Patents by Inventor Kevin L. Deal

Kevin L. Deal 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: 9046625
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to evaluate stacked seismic trace data. A portion of each of a number of seismic traces is isolated and an un-tuned biased volume and a tuned biased volume are produced for each trace. The un-tuned biased volume and tuned biased volume are combined to determine zones having a high probability of containing hydrocarbon resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Tatum Michael Sheffield, Barton A. Payne, Kevin L. Deal
  • Publication number: 20140330523
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method for enhancing flat spots in 3D seismic interpretation are disclosed herein. Embodiments of the method generally involve an operation of horizontally stacking (summing) traces within a user defined elongate area. The user may define the size and shape of the elongate area. In addition, the elongate area may be automatically aligned to a user defined axis such as without limitation, the structure strike. By aligning an elongate area operator with a selected or user selected axis, and with appropriate choice of axis length, it is possible to constrain the stacking operation within geologic strata, allowing the user to image even narrow flat events that wrap around a subterranean structure. Further details and advantages of various embodiments of the method are described in more detail herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Jerzy R. TRYBEK, John J. Bornhurst, Mark Busby, Kevin L. Deal
  • Publication number: 20130083626
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to evaluate stacked seismic trace data. A portion of each of a number of seismic traces is isolated and an un-tuned biased volume and a tuned biased volume are produced for each trace. The un-tuned biased volume and tuned biased volume are combined to determine zones having a high probability of containing hydrocarbon resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Tatum Michael Sheffield, Barton A. Payne, Kevin L. Deal
  • Patent number: 7069149
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for interpreting faults from a fault-enhanced 3-D seismic attribute cube. The method includes the steps of extracting faults from a 3-D seismic attribute cube, and of calculating a minimum path value for each voxel of the 3-D seismic attribute cube. A fault network skeleton is extracted from the 3-D seismic attribute cube by utilizing the minimum path values which correspond to voxels within the 3-D seismic attribute cube. The individual fault networks are then labeled, and a vector description of the fault network skeleton is created. The fault network skeleton is subdivided into individual fault patches wherein the individual fault patches are the smallest, non-intersecting, non-bifurcating patches that lie on only one geologic fault. The individual fault patches are then correlated into a representation of geologic faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Francis Goff, Luc Vincent, Kevin L. Deal, William S. Kowalik, Sebastien Bombarde, Sandra Lee, William R. Volz, Richard C. Jones
  • Publication number: 20030112704
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for interpreting faults from a fault-enhanced 3-D seismic attribute cube. The method includes the steps of extracting faults from a 3-D seismic attribute cube, and of calculating a minimum path value for each voxel of the 3-D seismic attribute cube. A fault network skeleton is extracted from the 3-D seismic attribute cube by utilizing the minimum path values which correspond to voxels within the 3-D seismic attribute cube. The individual fault networks are then labeled, and a vector description of the fault network skeleton is created. The fault network skeleton is subdivided into individual fault patches wherein the individual fault patches are the smallest, non-intersecting, non-bifurcating patches that lie on only one geologic fault. The individual fault patches are then correlated into a representation of geologic faults.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas Francis Goff, Luc Vincent, Kevin L. Deal, William S. Kowalik, Sebastien Bombarde, Sandra Lee, William R. Volz, Richard C. Jones