Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Neville

Thomas J. Neville 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: 9534481
    Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew J. Carnegie
  • Patent number: 9176081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of samples from unconventional reservoirs are described. Fast and inexpensive methods are described that can provide reliable information on TOC content, type, and maturity (via the relative abundances of different hydrocarbons, for example) without the need for more extensive sample preparation or destruction. If care is taken during sample recovery and storage, NMR can also yield an estimate of gas-in-place, including detailed typing (e.g. methane vs. ethane). The described MAS NMR analysis is used to determine various properties of unconventional reservoirs, including gas and oil shales, which are useful in evaluating their worth and producibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Pabitra N. Sen, Gabriela Leu, Nicholas Drenzek, Thomas J. Neville, Yi-Qiao Song, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan
  • Publication number: 20150267521
    Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew J. Carnegie
  • Patent number: 9051822
    Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew J. Carnegie
  • Patent number: 8720552
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation in an oil well is provided with a device for generating a sensing field within a volume of the rock formation and a device for causing a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field, further including sensors responsive to changes in the volume, wherein a sensor response is indicative of the amounts of fluid, particularly hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements can be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew Carnegie
  • Publication number: 20120273193
    Abstract: Systems and methods for magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of samples from unconventional reservoirs are described. Fast and inexpensive methods are described that can provide reliable information on TOC content, type, and maturity (via the relative abundances of different hydrocarbons, for example) without the need for more extensive sample preparation or destruction. If care is taken during sample recovery and storage, NMR can also yield an estimate of gas-in-place, including detailed typing (e.g. methane vs. ethane). The described MAS NMR analysis is used to determine various properties of unconventional reservoirs, including gas and oil shales, which are useful in evaluating their worth and producibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Pabitra N. Sen, Gabriela Leu, Nicholas Drenzek, Thomas J. Neville, Yi-Qiao Song, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan
  • Patent number: 8297354
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation in an oil well is provided with a device for generating a sensing field within a volume of the rock formation and a device for causing a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field, further including sensors responsive to changes in the volume, wherein a sensor response is indicative of the amounts of fluid, particularly hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements can be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew Carnegie
  • Patent number: 8217337
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a volcanic reservoir formation having volcanic rock forming elements and a borehole penetrating the volcanic reservoir formation. The method includes controlling chlorine concentration in an environment of the borehole and a tool operation to enable neutron capture spectroscopy measurements of the volcanic rock forming elements, obtaining neutron capture spectroscopy data relating to the volcanic rock forming elements from borehole logging tools, determining a lithology of the volcanic reservoir formation based on at least the neutron capture spectroscopy data, and generating an evaluation of the volcanic reservoir formation based on at least the lithology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Neville, Sherif Farag, Huijun Hou
  • Patent number: 8131526
    Abstract: This invention relates to petroleum reservoir characterization. It uses a novel system and method to generate a system of reservoir models, and then use a series of simulation techniques to simulate the models. The models are refined through each simulation and comparison step by comparing the results of the simulation with the known data from the reservoir. The invention can be applied to different reservoirs which have different known properties. Simulation techniques such as EM test forward calculation, stochastic reservoir modeling, streamline forward calculation are all candidates of simulation methods disclosed in the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Neville
  • Publication number: 20120024523
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation in an oil well is provided with a device for generating a sensing field within a volume of the rock formation and a device for causing a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field, further including sensors responsive to changes in the volume, wherein a sensor response is indicative of the amounts of fluid, particularly hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements can be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew Carnegie
  • Publication number: 20110284227
    Abstract: Measuring a parameter characteristic of a formation in an oil well with a device configured to generate a sensing field within a volume of the formation and cause a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field. The device also comprises sensors responsive to changes in the volume, which indicate existent amounts of fluid, such as hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements may be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew J. Camegie
  • Publication number: 20090255669
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of measuring a parameter characteristic of a rock formation in an oil well is provided with a device for generating a sensing field within a volume of the rock formation and a device for causing a flow through the volume in the presence of the sensing field, further including sensors responsive to changes in the volume, wherein a sensor response is indicative of the amounts of fluid, particularly hydrocarbon and water saturations and irreducible hydrocarbon and water saturations. Measurements can be made before the flow affects the measuring volume and after onset of the flow through the measuring volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Cosan Ayan, Fikri John Kuchuk, Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, Thomas J. Neville, Raghu Ramamoorthy, Andrew Carnegie
  • Publication number: 20090248309
    Abstract: In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for evaluating a volcanic reservoir formation having volcanic rock forming elements and a borehole penetrating the volcanic reservoir formation. The method includes controlling chlorine concentration in an environment of the borehole and a tool operation to enable neutron capture spectroscopy measurements of the volcanic rock forming elements, obtaining neutron capture spectroscopy data relating to the volcanic rock forming elements from borehole logging tools, determining a lithology of the volcanic reservoir formation based on at least the neutron capture spectroscopy data, and generating an evaluation of the volcanic reservoir formation based on at least the lithology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas J. Neville, Sherif Farag, Huijun Hou
  • Publication number: 20080255816
    Abstract: This invention relates to petroleum reservoir characterization. It uses a novel system and method to generate a system of reservoir models, and then use a series of simulation techniques to simulate the models. The models are refined through each simulation and comparison step by comparing the results of the simulation with the known data from the reservoir. The invention can be applied to different reservoirs which have different known properties. Simulation techniques such as EM test forward calculation, stochastic reservoir modeling, streamline forward calculation are all candidates of simulation methods disclosed in the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas J. Neville
  • Patent number: 7133777
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are useful for decomposing a complex distribution of data by modeling the complex distribution as a sum of discrete simple distributions, and processing the simple distributions independently. The independent processing enables the complex distribution to be reconstructed without the simple distributions that are concluded to be spurious. The simple distributions preferably include one or more statistical distributions that are subject to being characterized by a reduced data set for efficient communication and reconstruction of the complex distribution. The modeling and processing steps preferably employ one or more evolutionary algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jaideva C. Goswami, Ashok Srivastava, Denis Heliot, Thomas J. Neville
  • Patent number: 6675101
    Abstract: A method for supplying a customer with well log data including obtaining wellsite properties from the customer, recommending at least one tool string and analysis software tool combination using the wellsite properties, processing well log data using customer domain information and the least one tool string and analysis software tool combination to obtain processed well log data, viewing the processed well log data using an interactive viewer, manipulating the customer domain information, and updating the processed well log data on the interactive viewer using the manipulated customer domain information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Frank P. Shray, Denis J. Heliot, John P. Horkowitz, Thomas J. Neville, Pascal F. Rothnemer