Well Logging Or Borehole Study Patents (Class 702/6)
  • Patent number: 11401771
    Abstract: A rotating control device (RCD) system includes a first RCD comprising a first body and a first sealing element within the first body and a second RCD comprising a second body a second sealing element within the second body. The RCD system also includes a controller that is configured to control a first actuator assembly to adjust the first RCD to a withdrawn configuration in which the first sealing element is not positioned to seal about a tubular and to control a second actuator assembly to maintain the second RCD in a sealing configuration in which the second sealing element is positioned to seal about the tubular while the first RCD is in the withdrawn configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen McGuire
  • Patent number: 11405723
    Abstract: A method for processing an audio signal, the method including: processing the audio signal according to a pair of mouth to ear transfer functions to obtain a processed audio signal; filtering the processed audio signal, using a pair of equalization filters, to obtain a filtered audio signal, where a parameter of the equalization filter is depends on an acoustic impedance of a headphone; and outputting the filtered audio signal to the headphone. Accordingly, this method counteracts the occlusion effect and to provides a natural perceived sound pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liyun Pang, Fons Adriaensen, Roman Schlieper, Song Li
  • Patent number: 11397279
    Abstract: Well information may define subsurface configuration of different wells. Marker information defining marker positions within the wells may be obtained. A dissimilarity matrix for the wells may generated, with the element values of the dissimilarity matrix determined based on comparison of corresponding subsurface configuration of the wells. A gated dissimilarity matrix may be generated from the dissimilarity matrix based on the marker positions within the wells. The elements values of the gated dissimilarity matrix corresponding to one set of marker positions and not corresponding to the other set of marker positions may be changed. Correlation between the wells may be determined based on the gated dissimilarity matrix such that correlation exists between a marker position in one well and a marker position in another well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Brett M. Hern, Tao Sun, Brian J. Willis, Fabien J. Laugier, Ashley D. Harris
  • Patent number: 11396804
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling drilling operations are provided. A controller for a drilling system may provide drilling parameters such as weight-on-bit and rotation rate parameters to the drilling system, based on a machine-learned reward policy and a model-based prediction. The machine-learned reward policy may be generated during drilling operations and used to modify recommended values from the model-based prediction for subsequent drilling operations to achieve a desired rate-of-penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinath Madasu, Keshava Prasad Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 11391129
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a gas supply to provide gas lift for a production wellbore makes use of Bayesian optimization. A computing device controls a gas supply to inject gas into one or more wellbores. The computing device receives reservoir data associated with a subterranean reservoir to be penetrated by the wellbores and can simulate production using the reservoir data and using a physics-based or machine learning or hybrid physics-based machine learning model for the subterranean reservoir. The production simulation can provide production data. A Bayesian optimization of an objective function of the production data subject to any gas injection constraints can be performed to produce gas lift parameters. The gas lift parameters can be applied to the gas supply to control the injection of gas into the wellbore or wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Srinath Madasu, Terry Wong, Keshava Prasad Rangarajan, Steven Ward, ZhiXiang Jiang
  • Patent number: 11385374
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for processing acoustic logging information with automatic dispersion matching. The method comprises obtaining, from an acoustic logging tool, acoustic waveforms from within a borehole, applying dispersion analysis to the acoustic data to extract a slowness-frequency response, calculating a slowness density log of the slowness-frequency response, obtaining an initial shear slowness estimate based on the slowness density, generating a dispersion model comprising model parameters, and performing a dispersion response auto match inversion to minimize the difference between the slowness-frequency response and the dispersion model in order to obtain a final shear slowness estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ruijia Wang, Chung Chang, Gary W. Kainer, JoonShik Kim
  • Patent number: 11372123
    Abstract: Provided is a method for determining convergence in full wavefield inversion (FWI) of 4D seismic (time-lapse seismic: 3D seismic surveys acquired at different times with the first survey termed as the baseline and subsequent surveys termed as monitors). FWI applied to field seismic data includes iteratively solving for subsurface property models and model difference between monitor and baseline. Iteration occurs until the model difference is sufficiently converged. Rather than determining convergence by examining an entire subsurface region of the models and/or the model difference, subparts of the subsurface region models and/or the model difference are examined in order to determine convergence. For example, different regions behave differently, include the target reservoir region (where hydrocarbon is present) and the background region that is outside the target reservoir region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ganglin Chen, Musa Maharramov, David H. Johnston, Partha Routh
  • Patent number: 11371317
