Patents by Inventor Robert Montgomery Laws
Robert Montgomery Laws 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).
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Publication number: 20230408719Abstract: Marine seismic surveys, including ocean bottom surveys, utilizing marine vibrator arrays that are capable of being driven in anti-phase to produce a directional source gradient. Marine seismic surveys may include activating the vibrator array to emit a plurality of radiation patterns with at least a first radiation pattern that has a first notch at a take-off angle that is not close to vertical. Some marine seismic surveys included emitting directive wavefields from two or more simultaneous seismic source arrays, where the two or more seismic source arrays have a phase that changes from shot-to-shot to allow simultaneous source separation of the directive wavefields.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 11774618Abstract: Marine seismic surveys, including ocean bottom surveys, utilizing marine vibrator arrays that are capable of being driven in anti-phase to produce a directional source gradient. Marine seismic surveys may include activating the vibrator array to emit a plurality of radiation patterns with at least a first radiation pattern that has a first notch at a take-off angle that is not dose to vertical. Some marine seismic surveys included emitting directive wavefields from two or more simultaneous seismic source arrays, where the two or more seismic source arrays have a phase that changes from shot-to-shot to allow simultaneous source separation of the directive wavefields.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: REFLECTION MARINE NORGE ASInventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Publication number: 20230034759Abstract: Described herein is a method for acquiring data using a marine vibrator towed by a vessel, the method comprising: obtaining data comprising at least one nominal pre-plot position in a horizontal plane; monitoring a position of the marine vibrator in the and a speed of the vessel; determining an offset between the position of the marine vibrator and the nominal pre-plot position in the towing direction; based on the offset and the vessel speed, adjusting one or more survey parameters and driving the vibrator with a series of one or more sweeps so that a predetermined frequency in the sweep or a subsequent sweep is emitted when the position of the vibrator is within a maximum distance of the nominal pre-plot position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Inventors: Håkon Aune, Thomas Elboth, Kambiz Iranpour, Arash Jafargandomi, Robert Montgomery Laws, Tore Andre Nilsen
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Publication number: 20210223429Abstract: Marine seismic surveys, including ocean bottom surveys, utilizing marine vibrator arrays that are capable of being driven in anti-phase to produce a directional source gradient. Marine seismic surveys may include activating the vibrator array to emit a plurality of radiation patterns with at least a first radiation pattern that has a first notch at a take-off angle that is not close to vertical. Some marine seismic surveys included emitting directive wavefields from two or more simultaneous seismic source arrays, where the two or more seismic source arrays have a phase that changes from shot-to-shot to allow simultaneous source separation of the directive wavefields.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 10928535Abstract: Marine seismic surveys, including ocean bottom surveys, utilizing marine vibrator arrays that are capable of being driven in anti-phase to produce a directional source gradient. Marine seismic surveys may include activating the vibrator array to emit a plurality of radiation patterns with at least a first radiation pattern that has a first notch at a take-off angle that is not close to vertical. Some marine seismic surveys includes emitting directive wavefields from two or more simultaneous seismic source arrays, where the two or more seismic source arrays have a phase that changes from shot-to-shot to allow simultaneous source separation of the directive wavefields.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2016Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Reflection Marine Norge ASInventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 10539695Abstract: A technique for reconstructing a seismic wavefield includes receiving data over one or more channels of a plurality of channels from a plurality of stations. The data is recorded by a plurality of seismic receivers and represent measurements of properties of the seismic wavefield. Each station includes a region in space including one or more seismic receivers. Each channel either measures a property of the seismic wavefield or a property of the seismic wavefield after the seismic wavefield has undergone a known transformation. At least one channel is derived as a function of one or more other channels. The technique includes using a processor based machine to process the data to model the seismic wavefield as a sum of basis functions; apply to the basis functions at least one forward transformation that describes the measurements received over the channel(s); and determine optimum basis functions based at least in part on the measurements.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2015Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Ali Ozbek, Massimiliano Vassallo, David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 10345461Abstract: A technique includes towing at least one seismic source in connection with a survey of a structure; and operating the seismic source(s) to fire shots, where each shot is associated with a frequency sweep. The technique includes varying phases of the frequency sweeps from shot to shot according to a predetermined phase sequence to allow noise in an energy sensed by seismic sensors to be attenuated.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Publication number: 20190079208Abstract: Marine seismic vibrators in a marine seismic vibrator array for use in a seismic survey are activated to produce a source gradient wavefield to survey a target structure. The seismic survey may comprise a marine seismic survey conducted in a body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2018Publication date: March 14, 2019Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 10126452Abstract: Marine seismic vibrators in a marine seismic vibrator array for use in a seismic survey are activated to produce a source gradient wavefield to survey a target structure. The seismic survey may comprise a marine seismic survey conducted in a body of water.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Publication number: 20180164461Abstract: Marine seismic surveys, including ocean bottom surveys, utilizing marine vibrator arrays that are capable of being driven in anti-phase to produce a directional source gradient. Marine seismic surveys may include activating the vibrator array to emit a plurality of radiation patterns with at least a first radiation pattern that has a first notch at a take-off angle that is not close to vertical. Some marine seismic surveys includes emitting directive wavefields from two or more simultaneous seismic source arrays, where the two or more seismic source arrays have a phase that changes from shot-to-shot to allow simultaneous source separation of the directive wavefields.