Patents by Inventor Hui-Hai LIU

Hui-Hai LIU 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: 11248446
    Abstract: One method includes position an antenna inside a wellbore in a location corresponding to a formation where near wellbore damage occurs; wherein the wellbore extends from a surface of a hydrocarbon reservoir downward into the subterranean structure of the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave to the antenna; and irradiating, from the antenna, at least a portion of the EM wave at the formation, wherein the portion of the EM wave removes the near wellbore damage at the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Jinhong Chen, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Hui Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20220026337
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing and modeling natural gas flow in subterranean shale reservoirs. In some embodiments, methodologies and techniques for determining and modeling natural gas flow in shale formations using methodologies and techniques capable of determining natural gas properties related to dual-continuum flow, permeability, and pressure within a subterranean shale reservoir. In some embodiments, the natural gas properties are determined by subjecting a subterranean shale reservoir sample to pulse-decay analysis. In certain embodiments, the methodologies and techniques described may be used in various reservoirs exhibiting macroporosity and microporosity, such as fractured reservoirs and carbonate reservoirs composed of reservoir fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Huangye Chen, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20210363882
    Abstract: Methods and systems for increasing normalized production rate of an oil and gas reservoir by optimizing the pressure drawdown of the subsurface formation are disclosed. The method includes determining permeability of the subsurface formation as a function of effective stresses, determining stress sensitivity factor, upscaling the permeability values determined for the core sample, determining the optimum pressure drawdown for the subsurface formation, controlling the pressure drawdown in a field operation such that it does not exceed the optimum pressure drawdown for the subsurface formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Yanhui Han, Zhuang Sun
  • Patent number: 11175211
    Abstract: Systems and methods for analyzing and modeling natural gas flow in subterranean shale reservoirs. In some embodiments, methodologies and techniques for determining and modeling natural gas flow in shale formations using methodologies and techniques capable of determining natural gas properties related to dual-continuum flow, permeability, and pressure within a subterranean shale reservoir. In some embodiments, the natural gas properties are determined by subjecting a subterranean shale reservoir sample to pulse-decay analysis. In certain embodiments, the methodologies and techniques described may be used in various reservoirs exhibiting macroporosity and microporosity, such as fractured reservoirs and carbonate reservoirs composed of reservoir fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huangye Chen, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 11112525
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M Althaus, Daniel T Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 11079313
    Abstract: Methods and systems method for determining core permeability of a subsurface formation. The method includes connecting an upstream reservoir to one end of a sample holder comprising a core sample of a subsurface formation, connecting a downstream reservoir to another end of the sample holder, providing a constant confining pressure within the sample holder, saturating the sample holder and the core sample with nitrogen at a saturation pressure, applying a pressure pulse to one end of the sample holder, and determining core permeability using the porosity of the mobile continuum when the pressure in the upstream reservoir, the downstream reservoir, and the mobile continuum is in equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Patent number: 11054540
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M Althaus, Daniel T Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 11035977
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M Althaus, Daniel T Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200386664
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fracture and matrix permeability of a subsurface formation. The system includes two upstream reservoirs and two downstream reservoirs, and a sample cell connecting to the reservoirs with valves. The sample cell has a confining pressure (CF) from a fluid. A horizontal plug sample with sleeve is placed in a measurement cell with the confining fluid (CF). A pressure gauge is connected to the small upstream reservoir, and a pressure gauge is connected to the small downstream reservoir. The results provide two sets of effective-stress-dependent permeability values (including fracture permeability and matrix permeability, respectively) for characterizing the reservoir properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Patent number: 10858936
    Abstract: Techniques for determining geologic formation permeability include determining particular permeability values from an NMR log permeability data and particular permeability values of the core permeability measurements; determining a selected NMR permeability transform that includes inputs including the determined particular permeability values; minimizing a cost function to optimize the selected NMR permeability transform; calculating new permeability values for the wellbore between the terranean surface and a true vertical depth of the wellbore with the optimized NMR permeability transform; comparing the calculated new permeability values at particular depths between the terranean surface and the true vertical depth that match depths of the core permeability measurements; based on the comparison meeting a particular threshold, generating a user interface that renders one or more graphical representations of the optimized NMR permeability transform and the calculated new permeability values; and transmitting d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jin-Hong Chen, Stacey M. Althaus, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200370989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting leakage in a permeability measurement system. The method includes connecting a plurality of flow lines to a first dimension of a core sample, connecting one or more flow lines to a second dimension of the shale sample, placing the core sample with the connections in a measurement cell such that the flow lines are accessible from outside of the measurement cell, connecting one or more gas sensors to one end of each of the flow lines, connecting the outlet of the measurement cell to a gas tank, setting fluid pressure inside the measurement cell to a predetermined value, and detecting a leakage in the core sample by the one or more gas sensors coupled to the flow lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Patent number: 10845292
