Patents by Inventor Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider

Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider 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: 11952885
    Abstract: A production logging tool has a housing, a flowmeter assembly, a heating element, a drive, a clutch, and a controller. The housing has a first end attached to a wellbore string. The flowmeter assembly has a spinner exposed to fluid in the production string and a spinner shaft fixed to the spinner and extending from a rear surface of the spinner into the housing. The spinner shaft is rotatably attached to the housing. The heating element is attached to the spinner. The drive is disposed within the housing. The controller is operationally coupled to the drive and the heating element. The controller activates and deactivates at least one of the drive or the heating element to heat a volume around the spinner with the heating element or selectively spin the spinner with the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma, Salem H. Suwadi
  • Patent number: 11933140
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a well includes flowing well fluid within the well while running a cleaning tool into the well, injecting the well fluid with a fluid thickening agent through multiple nozzles of the well cleaning tool to form thickened well fluid, dislodging metallic debris and non-metallic debris accumulated along a wall of the well with multiple brushes of the cleaning tool, carrying the non-metallic debris out of the well with the thickened well fluid, and capturing the metallic debris at a capture device of the cleaning tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma, Nader H. Hwety
  • Publication number: 20240076945
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a formation fluid kick in a wellbore include drilling into a subsurface formation using a drill string including a pup joint. Measuring properties of a drilling fluid inside of the drill string at the pup joint using a first sensor module and measuring properties of the drilling fluid outside of the drill string at the pup joint using a second sensor module. Analyzing the measured properties of the drilling fluid inside and outside of the drill string at the pup joint including calculating a difference between the properties of the drilling fluid inside and outside of the drill string at the pup joint. Determining an occurrence of the kick based on the difference between the properties of the drilling fluid inside and outside of the drill string at the pup joint exceeding a pre-determined threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Publication number: 20230392494
    Abstract: A production logging tool has a housing, a flowmeter assembly, a heating element, a drive, a clutch, and a controller. The housing has a first end attached to a wellbore string. The flowmeter assembly has a spinner exposed to fluid in the production string and a spinner shaft fixed to the spinner and extending from a rear surface of the spinner into the housing. The spinner shaft is rotatably attached to the housing. The heating element is attached to the spinner. The drive is disposed within the housing. The controller is operationally coupled to the drive and the heating element. The controller activates and deactivates at least one of the drive or the heating element to heat a volume around the spinner with the heating element or selectively spin the spinner with the drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma, Salem H. Suwadi
  • Patent number: 11802827
    Abstract: A single stage high pressure mercury injection capillary pressure measurement apparatus includes a sample sub-assembly, a transducer sub-assembly, a hydraulic intensifier, and a gas cylinder. The sample sub-assembly includes a casing having walls defining an interior volume, a penetrometer arranged in the casing, the penetrometer having walls defining a sample volume, an annular space defined between the walls of the casing and the walls of the penetrometer, and a common chamber fluidly connected to the annular space by a fluid line and to the sample volume of the penetrometer by a tubing. The transducer sub-assembly is fluidly connected to the sample sub-assembly via the common chamber and includes a plurality of high-pressure transducers a plurality of low-pressure transducers. The hydraulic intensifier is fluidly connected to the common chamber and is configured to apply a high pressure to the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Publication number: 20230264953
    Abstract: The system includes a methane reformer, a combined cycle power generator, and a switch. The reformer is configured to react methane with steam. The combined cycle power generator includes a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a power generator, and a water boiler. The steam turbine is configured to rotate in response to receiving steam. The gas turbine is configured to rotate in response to receiving a mixture of fuel and air. The power generator is configured to convert rotational energy from the steam turbine and the gas turbine into electricity. In a first position, the switch is configured to direct exhaust from the gas turbine to the reformer, thereby providing heat to the reformer. In a second position, the switch is configured to direct exhaust from the gas turbine to the water boiler, thereby providing heat to the water boiler to generate steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventor: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider
  • Patent number: 11713651
    Abstract: A method and an assembly for heating and evaluating a formation of the Earth while drilling a wellbore filled with drilling mud are described. A first drilling mud temperature at a depth in the wellbore is received from a first sensor by a controller. The formation proximal to the depth is heated by a heat source mounted to the assembly to a temperature greater than a formation temperature as the drilling assembly drills the wellbore. A second drilling mud temperature is received from a second sensor by the controller. The heat source is positioned in between the first sensor and the second sensor. A difference between the first drilling mud temperature and the second drilling mud temperature is compared to a threshold drilling mud temperature difference value by the controller. Based on a result of the comparison, the drilling assembly is controlled and directed in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11680484