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2016Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: WESTERNGECO LLCInventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 9857485Abstract: A marine survey acquisition system. The system may include a vessel for towing a marine survey spread. The marine survey spread may include streamers, marine vibrators and a cable. The cable may be coupled to a respective streamer from among the streamers and one of the marine vibrators. The cable may power the respective streamer and the one of the marine vibrators. The one of the marine vibrators may emit energy at a high frequency range.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Emmanuel Coste, Nicolas Goujon, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Publication number: 20170269241Abstract: A technique includes towing at least one seismic source in connection with a survey of a structure; and operating the seismic source(s) to fire shots, where each shot is associated with a frequency sweep. The technique includes varying phases of the frequency sweeps from shot to shot according to a predetermined phase sequence to allow noise in an energy sensed by seismic sensors to be attenuated.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 9753163Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for acquiring marine seismic data to generate images or determine properties of an interior section of the Earth using simultaneous marine vibrator sweeps and methods for processing the acquired seismic data. Phase of sweeps produced by the marine vibrator(s) are controlled to provide for removal of crosstalk. The phases between marine vibrator sweeps may be random or controlled to have a predetermined/desired phase difference. The predetermined phases may be determined to minimize the crosstalk between sweeps based on known seismic velocity of the survey area.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventor: Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 9645265Abstract: A method for selecting parameters of a seismic source array comprising a plurality of source elements each having a notional source spectrum is described, the method comprising calculating a ghost response function of the array; calculating directivity effects of the array; and adjusting the parameters of the array such that the directivity effects of the array are compensated by the ghost response to minimize angular variation of a far field response in a predetermined frequency range. A method for determining a phase center of a seismic source array is also related, the method comprising calculating a far field spectrum of the array at predetermined spherical angles, and minimizing the phase difference between the farfield spectra within a predetermined frequency range by adjusting a vertical reference position from which the spherical angles are defined.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO LLCInventors: Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws, Julian Edward Kragh
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Publication number: 20170115415Abstract: A technique for reconstructing a seismic wavefield includes receiving data over one or more channels of a plurality of channels from a plurality of stations. The data is recorded by a plurality of seismic receivers and represent measurements of properties of the seismic wavefield. Each station includes a region in space including one or more seismic receivers. Each channel either measures a property of the seismic wavefield or a property of the seismic wavefield after the seismic wavefield has undergone a known transformation. At least one channel is derived as a function of one or more other channels. The technique includes using a processor based machine to process the data to model the seismic wavefield as a sum of basis functions; apply to the basis functions at least one forward transformation that describes the measurements received over the channel(s); and determine optimum basis functions based at least in part on the measurements.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2015Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Ali Ozbek, Massimiliano Vassallo, David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 9618636Abstract: A technique includes towing at least one seismic source in connection with a survey of a structure; and operating the seismic source(s) to fire shots, where each shot is associated with a frequency sweep. The technique includes varying phases of the frequency sweeps from shot to shot according to a predetermined phase sequence to allow noise in an energy sensed by seismic sensors to be attenuated.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Publication number: 20170075015Abstract: Marine seismic vibrators in a marine seismic vibrator array for use in a seismic survey are activated to produce a source gradient wavefield to survey a target structure. The seismic survey may comprise a marine seismic survey conducted in a body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 9594178Abstract: The technologies described herein include systems and methods for performing a first seismic survey and performing a second seismic survey after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed between the first seismic survey and the second seismic survey. The shot times and the shot positions of the second seismic survey may be substantially the same as the shot times and the shot positions of the first seismic survey. After performing the seismic surveys, seismic data generated by the first seismic survey may be processed to generate a first image, and seismic data generated by the second seismic survey may be processed to generate a second image. After generating the first and second images, a difference between the first image and the second image may be computed to generate a time lapse difference image.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Johan O. A. Robertsson, Dirk-Jan Van Manen, David Fraser Halliday, Robert Montgomery Laws
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Patent number: 9500761Abstract: A technique facilitates obtaining seismic data in a marine environment. An array of acoustic sources is deployed in a marine environment. The array can be utilized for creating acoustic pulses that facilitate the collection of data on subsea structures. The methodology enables optimization of acoustic source array performance to improve the collection of useful data during a seismic survey.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: WESTERNGECO L. L. C.Inventors: Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws, Aslaug Strømmen Melboe
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Patent number: 9057800Abstract: A marine cable for seismic surveys is described with a plurality of ceramic pressure sensors arranged in groups of at least two pressure sensors with a group output being representative of the vertical pressure gradient at the group location, and an inclinometric system including one or more transducers for determining the orientation of the sensors of the group in order to determine their true vertical separation.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2010Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.Inventors: Everhard Johan Muyzert, James Edward Martin, Robert Montgomery Laws, Philip Andrew Felton Christie