    Abstract: An actuation system for remotely transitioning a downhole wellbore tool between distinct operational configurations includes a sensor that can detect a downhole pressure in a tubular string extending into a wellbore and an electronic decoder that monitors the pressure the tubular string until a target pressure profile is detected. When the target pressure profile is detected, the decoder issues a command to an actuation mechanism, causing the downhole wellbore tool to transition between the distinct operational configurations. The target pressure profile may be transmitted from the surface location by operating a pump to produce specific downhole pressure levels for specific time intervals. The specific downhole pressures do not need to be applied directly to the downhole wellbore tool, and thus the each of a plurality of various downhole wellbore tools may be operated independently without interfering with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. W. Inglis, Michael Linley Fripp, Thomas Jules Frosell
  • Patent number: 11371345
    Abstract: A method and system for estimating clean fluid composition and properties. A method may comprise disposing a downhole fluid sampling tool into a wellbore, wherein the downhole fluid sampling tool comprises optical instrumentation, obtaining a fluid sample with the downhole fluid sampling tool, wherein the fluid sample comprises a reservoir fluid contaminated with a well fluid, identifying input parameters from at least one sensor response on the optical instrumentation, and predicting a clean fluid sample of the reservoir fluid using an asymptote of a dimensional reduction analysis and equation of state. A system may comprise a downhole fluid sampling tool and a processing unit. The downhole fluid sampling tool may further comprise an optical instrumentation operable to obtain fluid samples of a reservoir fluid contaminated with a well fluid while the downhole fluid sampling tool is disposed in a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Ojo Olapade, Bin Dai, Christopher Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 11360226
    Abstract: A method for imaging non-specular seismic events as well as correlating non-specular events with physically measurable quantites in a volume of Earth's subsurface. Includes entering as input to a computer signals detected by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed above and/or within the volume in response to actuation of at least one seismic energy source above and/or within the volume. Parameter analysis is performed to populate the initial model with point-wise, best-fit wavefront travel-time approximations. Imaging is performed to obtain undifferentiated specular and non-specular representations of the volume. Specular boundaries are mapped using the imaged volume and using the boundaries to form a model of specular components of the volume. Beamforming is used to characterize seismic attributes associated with specular and non-specular reflections as separate and differentiated data sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Acoustic Zoom, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacques Y. Guigné, Adam Gogacz
  • Patent number: 11360233
    Abstract: A method can include receiving seismic image data; processing the received seismic image data to generate stratigraphic information using a trained convolution neural network that includes channels subjected to convolution, activation and pooling that reduce spatial resolution and subjected to deconvolution and concatenation that increase spatial resolution; and enhancing the seismic image data using the stratigraphic information to generate an enhanced seismic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mats Stivang Ramfjord, Nader Salman, Michael Hermann Nickel, Guido van der Hoff
  • Patent number: 11346215
    Abstract: A method for evaluating or improving performance of a drilling operation includes, during the drilling operation, receiving a performance parameter of a component of a drilling system measured by a sensor of the drilling system. The measured performance parameter is compared to a target performance parameter of the component of the drilling system. The target performance parameter includes a performance parameter of a prior drilling operation measured under substantially similar drilling conditions and measured at at least one of substantially a same drilling depth, substantially a same depth percent, and substantially a same drilling time. A performance attribute value is determined by calculating a normalized, weighted average difference between the measured performance parameter and the target performance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Chaitanya K. Vempati, Tisha Dolezal
  • Patent number: 11339643
    Abstract: A sensor assembly can include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a housing assembly containing the gyroscope and the accelerometer. An axis of the gyroscope can be collinear with an axis of the accelerometer. A method of inspecting a well pumping unit can include attaching a sensor assembly to the pumping unit, recording acceleration versus time data, and in response to an amplitude of the acceleration versus time data exceeding a predetermined threshold, transforming the data to acceleration versus frequency data. A method of balancing a well pumping unit can include comparing peaks of acceleration versus rotational orientation data to peaks of acceleration due to circular motion, and adjusting a position of a counterweight, thereby reducing a difference between the peaks of acceleration due to circular motion and the peaks of the acceleration versus rotational orientation data for subsequent operation of the pumping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Clark E. Robison, Bryan A. Paulet
  • Patent number: 11333788
    Abstract: A wellbore trajectory survey, having an ordered plurality of survey points, is acquired. Each of the plurality of survey points has a measured depth, an inclination, and a geographic location of the point in the wellbore corresponding to the survey point. The wellbore trajectory survey is ordered on measured depth. The processor identifies a minimum lateral measured depth (min_LMD), a maximum lateral measured depth (max_LMD). The processor identifies a mid-lateral point (mid_LMP) in the plurality of survey points whose measured depth (mid_LMD) is greater than min_LMD and less than max_LMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Manisha Bhardwaj, Dwight David Fulton
