Patents by Inventor Steve Zannoni

Steve Zannoni 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: 9110166
    Abstract: In various embodiments, apparatus and methods are provided to perform acoustic imaging. An acoustic wave can be acquired at a detector, where the acoustic wave propagates from a target to the detector. The target may be acoustically illuminated to provide the acoustic wave. A signal from the detector in response to acquiring the acoustic wave can be processed in a model such that the processing implements a synthetic acoustic lens to generate an image of the target. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung Chang, Arthur Cheng, Chen Li, Steve Zannoni
  • Patent number: 8885163
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for performing optical analysis downhole with an interferogram (a light beam having frequency components with a time variation that identifies those frequency components. The interferogram is produced by introducing an interferometer into the light path, with the two arms of the interferometer having a propagation time difference that varies as a function of time. Before or after the interferometer, the light encounters a material to be analyzed, such as a fluid sample from the formation, a borehole fluid sample, a core sample, or a portion of the borehole wall. The spectral characteristics of the material are imprinted on the light beam and can be readily analyzed by processing electronics that perform a Fourier Transform to obtain the spectrum or that enable a comparison with one or more templates. An interferometer designed to perform well in the hostile environments downhole is expected to enable laboratory-quality measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Marian L. Morys, Steve Zannoni, Christopher M. Jones
  • Patent number: 8866632
    Abstract: A method of communication from the surface with to the downhole logging tool string is disclosed. The method includes movement of the drill pipe string up or down at the surface to create coded signature signals by the downhole logging tool string and send those signature signals to a processor in the downhole logging tool string that has been preprogramed to recognize the signature signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Albert Hrametz, Nathan James Harder, Steve A. Zannoni
  • Publication number: 20140210633
    Abstract: A method of communication from the surface to the downhole LT is disclosed. The method includes movement of the DS string up or down at the surface to create coded signals by the downhole TS and send those signature signals to a processor in the TS string that has been preprogramed to recognize the signature signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew Albert Hrametz, Nathan James Harder, Steve A. Zannoni
  • Patent number: 8510050
    Abstract: Downhole fluid typing with pulsed neutron logging. A method comprises obtaining at least one capture gamma count rate at a particular borehole depth, calculating a fluid type indicative response value for the borehole depth, and determining at least one fluid type based on the response value. A system comprises a downhole tool, including a neutron source, at least one gamma detector, and a processor coupled to a memory. The memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain at least one capture gamma count rate for a particular borehole depth. The processor calculates a fluid type indicative response value for the borehole depth and determines at least one fluid type based on the response value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Truax, Steve Zannoni, Daniel Dorffer, Weijun Guo
  • Publication number: 20130142009
    Abstract: In various embodiments, apparatus and methods are provided to perform acoustic imaging. An acoustic wave can be acquired at a detector, where the acoustic wave propagates from a target to the detector. The target may be acoustically illuminated to provide the acoustic wave. A signal from the detector in response to acquiring the acoustic wave can be processed in a model such that the processing implements a synthetic acoustic lens to generate an image of the target. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chung Chang, Arthur Cheng, Chen Li, Steve Zannoni
  • Patent number: 8368553
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a signal from a sensor that is positioned within a well bore during a hydraulic fracturing operation. A noise canceling operation is performed on the received signal to detect a microseismic event that is caused by the hydraulic fracturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Zannoni, Orlando DeJesus, Daniel F. Dorffer, John Quirein
  • Publication number: 20120250017
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for performing optical analysis downhole with an interferogram (a light beam having frequency components with a time variation that identifies those frequency components. The interferogram is produced by introducing an interferometer into the light path, with the two arms of the interferometer having a propagation time difference that varies as a function of time. Before or after the interferometer, the light encounters a material to be analyzed, such as a fluid sample from the formation, a borehole fluid sample, a core sample, or a portion of the borehole wall. The spectral characteristics of the material are imprinted on the light beam and can be readily analyzed by processing electronics that perform a Fourier Transform to obtain the spectrum or that enable a comparison with one or more templates. An interferometer designed to perform well in the hostile environments downhole is expected to enable laboratory-quality measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Marian L. Morys, Steve Zannoni, Christopher M. Jones
  • Publication number: 20110202276
    Abstract: Downhole fluid typing with pulsed neutron logging. A method comprises obtaining gamma count rates at a particular borehole depth; calculating a fluid type indicative response value for the borehole depth; determining at least one fluid type based on the response value for the particular borehole depth; and producing a display of the at least one fluid type corresponding to the borehole depth. A system comprises a downhole tool comprising a neutron source and at least one gamma detector; gamma count rates produced due to gamma arrivals at the gamma detector(s); and a processor coupled to a memory, wherein the memory stores a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to: calculate a fluid type indicative response value for a particular borehole depth based on the gamma count rates; and determine at least one fluid type based on the response value for the particular borehole depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Jerome Truax, Steve Zannoni, Daniel Dorffer, Weijun Guo
  • Publication number: 20100265094
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a data signal from a sensor that is positioned within a well bore, during a hydraulic fracturing operation. The method further comprising detecting a microseismic event, that is caused by the hydraulic fracturing operation, wherein the detecting comprises performing a noise canceling operation on the data signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Steve Zannoni, Orlando DeJesus, Daniel F. Dorffer, John Quirein