Patents by Inventor Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi

Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11073464
    Abstract: A method for characterizing wettability of a porous medium is described. A core sample of the porous medium is secured in a core holder, which includes a first end and a second end. A model of the core sample and a pore volume of the core sample are obtained. A wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying a non-wetting phase at one end of the core holder. The non-wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying the wetting phase at one end of the core holder. A saturation profile of the core sample is determined based on cross-sectional images of the core sample. A wettability index value is calculated at least based on a comparison of the saturation profile and the model of the core sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11035769
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10996155
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10996154
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10976274
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring wettability of a rock sample. One method includes: at each temperature of a plurality of temperatures, obtaining a first Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) surface relaxation time for a rock sample having a saturation level; determining a first temperature sensitivity based on the first NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperatures; at each temperature of the plurality of temperatures, obtaining a second NMR surface relaxation time for the rock sample that is saturated with oil; determining a second temperature sensitivity based on the second NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperature; and determining a wettability of the rock sample based on the first temperature sensitivity and the second temperature sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10969352
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10969353
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10921270
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring wettability of a rock sample. One method includes: at each temperature of a plurality of temperatures, obtaining a first Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) surface relaxation time for a rock sample having a saturation level; determining a first temperature sensitivity based on the first NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperatures; at each temperature of the plurality of temperatures, obtaining a second NMR surface relaxation time for the rock sample that is saturated with oil; determining a second temperature sensitivity based on the second NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperature; and determining a wettability of the rock sample based on the first temperature sensitivity and the second temperature sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20200158610
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10545105
    Abstract: A method of estimating a property of a porous media including: saturating a sample of the porous media with a fluid; spinning the sample in a centrifuge; obtaining a saturation profile of the sample; identifying a portion of the sample in which saturation of the sample is within 10% of a minimum saturation of the sample; and measuring a first property of the porous media on the identified portion of the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10533933
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20200011818
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring wettability of a rock sample. One method includes: at each temperature of a plurality of temperatures, obtaining a first Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) surface relaxation time for a rock sample having a saturation level; determining a first temperature sensitivity based on the first NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperatures; at each temperature of the plurality of temperatures, obtaining a second NMR surface relaxation time for the rock sample that is saturated with oil; determining a second temperature sensitivity based on the second NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperature; and determining a wettability of the rock sample based on the first temperature sensitivity and the second temperature sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20200011819
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring wettability of a rock sample. One method includes: at each temperature of a plurality of temperatures, obtaining a first Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) surface relaxation time for a rock sample having a saturation level; determining a first temperature sensitivity based on the first NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperatures; at each temperature of the plurality of temperatures, obtaining a second NMR surface relaxation time for the rock sample that is saturated with oil; determining a second temperature sensitivity based on the second NMR surface relaxation times and corresponding temperature; and determining a wettability of the rock sample based on the first temperature sensitivity and the second temperature sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20190391060
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20190369037
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20190369036
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10495589
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Publication number: 20190360908
    Abstract: A method for characterizing wettability of a porous medium is described. A core sample of the porous medium is secured in a core holder, which includes a first end and a second end. A model of the core sample and a pore volume of the core sample are obtained. A wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying a non-wetting phase at one end of the core holder. The non-wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying the wetting phase at one end of the core holder. A saturation profile of the core sample is determined based on cross-sectional images of the core sample. A wettability index value is calculated at least based on a comparison of the saturation profile and the model of the core sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Publication number: 20190353568
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10451530
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gas isotherm techniques to evaluate wettability of porous media, such as hydrocarbon reservoir rock, can include constructing a NMR gas isotherm curve for a porous media sample gas adsorption under various pressures. A hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the porous media sample can be determined using the NMR gas isotherm curves. A wettability of the porous media sample can be determined based on the NMR gas isotherm curve. The wettability can be determined for porous media samples with different pore sizes. In the case of reservoir rock samples, the determined wettability can be used, among other things, to model the hydrocarbon reservoir that includes such rock samples, to simulate fluid flow through such reservoirs, or to model enhanced hydrocarbon recovery from such reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi