Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Welker
Kenneth E. Welker 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).
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Patent number: 10281605Abstract: Various technologies described herein are directed to a method that includes deploying a plurality of wave gliders in a seismic survey area, where the plurality of wave gliders has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for acquiring seismic data. The method may also include deploying at least one source vessel in the seismic survey area, where the at least one source vessel has one or more sources coupled thereto and a central communication unit disposed thereon. The method may then include positioning the plurality of wave gliders according to an initial navigation plan. The method may further include monitoring a relative position of a respective wave glider in the plurality of wave gliders with respect to other wave gliders in the plurality of wave gliders and with respect to the at least one source vessel.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Everhard Muyzert, Kenneth E. Welker
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Patent number: 10191170Abstract: A seismic acquisition system. The seismic acquisition system may include at least one unmanned water vehicle. The seismic acquisition system may also include at least one seismic streamer coupled to the at least one unmanned water vehicle, where the at least one seismic streamer has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for recording seismic data in a survey area. The seismic acquisition system may further include a buoyancy compensation mechanism coupled to the at least one seismic streamer, where the buoyancy compensation mechanism is configured to orient the at least one seismic streamer between a generally vertical direction and a generally horizontal direction through a water column.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2013Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Everhard Muijzert, Kenneth E. Welker
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Patent number: 9575198Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the use of a self-propelled underwater vehicle for seismic data acquisition. The self-propelled underwater vehicle is adapted to gather seismic data from the seafloor and transmit such data to a control vessel. The self-propelled underwater vehicle may be redeployed to several seafloor locations during a seismic survey. Methods for real-time modeling of a target zone and redeployment of the self-propelled underwater vehicle based on the modeling are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Kenneth E. Welker, Julian Edward Kragh
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Publication number: 20160356908Abstract: Various technologies described herein are directed to a method that includes deploying a plurality of wave gliders in a seismic survey area, where the plurality of wave gliders has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for acquiring seismic data. The method may also include deploying at least one source vessel in the seismic survey area, where the at least one source vessel has one or more sources coupled thereto and a central communication unit disposed thereon. The method may then include positioning the plurality of wave gliders according to an initial navigation plan. The method may further include monitoring a relative position of a respective wave glider in the plurality of wave gliders with respect to other wave gliders in the plurality of wave gliders and with respect to the at least one source vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2016Publication date: December 8, 2016Inventors: EVERHARD MUYZERT, KENNETH E. WELKER
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Patent number: 9423522Abstract: Various technologies described herein are directed to a method that includes deploying a plurality of wave gliders in a seismic survey area, where the plurality of wave gliders has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for acquiring seismic data. The method may also include deploying at least one source vessel in the seismic survey area, where the at least one source vessel has one or more sources coupled thereto and a central communication unit disposed thereon. The method may then include positioning the plurality of wave gliders according to an initial navigation plan. The method may further include monitoring a relative position of a respective wave glider in the plurality of wave gliders with respect to other wave gliders in the plurality of wave gliders and with respect to the at least one source vessel.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2012Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Everhard Muyzert, Kenneth E. Welker
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Patent number: 9400338Abstract: A system includes a seismic acquisition system that includes a plurality of nodes and further includes an unmanned airborne vehicle. The unmanned airborne vehicle is to be used with the seismic acquisition system to conduct a seismic survey.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2013Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Emmanuel Coste, Kenneth E. Welker, Guillaume Daniel Tamboise
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Patent number: 9366774Abstract: A technique includes obtaining data indicative of images of a marine seismic source event, which are acquired by underwater cameras and processing the data to determine an attribute (a seismic bubble volume or motion, as non-limiting examples) that is associated with the seismic source event.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.Inventors: Kenneth E. Welker, Ottar Kristiansen
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Patent number: 9217805Abstract: A technique includes acquiring particle motion data from a plurality of particle motion sensors while in tow during a seismic survey. During the seismic survey, the particle motion data are processed without deghosting the particle motion data to determine whether at least some portion of the particle motion data is inadequate for an application that relies on the particle motion data.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2010Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.Inventors: Kenneth E. Welker, Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir, Espen Gulbransen
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Patent number: 9207348Abstract: One embodiment of the invention concerns a probe that couples to a seismic vessel via a tow cable. When deploying probes from a seismic vessel that is towing source arrays and streamers, the probe and its tow cable can tangle with elements of the towed seismic spread. However, a cable guide may be used to lessen the risk for such entanglement by guiding the tow cable into the water at a distance removed from the seismic spread. Also, the probe may be steerable to steer the probe and tow cable away from the seismic spread. Other embodiments are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.CInventors: Kenneth E. Welker, Ulrich Hemmerle, Ottar Kristiansen, Morten Svendsen, Julian Edward (Ed) Kragh
