Patents by Inventor Nathan M. Toohey

Nathan M. Toohey 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: 9880304
    Abstract: A method for determining spatial distribution of proppant incudes using signals detected by seismic sensors disposed proximate a formation treated by pumping fracturing fluid containing the proppant. Origin time and spatial position of seismic events induced by pumping the fracturing fluid are determined. Volume and orientation of at least one fracture in the subsurface formation associated with each induced seismic event are determined. Spatial distribution of a volume of the pumped fracturing fluid is determined using the volume and orientation of each fracture. A length of ellipsoidal axes is selected using a surface defined by a selected fractional amount of the total volume of frac fluid pumped into the formation. Spatial distribution of the proppant is determined using proppant mass, specific gravity and expected proppant porosity in the fractures, and spatially distributing a volume of the fractures within an ellipsoid defined by the ellipsoidal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSEISMIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. McKenna, Nathan M. Toohey
  • Publication number: 20170097431
    Abstract: A method for determining spatial distribution of proppant incudes using signals detected by seismic sensors disposed proximate a formation treated by pumping fracturing fluid containing the proppant. Origin time and spatial position of seismic events induced by pumping the fracturing fluid are determined. Volume and orientation of at least one fracture in the subsurface formation associated with each induced seismic event are determined. Spatial distribution of a volume of the pumped fracturing fluid is determined using the volume and orientation of each fracture. A length of ellipsoidal axes is selected using a surface defined by a selected fractional amount of the total volume of frac fluid pumped into the formation. Spatial distribution of the proppant is determined using proppant mass, specific gravity and expected proppant porosity in the fractures, and spatially distributing a volume of the fractures within an ellipsoid defined by the ellipsoidal axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Applicant: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. McKenna, Nathan M. Toohey
  • Patent number: 8960280
    Abstract: A method for determining fracture plane orientation from seismic signals detected above a subsurface formation of interest includes detecting seismic signals using an array of seismic sensors deployed above the subsurface formation during pumping of a hydraulic fracture treatment of the subsurface formation. A time of origin and a spatial position of origin (hypocenter) of microseismic events resulting from the hydraulic fracture treatment are determined. Time consecutively occurring ones of the hypocenters falling within a selected temporal sampling window are selected. A best fit line through the selected hypocenters using a preselected linear regression coefficient is determined. The selecting hypocenters and determining best fit lines is repeated for a selected number of windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Microseismic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. McKenna, Nathan M. Toohey
  • Publication number: 20140202688
    Abstract: A method for determining fracture plane orientation from seismic signals detected above a subsurface formation of interest includes detecting seismic signals using an array of seismic sensors deployed above the subsurface formation during pumping of a hydraulic fracture treatment of the subsurface formation. A time of origin and a spatial position of origin (hypocenter) of microseismic events resulting from the hydraulic fracture treatment are determined. Time consecutively occurring ones of the hypocenters falling within a selected temporal sampling window are selected. A best fit line through the selected hypocenters using a preselected linear regression coefficient is determined. The selecting hypocenters and determining best fit lines is repeated for a selected number of windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MICROSEISMIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan P. McKenna, Nathan M. Toohey