Patents by Inventor Steve R. May

Steve R. May 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).

  • Publication number: 20150127313
    Abstract: A method of determining a presence and location of a subsurface hydrocarbon accumulation from a sample of naturally occurring substance. An expected concentration of isotopologues of a hydrocarbon species is determined. An expected temperature dependence of isotopologues present in the sample is modeled using high-level ab initio calculations. A clumped isotopic signature of the isotopologues present in the sample is measured. The clumped isotopic signature is compared with the expected concentration of isotopologues. Using the comparison, it is determined whether hydrocarbons present in the sample originate directly from a source rock or whether the hydrocarbons present in the sample have escaped from a subsurface accumulation. The current equilibrium storage temperature of the hydrocarbon species in the subsurface accumulation prior to escape to the surface is determined. A location of the subsurface accumulation is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: EXXON-MOBIL, UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Lawson, Sebastien L. Dreyfus, Sumathy Raman, Robert J. Pottorf, Steve R. May
  • Patent number: 6516274
    Abstract: Structural and stratigraphic discontinuities are identified in a 3-D volume of seismic data samples in the presence of reflection dip, by first selecting a primary and at least one secondary direction in the volume of seismic data samples. Next, skeleton patches are identified in the volume of seismic data samples, where the skeleton patches comprise groups of connected seismic samples representing seismic horizons in the volume of seismic data samples. Apparent dip is calculated in the primary and secondary directions at each data sample within the identified skeleton patches, creating a primary and secondary direction dip volumes, respectively, at corresponding data sample locations. A filter is applied to the primary direction dip and secondary direction dip volumes to fill in values at the data sample locations not within the identified skeleton patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Yao C. Cheng, Lee H. Fairchild, John A. Farre, Steve R. May
  • Publication number: 20020007247
    Abstract: Structural and stratigraphic discontinuities are identified in a 3-D volume of seismic data samples in the presence of reflection dip, by first selecting a primary and at least one secondary direction in the volume of seismic data samples. Next, skeleton patches are identified in the volume of seismic data samples, where the skeleton patches comprise groups of connected seismic samples representing seismic horizons in the volume of seismic data samples. Apparent dip is calculated in the primary and secondary directions at each data sample within the identified skeleton patches, creating a primary and secondary direction dip volumes, respectively, at corresponding data sample locations. A filter is applied to the primary direction dip and secondary direction dip volumes to fill in values at the data sample locations not within the identified skeleton patches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Yao C. Cheng, Lee H. Fairchild, John A. Farre, Steve R. May