    Abstract: Some implementations provide a tool assembly for monitoring reservoir water salinity and reservoir production performance at a borehole, the tool assembly comprising: a water salinity measuring probe that includes a pair of electrodes, wherein the water salinity measuring probe is mounted at a tip of the tool assembly and configured to measure a water conductivity between the pair of electrodes when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; a spinner tool configured to measure a total flow rate at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the spinner tool is located above the water salinity measuring probe when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; and a temperature probe configured to measure a temperature at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the temperature probe is located above the spinner tool when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11679977
    Abstract: The system includes a methane reformer, a combined cycle power generator, and a switch. The reformer is configured to react methane with steam. The combined cycle power generator includes a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a power generator, and a water boiler. The steam turbine is configured to rotate in response to receiving steam. The gas turbine is configured to rotate in response to receiving a mixture of fuel and air. The power generator is configured to convert rotational energy from the steam turbine and the gas turbine into electricity. In a first position, the switch is configured to direct exhaust from the gas turbine to the reformer, thereby providing heat to the reformer. In a second position, the switch is configured to direct exhaust from the gas turbine to the water boiler, thereby providing heat to the water boiler to generate steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider
  • Publication number: 20230175364
    Abstract: A method of removing wellbore water from a production wellbore includes determining a production flow rate. The method also includes determining a target production flow rate of the production fluid and comparing the production flow rate to a flow rate threshold associated with the target production flow rate. The method also includes determining, based on a result of comparing the production flow rate to the flow rate threshold, that the production flow rate satisfies the threshold. The method also includes activating a fluid moving device fluidly coupled to a wellbore string extending from a terranean surface to the water to inject, into the water, at least one of i) a surfactant, ii) a gas, or iii) a foaming agent, allowing the water and the production fluid to emulsify together and thereby allowing a mixture of water and production fluid to flow to the terranean surface of the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma, Mamdouh N. Al-Nasser
  • Publication number: 20230168172
    Abstract: A single stage high pressure mercury injection capillary pressure measurement apparatus includes a sample sub-assembly, a transducer sub-assembly a hydraulic intensifier, and a gas cylinder. The sample sub-assembly includes a casing having walls defining an interior volume, a penetrometer arranged in the casing, the penetrometer having walls defining a sample volume, an annular space defined between the walls of the casing and the walls of the penetrometer, and a common chamber fluidly connected to the annular space by a fluid line and to the sample volume of the penetrometer by a tubing. The transducer sub-assembly is fluidly connected to the sample sub-assembly via the common chamber and includes a plurality of high-pressure transducers a plurality of low-pressure transducers. The hydraulic intensifier is fluidly connected to the common chamber and is configured to apply a high pressure to the annular space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11661844
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for predicting fluid holdups along the borehole or the pipe on surface and to perform fluid typing and fluid properties characterization. Acoustic waves are transmitted by an array of acoustic wave transducers. Each transducer is configured to transmit acoustic waves at a different frequency. The acoustic waves are received by an array of acoustic wave receivers fixed on the bow centralizer on the tool used in the borehole. Each receiver is configured to receive only the given frequency of a given transducer, forming a receiver-transducer pair for the given frequency. Acoustic speeds measured at each given frequency and analyzed. A model is generated based on the analyzing. The model is configured to predict fluid holdups across the borehole and to perform fluid typing and fluid properties characterization in one phase, two phase, and three phase applications of gas, oil, and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma, Nader H. Hwety
  • Publication number: 20230092064
    Abstract: The system includes a methane reformer, a combined cycle power generator, and a switch. The reformer is configured to react methane with steam. The combined cycle power generator includes a steam turbine, a gas turbine, a power generator, and a water boiler. The steam turbine is configured to rotate in response to receiving steam. The gas turbine is configured to rotate in response to receiving a mixture of fuel and air. The power generator is configured to convert rotational energy from the steam turbine and the gas turbine into electricity. In a first position, the switch is configured to direct exhaust from the gas turbine to the reformer, thereby providing heat to the reformer. In a second position, the switch is configured to direct exhaust from the gas turbine to the water boiler, thereby providing heat to the water boiler to generate steam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider
  • Patent number: 11578585
