Patents by Inventor Steven L. Farmer

Steven L. Farmer 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: 6092026
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the exploration of hydrocarbons by obtaining a set of seismic signal traces distributed over a pre-determined three-dimensional volume of the earth and using a computer to: divide the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of vertically stacked and generally spaced apart horizontal slices; divide each of the slices into a plurality of cells having portions of at least three seismic traces located therein; measure the cross-correlation between one pair of traces lying in one vertical plane to obtain an in-line value and the cross-correlation between another pair of traces lying in another vertical plane to obtain a cross-line value; and combine the in-line value and the cross-line value to obtain one coherency value for each of the cells; and display the coherency values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: BP Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Bahorich, Steven L. Farmer
  • Patent number: 5930730
    Abstract: A method, a map and an article of manufacture for the exploration of hydrocarbons. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: accessing 3D seismic data; dividing the data into an array of relatively small three-dimensional cells; determining in each cell the semblance/similarity, the dip and dip azimuth of the seismic traces contained therein; and displaying dip, dip azimuth and the semblance/similarity of each cell in the form a two-dimensional map. In one embodiment, semblance/similarity is a function of time, the number of seismic traces within the cell, and the apparent dip and apparent dip azimuth of the traces within the cell; the semblance/similarity of a cell is determined by making a plurality of measurements of the semblance/similarity of the traces within the cell and selecting the largest of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Kurt J. Marfurt, R. Lynn Kirlin, Steven L. Farmer, Michael S. Bahorich
  • Patent number: 5838564
    Abstract: An apparatus for the exploration of hydrocarbons by obtaining a set of seismic signal traces distributed over a pre-determined three-dimensional volume of the earth and using a computer to: divide the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of vertically stacked and generally spaced apart horizontal slices; divide each of the slices into a plurality of cells having portions of at least three seismic traces located therein; measure the cross-correlation between one pair of traces lying in one vertical plane to obtain an in-line value and the cross-correlation between another pair of traces lying in another vertical plane to obtain a cross-line value; and combine the in-line value and the cross-line value to obtain one coherency value for each of the cells; and display the coherency values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Bahorich, Steven L. Farmer
  • Patent number: 5563949
    Abstract: A method for the exploration of hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of: obtaining a set of seismic signal traces distributed over a pre-determined three-dimensional volume of the earth; dividing the three-dimensional volume into a plurality of vertically stacked and generally spaced apart horizontal slices; dividing each of the slices into a plurality of cells having portions of at least three seismic traces located therein; measuring the cross-correlation between one pair of traces lying in one vertical plane to obtain an in-line value and the cross-correlation between another pair of traces lying in another vertical plane to obtain a cross-line value; combining the in-line value and the cross-line value to obtain one coherency value for each of the cells; and displaying the coherency values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Bahorich, Steven L. Farmer
  • Patent number: RE38229
    Abstract: A method, a map and an article of manufacture for the exploration of hydrocarbons. In one embodiment of the invention, the method comprises the steps of: accessing 3D seismic data; dividing the data into an array of relatively small three-dimensional cells; determining in each cell the semblance/similarity, the dip and dip azimuth of the seismic traces contained therein; and displaying dip, dip azimuth and the semblance/similarity of each cell in the form a two-dimensional map. In one embodiment, semblance/similarity is a function of time, the number of seismic traces within the cell, and the apparent dip and apparent dip azimuth of the traces within the cell; the semblance/similarity of a cell is determined by making a plurality of measurements of the semblance/similarity of the traces within the cell and selecting the largest of the measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Core Laboratories Global N.V.
    Inventors: Kurt J. Marfurt, R. Lynn Kirlin, Steven L. Farmer, Michael S. Bahorich