Patents by Inventor Dennis Edward Dria

Dennis Edward Dria 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).

  • Patent number: 8800653
    Abstract: A method for identifying fluid migration or inflow associated with a wellbore tubular, comprises measuring strain of the wellbore tubular with a system comprising at least one string of interconnected sensors that is arranged such that the sensors are distributed along a length and the circumference of the wellbore tubular; establishing a baseline that is a function of steady state strain measurements within a first time period; and identifying fluid migration or inflow where strain measurements substantially deviate from the baseline within a second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Rambow
  • Patent number: 8776609
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a well are configured to identify or analyze various issues affecting the well including corrosion, cement quality, inflow, and fluid migration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Rambow, David Ralph Stewart
  • Patent number: 8315486
    Abstract: A method for obtaining information about a subsurface formation from acoustic signals that contain information about to the subsurface formation, comprises: providing a fiber optic having a proximal end and a remote end, with the proximal end being coupled to a light source and a proximal photodetector, wherein said fiber optic cable includes randomly spaced impurities and selectively placed Bragg gratings and wherein the fiber optic cable is acoustically coupled to the subsurface formation so as to allow the acoustic signals to affect the physical status of at least one grating: transmitting at least one light pulse into the cable; receiving at the photodetector a first light signal indicative of the physical status of at least one first section of the cable, and outputting at least one item of information to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Dennis Edward Dria
  • Publication number: 20120155508
    Abstract: A method for analyzing fluid proximate an injection well, comprises turning an injector of fluid into the well on or off; determining temperature along a casing of the well during a first time period; and associating a rate of temperature change during the first time period with a fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Rambow
  • Publication number: 20120136577
    Abstract: Systems (20) and methods for monitoring a well (10) are configured to identify or analyze various issues affecting the well (10) including corrosion, cement quality, inflow, and fluid migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Rambow, David Ralph Stewart
  • Publication number: 20120132007
    Abstract: Systems (20) and methods for monitoring a well (10) are configured to identify or analyze various issues affecting the well (10) including corrosion, cement quality, inflow, and fluid migration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Rambow, David Ralph Stewart
  • Publication number: 20120132417
    Abstract: A method for identifying fluid migration or inflow associated with a wellbore tubular, comprises measuring strain of the wellbore tubular with a system comprising at least one string of interconnected sensors that is arranged such that the sensors are distributed along a length and the circumference of the wellbore tubular; establishing a baseline that is a function of steady state strain measurements within a first time period; and identifying fluid migration or inflow where strain measurements substantially deviate from the baseline within a second time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Jeremiah Glen Pearce, Frederick Henry Rambow
  • Patent number: 7896069
    Abstract: A string of interconnected strain sensors applied to a cylindrical object for monitoring deformation of the object. The string of interconnected strain sensors is applied in a selected zig-zag pattern. A possibility is to drape a pliable support structure around the object, to which the the string of strain sensors has been mechanically coupled in the selected zig-zag pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Michelle Yvonne Shuck
  • Publication number: 20100200744
    Abstract: A method for obtaining information about a subsurface formation from acoustic signals that contain information about to the subsurface formation, comprises: providing a fiber optic having a proximal end and a remote end, with the proximal end being coupled to a light source and a proximal photodetector, wherein said fiber optic cable includes randomly spaced impurities and selectively placed Bragg gratings and wherein the fiber optic cable is acoustically coupled to the subsurface formation so as to allow the acoustic signals to affect the physical status of at least one grating: transmitting at least one light pulse into the cable; receiving at the photodetector a first light signal indicative of the physical status of at least one first section of the cable, and outputting at least one item of information to a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Jeremiah Glen PEARCE, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Dennis Edward Dria
  • Publication number: 20100200743
    Abstract: A method for obtaining location information about a well as it is being drilled through a subsurface, comprises: providing at least one fiber optic cable deployed in a borehole within acoustic range of the well, the proximal end of the cable being coupled to a light source and a photodetector, the fiber optic cable being acoustically coupled to the subsurface formation so as to allow acoustic signals in the subsurface to affect the physical status of the cable, providing an acoustic source in the well, transmitting at least one light pulse into the cable, receiving at the photodetector a first light signal indicative of the physical status of at least one first section of the cable. The first section is selected so that the first light signal provides information about the position of the acoustic source, and outputting at least the information to a display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Larry Dale Forster, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Dennis Edward Dria, Lisa Shava Grant, Charles Louis Collins
  • Publication number: 20090296086
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of analyzing a fluid from an earth formation using a downhole tool. In the method, the downhole tool is conveyed down a borehole in the earth formation, and a fluid drawn into a measurement portion of the downhole tool, where a spectroscopic measurement of the fluid is made in a terahertz radiation domain. The method may be part of a method of producing a mineral hydrocarbon material from an earth formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Matthias Appel, Dennis Edward Dria, Willem J.M. Epping, Jeremiah Glen Pearce
  • Patent number: 7409858
    Abstract: A method for monitoring fluid properties with a distributed sensor in a wellbore having an inner surface, a top and a bottom comprising causing the distributed sensor to assume a helical shape, pulling the distributed sensor towards the bottom of the wellbore, while retaining the helical shape of the distributed sensor, feeding the distributed sensor into the wellbore so that the distributed sensor is in substantially continuous contact with the inner surface, and allowing the distributed sensor to become at least partially supported by friction at the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Dennis Edward Dria, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Moye Wicks, III
  • Patent number: 7245791
    Abstract: Methods for determining a preferred application of a plurality of transducers or sensors to a structure are disclosed for monitoring and imaging deformation of the structure as it is subjected to various forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Dennis Edward Dria, Michelle Yvonne Shuck
  • Patent number: 6854327
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuous, passive detection and measurement of tensile and compressional strain in a structure utilizing a shielded optic fiber, the optic fiber having one or more Bragg gratings thereon, the gratings and shield being disposed in a curved path on the structure and a baseline response for the grating is made using an optical source and detector. Changes in tensile or compressional forces on the structure will result in changes in the curve of the grating, resulting in a frequency shift for the returned light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Dennis Edward Dria, David Ralph Stewart
  • Publication number: 20040182147
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for efficient and reliable deployment of radioactive markers and remote sensors in earth formations through cased wellbores. The markers and sensors are permanently deployed to obtain data on compaction, pressure and other useful formation properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Frederick H. K. Rambow, Mohamed Hashem, Dennis Edward Dria
  • Publication number: 20040083808
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuous, passive detecting and measuring of compressional strains in real time, without physical intervention, which comprises:
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Dennis Edward Dria, David Ralph Stewart