    Abstract: A wellbore tool includes a body having a longitudinal axis and an outer circumferential surface. The wellbore tool includes moveable arms, housings, actuators, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, and a heat source, such as a microwave source. Each moveable arm is coupled to a respective actuator and a respective housing. Each actuator is configured to move the respective moveable arm. The temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the subterranean formation. The pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure of the subterranean formation. The microwave source is configured to generate microwave radiation. Methods of analyzing acquired transient temperature and transient pressure data for formation evaluation are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11536135
    Abstract: An example logging tool includes an injection system, a detection system, and an electric control and processing system. The injection system includes a gas source, and is configured to inject a first gas from the gas source into a region of a subterranean formation. The detection system includes a gas detection chamber and one or more sensors disposed in the gas detection chamber, and is configured to receive, in the gas detection chamber, a sample from the region of the subterranean formation, and generate, using the one or more sensors, sensor measurements of the sample, The electronic control and processing system includes one or more processors, and is configured to determine one or more characteristics of the subterranean formation based on the sensor measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Publication number: 20220364439
    Abstract: A method and an assembly for heating and evaluating a formation of the Earth while drilling a wellbore filled with drilling mud are described. A first drilling mud temperature at a depth in the wellbore is received from a first sensor by a controller. The formation proximal to the depth is heated by a heat source mounted to the assembly to a temperature greater than a formation temperature as the drilling assembly drills the wellbore. A second drilling mud temperature is received from a second sensor by the controller. The heat source is positioned in between the first sensor and the second sensor. A difference between the first drilling mud temperature and the second drilling mud temperature is compared to a threshold drilling mud temperature difference value by the controller. Based on a result of the comparison, the drilling assembly is controlled and directed in the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Publication number: 20220333485
    Abstract: An example logging tool includes an injection system, a detection system, and an electric control and processing system. The injection system includes a gas source, and is configured to inject a first gas from the gas source into a region of a subterranean formation. The detection system includes a gas detection chamber and one or more sensors disposed in the gas detection chamber, and is configured to receive, in the gas detection chamber, a sample from the region of the subterranean formation, and generate, using the one or more sensors, sensor measurements of the sample, The electronic control and processing system includes one or more processors, and is configured to determine one or more characteristics of the subterranean formation based on the sensor measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11460443
    Abstract: A fluid analysis system for characterizing a multiphase fluid includes a first set of acoustic probes disposed at a first angular position about a central axis of the fluid analysis system and oriented to direct first sound waves along a first direction that is parallel to the central axis, a second set of acoustic probes disposed at a second angular position about the central axis that is opposite to the first angular position and oriented to direct second sound waves along the first direction, a third set of acoustic probes spanning the central axis and oriented to direct third sound waves along a second direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, and an analysis unit. The analysis unit is configured to determine a location of a fluid interface within the multiphase fluid based on first, second, and third parameters respectively associated with the first, second, and third sounds waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Publication number: 20220282618
    Abstract: Some implementations provide a tool assembly for monitoring reservoir water salinity and reservoir production performance at a borehole, the tool assembly comprising: a water salinity measuring probe that includes a pair of electrodes, wherein the water salinity measuring probe is mounted at a tip of the tool assembly and configured to measure a water conductivity between the pair of electrodes when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; a spinner tool configured to measure a total flow rate at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the spinner tool is located above the water salinity measuring probe when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole; and a temperature probe configured to measure a temperature at where the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole, wherein the temperature probe is located above the spinner tool when the tool assembly is immersed inside the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Publication number: 20220260530
    Abstract: A fluid analysis system for characterizing a multiphase fluid includes a first set of acoustic probes disposed at a first angular position about a central axis of the fluid analysis system and oriented to direct first sound waves along a first direction that is parallel to the central axis, a second set of acoustic probes disposed at a second angular position about the central axis that is opposite to the first angular position and oriented to direct second sound waves along the first direction, a third set of acoustic probes spanning the central axis and oriented to direct third sound waves along a second direction that is perpendicular to the central axis, and an analysis unit. The analysis unit is configured to determine a location of a fluid interface within the multiphase fluid based on first, second, and third parameters respectively associated with the first, second, and third sounds waves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma