Patents by Inventor Colin M. Sayers
Colin M. Sayers 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).
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Patent number: 10816686Abstract: A method can include receiving values of an inversion based at least in part on seismic amplitude variation with azimuth (AVAz) data for a region of a geologic environment; based at least in part on the received values, computing values that depend on components of a second-rank tensor aij; selecting a fracture height for fractures in the geologic environment; selecting an azimuth for a first fracture set of the fractures; based at least in part on the values for the second-rank tensor aij, the fracture height and the selected azimuth, determining an azimuth for a second fracture set of the fractures; and generating a discrete fracture network (DFN) for at least a portion of the region of the geologic environment where the discrete fracture network (DFN) includes fractures of the first fracture set and fractures of the second fracture set.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Lennert David den Boer, Colin M. Sayers
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Patent number: 10444389Abstract: A method can include deriving a cloud of microseismic events corresponding to a fracturing operation in an environment by spatially locating the microseismic events in the environment via a seismic velocity model; extracting a set of fracture planes from the microseismic cloud; assigning characteristics to the fracture planes; determining a second-rank fracture compliance tensor and a fourth-rank fracture compliance tensor based on the characteristics of the fracture planes; determining a change in elastic stiffness of the environment using the second-rank fracture compliance tensor and the fourth-rank compliance tensor; and updating the seismic velocity model based at least in part on the change in the elastic stiffness of the environment or determining permeability in the environment based at least in part on fracture plane locations, orientations and apertures. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Colin M. Sayers, Lennert D. Den Boer
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Publication number: 20180203146Abstract: A method can include receiving values of an inversion based at least in part on seismic amplitude variation with azimuth (AVAz) data for a region of a geologic environment; based at least in part on the received values, computing values that depend on components of a second-rank tensor ?ij, selecting a fracture height for fractures in the geologic environment; selecting an azimuth for a first fracture set of the fractures; based at least in part on the values for the second-rank tensor ?ij; the fracture height and the selected azimuth, determining an azimuth for a second fracture set of the fractures; and generating a discrete fracture network (DFN) for at least a portion of the region of the geologic environment where the discrete fracture network (DFN) includes fractures of the first fracture set and fractures of the second fracture set.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2016Publication date: July 19, 2018Inventors: Lennert David den Boer, Colin M. Sayers
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Publication number: 20160154129Abstract: A method can include deriving a cloud of microseismic events corresponding to a fracturing operation in an environment by spatially locating the microseismic events in the environment via a seismic velocity model; extracting a set of fracture planes from the microseismic cloud; assigning characteristics to the fracture planes; determining a second-rank fracture compliance tensor and a fourth-rank fracture compliance tensor based on the characteristics of the fracture planes; determining a change in elastic stiffness of the environment using the second-rank fracture compliance tensor and the fourth-rank compliance tensor; and updating the seismic velocity model based at least in part on the change in the elastic stiffness of the environment or determining permeability in the environment based at least in part on fracture plane locations, orientations and apertures. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Colin M. SAYERS, Lennert D. DEN BOER
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Patent number: 8780671Abstract: Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2010Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Colin M. Sayers
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Publication number: 20110295508Abstract: Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2010Publication date: December 1, 2011Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Donald W. Lee, Lennert D. den Boer, Colin M. Sayers, Patrick J. Hooyman
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Patent number: 7869954Abstract: Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorpInventors: Lennert D. den Boer, Colin M. Sayers
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Patent number: 7679993Abstract: A method of characterizing a fractured reservoir in a field includes measuring seismic reflection coefficient of the fractured reservoir as a function of angle of incidence and azimuth, predicting seismic reflection coefficient of the fractured reservoir as a function of angle of incidence and azimuth using an elastic stiffness tensor and an elastic compliance tensor of the fractured reservoir, determining components of an excess compliance tensor due to the presence of fractures in the fractured reservoir by matching the predicted seismic reflection coefficient to the measured seismic reflection coefficient, and characterizing one or more properties of the fractured reservoir using the excess compliance tensor.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Colin M. Sayers
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Patent number: 7617051Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for pore pressure prediction. The method includes obtaining a compressional wave (P-wave) velocity and a shear wave (S-wave) velocity for a pre-drill location, calculating an effective stress at the pre-drilling location using a stress-velocity relationship equation, the compressional wave (P-wave) velocity and the shear wave (S-wave) velocity, obtaining a total stress at the pre-drill location, calculating a predicted pore pressure, at the pre-drill location, using the effective stress, the total stress and a stress-pressure relationship equation, and adjusting a drilling operation associated with the pre-drill location, based on the predicted pore pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Colin M. Sayers, Richard A. Birchwood
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Patent number: 7533725Abstract: A method and a system for accessing a target fluid in a formation of an oilfield are provided. The method involves acquiring physicochemical property information of a portion of the formation, determining a type and a concentration of a chemical agent based on the physicochemical property information of the portion of the formation, and applying the chemical agent at the portion of the formation to provide a chemical action, where the target fluid is released at the portion of the formation responding to the chemical action.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.Inventors: Ali Mese, Colin M. Sayers, Donald Lee, Patrick J. Hooyman
