Patents by Inventor William B. Underhill

William B. Underhill 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: 9546548
    Abstract: A distributed acoustic wave detection system and method is provided. The system may include a fiber optic cable deployed in a well and configured to react to pressure changes resulting from a propagating acoustic wave and an optical source configured to launch interrogating pulses into the fiber optic cable. In addition, the system may include a receiver configured to detect coherent Rayleigh noise produced in response to the interrogating pulses. The CRN signal may be used to track the propagation of the acoustic waves in the well. Such capability allows the location of the cement sheath, as well as measuring the bonding of cement to at least a casing string at least partially surrounded by a cement sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Arthur H. Hartog, William B. Underhill, Simon Severance, Samantha Rist
  • Patent number: 9310505
    Abstract: A technique includes providing a source in a first well and a seismic receiver in a second well to detect a seismic event that is caused by the source. The technique includes referencing clocks in the source and receiver to a common reference time frame and determining a time in the reference time frame at which the seismic source generates the seismic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Underhill, Scott W. Leaney, David Gerez, Alfredo Fayard
  • Patent number: 9069099
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring microseismic activity in a formation. The method and apparatus include placing a tool string having a shuttle including a sensor thereon in a stimulation well, and activating the shuttle to acoustically couple the sensor to an inner surface of a casing. The sensor is acoustically decoupled from the tool string. Fluid is then injected into the formation via the tool string. The sensor is reengaged with the tool string. The tool string may then be removed from the stimulation well or moved to another position along the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Francois M. Auzerais, William B. Underhill, Theodore Bruce Lafferty, Jr., Peter Airey
  • Publication number: 20130194892
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of sensor assemblies that are adapted to be deployed in a wellbore and acquire sensor data indicative of microseismic activity due to a hydraulic fracturing operation in the wellbore. At least one of the sensor assemblies includes a command interface and at least one sensor and is adapted to use the command interface to identify a command stimulus that is communicated downhole and initiate an acquisition by the sensor in response to identifying the command stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel Golparian, William B. Underhill
  • Publication number: 20120127827
    Abstract: A technique includes providing a source in a first well and a seismic receiver in a second well to detect a seismic event that is caused by the source. The technique includes referencing clocks in the source and receiver to a common reference time frame and determining a time in the reference time frame at which the seismic source generates the seismic event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: William B. Underhill, Scott W. Leaney, David Gerez, Alfredo Fayard
  • Patent number: 8107317
    Abstract: A technique includes providing a source in a first well and a seismic receiver in a second well to detect a seismic event that is caused by the source. The technique includes referencing clocks in the source and receiver to a common reference time frame and determining a time in the reference time frame at which the seismic source generates the seismic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Underhill, Scott W. Leaney, David Gerez, Alfredo Fayard
  • Publication number: 20110188348
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring microseismic activity in a formation. The method and apparatus include placing a tool string having a shuttle including a sensor thereon in a stimulation well, and activating the shuttle to acoustically couple the sensor to an inner surface of a casing. The sensor is acoustically decoupled from the tool string. Fluid is then injected into the formation via the tool string. The sensor is reengaged with the tool string. The tool string may then be removed from the stimulation well or moved to another position along the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: FRANCOIS M. AUZERAIS, WILLIAM B. UNDERHILL, THEODORE BRUCE LAFFERTY, JR., PETER AIREY
  • Publication number: 20080159075
    Abstract: A technique includes providing a source in a first well and a seismic receiver in a second well to detect a seismic event that is caused by the source. The technique includes referencing clocks in the source and receiver to a common reference time frame and determining a time in the reference time frame at which the seismic source generates the seismic event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: William B. Underhill, Scott W. Leaney, David Gerez, Alfredo Fayard
  • Patent number: 6655458
    Abstract: A well logging instrument is disclosed which includes a housing operatively coupled to a well logging conveyance and movable within the wellbore. The housing has therein a formation testing system and an axial extension mechanism. The axial extension mechanism controllably extends and retracts to allow the formation testing system to perform tests and take samples in an axially fixed position in the wellbore while the housing moves through the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew L. Kurkjian, John B. Elmer, William B. Underhill
  • Publication number: 20030085035
    Abstract: A well logging instrument is disclosed which includes a housing operatively coupled to a well logging conveyance and movable within the wellbore. The housing has therein a formation testing system and an axial extension mechanism. The axial extension mechanism controllably extends and retracts to allow the formation testing system to perform tests and take samples in an axially fixed position in the wellbore while the housing moves through the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Inventors: Andrew L. Kurkjian, John B. Elmer, William B. Underhill
  • Patent number: 6308137
    Abstract: An apparatus for communication with a downhole tool includes uphole and downhole equipment. The uphole equipment includes a signal source (or array) coupled to a programmable triggering system and a precision clock. Optionally, the uphole equipment may include receivers for capturing reference signals near the source and may include telemetry equipment for receiving MWD signals from the downhole equipment. The downhole equipment includes one or more receivers, signal processing equipment, memory, and a precision clock. Optionally, the downhole equipment also includes MWD telemetry equipment for transmitting data to the surface. The methods of the invention include, but are not limited to, synchronizing the recordation of signals detected downhole with the firing of the signal source and processing the recorded signals to eliminate useless information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: William B. Underhill, Cengiz Esmersoy, Brian Clark, Jean-Michel Hache