is indicative of the presence of the resistive body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen, Huntly Morrison
  • Publication number: 20080015779
    Abstract: A technique includes performing first electromagnetic field measurements to obtain a first set of data and performing second electromagnetic field measurements to obtain a second set of data. The first set of data is relatively sensitive to an effect caused by an air layer boundary and is relatively insensitive to the presence of a resistive body. The second set of data is relatively insensitive to the effect and is relatively sensitive to the presence of the resistive body. The technique includes combining the first and second sets of data to generate a third set of data, which is relatively insensitive to the effect and is relatively sensitive to the presence of the resistive body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Alumbaugh, Jiuping Chen, Frank Morrison