Science Applications International Corporation

S-cubed

Maxwell Laboratories, Inc.

Systems, Science and Software

Edward W Peterson

Peter L Lagus

Richard A Grot

William O Hicks

A method and apparatus are described for responding to an emergency at a facility by analyzing a plurality of threat conditions to determine possible responses to an emergency and selecting a response to the emergency for minimizing human casualties within the facility. The present invention may be characterized in one embodiment as a method for generating an automated response to an emergency that includes the steps of (a) receiving as input threat condition data for a facility; (b) analyzing the threat condition data to determine a matrix of possible responses to an emergency; and (c) selecting a response from the matrix of possible responses to minimize human casualties.

Rapid threat response for minimizing human casualties within a facility

A method and apparatus are described for responding to a fire emergency at a facility by analyzing a plurality of fire threat conditions to determine possible responses to a fire emergency and selecting a response to the fire emergency for minimizing human casualties within the facility. The present invention may be characterized in one embodiment as a method for generating an automated response to an emergency that includes the steps of (a) receiving as input fire threat condition data for a facility; (b) analyzing the fire threat condition data to determine a matrix of possible responses to a fire emergency; and (c) selecting a response from the matrix of possible responses to minimize human casualties.

Rapid fire emergency response for minimizing human casualties within a facility

A method is disclosed for accurately measuring breakdown or fracture pressure by placing a variable volume device in immediate communication with a test interval formed in a borehole extending through an underground formation. Expansion of the variable volume device increases pressure in the test interval to the fracture pressure of the formation. The fracture pressure may be accurately measured by monitoring pressure in the test interval, expansion of the variable volume device then preferably being terminated in order to minimize the extent of fracture within the formation.

Method of measuring fracture pressure in underground formations

A method is disclosed for initiating or causing fracture of an underground formation. An isolated interval, with an adjacent guard region at either or both ends is formed by a suitable packer assembly. Pressure and/or flow within the test interval is then increased to initiate fracture while conditions such as pressure and/or flow are monitored within the test interval and guard region or regions to detect fracture propagation relative to the borehole axis.

Method of hydrofracture in underground formations

A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring flow conditions in boreholes or the like wherein a test interval is defined by a packer system and contains a substantially incompressible fluid or liquid making it difficult to conduct measurements from the surface. According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, a variable volume device is arranged within the test interval along with a suitable flow monitor which may comprise the variable volume device itself, the variable volume device being operable to limit pressure variation within the test interval and thereby minimize compliance effects over a predetermined test period. Preferably, the variable volume device is coupled with a pressure monitor for maintaining substantially constant pressure in the test interval. In different embodiments, an initial pressure differential is established between the test interval and the surrounding formation by operation of the same variable volume device or by means of a second variable volume device. Where the test interval is defined by a guarded straddle packer forming a guard zone at one or both ends of the test interval, the apparatus and method of the invention may be employed for monitoring flow conditions in a guard zone or guard zones with or without corresponding use of the method and apparatus in the test interval.

Method and apparatus for monitoring borehole conditions

A method and apparatus for in situ measurement of flow characteristics in boreholes or the like is disclosed for determining various formation characteristics such as permeability, particularly in the range of approximately 100-1,000 microdarcies and lower. One embodiment of the method and apparatus contemplates formation of a test interval in the borehole by a pair of expandable packers, additional guard zones being formed in the borehole at either end of the test interval by two additional guard packers, suitable flow conditions being simultaneously and separately measured within the test interval and each of the guard zones in order to permit determination of multidirectional components of permeability, porosity and other characteristics of the particular formation. Another embodiment contemplates whole hole testing where similar data is developed for a test interval formed between a single packer and the end of the borehole and one guard zone formed by a single additional guard packer. The method and apparatus of this invention are particularly contemplated for obtaining unambiguous measurements of multidirectional flow in low permeability formations.

Growing community of inventors

Del Mar, CA, United States of America

Edward W Peterson