Patents by Inventor Timothy WHITACRE

Timothy WHITACRE 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: 20230296012
    Abstract: A method includes providing a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) in a wellbore. The BHA includes a rotary steerable system and a downhole attitude correction and control system. The downhole correction and control system includes a first sensor set, the sensors of the first sensor set positioned near ferromagnetic components of a drill string and a second sensor set, the sensors of the second sensor set positioned further from the ferromagnetic components of the drill string than the sensors of the first sensor set. Corrupted data from the first sensor set and reference data from the second sensor set is obtained, the corrupted data including cross-axis magnetometer and accelerometer measurements. The method additionally includes correcting the corrupted sensor data to form corrected sensor measurements and calculating an estimated azimuth from the corrected sensor measurements. The method further includes steering the rotary steerable system based on the estimated azimuth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy WHITACRE, Matthew A. White, Pong PIPATWIT
  • Patent number: 11697987
    Abstract: A method includes providing a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) in a wellbore. The BHA includes a rotary steerable system and a downhole attitude correction and control system. The downhole correction and control system includes a first sensor set, the sensors of the first sensor set positioned near ferromagnetic components of a drill string and a second sensor set, the sensors of the second sensor set positioned further from the ferromagnetic components of the drill string than the sensors of the first sensor set. Corrupted data from the first sensor set and reference data from the second sensor set is obtained, the corrupted data including cross-axis magnetometer and accelerometer measurements. The method additionally includes correcting the corrupted sensor data to form corrected sensor measurements and calculating an estimated azimuth from the corrected sensor measurements. The method further includes steering the rotary steerable system based on the estimated azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Whitacre, Matthew A. White, Pong Pipatwit
  • Publication number: 20210108502
    Abstract: A method includes providing a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) in a wellbore. The BHA includes a rotary steerable system and a downhole attitude correction and control system. The downhole correction and control system includes a first sensor set, the sensors of the first sensor set positioned near ferromagnetic components of a drill string and a second sensor set, the sensors of the second sensor set positioned further from the ferromagnetic components of the drill string than the sensors of the first sensor set. Corrupted data from the first sensor set and reference data from the second sensor set is obtained, the corrupted data including cross-axis magnetometer and accelerometer measurements. The method additionally includes correcting the corrupted sensor data to form corrected sensor measurements and calculating an estimated azimuth from the corrected sensor measurements. The method further includes steering the rotary steerable system based on the estimated azimuth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy WHITACRE, Matthew A. White, Pong PIPATWIT
  • Patent number: 10895143
    Abstract: A method includes providing a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) in a wellbore. The BHA includes a rotary steerable system and a downhole attitude correction and control system. The downhole correction and control system includes a first sensor set, the sensors of the first sensor set positioned near ferromagnetic components of a drill string and a second sensor set, the sensors of the second sensor set positioned further from the ferromagnetic components of the drill string than the sensors of the first sensor set. Corrupted data from the first sensor set and reference data from the second sensor set is obtained, the corrupted data including cross-axis magnetometer and accelerometer measurements. The method additionally includes correcting the corrupted sensor data to form corrected sensor measurements and calculating an estimated azimuth from the corrected sensor measurements. The method further includes steering the rotary steerable system based on the estimated azimuth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy Whitacre, Matthew A. White, Pong Pipatwit
  • Publication number: 20190353023
    Abstract: A method includes providing a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) in a wellbore. The BHA includes a rotary steerable system and a downhole attitude correction and control system. The downhole correction and control system includes a first sensor set, the sensors of the first sensor set positioned near ferromagnetic components of a drill string and a second sensor set, the sensors of the second sensor set positioned further from the ferromagnetic components of the drill string than the sensors of the first sensor set. The downhole correction and control system also includes a RSS controller operatively coupled to and adapted to receive measurements from the first and second sensor sets, the controller in data communication with the rotary steerable system. Corrupted data from the first sensor set and reference data from the second sensor set is obtained, the corrupted data including cross-axis magnetometer and accelerometer measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Timothy WHITACRE, Matthew A. White, Pong PIPATWIT
  • Patent number: 10466385
    Abstract: A signal method may include obtaining a first set of signal measurements, processing the first set of signal measurements into a phase reference obtaining a second set of signal measurements, the second set of signal measurements varying as a function of the phase reference, detecting an item of interest using the second set of signal measurements and the phase reference, and using the item of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Peter Smidth, Timothy Whitacre
  • Patent number: 10349151
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew White, Timothy Whitacre, Brian Gleason, Mohamed Youssef
  • Patent number: 10070204
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew White, Timothy Whitacre, Brian Gleason, Mohamed Youssef
  • Patent number: 10070205
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew White, Timothy Whitacre, Brian Gleason, Mohamed Youssef
  • Publication number: 20180045850
    Abstract: A signal method may include obtaining a first set of signal measurements, processing the first set of signal measurements into a phase reference obtaining a second set of signal measurements, the second set of signal measurements varying as a function of the phase reference, detecting an item of interest using the second set of signal measurements and the phase reference, and using the item of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Peter Smidth, Timothy Whitacre
  • Publication number: 20170359633
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew WHITE, Timothy WHITACRE, Brian GLEASON, MOHAMED YOUSSEF
  • Publication number: 20170332156
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew WHITE, Timothy WHITACRE, Brian GLEASON, MOHAMED YOUSSEF
  • Publication number: 20170332157
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Matthew WHITE, Timothy WHITACRE, Brian GLEASON, MOHAMED YOUSSEF
  • Patent number: 9749717
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SCIENTIFIC DRILLING INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew White, Timothy Whitacre, Brian Gleason, Mohamed Youssef
  • Publication number: 20160227298
    Abstract: A method may include providing one or more telemetry transmission systems, the one or more transmission systems comprising one or more receivers and one or more transmitters. The method may also include transmitting a first synchronization sequence from the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the first synchronization sequence transmitted in a first channel, and the first synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a first telemetry signal. In addition, the method may include transmitting a second synchronization sequence the one or more telemetry transmission systems, the second synchronization sequence transmitted in a second channel, and the second synchronization sequence being at least a portion of a second telemetry signal. The first and second synchronization sequences may be transmitted simultaneously or at a predetermined time difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew WHITE, Timothy WHITACRE, Brian GLEASON, MOHAMED YOUSSEF