Patents by Inventor Daniele Colombo

Daniele Colombo 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: 11346973
    Abstract: Naturally-occurring, electromagnetic signals generated by interaction of solar wind with earth's magnetosphere adjacent a borehole are measured by an electromagnetic sensor positioned adjacent the borehole in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole are measured over a period of time by a borehole sensor positioned within the borehole. The electromagnetic signals change over the period of time due to variations in fluid distributions within the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. Electromagnetic changes to the electromagnetic signals generated within the borehole and to the passive, naturally-occurring electromagnetic signals over the period of time are determined by one or more processors. A computational model of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation is generated based in part on the electromagnetic changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Gary W. McNeice, Brett W. Bouldin
  • Patent number: 11346970
    Abstract: Seismic data from seismic exploration surveys are mapped into a hypercube of bins or voxels in a four-dimensional space (X, Y, Offset, and Azimuth) according to Common Mid-Point (or CMP) between source and receivers. The mapped data from individual voxels or bins is then analyzed by multimodal statistics. Robust estimates of first break picks are obtained from the analysis. The first break picks are then used to as seed inputs for autopicking iteration, which proceeds to convergence. Estimates of confidence levels in the data are provided for re-picking to reduce computer processing time in successive autopicking iterations. Analysis is provided of different seismic attributes such as azimuthal velocity variations indicative of anisotropy, positioning errors of sources/receivers, geometry errors, and three dimensional distribution of inversion residuals. Analysis is also performed of standard deviation of the travel time data useful for estimating data errors in the inversion covariance matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Federico Miorelli, Diego Rovetta, Gary Wayne Mcneice
  • Patent number: 11340370
    Abstract: Seismic data from seismic exploration surveys are mapped into a hypercube of bins or voxels in a four-dimensional space (X, Y, Offset, and Azimuth) according to Common Mid-Point (or CMP) between source and receivers. The mapped data from individual voxels or bins is then analyzed by multimodal statistics. Robust estimates of first break picks are obtained from the analysis. The first break picks are then used to as seed inputs for autopicking iteration, which proceeds to convergence. Estimates of confidence levels in the data are provided for re-picking to reduce computer processing time in successive autopicking iterations. Analysis is provided of different seismic attributes such as azimuthal velocity variations indicative of anisotropy, positioning errors of sources/receivers, geometry errors, and three dimensional distribution of inversion residuals. Analysis is also performed of standard deviation of the travel time data useful for estimating data errors in the inversion covariance matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Federico Miorelli, Diego Rovetta, Gary Wayne Mcneice
  • Patent number: 11320254
    Abstract: Method and system for determining separation distance between an object and a processing or measuring tool involve generating a measurement beam of low coherence optical radiation, leading the measurement beam towards the object and the reflected measurement beam towards an optical interferometric sensor assembly in a first direction of incidence, generating a reference beam of low coherence optical radiation, and leading the reference beam towards the optical interferometric sensor assembly in a second direction of incidence, superimposing the measurement and reference beams on a common region of incidence, detecting position of a pattern of interference fringes between the measurement and reference beams on the region of incidence, and determining difference in optical length between a measurement optical path and a reference optical path on position of the pattern of interference fringes along an illumination axis to determine current separation distance between the processing or measuring tool and the obj
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ADIGE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Simone Donadello, Barbara Previtali, Daniele Colombo
  • Patent number: 11269106
    Abstract: A system and method of evaluating and correcting for the effects of a near-surface anomaly on surface-to-borehole (STB) measurement data in a geological halfspace includes transmitting electromagnetic radiation from an EM source located on a ground surface which is positioned over the near-surface anomaly, measuring EM fields at a plurality of remote EM receivers located on the surface at a far distance from the EM source, obtaining vertical STB measurement data downhole, determining an orientation and moment of a secondary source equivalent dipole associated with the near-surface anomaly excited by the radiation transmitted by the EM source based on measurements of the EM fields at the plurality of remote receivers, determining a correction factor for the secondary source equivalent dipole on the EM field measurements at the plurality of remote receivers, and removing the effects of the near surface anomaly on the vertical STB measurement data using the correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary Wayne McNeice, Daniele Colombo, Nestor H. Cuevas, Mauro Pezzoli
  • Publication number: 20220065068
    Abstract: An exemplary dissolvable assembly is provided. The dissolvable assembly includes a skeleton made from a first material, and a body made from a second material, wherein the first material and the second material dissolve at different rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Sakethraman Mahalingam, Graham Hitchcock, Daniele Colombo, Jianhui Xu
  • Publication number: 20210264262
