公开(公告)号：US12285292B2

公开(公告)日：2025-04-29

申请号：US17960820

申请日：2022-10-06

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Jay Roderick Hope

IPC: A61B8/00 ,  G01S15/89

Abstract: A device and method used to log images of target objects with ultrasound transducers. The object may be a fluid-carrying tubular, such as a pipeline. The transducers operate as phased arrays, insonifying areas of the target object with a plane wave and then storing the reflected signals. The signals are sampled and summed for each pixel, by considering various paths taken by the wave from transmitting to receiving via that pixel. Refraction and reflection from surfaces are used to determine segments of the paths.

公开(公告)号：US12146856B2

公开(公告)日：2024-11-19

申请号：US18703718

申请日：2023-11-20

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Graham Manders ,  Jay Roderick Hope

IPC: G01N29/04 ,  G01N29/26 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/44

Abstract: A device and method for non-destructive testing of an object, such as a pipe, well casing, plane wing, rail track, weldment, bridge or manufactured part. A phased array of ultrasonic transducers moves relative to the part in one direction, while transmitting a steered wave in another direction to capture the texture from the object's surface. Diffuse and specular components of the received reflection signals are separated and beamformed for visualization. The object is then viewable as a 3D image with a texture map of the object's surface.

公开(公告)号：US12013458B2

公开(公告)日：2024-06-18

申请号：US17519578

申请日：2021-11-05

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Michael Halpenny-Mason ,  Connor Vandenberg ,  Kelvin Wong

IPC: G01S15/00 ,  G01S15/58 ,  G01S15/86 ,  H04N7/18

CPC classification number: G01S15/86 ,  G01S15/582 ,  G01S15/586 ,  H04N7/18

Abstract: A device and method used to image conduits, such as pipes, wellbores and tubulars, with imaging sensors, such as cameras and ultrasound arrays. The speed and location of the device are determined using one or more speed sensor modules. Images are then registered to more precise axial locations along the conduit than are normally possible using wireline encoders or other methods. The conduit may be visualized to proper scale for improved analysis of defects.

公开(公告)号：US11542807B2

公开(公告)日：2023-01-03

申请号：US17151321

申请日：2021-01-18

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc

Inventor： Eric Zillinger

IPC: E21B47/002 ,  G06T7/00 ,  G01V1/48

Abstract: A device, system and method to process acoustic images of tubulars and wellbores. Corrections for real-world logging are calculated and stored in correction Look Up Tables (LUT), which are used to display projections or create geometric models of the wellbore or tubular. The user interface allows the user to interact with the projections to update the LUTs to operate on the images. This process helps correct for real-world challenges such as tool eccentricity, tool rotation, tool angle, and speed of sound differences in order to create a more intuitive rendering.

公开(公告)号：US20180266243A1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-20

申请号：US15765106

申请日：2016-10-06

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Osman S. MALIK ,  Graham T. MANDERS ,  Stephen E. ROBINSON

IPC: E21B47/16 ,  G01V1/52 ,  G01V1/50 ,  G01V1/46 ,  B06B1/06 ,  E21B47/09

Abstract: Methods and devices for imaging wells using phased array ultrasound imaging devices is described. The devices enable high resolution real-time imaging of a well during various operations in the well, including during completions, fracturing, milling, fishing and drilling operations. The phased array ultrasound imaging devices may be integrated with other well tools, such as a bottom hole assembly (BHA), fishing tools, milling tools, fracturing tools, and drilling tools, in order to integrate imaging capabilities into such tools.

公开(公告)号：US20180073353A1

公开(公告)日：2018-03-15

申请号：US15558946

申请日：2016-03-15

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Osman S. MALIK ,  Graham T. MANDERS ,  Stephen E. ROBINSON

IPC: E21B47/10 ,  E21B47/00

CPC classification number: E21B47/101 ,  E21B43/11 ,  E21B43/26 ,  E21B47/0002 ,  G01F1/663 ,  G01F1/74 ,  G01S15/88 ,  G01S15/8922 ,  G01S15/8929 ,  G01S15/8979 ,  G01S15/8988

Abstract: A device and method for imaging, measuring and identifying multiphase fluid flow in wellbores using phased array Doppler ultrasound. The device includes a radially-configured or ring-shaped ultrasound transducer that when deployed in a well in Doppler mode can measure the velocity of radially flowing fluids in the wellbore and generate a 3D image of radial flow in the wellbore, including flowback into the wellbore after fracturing operations, or flow leaving the wellbore during water injection operations. The ring-shaped ultrasound transducer can also simultaneously operate in a B-mode to generate a B-mode image of the wellbore liner upon which the Doppler image can be overlaid. The device may also include a forward facing ultrasound transducer either instead of or in place of the ring-shaped transducer for obtaining information and images on axial flow in the wellbore in Doppler mode, and the location of phase boundaries and phase locations in B-mode.

