Patents by Inventor Henry Alan Wolf

Henry Alan Wolf 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: 11828667
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring pipe parameters using guided acoustic wave modes are provided. The method includes receiving data corresponding to an acoustic signal, wherein the data are obtained by transmitting an excitation pulse at a specified frequency and detecting the resulting acoustic signal using an acoustic transducer attached to the outer surface of the pipe wall. The method includes analyzing the data to identify guided acoustic wave modes including at least two of: a C-SH acoustic wave mode that travels within the pipe wall; a C-LT acoustic wave mode that travels within the near-surface region of the pipe wall; and/or a CA acoustic wave mode that travels within the pipe cavity. The method includes calibrating the parameter measurement using the C-SH acoustic wave mode and determining the parameter measurement based on the phase velocity and/or the amplitude of the C-LT acoustic wave mode and/or the CA acoustic wave mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Henry Alan Wolf, Mark M. Disko, Brian C. Seabrook
  • Publication number: 20220034850
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring pipe parameters using guided acoustic wave modes are provided. The method includes receiving data corresponding to an acoustic signal, wherein the data are obtained by transmitting an excitation pulse at a specified frequency and detecting the resulting acoustic signal using an acoustic transducer attached to the outer surface of the pipe wall. The method includes analyzing the data to identify guided acoustic wave modes including at least two of: a C-SH acoustic wave mode that travels within the pipe wall; a C-LT acoustic wave mode that travels within the near-surface region of the pipe wall; and/or a CA acoustic wave mode that travels within the pipe cavity. The method includes calibrating the parameter measurement using the C-SH acoustic wave mode and determining the parameter measurement based on the phase velocity and/or the amplitude of the C-LT acoustic wave mode and/or the CA acoustic wave mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Henry Alan Wolf, Mark M. Disko, Brian C. Seabrook
  • Publication number: 20220034739
    Abstract: A method of measuring a pressure of a fluid adjacent a wall of a pipe or vessel. A transducer is attached to the wall of the pipe or vessel. A signal is transmitted by the transducer at a characteristic frequency via a plurality of guided wave modes. The characteristic frequency is a frequency at which the guided wave modes are separated in time from each other when received. The signal is received after the plurality of guided wave modes travel in or through the wall a predetermined number of times. The signal has a signal receipt time after the predetermined number of times. The pressure of the fluid is calculated using the signal receipt time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Yibing Zhang, Limin Song, Henry Alan Wolf, Mark M. Disko, Ted A. Long, Brian C. Seabrook
  • Patent number: 10502677
    Abstract: For a monitored corrosion sensor, such as a sensor based on one or more mechanical oscillators disposed in a fluid flow, one or more values are measured over time. The values can be measured at a desired frequency, such as a once per second, once per minute, or another convenient frequency. The measured data can then be analyzed as a time series. The goal of the analysis is to identify variations in the time series data that are sufficiently unexpected relative to the prior behavior of the time series within a given time window. The identified variations can then, for example, be excluded from consideration when determining a corrosion-related value for the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Krishnan Kumaran, Alan Mark Schilowitz, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10415376
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic communications node system and method for downhole wireless telemetry, the system including a housing for mounting to or with a tubular body; a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member; a transmitter transducer and a processor, positioned within the housing and arranged to retransmit the acoustic waves to another acoustic receiver in a different housing, using the tubular member for the acoustic telemetry. In some embodiments, the transducers may be piezoelectric transducers and/or magnetostrictive transducers. Included in the housing is also a power source comprising one or more batteries. A downhole wireless telemetry system and a method of monitoring a hydrocarbon well are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Katie M. Walker, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10364669
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium and include determining a major frequency of a received acoustic tone transmitted via the tone transmission medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10344583
    Abstract: Provided is an acoustic housing including a cover including a first perimeter defining an open cover portion, the cover having a cover length, and a cover height, and a body including a second perimeter defining an open body portion, wherein either the first or second or both perimeters are chamfered, configured to receive one or more electrical components and to sealingly engage with the first chamfered perimeter, the body having a body length, a body height, and an under-surface, and the body including an engagement portion projecting from the under-surface and having an engagement length, an engagement height, and an engagement surface configured to engage an outer surface of a tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Katie M. Walker, Thomas M. Smith, Henry Alan Wolf, James S. Burns, Timothy R. Bragg, Mark M. Disko, Yibing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10190410
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating acoustically within a wellbore and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes methods of conserving power in the acoustic wireless network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10167717
    Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body either above or below ground, such as in a wellbore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation or along a pipeline, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication along the tubular body at high data transmission rates. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body and a specially configured network to accomplish a wireless transmission of data along the wellbore using acoustic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mark M. Disko, Timothy I. Morrow, Max Deffenbaugh, Katie M. Walker, Scott W. Clawson, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 10167716
