Patents by Inventor James D Lakings

James D Lakings 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: 11280185
    Abstract: An innovative apparatus and computer implemented methods to obtain values for a set of scalars corresponding to each force and displacement, which may be obtained from acoustical signals captured by sensors of a drill bit while drilling, in a material of known mechanical properties, such as a cement from casing the well, such that the application and use of the scalars in relation to measurements of the mechanics while drilling, such as the acceleration of the bit and motion of the bit captured by sensors such as accelerometers, allow for absolute values of mechanical rock properties to be obtained in rock formations, being drilled through, with otherwise unknown mechanical properties prior to drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Jeffrey A. Godwin, Jesse B. Havens, Joshua D. Ulla
  • Patent number: 11199089
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20200256187
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating mechanical rock quality of subterranean formations include processing of mechanical rock property data to generate one or more corresponding mechanical quality metrics. The mechanical quality metrics may then be used, for example, to plan and execute subsequent drilling or completions (e.g., hydraulic fracturing) operations. In certain implementations, the mechanical rock property data is computed from drill bit vibration data collected during drilling of a wellbore through the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Carrie Glaser
  • Patent number: 10544673
    Abstract: An innovative apparatus and computer implemented methods to obtain values for a set of scalars corresponding to each force and displacement, which may be obtained from acoustical signals captured by sensors of a drill bit while drilling, in a material of known mechanical properties, such as a cement from casing the well, such that the application and use of the scalars in relation to measurements of the mechanics while drilling, such as the acceleration of the bit and motion of the bit captured by sensors such as accelerometers, allow for absolute values of mechanical rock properties to be obtained in rock formations, being drilled through, with otherwise unknown mechanical properties prior to drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Jeffrey A. Godwin, Jesse B. Havens, Joshua D. Ulla
  • Patent number: 10519769
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse B. Havens, James D. Lakings, R. Christopher Neale
  • Publication number: 20190153859
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20180371901
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein are directed to systems and methods for controlling operations of a drilling system based on drill bit mechanics. During a drilling operation, sensor signals corresponding to mechanics of a drill bit are collected and processed to generate drill bit mechanics data and corresponding mechanical rock property data. A drilling measurement system is then operated based on whether the rock property data indicates the drill bit is actively engaged with or disengaged from a subterranean formation. The mechanical rock property data may also be used to detect characteristics of the subterranean formation and to control the drilling system based on the presence and/or nature of the characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Kevin J. Morgan, R. Christopher Neale
  • Patent number: 10132162
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20180106147
    Abstract: An innovative apparatus and computer implemented methods to obtain values for a set of scalars corresponding to each force and displacement, which may be obtained from acoustical signals captured by sensors of a drill bit while drilling, in a material of known mechanical properties, such as a cement from casing the well, such that the application and use of the scalars in relation to measurements of the mechanics while drilling, such as the acceleration of the bit and motion of the bit captured by sensors such as accelerometers, allow for absolute values of mechanical rock properties to be obtained in rock formations, being drilled through, with otherwise unknown mechanical properties prior to drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Jeffrey A. Godwin, Jesse B. Havens, Joshua D. Ulla
  • Publication number: 20170275989
    Abstract: An innovative apparatus and computer implemented methods to obtain values for a set of scalars corresponding to each force and displacement, which may be obtained from acoustical signals captured by sensors of a drill bit while drilling, in a material of known mechanical properties, such as a cement from casing the well, such that the application and use of the scalars in relation to measurements of the mechanics while drilling, such as the acceleration of the bit and motion of the bit captured by sensors such as accelerometers, allow for absolute values of mechanical rock properties to be obtained in rock formations, being drilled through, with otherwise unknown mechanical properties prior to drilling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Jeffrey A. Godwin, Jesse B. Havens, Joshua D. Ulla
  • Patent number: 9664039
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20170067337
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Applicant: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse B. Havens, James D. Lakings, R. Christopher Neale
  • Publication number: 20170058669
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a obtaining force and motion data from a measurement while drilling apparatus or the like having sensors measuring forces and motions of the drill bit while drilling a well. The force and motion data is transformed into spectral pairings from which distributions, such as force displacement and power law relationship, are generated. From the distributions various rock strength properties along the well bore may be derived and used in various possible completion processes such as perforation placements and packer placements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Lakings, Jesse B. Havens
  • Publication number: 20160290130
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20160069182
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a novel way of using drilling vibrations generated by the deformation of a rock formation in response to forces acting on the rock formation, where the forces are related to a drill bit and/or drilling fluid system, to identify the nature and occurrence of fractures, fracture swarms and other mechanical discontinuities (boundaries) such as bedding planes and/or faults that offset or otherwise separate rock formations with different mechanical rock properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Applicant: Fracture ID, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Christopher Neale, James D. Lakings
  • Patent number: 7986587
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic emissions includes detecting seismic signals originating from within the Earth's subsurface over a selected time period using an array of seismic sensors deployed proximate the Earth's surface. Hypocenters of seismic events in the subsurface are determined from the detected signals. Seismic signals detected at selected ones of the seismic sensors are cross-correlated to signals detected at other selected ones of the seismic sensors. The cross-correlated signals are processed to obtain a reflectivity series at a geodetic position of the selected one of the seismic sensors. A spatial distribution of at least one seismic property in the subsurface is determined using the determined hypocenters and the reflectivity series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D Lakings
  • Patent number: 7663970
    Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes transforming seismic signals recorded at selected positions into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D Lakings, Roderick A. Flores
  • Publication number: 20090238040
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic emissions includes detecting seismic signals originating from within the Earth's subsurface over a selected time period using an array of seismic sensors deployed proximate the Earth's surface. Hypocenters of seismic events in the subsurface are determined from the detected signals. Seismic signals detected at selected ones of the seismic sensors are cross-correlated to signals detected at other selected ones of the seismic sensors. The cross-correlated signals are processed to obtain a reflectivity series at a geodetic position of the selected one of the seismic sensors. A spatial distribution of at least one seismic property in the subsurface is determined using the determined hypocenters and the reflectivity series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20090185448
    Abstract: A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic emission tomography includes detecting seismic signals from within the Earth's subsurface over a time period using an array of seismic sensors, the seismic signals being generated by seismic events within the Earth's subsurface. The method further includes inducing a seismic event within the Earth's subsurface during at least a segment of the time period over which the seismic signals are detected. The method further includes cross-correlating seismic signals detected at each of the seismic sensors to obtain a reflectivity series at a position of each of the seismic sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D. Lakings
  • Publication number: 20080068928
    Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes transforming seismic signals recorded at selected positions into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Peter M. Duncan, James D. Lakings, Roderick A. Flores