    Abstract: A deep learning framework includes a first model for predicting one or more attributes of a system; a second model for predicting one or more attributes of the system; at least one coupling operator combining the first and second models; and at least one inversion module for receiving the combined first and second models from the coupling operator. The inversion module simultaneously optimizes the first model and the second model, thereby resulting in a composite objective function representative of a prediction that is outputted to at least one user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Weichang Li, Diego Rovetta
  • Publication number: 20210239517
    Abstract: A variable-frequency light source is configured to emit a light beam and modulate a frequency of the light beam. A fiber optic cable is attached to the variable frequency light source. The fiber optic cable is configured to receive the light beam at an inlet and pass the light beam to an exit. Multiple optical detectors are attached to the fiber optic cable. Each of the optical detectors is configured to detect a specified frequency of light that is backscattered through the fiber optic cable. An actuation mechanism is attached to the fiber optic cable. The actuation mechanism is configured to deform the fiber optic cable in response to a stimulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Howard K. Schmidt, Jesus Manuel Felix Servin, Frode Hveding, Daniele Colombo
  • Patent number: 11073631
    Abstract: A surface-consistent refraction analysis automatically derives near surface corrections during seismic data processing. Residual time lags are evaluated in multiple CMP-offset-azimuth bins by similarity analysis with a pilot trace where a correlation window is centered at the refracted arrival. The similarity analysis may take the form of computerized cross-correlation, or other criteria such as semblance. The residuals are then used to build a system of linear equations that is simultaneously inverted for surface-consistent shot and receiver time shift corrections plus a possible subsurface residual term. The refraction analysis steps are completely automated and require a fraction of the time needed for conventional near surface analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Federico Miorelli
  • Publication number: 20210190983
    Abstract: Methods for full waveform inversion (FWI) in the midpoint-offset domain include using a computer system to sort seismic traces into common midpoint-offset bins (XYO bins). For each XYO bin, a linear moveout correction is applied to a collection of seismic traces within the XYO bin. The collection of seismic traces is stacked to form a pilot trace. The computer system determines a surface-consistent residual static correction for each seismic trace. The computer system determines that the surface-consistent residual static correction for each seismic trace is less than a threshold. Responsive to the determining that the surface-consistent residual static correction is less than the threshold, the computer system stacks the collection of seismic traces to provide the pilot trace. The computer system groups the pilot traces for the XYO bins into a set of virtual shot gathers. The computer system performs one-dimensional FWI based on each virtual shot gather.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Diego Rovetta, Apostolos Kontakis, Ernesto Sandoval Curiel
  • Publication number: 20210181363
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying near-surface heterogeneities in a subterranean formation using surface seismic arrays can include: recording raw seismic data using sensors at ground surface; applying a band bass filter to the raw seismic data using a central frequency; picking a phase arrival time for the filtered data; generating an initial starting phase velocity model for tomographic inversion from the raw seismic data; applying tomographic inversion to the filtered data to generate a dispersion map associated at the central frequency; repeating the applying a band bass filter, picking a phase arrival time, generating an initial starting velocity model, and applying tomographic inversion steps for each of a set of central frequencies; and generating a three-dimensional dispersion volume representing near-surface conditions in the subterranean formation by combining the dispersion maps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Taqi Yousuf Alyousuf, Daniele Colombo
  • Patent number: 11035972
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for performing real-time detecting and spatially-positioning a waterfront in an oil-producing reservoirs are disclosed. An example method of predicting movement of a waterfront in a reservoir may include generating a plurality of electrical signals having different frequencies with a surface electric source; injecting currents corresponding to the plurality of generated signals into the earth near a well extending into the reservoir with a surface dipole; sensing a vertical component of an electric field generated by each of the injected currents at a location in the reservoir with a sensor; detecting a location of the waterfront within the reservoir based on the received vertical components of the electric fields; and analyzing the detected vertical components of the electric fields taken on at least two different points in time with machine learning to predict a rate of movement of the waterfront within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Gary W. McNeice, Ernesto Sandoval-Curiel
  • Publication number: 20210173980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modelling a sedimentary basin by means of a numerical basin simulation solving at least a balance equation of poromechanics according to a face-based smoothed finite-element method for determining at least a stress field and a deformation field. The method according to the invention notably comprises the following steps: subdividing the hexahedral cells of a mesh representation of a state of the basin into at least eight hexahedral subcells, determining a transition relation between the degrees of freedom of the nodes of the subcells and the degrees of freedom of the nodes of the cell to which the subcells belong, and determining a stiffness and nodal forces from at least this transition relation and a strain-displacement relation determined for the subcells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Daniele COLOMBO