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the methods include methods of communicating when the acoustic wireless network is spectrum-constrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180320510
    Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body either above or below ground, such as in a wellbore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation or along a pipeline, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication along the tubular body at high data transmission rates. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body and a specially configured network to accomplish a wireless transmission of data along the wellbore using acoustic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Mark M. Disko, Timothy I. Morrow, Max Deffenbaugh, Katie M. Walker, Scott W. Clawson, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180066510
    Abstract: Provided is an acoustic housing including a cover including a first perimeter defining an open cover portion, the cover having a cover length, and a cover height, and a body including a second perimeter defining an open body portion, wherein either the first or second or both perimeters are chamfered, configured to receive one or more electrical components and to sealingly engage with the first chamfered perimeter, the body having a body length, a body height, and an under-surface, and the body including an engagement portion projecting from the under-surface and having an engagement length, an engagement height, and an engagement surface configured to engage an outer surface of a tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Katie M. Walker, Thomas M. Smith, Henry Alan Wolf, James S. Burns, Timothy R. Bragg, Mark M. Disko, Yibing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180058204
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium and include determining a major frequency of a received acoustic tone transmitted via the tone transmission medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott William CLAWSON, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180058203
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the methods include methods of communicating when the acoustic wireless network is spectrum-constrained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott William Clawson, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180058205
    Abstract: Methods of acoustically communicating acoustically within a wellbore and wells that utilize the methods are disclosed herein. The methods generally utilize an acoustic wireless network including a plurality of nodes spaced-apart along a length of a tone transmission medium. In some embodiments, the disclosure includes methods of conserving power in the acoustic wireless network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Scott William CLAWSON, Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20180058207
    Abstract: An electro-acoustic communications node system and method for downhole wireless telemetry, the system including a housing for mounting to or with a tubular body; a receiver transducer positioned within the housing, the receiver transducer structured and arranged to receive acoustic waves that propagate through the tubular member; a transmitter transducer and a processor, positioned within the housing and arranged to retransmit the acoustic waves to another acoustic receiver in a different housing, using the tubular member for the acoustic telemetry. In some embodiments, the transducers may be piezoelectric transducers and/or magnetostrictive transducers. Included in the housing is also a power source comprising one or more batteries. A downhole wireless telemetry system and a method of monitoring a hydrocarbon well are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Katie M. Walker, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Patent number: 9759062
    Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body either above or below ground, such as in a wellbore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation or along a pipeline, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication along the tubular body at high data transmission rates. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body to accomplish a wireless transmission of data along the wellbore using acoustic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, Stuart R. Keller, David A. Stiles, Timothy I. Morrow, Mark M. Disko, Henry Alan Wolf, Katie M. Walker, Scott W. Clawson
  • Patent number: 9500461
    Abstract: A method for determining the amount and rate of corrosion which has occurred on the surface of a process unit by measuring corrosion with a corrosion sensor and measuring at least one parameter inside the process unit. Corrosion on the internal surfaces of a process unit can then be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Henry Alan Wolf, Alan M. Schliowitz, Manuel S. Alvarez, Anastasios Skoulidas, David Samuel Deutsch, Katie Walker
  • Publication number: 20150292319
    Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body either above or below ground, such as in a wellbore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation or along a pipeline, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication along the tubular body at high data transmission rates. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body and a specially configured network to accomplish a wireless transmission of data along the wellbore using acoustic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Mark M. Disko, Timothy I. Morrow, Max Deffenbaugh, Katie M. Walker, Scott W. Clawson, Henry Alan Wolf
  • Publication number: 20150275657
    Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry is provided herein. The system employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body either above or below ground, such as in a wellbore. The nodes allow for wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation or along a pipeline, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication along the tubular body at high data transmission rates. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore is also provided herein. The method uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body to accomplish a wireless transmission of data along the wellbore using acoustic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, Stuart R. Keller, David A. Stiles, Timothy I. Morrow, Mark M. Disko, Henry Alan Wolf, Katie M. Walker, Scott W. Clawson