Intelligent Sciences Ltd.

Acoustic Zoom, Inc.

Pangeo Subsea, Inc.

Smartcone Technologies, Inc.

Kraken Robotics Services Ltd.

Nicholas G Pace

Jacques Y Guigné

James A Stacey

Jacques Y Guigne

Adam Gogacz

Andre A Pant

Gary Dinn

Jostein Aleksandersen

Jacques Y Gulgné

James A Wright

James A (deceased) Wright

Gary J Dinn

Jacques Y GuignÉ

A sub-bottom geophysical imaging apparatus includes a carriage assembly having at least one acoustic transmitter, and at least one acoustic receiver proximate the transmitter. A position determining transponder is mounted on the carriage. A plurality of position transponders is disposed at spaced apart positions to communicate with the transponder mounted on the carriage. A pair of tracks is provided for moving the carriage to selected positions above the bottom. Electrodes are provided for a resistivity sensor and a shear acoustic transmitter and receiver disposed in at least one of the pair of tracks. A signal processing unit is configured to coherently stack and beam steer signals detected by the line array, the electrodes and the shear transmitter and receiver. The signal processing unit is configured to record signals detected by the line array of acoustic receivers, the electrodes and the shear acoustic transmitter and receiver.

Discrete volumetric acoustic and resistivity method and apparatus for sub-seabed surveying

A method for determining position of an aircraft with reference to a location on the ground includes transmitting an acoustic signal from a position on the aircraft to an array of spaced apart acoustic sensors proximate the location. The method includes at least one of (i) determining a time difference of arrival of the acoustic signal between each of the acoustic sensors and a reference acoustic sensor and (ii) determining an arrival time of the acoustic signal at each of the spaced apart acoustic sensors. The position of the aircraft is determined from the time differences of arrival and/or the arrival times.

Aircraft acoustic position and orientation detection method and apparatus

A method for determining a spatial position of an object includes obtaining an image with at least one camera. The object is identified in the image. At least one of a pixel size of the object in the image and a pixel offset of the object from a center of an image plane of the at least one camera is determined. A distance between the object and the camera image plane is determined using either the pixel size and the pixel offset. The spatial position is determined using the distance and at least one known distance between the object and another element of the image.

Optics based multi-dimensional target and multiple object detection and tracking method

A method for locating diffractors in subsurface formations includes actuating at least two seismic energy sources at spaced apart locations. Seismic energy is detected in the formations resulting from actuation of the two sources. Signals corresponding to the detected seismic energy are processed to remove components related to direct arrivals from each source. Arrival times of seismic energy in the signals corresponding to energy diffracted from at least one diffractor are identified. The at least one is located diffractor in a plane using the identified arrival times.

Method for locating seismic diffractors in subsurface formations from a wellbore

A method for seismic surveying includes disposing a plurality of seismic sensors in a selected pattern above an area of the Earth's subsurface. A seismic energy source is repeatedly actuated proximate the seismic sensors. A signal used to actuate the source comprises a linear chirp having a starting frequency and an ending frequency less than twice the starting frequency. Recorded signals are processed to generate an image corresponding to at least one point in the subsurface, the processing includes stacking recordings from each sensor for a plurality of actuations of the source, cross correlating the stacked signals with an expected signal generated by non linearities in the subsurface and beam steering a response of the seismic sensors such that the at least one point is equivalent to a focal point of a response of the plurality of sensors.

Method for acoustic imaging of the earth's subsurface using non-linear signal generation and detection

A method for imaging formations below the bottom of a body of water includes imparting acoustic energy into the formations along a predetermined length swath at a selected geodetic position. Acoustic energy reflected from the formations is detected along a line parallel to the length of the swath. The selected geodetic position is moved a selected distance transverse to the length of the swath. The imparting acoustic energy, detecting acoustic energy and moving the geodetic position are repeated until a selected distance transverse to the length of the swath is traversed. The detected acoustic energy from all the selected geodetic positions is coherently stacked. The detected acoustic energy is beam steered to each of a plurality of depths and positions along the length of the swath to generate an image for each such depth and position.

Discrete volumetric sonar method and apparatus for sub-seabed surveying

A method for seismic surveying includes disposing a plurality of seismic sensors in a selected pattern above an area of the Earth's subsurface to be evaluated. A seismic energy source is repeatedly actuated proximate the seismic sensors. Signals generated by the seismic sensors, indexed in time with respect to each actuation of the seismic energy source are recorded. The recorded signals are processed to generate an image corresponding to at least one point in the subsurface. The processing includes stacking recordings from each sensor for a plurality of actuations of the source and beam steering a response of the seismic sensors such that the at least one point is equivalent to a focal point of a response of the plurality of sensors.

