Douglas W Hanson

US Patent:

6792598, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Sep 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/951377

Inventors:

William Meredith Menger - Houston TX
Charles Ivan Burch - Ponca City OK
Karen Pauline Goodger - Ponca City OK
Maximillian McCalla Burton - Ponca City OK
Thomas R. Stoeckley - Ponca City OK
Donna Kay Vunderink - Burbank OK
Richard Salisbury Day - Ponca City OK
Douglas Wade Hanson - Ponca City OK
Michael L. Sherrill - Newkirk OK

Assignee:

ConocoPhillips Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G06F 945

US Classification:

717136, 717123, 345762

Abstract:

An integrated source code file and a method and apparatus for creating a computer program from the integrated source code file. The integrated source code file is stored on a computer readable medium and the computer program created therefrom is executable by a computer system having a front-end for interfacing with a user, and a back-end for performing batch functions. The computer program comprises instructions for performing a function, which requires at least one parameter for its operation. The computer program further comprises instructions for validating the parameter, the instructions adapted to run on both the front-end and the back-end. The computer program also comprises graphical user interface information for creating a graphical user interface, which can be used to receive the parameter. The computer program still further comprises a documentation section for providing information related to the function, which is adapted for display via the graphical user interface.

US Patent:

50671138, Nov 19, 1991

Filed:

Oct 30, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/606378

Inventors:

Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK
Shein S. Wang - Ponca City OK
William S. Harlan - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 128
G01V 130

US Classification:

367 50

Abstract:

A method for rapidly and efficiently generating traveltime tables for application in depth migration initially includes receiving a velocity model which may include a plurality of velocities in multiple layers between various subsurface reflectors. The model is plotted on a two dimensional grid with the subsurface reflectors identified. A traveltime to the first reflector is determined. Traveltimes from the sources on each layer boundary to all grid points above the next reflector are determined. For the initial iteration, the layer boundary is the surface and the source is the actual source used in shooting the line. For layers below the surface there will be more than one source or secondary source. The actual determination of traveltimes for these lower layers may be done by comparing the traveltimes to all points on the first reflector. The minimum traveltime is selected as the true traveltime to the first reflector.

US Patent:

52650685, Nov 23, 1993

Filed:

Dec 21, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/994791

Inventors:

Shein S. Wang - Ponca City OK
Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 128

US Classification:

367 73

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for rapidly and efficiently generating traveltime tables from complex velocity models for application in depth migration. Initially, a velocity model is received which may include a plurality of velocities with various subsurface reflectors or boundaries. The model is plotted with the boundaries defining closed area cells within the model, with the cells having given velocity structures. The outside of each cell, or the cell wall, is made up of a series of segments. In the first basic step, traveltimes are computed from a preselected source location to each sample point on each segment. In this step, the order of processing all the cells is important. Therefore, the present method proceeds from those cells that are closest to the source location first to those cells that are further away in an expanding wave front from the source location. In the second basic step, the model is plotted on a two dimensional grid and the traveltime to each grid point inside each cell is generated using traveltime values from the segments surrounding the cell.

US Patent:

52299384, Jul 20, 1993

Filed:

Jun 28, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/373355

Inventors:

John B. Sinton - Ponca City OK
Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 100

US Classification:

364421

Abstract:

A method for obtaining two way travel times for source and receiver pairs includes the steps of determining a set of one way travel times for each source to a plurality of image points and a set of one way travel times for each receiver to the plurality of image points. Ray sets are generated for both the sources and receivers. Travel times from a surface position to image points are computed by two point interpolation using the ray sets. Two way travel time is computed by summing two sets, one set each for the source and receiver positions. A two way travel time set is obtained for a particular source and receiver combination for all imaging points.

US Patent:

49808664, Dec 25, 1990

Filed:

Nov 30, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/444509

Inventors:

Shein S. Wang - Ponca City OK
Thomas D. Cavanaugh - Ponca City OK
Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 136

US Classification:

367 52

Abstract:

In applying residual movement correction to common offset depth migrated data, common offset depth migration is applied using the best available velocity/depth model. Post migrated parts, which are depth migrated common midpoint gathers, are saved. The post migrated parts are treated as if they were in time not depth. Normal movement based on a constant velocity is removed. Velocity functions time-velocity pairs, are derived for the post migrated parts with normal movement removed using a standard velocity analysis program. Normal moveout based on these velocity functions is applied. The events on the post migrated parts ae not imaged to the same depth. The corrected post migrated parts are then stacked and displayed.

US Patent:

51288990, Jul 7, 1992

Filed:

Jul 16, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/731824

Inventors:

Mark Boyd - Ponca City OK
Shein S. Wang - Ponca City OK
James M. Tippett - Ponca City OK
Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 136

US Classification:

367 50

Abstract:

A method for removing residual moveout includes sorting the results of common offset depth migration into common image point gathers. A subset of image point gathers are selected for analysis. Each common image point gather is separated vertically into windows, each of which centers on a strong event. For each window, all the offset traces are summed to produce a brute stack trace to be used as an anchor. All offsets are cross-correlated to the anchor to determine how much each trace window should be shifted to sum most constructively with the anchor. A set of dynamic shifts is produced, which when applied, will remove the residual moveouts and produce a truly flat image for stacking. These shifts vary with depth and offset and can be interpolated between the selected image point gathers.

US Patent:

50620860, Oct 29, 1991

Filed:

Aug 27, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/573595

Inventors:

William S. Harlan - Ponca City OK
Shein S. Wang - Ponca City OK
Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 128

US Classification:

367 38

Abstract:

A method for calculation of raypaths and wavepaths from traveltime tables for the tomographic estimation of transmission velocities includes picking the earliest traveltime of waves transmitted between different source and receivers locations. A velocity model that describes transmission velocities in a region of interest is obtained. Traveltime from each source position to each point in the region of interest and traveltimes from each receiver loaction to each point in the region of interest are extrapolated. The extrapolated traveltimes from the source and receiver to each point in the region of interest are added together to quantify the path of a wave between one source and one receiver. All points in the region of interest whose total traveltimes are less than half a wavelength greater than the minimum traveltime are found. A representative raypath that passes through the center of the estimated wavepath region for each source and receiver location are saved.

US Patent:

50899945, Feb 18, 1992

Filed:

Feb 14, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/656546

Inventors:

Wiliam S. Harlan - Ponca City OK
Douglas W. Hanson - Ponca City OK

Assignee:

Conoco Inc. - Ponca City OK

International Classification:

G01V 128
G01V 136

US Classification:

367 73

Abstract:

A method for improving velocity models so that constant-offset migrations estimate consistent positions for reflectors includes tomographic estimation of seismic transmission velocities from constant-offset depth migrations. A method of converting inconsistencies in reflector positioning from constant-offset migrations into equivalent errors in modeled travel times is introduced, so that conventional methods of traveltime tomography can improve the velocity model. An improved velocity model allows a more accurate migrated image of the subsurface. The estimated velocity model can also detect anomalous regions of geologic significance, such as low velocity gas accumulations and irregular near surface weathering. In an alternate embodiment the procedure can be iterative and allow alternating improvements in the positions of reflectors and in the velocity model.