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Patent number: 9207347Abstract: A technique includes obtaining a plurality of sets of measurements of distances between nodes located on a seismic spread element while the element is in tow. Each set is acquired in response to the operation of a different set of sources. The technique includes determining a three-dimensional structure of the seismic spread element while in tow based at least in part on the sets of measurements.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.Inventors: Svein Arne Frivik, Halvor Groenaas, Kenneth E. Welker
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Patent number: 9140814Abstract: A technique facilitates the use of seismic data. The technique utilizes an autonomous underwater vehicle to obtain data on water column characteristics in a seismic survey area. The data can be used to adjust aspects of the seismic survey data and/or the seismic survey technique.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2009Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.Inventors: Kenneth E. Welker, Ottar Kristiansen, Morten Svendsen, Julian Edward Kragh
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Publication number: 20150241588Abstract: Measurement data acquired by at least one sensor in a cable structure towed through a body of water is received. A torsional vibration noise component in the measurement data is estimated. The torsional vibration noise component is used to estimate a rotation angle of the at least one survey sensor with respect to a reference coordinate system of the cable structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir, Nicolas Goujon, Oeyvind Teigen, Kenneth E. Welker
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Patent number: 9052412Abstract: Measurement data acquired by at least one sensor in a cable structure towed through a body of water is received. A torsional vibration noise component in the measurement data is estimated. The torsional vibration noise component is used to estimate a rotation angle of the at least one survey sensor with respect to a reference coordinate system of the cable structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir, Nicolas Goujon, Oeyvind Teigen, Kenneth E. Welker
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Publication number: 20140362661Abstract: A technique includes a technique includes providing a plurality of acquisition components for performing a survey of a geologic region of interest, where the plurality of acquisition components comprising receivers and at least one source. The technique includes using at least one marine unmanned vehicle to position at least one of the receivers in the survey; and deploying at least at one of the acquisition components in a well or on land.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: EVERHARD JOHAN MUIJZERT, OLAV LIEN, KENNETH E. WELKER, SUDHIR PAI, HENRY MENKITI, NICOLAE MOLDOVEANU, IAIN COOPER
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Publication number: 20140301163Abstract: A method of acoustic positioning determination includes detecting a temperature gradient profile across a depth of water, determining a level of a thermal boundary between an upper temperature level and a lower temperature level, and determining a distance from the thermal boundary to position the acoustic positioning device and positioning the acoustic positioning device at that location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2012Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventor: Kenneth E. Welker
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Publication number: 20140269171Abstract: A method of performing a marine survey is provided. The method may include deploying, into a body of water, a towable streamer including one or more sensors for performing a subterranean survey. The method may also include receiving, from the sensors, information relating to the subterranean survey at a data storage device housed within a portion of the towable streamer. The method may also include storing the information within the data storage device.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Westerngeco L.L.C.Inventor: KENNETH E. WELKER
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Publication number: 20140254308Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to identifying reflected acoustic signals. In one implementation, a method may include receiving initial positions of an acoustic positioning source and an acoustic positioning receiver of an acoustic positioning system in a seismic spread. The method may also include calculating an expected travel difference between the acoustic positioning source and the acoustic positioning receiver. The method may further include receiving an acoustic positioning signal from the acoustic positioning receiver. The method may additionally include calculating an actual travel difference between the acoustic positioning source and the acoustic positioning receiver based on the acoustic positioning signal. The method may further include comparing the actual travel difference to the expected travel difference. The method may also include identifying whether the acoustic positioning signal is a reflected positioning signal based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventor: KENNETH E. WELKER
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Publication number: 20140204708Abstract: A seismic acquisition system. The seismic acquisition system may include at least one unmanned water vehicle. The seismic acquisition system may also include at least one seismic streamer coupled to the at least one unmanned water vehicle, where the at least one seismic streamer has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for recording seismic data in a survey area. The seismic acquisition system may further include a buoyancy compensation mechanism coupled to the at least one seismic streamer, where the buoyancy compensation mechanism is configured to orient the at least one seismic streamer between a generally vertical direction and a generally horizontal direction through a water column.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2013Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: EVERHARD MUIJZERT, KENNETH E. WELKER
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Publication number: 20140198609Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the use of a self-propelled underwater vehicle for seismic data acquisition. The self-propelled underwater vehicle is adapted to gather seismic data from the seafloor and transmit such data to a control vessel. The self-propelled underwater vehicle may be redeployed to several seafloor locations during a seismic survey. Methods for real-time modeling of a target zone and redeployment of the self-propelled underwater vehicle based on the modeling are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: KENNETH E. WELKER, JULIAN EDWARD KRAGH
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Publication number: 20140198610Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the use of a self-propelled underwater vehicle for seismic data acquisition. The self-propelled underwater vehicle is adapted to gather seismic data from the seafloor and transmit such data to a control vessel. The self-propelled underwater vehicle may be redeployed to several seafloor locations during a seismic survey. Methods for real-time modeling of a target zone and redeployment of the self-propelled underwater vehicle based on the modeling are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: KENNETH E. WELKER, JULIAN EDWARD KRAGH