Patents by Inventor Mark Elliott Willis

Mark Elliott Willis 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: 11977195
    Abstract: An active fiber stretcher assembly can be used for data acquisition systems. A time-break signal can be detected that coincides with a seismic event emitted from a seismic controller. A predetermined waveform can be generated in response to detecting the time-break signal. The predetermined waveform may be encoded onto a fiber optic cable using a fiber stretcher. A data acquisition system connected to the fiber optic cable may detect the predetermined waveform on the fiber optic cable and initiate acquisition operations including: receiving, during the seismic event, light signals returning from a portion of the fiber optic cable in a subterranean environment; determining one or more characteristics of the subterranean environment from the light signals; and storing the one or more characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Henry Clifford Bland, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Mark Elliott Willis, Xiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11940583
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods implemented to take into consideration gauge length in optical measurements. In an embodiment, systems and methods are implemented to interrogate an optical fiber disposed in a wellbore, where the optical fiber is subjected to seismic waves, and to generate a seismic wavefield free of gauge length effect and/or to generate a prediction of a seismic wavefield of arbitrary gauge length, based on attenuation factors of a plurality of wavefields acquired from interrogating the optical fiber. In an embodiment, systems and methods are implemented to interrogate an optical fiber disposed in a wellbore, where the optical fiber is subjected to seismic waves, and to convert a seismic wavefield associated with a first gauge length to a seismic wavefield associated with a different gauge length that is a multiple of the first gauge length. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Wu, Mark Elliott Willis, David Andrew Barfoot
  • Patent number: 11906682
    Abstract: A wellbore system includes a logging unit having a retrievable logging cable coupled to a downhole tool within a wellbore and a depth correlation unit in the downhole tool that provides current depth data for the wellbore through the retrievable logging cable for recording of a current depth by the logging unit. The wellbore system also includes a distributed acoustic sensing unit that includes a seismic processing unit and a seismic profiling unit connected to a separate optical cable of the retrievable logging cable having distributed acoustic sensing channels, wherein an assignment of the distributed acoustic sensing channels along the separate optical cable is determined by an offset distance between the current depth of a formation reference region within the wellbore and a previous reference depth of the formation reference region within the wellbore. A distributed acoustic sensing method is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Simon Shaw, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Mark Elliott Willis, Xiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11802983
    Abstract: Systems and methods relate to borehole seismic studies. Traditionally, borehole seismic studies are conducted using geophones. Seismic acquisition can be performed using fiber optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). Because DAS measures dynamic relative displacement over a gauge length, which is different from particle velocity, DAS data can be converted into an equivalent geophone output response. Operations include converting DAS data into distributed velocity, and then, converting the velocity output into an equivalent geophone response. Various aspects include separating the data into interleaving subsets, integrating each subset along the spatial coordinates, selecting a window width over which the median of each subset will be calculated and subtracted from the data, performing a spatial average or low-pass filtering over contiguous values, performing a time-domain low-pass filtering, and performing the velocity-to-geophone conversion operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Mark Elliott Willis, Andreas Ellmauthaler, Xiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11675099
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include components, devices, systems, and operations and functions for generating a seismic profile. An optical signal is generated in an optical signal medium disposed in proximity to a formation. A seismic source induces seismic signals within the formation. A backscatter response corresponding to the seismic signals from the optical signal medium is detected and quadrature modulated to generate a quadrature trace. A seismic response is generated by determining phase differences in the backscatter response based on the quadrature modulated backscatter response. Portions of the seismic response above or below a response threshold are removed to generate a threshold seismic response. The threshold seismic response is correlated with at least one of the seismic signals to generate a correlated seismic response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Wu, Mark Elliott Willis, Andreas Ellmauthaler
  • Patent number: 11675100
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for identifying noise in seismic profile data sets. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for receiving wellbore data including seismic measurements, processing the wellbore data to generate a seismic input image including visual representations of the one or more seismic measurements, and processing the seismic input image to identify a noise region in the seismic input image. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sonali Pattnaik, Mark Elliott Willis
  • Patent number: 11598203
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic sensor is positioned within a wellbore of a geologic formation. Seismic waves are detected using the distributed acoustic sensor. A raw seismic profile is generated based on the detected seismic waves. Resonant noise is identified and reduced in seismic data associated with the raw seismic profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Elliott Willis, Oscar Augusto Barrios Lopez, Pedro William Palacios, Dongjie Cheng