公开(公告)号：US20240416386A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-19

申请号：US18702816

申请日：2022-12-15

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Michael Halpenny-Mason ,  Jeffrey Scott Jordan

IPC: B06B1/06 ,  G01N29/24

Abstract: An acoustic device and method of manufacturing same. The device may be used to inspect tubulars and parts with high resolution. The acoustic device may include a 2D ultrasonic transducer layer and an ASIC connected to each other by an array of conductive wires. A non-conductive, acoustic damping material is flowed and set around the wires. to form a thick acoustic backing layer. Manufacturing the ultrasonic transducer may involve wire bonding. Electrical Discharge Machining or supporting rigid posts on a substrate. A surface of the backing layer may be machined. plated and diced to create conductive pads to connect the transducer layer to the wires then to the ASIC.

公开(公告)号：US20240153057A1

公开(公告)日：2024-05-09

申请号：US18385911

申请日：2023-11-01

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc

Inventor： Gaurav Handa ,  Sindhu Hari ,  Mengliu Zhao

IPC: G06T7/00 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G06T7/11 ,  G06T7/60 ,  G06V10/764 ,  G06V10/77 ,  G06V10/82 ,  G06V20/70

CPC classification number: G06T7/0002 ,  G01N29/0654 ,  G06T7/11 ,  G06T7/60 ,  G06V10/764 ,  G06V10/7715 ,  G06V10/82 ,  G06V20/70 ,  G01N2291/023 ,  G01N2291/105 ,  G06T2200/24 ,  G06T2207/10132 ,  G06T2207/20021 ,  G06T2207/20084 ,  G06T2207/20092

Abstract: Methods and system of characterizing perforations in a tubular. An imaging tool having an acoustic imaging probe transmits waves and receives acoustic reflections from the tubular. Image segments are processed from the acoustic data. A first trained neural network operates on the image segments to identify processed image segments containing a perforation. A second trained neural network operates on processed image segments containing a perforation to output the location of perforations along the tubular. Another trained neural network can calculate a geometric size of the perforations, such as their size or points along their contour.

公开(公告)号：US11725497B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-15

申请号：US16539866

申请日：2019-08-13

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Michael Halpenny-Mason ,  Matt James ,  Graham Manders

IPC: E21B47/002 ,  E21B47/017 ,  G01N23/203 ,  G01V3/34 ,  E21B47/107 ,  B25J9/02 ,  G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/22 ,  G01N29/26 ,  G01V5/12

CPC classification number: E21B47/002 ,  E21B47/0025 ,  E21B47/017 ,  B25J9/023 ,  E21B47/107 ,  G01N23/203 ,  G01N29/0654 ,  G01N29/225 ,  G01N29/262 ,  G01V3/34 ,  G01V5/125

Abstract: A device and method for manipulating a robotic end effector in a well. Actuators manipulate the end effector independently through multiple degrees of freedom to improve the perspective of the end effector. An imaging sensor may be used to image, measure and identify features of a well and objects located therein. The sensor may be an ultrasound transducer, camera or x-ray sensor arranged radially, axial or distributed over a 2D surface. The end effector may be connected to a tool, such as a fishing tool, a welder, a milling tool, or a repair tool.

公开(公告)号：US11644441B2

公开(公告)日：2023-05-09

申请号：US16783060

申请日：2020-02-05

Applicant: DarkVision Technologies Inc.

Inventor： Graham Manders ,  Michael Halpenny-Mason

IPC: G01N29/06 ,  G01N29/07 ,  G01N29/22 ,  G01N29/24 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/44

CPC classification number: G01N29/0654 ,  G01N29/07 ,  G01N29/225 ,  G01N29/245 ,  G01N29/265 ,  G01N29/44 ,  G01N2291/011 ,  G01N2291/0234 ,  G01N2291/0289 ,  G01N2291/106 ,  G01N2291/2636

Abstract: A system, device and method for imaging, measuring and identifying surface features in a tubular, such as a casing, wellbore, or pipe. The device comprises an ultrasound transducer for sonifying an area of the surface of the tubular, with a pulse intercepting axial locations of the sonified area at different times. Reflected signals are processed using their time of flight to interpret the reflected signals as axial locations of features on the surface of the tubular. Multiple sonified areas are partially overlapped in the axial direction to capture features redundantly. Reflections from the multiple areas are combined to remove noise and strengthen reflections from real features. A geometric model of the surface of the tubular is rendered and displayed. Capturing larger areas per frame increases the logging rate and oversampling improves the resolution and signal to noise ratio.