  • Publication number: 20210172721
    Abstract: Method and system for determining separation distance between an object and a processing or measuring tool involve generating a measurement beam of low coherence optical radiation, leading the measurement beam towards the object and the reflected measurement beam towards an optical interferometric sensor assembly in a first direction of incidence, generating a reference beam of low coherence optical radiation, and leading the reference beam towards the optical interferometric sensor assembly in a second direction of incidence, superimposing the measurement and reference beams on a common region of incidence, detecting position of a pattern of interference fringes between the measurement and reference beams on the region of incidence, and determining difference in optical length between a measurement optical path and a reference optical path on position of the pattern of interference fringes along an illumination axis, indicative of a difference between (a) current separation distance between the processing or
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Simone Donadello, Barbara Previtali, Daniele Colombo
  • Publication number: 20210172316
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modelling a sedimentary basin by means of a numerical basin simulation solving at least a balance equation of poromechanics according to a face-based smoothed finite-element method for determining at least a stress field and a strain field. The method according to the invention notably comprises the following steps, for each mesh representation of a state of the basin comprising hexahedral cells: a) determining a second mesh representation of the state of the basin by subdividing each of the hexahedral cells of the initial mesh into six pyramidal cells; b) modelling the basin by determining at least the displacement field and the stress field by means of the numerical simulation applied to the second mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: Daniele Colombo
  • Publication number: 20210140307
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing galvanic distortion caused by near-surface inhomogeneities from surface-to-borehole (STB) measurements are disclosed. Corrected STB measurements may provide for a representation of the resistivity of an oil-bearing reservoir and may be used to determine movement of a waterfront within the reservoir caused by waterflooding of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Gary W. McNeice, Daniele Colombo
  • Patent number: 11002595
    Abstract: A variable-frequency light source is configured to emit a light beam and modulate a frequency of the light beam. A fiber optic cable is attached to the variable frequency light source. The fiber optic cable is configured to receive the light beam at an inlet and pass the light beam to an exit. Multiple optical detectors are attached to the fiber optic cable. Each of the optical detectors is configured to detect a specified frequency of light that is backscattered through the fiber optic cable. An actuation mechanism is attached to the fiber optic cable. The actuation mechanism is configured to deform the fiber optic cable in response to a stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Howard K. Schmidt, Jesus Manuel Felix Servin, Frode Hveding, Daniele Colombo
  • Patent number: 10976459
    Abstract: A surface-consistent refraction analysis automatically derives near surface corrections during seismic data processing. Residual time lags are evaluated in multiple CMP-offset-azimuth bins by similarity analysis with a pilot trace where a correlation window is centered at the refracted arrival. The similarity analysis may take the form of computerized cross-correlation, or other criteria such as semblance. The residuals are then used to build a system of linear equations that is simultaneously inverted for surface-consistent shot and receiver time shift corrections plus a possible subsurface residual term. The refraction analysis steps are completely automated and require a fraction of the time needed for conventional near surface analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Federico Miorelli
  • Publication number: 20210063598
    Abstract: A system and method of evaluating and correcting for the effects of a near-surface anomaly on surface-to-borehole (STB) measurement data in a geological halfspace comprises transmitting electromagnetic radiation from an EM source located on a ground surface which is positioned over the near-surface anomaly, measuring EM fields at a plurality of remote EM receivers located on the surface at a far distance from the EM source, obtaining vertical STB measurement data downhole, determining an orientation and moment of a secondary source equivalent dipole associated with the near-surface anomaly excited by the radiation transmitted by the EM source based on measurements of the EM fields at the plurality of remote receivers, determining a correction factor for the secondary source equivalent dipole on the EM field measurements at the plurality of remote receivers, and removing the effects of the near surface anomaly on the vertical STB measurement data using the correction factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventors: Gary Wayne McNeice, Daniele Colombo, Nestor H. Cuevas, Mauro Pezzoli
  • Patent number: 10920585
    Abstract: In some implementations, airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data and seismic data for a geographic region including sand dunes are received, and the AEM data identifies apparent resistivity as a function of depth within the sand dunes. An inversion with cross-domain regularization is calculated of the AEM data and the seismic data to generate a velocity-depth model, and the velocity depth model identifies velocity variations within the sand dunes. A seismic image using the velocity-depth model is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniele Colombo, Gary W. McNeice, Diego Rovetta, Ersan Turkoglu, Ernesto Sandoval Curiel