Memorial man among inventors patenting new method of using seismic data to find oil and gas

A new way of using seismic data to find hydrocarbons such as oil and natural gas has resulted in a U.S. patent for a Memorial man and his colleagues.

Oil and natural gas companies frequently use seismic data to find new sources of the valuable commodities. According to the patent, most seismic technology relies on measuring the reflection of sound, which sometimes can deliver flawed readings. The patent describes an alternative method that measures energy loss in part of the spectrum instead.

The inventors listed by the patent are Robert W. Wiley of Sugar Land, Scott W. Peters of the Alief area and Peter H. Wilson of the Memorial area. The three men are head of research and development, president and vice president, respectively, of Apex Spectral Technology, which is listed as the owner of the patent. The company, which specializes in software and services for the oil and gas industry, is headquartered at 10333 Ave. Richmond, Suite 440, in Houston.

The patent was originally filed on Sept. 24, 2007, and its official number is 7,876,643. The filers were represented in the process by Houston-based intellectual property law firm Osha Liang LLP; its offices are located at Two Houston Center, 909 Fannin, Suite 3500.