Michael L Thornton

Address:

4646 Devon St, Houston, TX 77027

VIN:

5TENX22N27Z372634

Make:

TOYOTA

Model:

TACOMA

Year:

2007

US Patent:

6467731, Oct 22, 2002

Filed:

Mar 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/532587

Inventors:

Edward Nathan Harris - Denver CO
Daniel R. Morgenthaler - Littleton CO
Kenneth P. Romeo - Littleton CO
Michael A. Sasdelli - Uxbridge MA
Janine M. Thornton - Elizabeth CO
Michael G. Thornton - Elizabeth CO
William H. Willcockson - Morrison CO

Assignee:

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

B64G 162

US Classification:

244160, 244158 A

Abstract:

An integrated sample return capsule for use in returning materials to Earth from space, such as core samples from other celestial bodies and experiments from orbiting platforms. The sample return capsule incorporates thermal protection, structural integrity and impact mitigation into a single system capable of safely and securely returning the materials without requiring decelerating parachutes. In one embodiment, the integrated sample return capsule includes a forward facing heat shield and a back shell attached to the rear of the heat shield. The heat shield and the back shell define an interior enclosure. The back shell includes an access, such as a door or a removable panel, there through to the interior enclosure. Materials to be returned may be sealed in a sample containment vault, and the sealed vault may be placed into the interior enclosure through the access. An optional support deck may be provided within the interior enclosure for receiving the sample containment vault and supporting the vault within the interior enclosure.

US Patent:

7978563, Jul 12, 2011

Filed:

Aug 18, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/542784

Inventors:

Michael P. Thornton - Houston TX, US
Leo Eisner - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Microseismic, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 1/28

US Classification:

367 38, 702 14, 702 16

Abstract:

A method for seismic event mapping includes selecting a plurality of subvolumes representing possible locations of origin of a seismic event in the Earth's subsurface. For each subvolume a plurality of possible directions of motion of subsurface formations is selected. For each subvolume and each possible direction of motion, polarity correction is applied to seismic signals recorded at a plurality of positions proximate a volume of the Earth's subsurface to be evaluated. The polarity correction is based on the direction of motion and the position of each seismic sensor with respect to the subvolume. The recorded, polarity corrected seismic signal recordings are time aligned. The time aligned recordings are summed. A most likely direction of motion and subvolume position are determined based on a selected attribute of the summed, time aligned seismic signals.

US Patent:

8064288, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Jun 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/485084

Inventors:

Chuntao Liang - Houston TX, US
Michael P. Thornton - Houston TX, US
Peter Morton - Katy TX, US

Assignee:

Microseismic, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 1/36

US Classification:

367 45, 367 73, 702 17

Abstract:

A method for seismic event mapping includes adaptively velocity filtering seismic signals recorded at selected positions. The velocity filtered signals are transformed into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.

US Patent:

8218394, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Jun 16, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/485081

Inventors:

Chuntao Liang - Houston TX, US
Michael P. Thornton - Houston TX, US
Peter M. Duncan - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Microseismic, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01V 1/36

US Classification:

367 40, 367 43, 367 50, 702 17, 702 18

Abstract:

A method of imaging the Earth's subsurface using passive seismic interferometry tomography includes detecting seismic signals from within the Earth's subsurface over a time period using an array of seismic sensors, the seismic signals being generated by seismic events within the Earth's subsurface. The method further includes adaptively velocity filtering the detected signals. The method further includes cross-correlating the velocity filtered seismic signals to obtain a reflectivity series at a position of each of the seismic sensors.

US Patent:

20090296525, Dec 3, 2009

Filed:

May 27, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/127205

Inventors:

Leo Eisner - Prague, CZ
David Abbott - Highlands Ranch CO, US
William B. Barker - Houston TX, US
James Lakings - Houston TX, US
Michael P. Thornton - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01V 1/36

US Classification:

367 41

Abstract:

A method for determining presence of seismic events in seismic signals includes determining presence of at least one seismic event in seismic signals corresponding to each of a plurality of seismic sensors. A correlation window is selected for each of the plurality of seismic signals. Each correlation window has a selected time interval including an arrival time of the at least one seismic event in each seismic signal. Each window is correlated to the respective seismic signal between a first selected time and a second selected time. Presence of at least one other seismic event in the seismic signals from a result of the correlating.

US Patent:

20100238765, Sep 23, 2010

Filed:

Mar 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/407894

Inventors:

Vladimir GRECHKA - Missouri City TX, US
Petr KOLINSKY - Borovany, CZ
Leo EISNER - Houston TX, US
Peter M. DUNCAN - Houston TX, US
Michael P. THORNTON - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01V 1/00

US Classification:

367 38

Abstract:

A method for determining seismic anisotropy of subsurface rock formations includes measuring passive seismic signals at a plurality of locations above an area of the Earth's subsurface to be surveyed. The compressional- and shear-wave arrival times from at least one origin location of a seismic event occurring in the subsurface are determined from the measured seismic signals. The arrival times are inverted to obtain values of the seismic anisotropy parameters.

US Patent:

20110242934, Oct 6, 2011

Filed:

Apr 5, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/753919

Inventors:

Michael P. Thornton - Houston TX, US
Leo Eisner - Houston TX, US
Peter M. Duncan - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01V 1/28

US Classification:

367 14

Abstract:

A method for passive seismic surveying includes deploying seismic sensors in a plurality of spatially distributed wellbores disposed above a volume of subsurface formations to be evaluated. The sensors in each wellbore form a line of sensors. Each sensor generate optical or electrical signals in response to seismic amplitude. The seismic signals from each sensor are recorded for a selected period of time. The response of the seismic sensor recordings is beam steered to at least one of a selected point and a selected volume in the subsurface. At least one microseismic event is identified in the beam steered response.

US Patent:

20110286306, Nov 24, 2011

Filed:

May 21, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/784740

Inventors:

Leo Eisner - Houston TX, US
Michael P. Thornton - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G01V 1/28

US Classification:

367 47

Abstract:

A method for locating origin time, origin location and source mechanism of seismic events occurring in a selected volume of subsurface formations includes calculating a travel time from each possible origin location to each of a plurality of seismic receivers disposed above the volume in a selected pattern. A signal amplitude is measured by each receiver for each possible origin time at each possible origin location. The signal amplitude is determined from the continuously recorded data by calculating travel time delays for each possible origin location and origin time. The deviatoric moment tensors are determined from the signal amplitudes by moment tensor inversion restricted to deviatoric moment tensors. A norm for each deviatoric moment tensor is generated. An origin time, origin position and source mechanism of a seismic event is determined wherein any norm exceeds a selected threshold.