Patents by Inventor Philip L. Kurkoski

Philip L. Kurkoski 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: 8269162
    Abstract: Measurements made by a wireline-conveyed pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 8049164
    Abstract: Measurements made by a natural gamma ray tool are used to provide an elemental composition of an earth formation. Additional measurements made with a pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski, Richard R. Pemper
  • Patent number: 8015868
    Abstract: Caliper measurements made during rotation of an imager on a logging string are processed to estimate the location of the imager, and size and shape of the borehole. A piecewise elliptical fitting procedure may be used. These estimates may be used to correct measurements made by a standoff-sensitive formation evaluation sensor such as a neutron porosity tool. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7966874
    Abstract: Harmonics and subharmonics of acoustic measurements made during rotation of a sensor on a downhole are processed to estimate the location of the imager, and size and shape of the borehole. A piecewise elliptical fitting procedure may be used. These estimates may be used to correct measurements made by a standoff-sensitive formation evaluation sensor such as a neutron porosity tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, James V. Leggett, III, Gavin Lindsay, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7880134
    Abstract: Measurements made by a pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7763845
    Abstract: A photodiode whose long-wavelength cutoff is in the short-wavelength range (preferably, between ultraviolet and yellowish-green) having reduced temperature sensitivity is used in downhole applications. It may be matched with scintillation devices having an output matched to the response curve of the photodiode for use with nuclear logging devices. The photodiode may also be used in gyroscopes in which light from an LED matched to the photodiode is reflected from a spinning mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert A. Estes, Rocco DiFoggio, Eric B. Molz, Constantyn Chalitsios, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7647182
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for logging an earth formation and acquiring subsurface information wherein a logging tool is conveyed in borehole to obtain parameters of interest. The parameters of interest obtained may be density, acoustic, magnetic or electrical values as known in the art. The parameters of interest may be transmitted to the surface at a plurality of resolutions using a multi-resolution image compression method. Parameters of interest are formed into a plurality of Cost Functions from which Regions of Interest are determined to resolve characteristics of the Features of interest within the Regions. Feature characteristics may be determined to obtain time or depth positions of bed boundaries and borehole Dip Angle relative to subsurface structures, as well borehole and subsurface structure orientation. Characteristics of the Features include time, depth, and geometries of the subsurface such as structural dip, thickness, and lithologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Publication number: 20090276158
    Abstract: Measurements made by a wireline-conveyed pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7596452
    Abstract: A logging-while-drilling density sensor includes a gamma ray source and at least two NaI detectors spaced apart from the source for determining measurements indicative of the formation density. An analytic function based on a heuristic model is used to predict the measured response as a function of offset, mud density and formation density. The model may be used to provide a caliper measurement where acoustic caliper data are unreliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: William Madigan, Eric B. Molz, Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7573026
    Abstract: A correction for pileup of measurements made by a nuclear detector is applied by selecting the energy of the first signal in a pileup, ignoring the remaining signals in the pileup, and correcting the count rate by a factor related to the total pulse widths within a unit time interval. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Philip L. Kurkoski, Tuan V. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7548817
    Abstract: Caliper measurements made during rotation of a bottomhole assembly are processed to estimate the location of the BHA, and size and shape of the borehole. A piecewise elliptical fitting procedure may be used. These estimates may be used to correct measurements made by a standoff-sensitive formation evaluation sensor such as a neutron porosity tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski, Pingjun Guo
  • Publication number: 20090114807
    Abstract: Measurements made by a pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Publication number: 20090114806
    Abstract: Measurements made by a natural gamma ray tool are used to provide an elemental composition of an earth formation. Additional measurements made with a pulsed neutron tool with two or more gamma ray detectors are used to provide a mineralogical and/or elemental image of the formation. This may be used in reservoir navigation and in furthering the understanding of the geology of the prospect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Andrew D. Kirkwood, Philip L. Kurkoski, Richard R. Pemper
  • Publication number: 20090084176
    Abstract: Caliper measurements made during rotation of an imager on a logging string are processed to estimate the location of the imager, and size and shape of the borehole. A piecewise elliptical fitting procedure may be used. These estimates may be used to correct measurements made by a standoff-sensitive formation evaluation sensor such as a neutron porosity tool. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Publication number: 20090043509
    Abstract: A logging-while-drilling density sensor includes a gamma ray source and at least two NaI detectors spaced apart from the source for determining measurements indicative of the formation density. An analytic function based on a heuristic model is used to predict the measured response as a function of offset, mud density and formation density. The model may be used to provide a caliper measurement where acoustic caliper data are unreliable. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understand that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Madigan, Eric B. Molz, Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Publication number: 20080307875
    Abstract: Harmonics and subharmonics of acoustic measurements made during rotation of a sensor on a downhole are processed to estimate the location of the imager, and size and shape of the borehole. A piecewise elliptical fitting procedure may be used. These estimates may be used to correct measurements made by a standoff-sensitive formation evaluation sensor such as a neutron porosity tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, James V. Leggett, III, Gavin Lindsay, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Patent number: 7424365
    Abstract: A data compression technique for MWD applications uses feature detection, extraction, followed by image compression for only the region(s) of interest. The detection approach processes data in real time. It triggers on the start and end of a feature without processing any further features. This provides feature detection with zero latency. Compressing only the region of interest provides data compression with both higher resolution and higher compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Publication number: 20080120035
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for logging an earth formation and acquiring subsurface information wherein a logging tool is conveyed in borehole to obtain parameters of interest. The parameters of interest obtained may be density, acoustic, magnetic or electrical values as known in the art. The parameters of interest may be transmitted to the surface at a plurality of resolutions using a multi-resolution image compression method. Parameters of interest are formed into a plurality of Cost Functions from which Regions of Interest are determined to resolve characteristics of the Features of interest within the Regions. Feature characteristics may be determined to obtain time or depth positions of bed boundaries and borehole Dip Angle relative to subsurface structures, as well borehole and subsurface structure orientation. Characteristics of the Features include time, depth, and geometries of the subsurface such as structural dip, thickness, and lithologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski
  • Publication number: 20080078242
    Abstract: Caliper measurements made during rotation of a bottomhole assembly are processed to estimate the location of the BHA, and size and shape of the borehole. A piecewise elliptical fitting procedure may be used. These estimates may be used to correct measurements made by a standoff-sensitive formation evaluation sensor such as a neutron porosity tool. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gamal A. Hassan, Philip L. Kurkoski, Pingjun Guo
  • Publication number: 20070290126
    Abstract: A correction for pileup of measurements made by a nuclear detector is applied by selecting the energy of the first signal in a pileup, ignoring the remaining signals in the pileup, and correcting the count rate by a factor related to the total pulse widths within a unit time interval. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Philip L. Kurkoski, Tuan V. Nguyen