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Publication number: 20090125240Abstract: Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2008Publication date: May 14, 2009Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Lennert D. den Boer, Colin M. Sayers
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Patent number: 7526385Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a rock strength of an Earth formation, including: receiving a signal representing a measured variation of velocities or slownesses as function of radius from and azimuth around a borehole; generating predictions from a Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) representing predictions of a variation of stress and hence velocity as a function of distance from, and azimuth around, the borehole, the MEM including a rock strength model adapted for generating a further prediction representing a predicted variation of velocities or slowness; changing the rock strength in the rock strength model of the Mechanical Earth Model until the further prediction substantially matches the measured variation in velocity around and from the borehole; and generating a set of parameters, wherein the parameters are used to populate the MEM and are used in subsequent calculations.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Colin M. Sayers
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Patent number: 7490028Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for predicting the formation pressure ahead of a bit in a well, which includes using measurements taken in shales and permeable formations at or near the bit together with centriod calculations to improve models predicting what the pressures ahead of the bit will be.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Inventors: Colin M Sayers, Sudhendu Kashikar, Patrick J. Hooyman
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Patent number: 7486589Abstract: Methods and apparatus that use microseismic event data, stress data, seismic data, and rock properties to predict the hydrocarbon production success of a well location are disclosed. An example method generates a hydrocarbon production function based on information associated with at least a first well location, obtains information associated with a second well location, and calculates the hydrocarbon production function using the information associated with the second well location to predict the hydrocarbon production of the second well location.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Donald W. Lee, Lennert D. den Boer, Colin M. Sayers, Patrick J. Hooyman
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Publication number: 20080319675Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a rock strength of an Earth formation, including: receiving a signal representing a measured variation of velocities or slownesses as a function of radius from and azimuth around a borehole; in response to the signal, generating predictions from a Mechanical Earth Model (MEM) representing predictions of a variation of stress and hence velocity as a function of distance from, and azimuth around, the borehole, the MEM including a rock strength model adapted for generating a further prediction representing a predicted variation of velocities or slowness; changing the rock strength in the rock strength model of the Mechanical Earth Model until the further prediction substantially matches the measured variation in velocity around and from the borehole; and, on the condition that the further prediction substantially matches the measured variation in velocity around and from the borehole, generating a set of parameters, wherein the parameters are used to populate the MEM and areType: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventor: Colin M. Sayers
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Publication number: 20080156484Abstract: A method and a system for accessing a target fluid in a formation of an oilfield are provided. The method involves acquiring physicochemical property information of a portion of the formation, determining a type and a concentration of a chemical agent based on the physicochemical property information of the portion of the formation, and applying the chemical agent at the portion of the formation to provide a chemical action, where the target fluid is released at the portion of the formation responding to the chemical action.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2006Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Ali Mese, Colin M. Sayers, Donald Lee, Patrick J. Hooyman
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Patent number: 7299132Abstract: A method for pore pressure prediction. The method includes obtaining a stress sensitivity coefficient, obtaining a compressional wave (P-wave) velocity and a shear wave (S-wave) velocity for a pre-drill location and obtaining a first predicted pore pressure. Further, the method includes iteratively performing calculating a total stress value associated with the pre-drill location using the first predicted pore pressure associated with the pre-drill location, and calculating a second predicted pore pressure associated with the pre-drill location using a stress-pressure relationship equation, a stress-velocity relationship equation, the stress sensitivity coefficient, a reference location, and at least one selected from a group consisting of the P-wave velocity and the S-wave velocity for the pre-drill location, and adjusting a drilling operation associated with the pre-drill location, based on the second predicted pore pressure.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.Inventors: Colin M. Sayers, Richard A. Birchwood
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Publication number: 20040244972Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for predicting the formation pressure ahead of a bit in a well, which includes using measurements taken in shales and permeable formations at or near the bit together with centriod calculations to improve models predicting what the pressures ahead of the bit will be.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2003Publication date: December 9, 2004Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Colin M. Sayers, Sudhendu Kashikar, Patrick J. Hooyman
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Patent number: 6067275Abstract: A method for using S-waves recorded at sea floor to determine anellipticity relating to at least one rock substrate is provided. In particular the method comprises identifying an S-wave event in recorded pre-stack seismic data and then determining at least one anisotropy parameter by adjusting moveout of a corresponding modeled S-wave event to agree with moveout of the identified S-wave event. The method is particularly applicable to mode converted S-waves in seismic signals.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 23, 2000Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Colin M. Sayers