John A Macpherson

US Patent:

6732052, May 4, 2004

Filed:

Sep 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/965958

Inventors:

Robert P. Macdonald - Houston TX
Volker Krueger - Celle, DE
Vladimir Dubinsky - Houston TX
John D. MacPherson - Sugar Land TX
Dmitriy Dashevskiy - Boye, DE

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 140

US Classification:

702 6, 175 24

Abstract:

The present invention provides a drilling system that utilizes a neural network for predictive control of drilling operations. A downhole processor controls the operation of the various devices in a bottom hole assembly to effect changes to drilling parameters and drilling direction to autonomously optimize the drilling effectiveness. The neural network iteratively updates a prediction model of the drilling operations and provides recommendations for drilling corrections to a drilling operator.

US Patent:

6847585, Jan 25, 2005

Filed:

Oct 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/974960

Inventors:

John D. Macpherson - Sugar Land TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 140
H04R 1700

US Classification:

367 82, 367 76, 166 73, 175 40, 175 50

Abstract:

The present invention is a method of transmitting one or more acoustic signals in a drill string using PSK, ASK, FSK or MSFK. The method includes determining one or more stopbands and one or more passbands by testing or modeling the drill string. Two modulating frequencies are selected that are equidistant about a carrier frequency, and which are located within at least one passband. Data representative of downhole measurements or calculations are converted to signals to be transmitted at the modulating frequencies.

US Patent:

6898967, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Sep 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/654410

Inventors:

John Macpherson - Sugar Land TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B049/00

US Classification:

7315205, 324338

Abstract:

A method of measuring resistivity values in relation to the azimuthal displacement of a measurement sensor displayed on a measurement-while-drilling device in a wellbore environment is disclosed. The present invention also provides an instantaneous reading of resistivity values. A resistivity sensor measures a volume having a circular cross-section, and whose center is the geometric center of the tool. Averaging removes measurement errors, such as those due to tool motion. Information on the formation resistivity is obtained as a function of the location of the center of the tool. A method of acoustic standoff determines offset of the drill tool and distances to walls. The operator gains knowledge of bedding layer formation and dip from azimuthal dependence of standoff and resistivity values.

US Patent:

7477161, Jan 13, 2009

Filed:

May 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/431736

Inventors:

John D. Macpherson - Sugar Land TX, US
Frank W. Shepard - Houston TX, US
Ralf Zaeper - Hannover, DE
Volker Krueger - Celle, DE

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

3408533, 324338, 342350

Abstract:

A system and method for communicating data between a downhole tool and a surface controller is provided that comprises a rotating drill string extending in a borehole and having a downhole telemetry module disposed proximate a bottom end thereof and transmitting a first signal across a telemetry channel. A surface telemetry module is disposed proximate a top end of the rotating drill string and is adapted to receive the first signal transmitted by the downhole telemetry module across the transmission channel. The surface telemetry module has a radio frequency transmitter disposed therein for transmitting a second signal related to the first signal. A stationary communication module has a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive the second signal.

US Patent:

7503403, Mar 17, 2009

Filed:

Dec 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/016417

Inventors:

Pushkar Jogi - Houston TX, US
Michael Neubert - Braunschweig, DE
John D. MacPherson - Sugar Land TX, US
James Hood - Houston TX, US
Thomas Dahl - Schwuelper, DE
Volker Krueger - Celle, DE
Andrew G. Brooks - Tomball TX, US
Gerald Heisig - Braunschweig, DE

Assignee:

Baker Hughes, Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 47/02

US Classification:

175 45, 175 61

Abstract:

A system for drilling a well comprises a tubular member having a bottomhole assembly at a bottom end thereof disposed in a wellbore. A first sensor is disposed in the bottomhole assembly at a predetermined axial location for detecting bending in a first axis and generating a first bending signal in response thereto, where the first axis is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the bottomhole assembly. A second sensor is disposed in the bottomhole assembly at the predetermined axial location for detecting bending in a second axis and generating a second bending signal in response thereto, where the second axis is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A processor receives the first bending signal and the second bending signal and relates the first bending signal and the second bending signal to a borehole curvature according to programmed instructions.

US Patent:

7650241, Jan 19, 2010

Filed:

Feb 17, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/357332

Inventors:

Pushkar Jogi - Houston TX, US
Joachim Oppelt - Niedersachsen, DE
Gerald Heisig - Lower Saxony, DE
Volker Krueger - Niedersachsen, DE
John Macpherson - Sugar Land TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 5/06
G01V 3/18

US Classification:

702 9, 702 6, 175 40, 175 50

Abstract:

A drilling system provides indications of the lithology of the formation being drilled by dynamically measuring at least one parameter of interest that is affected by the lithology of the formation being drilled. Suitably positioned sensors make dynamic measurements of parameters such as downhole weight on bit, bit torque, bit revolutions, rate of penetration and bit axial acceleration. One or more processors use the sensor measurements in conjunction with predetermined lithological models to determine whether the measurements indicate a change in formation lithology. Suitable models can be on derived expressions such as rock drillability, drilling response, dynamic drilling response, normalized or dimensionless torque; and formation shear strength. The lithological indications provided by the processor can be used to adjust drilling parameters, steer the BHA, monitor BHA health, and provide depth locations for bed boundaries and formation interfaces.

US Patent:

7694558, Apr 13, 2010

Filed:

Feb 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/028913

Inventors:

Ralf Zaeper - Hannover, DE
John D. Macpherson - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 47/06
E21B 21/08

US Classification:

7315251, 7315221, 7315222

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a downhole washout. The method includes, positioning a plurality of sensors along a downhole drillstring, communicatively coupling the plurality of sensors to a processor, and analyzing data sensed by the plurality of sensors with the processor for relationships indicative of a washout.

US Patent:

8256534, Sep 4, 2012

Filed:

Apr 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/432834

Inventors:

Chakradhar R. Byreddy - Houston TX, US
Dmitriy Dashevskiy - Nienhagen, DE
John D. Macpherson - Spring TX, US
Nimish Tambe - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 44/00
E21B 45/00
G06F 17/50
G06G 7/50

US Classification:

175 57, 175 27, 175 45, 703 1, 703 9

Abstract:

A system for optimizing a rate-of-penetration of a drill string includes a plurality of sensors in operable communication with the drill string; and a controller in operable communication with the plurality of sensors. The controller is connectable to a drill string motivator and capable of outputting a signal to the drill string motivator for optimizing the rate-of-penetration of the drill string, and the signal is configured to provide at least one of weight on bit, an amount of speed to rotate the drill string, an amount of torque to be applied to the drill string, and an amount of mudflow to the drill string.