Method for acoustic imaging of the earth's subsurface using a fixed position sensor array and beam steering

A system for imaging rock formations while drilling a wellbore includes a drill collar and a plurality of acoustic emitting transducers mounted in the drill collar at angularly spaced apart locations and oriented to emit acoustic energy at least one of laterally away from the drill collar and longitudinally away from the drill collar. A plurality of arrays of acoustic transducers arranged is longitudinally along the drill collar and angularly spaced apart from each other. Each transducer in the plurality of arrays is oriented normal to a longitudinal axis of the collar. Angular spacing between adjacent arrays is selected to provide lateral beam steered receiving response having a selected main lobe width and side lobe response for a plurality of rock formation acoustic velocities. A controller selectively actuates the emitting acoustic transducers at selected times. The controller beam steers response of the plurality of arrays of transducers to detect reflected acoustic energy from the emitting acoustic transducers.

Imaging subsurface formations while wellbore drilling using beam steering for improved image resolution

A helicopter position location system includes a receiver located substantially in a center of an array of receivers. A first array of receivers is located in a selected pattern separated from the center receiver by a first distance. Selected receivers in the first array are spaced apart from each other by at most one half wavelength of a base frequency of a locator signal transmitted from a helicopter. A second array of receivers is located in a selected pattern by a second distance larger than the first distance. A transmitter on the transmits a signal having a base frequency and a plurality of hop frequencies A processor in signal communication with the receivers is configured to determine phase difference with respect to frequency between any pair of receivers, to determine time delay of arrival based on the phase difference with respect to frequency, to beam steer response of the selected receivers, and to use the beam steered response and time delay of arrival between pairs of receivers to determine a position of the helicopter.

Short baseline helicopter positioning radar for low visibility using combined phased array and phase difference array receivers

A method for characterizing fluid pumping effects on a subsurface formation includes (a) during pumping of fluid into the subsurface formation, detecting passive seismic signals related to fractures created in the subsurface formation. (b) A place of origin of the passive seismic signals is determined. (c) A seismic energy source is actuated for a plurality of actuations and an output thereof is beam steered toward the place of origin. (d) At least one acoustic property is determined for the place of origin using signals detected as a result of the plurality of actuations. The detected signals are beam steered toward the place of origin and are stacked over the plurality of actuations. (a), (b), (c) and (d) are repeated until the pumping is completed.

Method for combined active source and passive seismic imaging for subsurface fluid movement mapping and formation characterization

An acoustic energy source for imparting acoustic energy into the Earth's subsurface includes an electrically driven transducer coupled to a source of swept frequency alternating current. A tunable Helmholtz resonator is disposed proximate the transducer. In one example, the resonator has a tuning device configured to maintain a resonant frequency substantially equal to an instantaneous frequency of the alternating current. The tuning device includes an actuator coupled to a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is disposed over selected numbers of openings in a wall of a tube on the resonator. The transducer and the resonator are disposed in a wellbore drilled through rock formations. The wellbore has a plurality of layers of fluid therein, each layer thereof having a different density and/or viscosity.

Seismic source which incorporates earth coupling as part of the transmitter resonance

A method for determining position and orientation of a rotating wing aircraft (e.g. helicopter) with respect to a ground station includes transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the aircraft. The signal includes a plurality of electromagnetic signals, each signal having a different selected frequency. The signal is detected at an array of sensors disposed on the ground surface in a selected pattern. The array includes at least one reference sensor and at least three spaced apart time difference determination sensors. A difference in arrival time of the signals between the reference sensor and each of the time difference determination sensors is determined and a spatial position of the aircraft is determined from the time differences.

Short baseline helicopter positioning radar for low visibility

A method and apparatus for radially cutting tubulars in a downhole environment by emitting acoustic energy into the jet, the acoustic energy having a wavelength selected such that the jet acts as a waveguide, detecting reflected acoustic energy in the jet, and determining the depth of cut from a travel time of the acoustic energy.

Acoustic imaging while cutting

A method for identifying position of acoustic source proximate sediments below the bottom of a body of water includes deploying a plurality of arrays of acoustic sensors on the bottom of the body of water. Each array includes a plurality of lines of acoustic sensors disposed in a substantially radial pattern. The arrays have a center to center distance therebetween of about twice a diameter of each of the arrays. Signals are detected from each of the sensors for a selected time period. A direction of the acoustic source with respect to each of the arrays is determined by steering a response of the sensors in each array. A range of the acoustic source is determined using the determined directions.

Method for identifying gas leaks using a stationary seabed placed steered beamformed acoustic antenna with active narrow beam transmitter interrogation capability

A system of determining a position of a mobile device within a surveillance volume includes a phase difference array comprising a spatially diverse array of N sensors for detecting RF signals from the mobile device and acquiring phase difference data from the RF signals, N being greater than 4. The system includes a processor for processing the phase difference data and determining the position of the mobile device from the phase difference data.

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Bath, United Kingdom

Nicholas G Pace