Patents by Inventor Ernest C. Onyia

Ernest C. Onyia 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: 6977866
    Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or from inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: ConocoPhillps Company
    Inventors: Alan R. Huffman, Ernest C. Onyia, Richard W. Lahann, David W. Bell, Robert Lankston
  • Publication number: 20040141414
    Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or from inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Alan Royce Huffman, Ernest C. Onyia, Richard Wayne Lahann, David W. Bell, Robert Lankston
  • Patent number: 6751558
    Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or from inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Royce Huffman, Ernest C. Onyia, Richard Wayne Lahann, David W. Bell, Robert Lankston
  • Publication number: 20030004648
    Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or from inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Alan R. Huffman, Robert Lankston, Ernest C. Onyia, Richard Wayne Lahann, David W. Bell
  • Publication number: 20020169559
    Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or from inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Ernest C. Onyia, David W. Bell, Alan Royce Huffman, Richard Wayne Lahann
  • Patent number: 6473696
    Abstract: A method of determination of fluid pressures in a subsurface region of the earth uses seismic velocities and calibrations relating the seismic velocities to the effective stress on the subsurface sediments. The seismic velocities may be keyed to defined seismic horizons and may be obtained from many methods, including velocity spectra, post-stack inversion, pre-stack inversion, VSP or tomography. Overburden stresses may be obtained from density logs, relations between density and velocity, or front inversion of potential fields data. The seismic data may be P-P, P-S, or S-S data. The calibrations may be predetermined or may be derived from well information including well logs and well pressure measurements. The calibrations may also include the effect of unloading. The determined pressures may be used in the analysis of fluid flow in reservoirs, basin and prospect modeling and in fault integrity analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Onyia, David W. Bell, Alan Royce Huffman, Richard Wayne Lahann
  • Patent number: 4914591
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining rock compressive strength of a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. A mathematical model of a drill bit and an estimate of rock ductility of a particular subterranean formation in conjunction with weight-on-bit (WOB), bit rotational speed RPM, and rate of penetration (ROP) are used as inputs. From the above inputs, the rock compressive strength can be determined while the wellbore is being drilled or afterwards. A depth correlated log can be generated of rock compressive strength that can be compared to other logs obtained from adjacent wellbores to obtain a refined estimate of the depth of a particular subterranean formation feature. Further, the above method can be utilized for obtaining an indication of bit wear or bit damage while the bit is drilling a wellbore by comparing a first rock compressive strength log of a wellbore to a rock compressive strength log being generated while the drill bit is actually drilling a second wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Tommy M. Warren, Warren J. Winters, Ernest C. Onyia