    Abstract: A method for correcting low permeability laboratory measurements for leaks. A pulse-decay permeability (PDP) experiment is performed on a core sample retrieved from a formation. The PDP experiment includes flowing fluid through the core sample in a sealed enclosure. In response to flowing the fluid through the core sample, a change in fluid pressure is measured over time. Based on the change in fluid pressure over time, a leakage of fluid from the sealed enclosure is determined. In response to determining the leakage of fluid from the sealed enclosure, an analytical model of the leakage is determined based on the change in fluid pressure over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Daniel T. Georgi, Huangye Chen, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200363310
    Abstract: Methods and systems method for determining core permeability of a subsurface formation. The method includes connecting an upstream reservoir to one end of a sample holder comprising a core sample of a subsurface formation, connecting a downstream reservoir to another end of the sample holder, providing a constant confining pressure within the sample holder, saturating the sample holder and the core sample with nitrogen at a saturation pressure, applying a pressure pulse to one end of the sample holder, and determining core permeability using the porosity of the mobile continuum when the pressure in the upstream reservoir, the downstream reservoir, and the mobile continuum is in equilibrium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Patent number: 10767473
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting impact of induced micro-fractures in a subsurface formation are disclosed. The method includes determining an unloading effective stress (?ul) in a formation sample taken from a wellbore drilled into the subsurface formation, determining a fracture closure stress (?cl) of the formation sample, determining that the unloading effective stress (?ul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (?ul), and in response to determining that unloading effective stress (?ul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (?ul), operating the well system to inhibit impact of micro-fractures in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Jilin Zhang, Gary Eppler
  • Patent number: 10760396
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for fracturing geological formations in a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes forming a borehole in a hydrocarbon reservoir from a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir extending downward into the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave through the borehole: directing at least a portion of the EM wave to rocks at a location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir; and fracturing the rocks at the location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir by irradiating the rocks around the borehole using at least the portion of the EM wave, wherein irradiating the rocks elevates pore-water pressure in the rocks causing fracturing of the rocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu, Lorne Arthur Davis, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20200270976
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for removing near wellbore damage in a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes position an antenna inside a wellbore in a location corresponding to a formation where near wellbore damage occurs; wherein the wellbore extends from a surface of a hydrocarbon reservoir downward into the subterranean structure of the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave to the antenna; and irradiating, from the antenna, at least a portion of the EM wave at the formation, wherein the portion of the EM wave removes the near wellbore damage at the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Jinhong Chen, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Hui Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 10670506
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods for determining imbibition of hydraulic fracturing fluids into hydrocarbon-bearing formations. More specifically, the disclosure relates to laboratory methods for determining certain unconventional flow parameters to measure the imbibition over time of hydraulic fracturing fluids into a low-permeability hydrocarbon-bearing rock formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Bitao Lai, JinHong Chen
  • Patent number: 10669829
    Abstract: Methods and systems for removing near wellbore damage in a hydrocarbon reservoir are described. In one example implementation, an antenna is positioned inside a wellbore in a location corresponding to a formation where near wellbore damage occurs. The wellbore extends from a surface of a hydrocarbon reservoir downward into the subterranean structure of the hydrocarbon reservoir. An electromagnetic (EM) wave is transmitted to the antenna. A portion of the EM wave is irradiated at the formation. The portion of the EM wave removes the near wellbore damage at the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Feng Liang, Jinhong Chen, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Hui Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200124763
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: JINHONG CHEN, Stacey M. Althaus, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20200124761
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: JINHONG CHEN, Stacey M. Althaus, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu