Patents by Inventor Neal L. Adair

Neal L. Adair 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).

  • Method to determine properties of a sedimentary body from thickness and grain size distribution at a point within the body
    Patent number: 7433784
    Abstract: The properties of a water-lain sediment body are determined from a measurement of grain size distribution and deposit thickness at one location in the body is disclosed. The flow properties at the measured location are determined, the flow properties are extrapolated back to the inlet through which the depositing flow was emitted, at least one property of the water-lain sediment throughout the sediment body is determined by modeling the flow properties using the extrapolated flow properties at the inlet as a boundary condition. The flow properties associated with the sediment body include flow velocity, suspended sediment volume fractions, deposition time, and flow height. The properties of the water-lain sediments include, in addition to the flow properties associated with deposition of the sediments, the thickness of the sediment body, the size of the body, the shape of the body, and the grain size distribution at each point within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, David C. Hoyal, Neal L. Adair, Chun Huh
  • Method for predicting properties of a sedimentary deposit from a thickness contour of the deposit
    Patent number: 6885941
    Abstract: The properties of a water-lain sedimentary deposit may be predicted at any location from a contour of constant deposit thickness. One embodiment of the method comprises (a) determining an outline of constant deposit thickness in a measured deposit, (b) determining the fluid flow properties at the inlet of the measured deposit, (c) determining a property of the deposit at any point inside the deposit from modeling the fluid flow. The properties of the deposit at any point may include the thickness of the sediment body, the size of the body, the shape of the body, and the grain size distribution at each point within the body, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, John C. Van Wagoner, Neal L. Adair
  • Method for predicting properties of a sedimentary deposit from a thickness contour of the deposit
    Publication number: 20040260472
    Abstract: The properties of a water-lain sedimentary deposit may be predicted at any location from a contour of constant deposit thickness. One embodiment of the method comprises (a) determining an outline of constant deposit thickness in a measured deposit, (b) determining the fluid flow properties at the inlet of the measured deposit, (c) determining a property of the deposit at any point inside the deposit from modeling the fluid flow. The properties of the deposit at any point may include the thickness of the sediment body, the size of the body, the shape of the body, and the grain size distribution at each point within the body, and any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, John C. Van Wagoner, Neal L. Adair