  • Patent number: 11585212
    Abstract: A DAS VSP technique is used to determine the induced fracture height and fracture density of an induced fracture region. The DAS VSP technique obtains pre-hydraulic fracturing DAS VSP survey time-lapse data to establish a baseline reference for the direct acoustic wave travel time. The DAS VSP technique obtains one or more time-lapse data corresponding to the subsequent monitor surveys conducted after each hydraulic fracturing stage along the well. Forward modeling is used to determine a theoretical acoustic wave travel time difference. The forward modeling uses seismic anisotropy to describe the behavior of seismic waves traveling through the induced fracture regions. An inversion scheme is then used to invert for the induced fracture height and the fracture density using the forward modeling. The two extracted induced fracture characteristics may then be used to determine optimal hydraulic fracturing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaomin Zhao, Mark Elliott Willis
  • Publication number: 20230020858
    Abstract: An active fiber stretcher assembly can be used for data acquisition systems. A time-break signal can be detected that coincides with a seismic event emitted from a seismic controller. A predetermined waveform can be generated in response to detecting the time-break signal. The predetermined waveform may be encoded onto a fiber optic cable using a fiber stretcher. A data acquisition system connected to the fiber optic cable may detect the predetermined waveform on the fiber optic cable and initiate acquisition operations including: receiving, during the seismic event, light signals returning from a portion of the fiber optic cable in a subterranean environment; determining one or more characteristics of the subterranean environment from the light signals; and storing the one or more characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Henry Clifford Bland, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Mark Elliott Willis, Xiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11555939
    Abstract: A system for processing DAS VSP surveys in real-time is provided. The system includes a DAS data collection system coupled to at least one optical fiber at least partially positioned within a wellbore and configured to repeatedly activate a seismic source of energy. The system further includes an information processing system connected to the DAS data collection system. A seismic dataset is received from the DAS data collection system. The seismic dataset includes a plurality of seismic data records. Two or more of the plurality of seismic data records are combined into a stack. A quality metric indicative of a desired signal-to-noise ratio or incoherence of the stack is determined for each processed seismic dataset collected from a repeated source. Instructions are sent to the DAS data collection system to stop activating the seismic source, in response to determining that the quality metric has reached a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Andrew Wilson, Xiang Wu, Andreas Ellmauthaler, Mark Elliott Willis
  • Patent number: 11506806
    Abstract: A seismic source is positioned at the surface of a geologic formation and a plurality of seismic receivers is positioned in a wellbore of the geologic formation. Seismic wavefield data is obtained based on the seismic source outputting seismic energy into the wellbore and the plurality of seismic receivers receiving the seismic energy. A velocity profile is determined along the wellbore based on the seismic wavefield data. P and S wave data in a downgoing direction is separated from the seismic wavefield data based on an inversion and the velocity profile. The P and S wave data in the downgoing direction is adaptively subtracted from the seismic wavefield data to form residual wavefield data. The P and S wave data in a upgoing direction is separated from the residual wavefield data based on the inversion and an updated velocity profile. The P and S wave data in the upgoing and downgoing direction is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Padhi, Kary Darnell Green, Jose David Carrillo Rangel, Mark Elliott Willis
  • Patent number: 11460593
    Abstract: An apparatus obtains measurements from a seismic sensor, wherein the seismic measurements include a set of seismic waves having at least a subset of seismic multiples and a machine-readable medium having program code executable by a processor to cause the apparatus to determine seismic measurements of the seismic waves, fit reflectivity model based on a set of reflectivity models using a nonlinear scheme to the seismic measurements, and identify a subset of the seismic measurements corresponding to the subset of seismic multiples. The apparatus also includes program code to cause the apparatus to generate a set of reduced-noise seismic measurements based on attenuation of the subset of the seismic measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Padhi, Mark Elliott Willis, Xiaomin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20220283330
    Abstract: A method for computing attenuation from seismic data. The method may include measuring one or more seismic events with a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) system to form a well log of one or more traces. The method may further include isolating a first seismic event with a tapered windowing function, performing a spectral ratio of two or more pairs of traces in the well log, identifying a velocity at each of the one or more traces in the well log, identifying an analytic correction for a gauge of the DAS system, and applying the analytic correction to the spectral ratio to form a corrected spectral ratio. Additionally, the method may include identifying a slope of the corrected spectral ratio for at least a part of the well log, converting the slope to a Q value, and identifying one or more formation properties in a formation from the Q value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Elliott Willis, Oscar Barrios Lopez, Pedro William Palacios
  • Patent number: 11414982
