Patents by Inventor James E. Masino

James E. Masino 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: 6125079
    Abstract: A transducer configuration for use in acoustically imaging a target region behind an acoustically reflective layer includes a sonde having a geometrical center and constructed and arranged to support a plurality of transducers. The system includes a first transducer disposed within the sonde at a first distance from the geometrical center for generating a first acoustic pulse and for receiving a first acoustic signal. The acoustic signal comprises a first reflection from the reflective surface, a first set of fluid multiples arising from reflections between the reflective layer and a surface of the first transducer, and a first signal associated with the target area. The system also includes a second transducer disposed within the sonde at a second distance from the geometrical center for generating a second acoustic pulse and for receiving a second acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: James R. Birchak, Batakrishna Mandal, James E. Masino, John W. Minear, Thomas E. Ritter
  • Patent number: 6102152
    Abstract: A sonic or acoustic tool is disclosed which includes a transmitter with reduced transmitter spawned noise. The transmitters are either monopole or dipole depending on the orientation of ports in a chamber divided by a piston driven by an actuator. The transmitter size is limited only by the diameter of the tools itself because the transmitters are oriented within the tool parallel to the axis of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Masino, Batakrishna Mandal, James R. Birchak, John W. Minear, Thomas E. Ritter
  • Patent number: 6021093
    Abstract: A transducer configuration of an acoustic sensing tool for determining the consistency of a first medium disposed between a layer having a greater acoustic reflectivity than the first medium and a second medium, the sensing tool including a rotating head, wherein the tool comprises first, second and third transducer pairs in a spaced apart configuration, each pair comprising a transmitting transducer for transmitting an acoustic radiation signal in an insonified zone, and receiving transducer having a receiving radiation pattern in a insonified zone, wherein the space between the transmitting and receiving transducers in each pair is constructed and arranged to allow the transmitting and receiving insonified zones to intersect behind but not in the acoustically reflective layer to null reverberation energy therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: James R. Birchak, Batakrishna Mandal, James E. Masino, John W. Minear, Thomas E. Ritter
  • Patent number: 6002639
    Abstract: A transducer configuration disposed within a wellbore sonde for acoustically imaging a target region behind an acoustically reflective layer includes a transmitting transducer for producing a transmitted acoustic beamspread pattern defined by a insonified zone having a width approximately equal to a width of the transmitting transducer and a transmitting main lobe beyond the transmitting collimated zone. The transducer configuration also includes a receiving transducer disposed adjacent the transmitting transducer. The receiving transducer includes an acoustic signal reception pattern defined by a insonified zone having a width approximately equal to a width of the receiving transducer and a receiving main lobe beyond the receiving insonified zone. A beamspread angle defines an amplitude contour forming an outer periphery of the transmitting and receiving main lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: James R. Birchak, Batakrishna Mandal, James E. Masino, John W. Minear, Thomas E. Ritter
  • Patent number: 5995447
    Abstract: A system for acoustically imaging a target region behind an acoustically reflective layer includes a transducer configuration for acquiring acoustic image data from the reflective layer and target region, wherein the reflective layer and target region are divided into voxels circumferentially disposed about a central point. The system includes a mechanism for processing the data comprising a transmitting transducer for transmitting a first acoustic pulse, a receiving transducer for detecting a first arrival of a first acoustic reflection signal associated with the first acoustic pulse, and a mechanism for suppressing multiple reflected signals from the acoustic reflection signal associated with the first acoustic pulse, wherein the suppressing mechanism facilitates the acquisition of image data from the target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Batakrishna Mandal, James R. Birchak, James E. Masino, John W. Minear, Thomas E. Ritter
  • Patent number: 5841734
    Abstract: An apparatus for logging a borehole comprises a non-rotating component and a rotating component that is flexibly attached to the non-rotating component and includes a logging head. The rotating component is centralized independently from the non-rotating component such that the rotating component remains centralized as it rotates, regardless of whether the non-rotating component is centralized. The logging head includes at least one signaling device, a hydrostatic pressure balancing system, a sealed, variable-volume fluid reservoir in fluid communication with said transducer, and a motor housed in said logging head for rotating the rotating component. The apparatus can further include a second non-rotating component suspended below the rotating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ritter, James Robert Birchak, James W. Stroud, Mack H. Brown, James E. Masino, John W. Minear