Patents by Inventor Katie M. Walker

Katie M. Walker 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: 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
  • 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: 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
  • Publication number: 20180058209
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for in-situ zonal assessment of multiphase fluid flow in one or more production zones of a production well, including for at least one production zone sensing one or more fluid flow parameters via at least one sensor disposed in a production zone; at least one sensor communications node being in electrical communication with an associated sensor, the at least one sensor communications node positioned along a tubular body in the production zone proximate an associated at least one sensor, and receiving signals from the associated at least one sensor; sending the acoustic signals from the at least one sensor communications node to a receiver at a surface via a series of intermediate communications nodes, node-to-node, the signals being indicative of one or more fluid flow parameters, the series of intermediate communications nodes being spaced along the tubular and configured to transmit acoustic waves; assessing one or more fluid flow parameters for the one or more production z
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Mark M. Disko, Scott William Clawson, Katie M. Walker
  • Publication number: 20180058208
    Abstract: A hybrid electro-acoustic system for extending battery life of a downhole wireless telemetry system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Limin Song, Yibing Zhang, Scott William Clawson, Katie M. Walker
  • 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
  • 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