    Abstract: A method and system for determining a deployment profile of a fiber optic cable. The method may comprise disposing a fiber optic cable into a tubular structure, opening and closing a valve to form a pressure pulse, wherein the pressure pulse travels within the tubular structure, sensing the pressure pulse within the tubular structure with the fiber optic cable and at least one pressure transducer, recording data from the pressure pulse with the fiber optic cable and the at least one pressure transducer, and sending the data to an information handling system from the fiber optic cable. A well measurement system may comprise a tubular structure, a fiber optic cable, a valve, and an information handling system, wherein the information handling system is configured to open and close the valve to form a pressure pulse and record data from the pressure pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Philip Granville, Mark Elliott Willis
  • Publication number: 20220214468
    Abstract: A wellbore system includes a logging unit having a retrievable logging cable coupled to a downhole tool within a wellbore and a depth correlation unit in the downhole tool that provides current depth data for the wellbore through the retrievable logging cable for recording of a current depth by the logging unit. The wellbore system also includes a distributed acoustic sensing unit that includes a seismic processing unit and a seismic profiling unit connected to a separate optical cable of the retrievable logging cable having distributed acoustic sensing channels, wherein an assignment of the distributed acoustic sensing channels along the separate optical cable is determined by an offset distance between the current depth of a formation reference region within the wellbore and a previous reference depth of the formation reference region within the wellbore. A distributed acoustic sensing method is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Andreas Ellmauthaler, Simon Shaw, Michel Joseph LeBlanc, Mark Elliott Willis, Xiang Wu
  • Publication number: 20220196861
    Abstract: The disclosed technology provides solutions for identifying noise in seismic profile data sets. In some aspects, a process of the disclosed technology includes steps for receiving wellbore data including seismic measurements, processing the wellbore data to generate a seismic input image including visual representations of the one or more seismic measurements, and processing the seismic input image to identify a noise region in the seismic input image. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Sonali PATTNAIK, Mark Elliott WILLIS
  • Patent number: 11340371
    Abstract: To mitigate zigzag noise and increase the quality of data provided from DAS VSP in wells with significant vertical sections, zigzag noise characteristics are identified and quantified. The zigzag noise properties can be extracted from an analysis of an autocorrelation of DAS VSP traces. The zigzag noise has a characteristic time period or repeat time delay that is the time period for the noise to propagate along the wireline through a zone of the wellbore with poor acoustic coupling between the fiber optic cable and formation. This period can be identified from analysis of the autocorrelation referred to herein as a crosswise lag summation function. The crosswise lag summation function identifies groups of DAS data traces containing zigzag noise and outputs zigzag noise periodicity for each group of traces. Once it has been identified, the zigzag noise can be removed from the VSP data and improve formation evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Elliott Willis, Pedro William Palacios, Andreas Ellmauthaler, Xiaomin Zhao
  • Publication number: 20220082720
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods implemented to take into consideration gauge length in optical measurements. In an embodiment, systems and methods are implemented to interrogate an optical fiber disposed in a wellbore, where the optical fiber is subjected to seismic waves, and to generate a seismic wavefield free of gauge length effect and/or to generate a prediction of a seismic wavefield of arbitrary gauge length, based on attenuation factors of a plurality of wavefields acquired from interrogating the optical fiber. In an embodiment, systems and methods are implemented to interrogate an optical fiber disposed in a wellbore, where the optical fiber is subjected to seismic waves, and to convert a seismic wavefield associated with a first gauge length to a seismic wavefield associated with a different gauge length that is a multiple of the first gauge length. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Xiang Wu, Mark Elliott Willis, David Andrew Barfoot
  • Patent number: 11275189
    Abstract: Various embodiments include apparatus and methods implemented to simulate geophone data from distributed acoustic sensing data, such as simulating vertical component geo phone waveform data from distributed acoustic sensing data. Embodiments include measuring vertical component of strain at a plurality of vertical positions along an optical fiber disposed along a wellbore at a well site. The measured vertical component of strain can be processed to generate a vertical component of displacement. The vertical component of displacement can be used to generate a vertical component of velocity from which a waveform simulating a waveform of geophone data can be output. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Amit Padhi, Mark Elliott Willis
  • Patent number: 11269098
    Abstract: The disclosure relates generally to the inversion of geophysical and/or logging measurements for formation evaluation and monitoring. The disclosure may be related to methods of deconvolution and/or inversion of piecewise formation properties. A method for formation evaluation from a downhole tool may comprise disposing a downhole tool into a wellbore, broadcasting a signal into a formation penetrated by the wellbore, recording the signal from the formation with at least one receiver disposed on the downhole tool, computing an objective function, and determining formation properties by minimizing the objective function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiang Wu, Mark Elliott Willis, Wei-Bin Ewe, Glenn Andrew Wilson