  • Patent number: 11326423
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a method for optimizing smart well completions using real-time nodal analysis including recommending changes to downhole settings. Real-time well rates and flowing bottom-hole pressure data at various choke settings for multiple flow conditions are collected for each lateral of a multilateral well. Recommended optimizing changes to downhole inflow control valve (ICV) settings for surface and subsurface ICVs are determined based on the real-time well rates and the flowing bottom-hole pressure data. The optimizing changes are designed to optimize production in the multilateral well. The recommended optimizing changes to the downhole ICV settings for the surface and subsurface ICVs in the laterals are provided for presentation to a user in a user interface of a multilateral well optimizing system. A user selection of one or more of the recommended optimizing changes is received. The recommended optimizing changes selected by the user are implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Amer Alanazi, Abdulaziz Al-Qasim, Ahmed Y. Bukhamseen
  • Patent number: 11315228
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying potential areas for mineral extraction is disclosed. The proposed systems and methods describe an autonomous mineral discovery platform that leverages robotics, X-Ray Florescence (XRF) technology, image analytics, smart devices, and IoT enabled devices to perform comprehensive field surveying and exploratory sampling. For example, by implementation of remote navigation and control, as well as field data capture and real-time data transmission capabilities, this platform can be configured to automatically identify rock types and their surface features and perform elemental composition analysis of surface while on-site and remote from the operator site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Accenture Global Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Vivek Vaidyanathan, Dinesh Kumar Vemula, Abhirama Rao, Bhudeep Hathi, Narendra Kumar, Swati Acharjee
  • Patent number: 11294340
    Abstract: A system, a method, and a computer program for monitoring or controlling a field instrument in a pipeline, including receiving a plurality of process readings which originated from a plurality of remote terminal units that are distributed along a portion of the pipeline, analyzing the received plurality of process readings to determine a plurality of influencing process readings and a target process reading, assessing whether the target process reading includes bad data, and generating an estimated process reading or updating a parameter of a system model based on the plurality of influencing process readings and based on whether the target process reading includes bad data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Wed Hussain Alsadah
  • Patent number: 11286773
    Abstract: An oil well production method in which a plurality of producers are arranged in a horizontal direction, includes boring a monitor well adjacent to one of the producers in the horizontal direction, installing a measurement optical fiber cable in the monitor well, performing Brillouin measurement and Rayleigh measurement for a strain distribution, a pressure distribution, and a temperature distribution of the monitor well along the measurement optical fiber cable over a period in which a fracture occurs hydraulically in the producers and an oil producing period, analyzing data measured through the Brillouin measurement and the Rayleigh measurement, and determining an arrangement interval of the producers in the horizontal direction and a hydraulic fracturing parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NEUBREX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ge Jin, Kinzo Kishida
  • Patent number: 11280931
    Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an earth formation is provided. At least one porosity dataset is received. The porosity dataset is analysed to determine pore-throat size distribution. A NMR measurements dataset is received from a NMR tool. The dataset is analyzed to determine a distribution of a first relaxation time versus a second relaxation time. Distribution of a ratio of the first relaxation time to the second relaxation time is determined by calculating a ratio between a geometric mean of the first relaxation and the second relaxation time. A threshold for the ratio of the first relaxation time to the second relaxation time is selected. The threshold indicates a value of the ratio corresponding to pore sizes not contributing to property of the formation. The property of the formation is determined using the determined threshold for the ratio of the first relaxation time to the second relaxation time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Yusheng Cheng, Songhua Chen, Magdalena Sandor, Wei Shao
  • Patent number: 11280190
    Abstract: A method of estimating downhole fluid properties includes deploying a borehole string in a borehole in a resource bearing formation, simulating a downhole fluid property distribution along a length of the borehole string using a mathematical hydraulics model, the fluid property distribution related to downhole fluid pressure, measuring a downhole fluid property related to downhole fluid pressure at a selected location along the length of the borehole string to generate a measured fluid property value, and comparing the measured fluid property value to a simulated downhole fluid property at the selected location. The method also includes calculating a correction value based on a difference between the measured fluid property value and the simulated fluid property value at the selected location, correcting an entirety of the fluid property distribution along the length based on the correction value, and controlling a downhole operation based on the corrected fluid property distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Forshaw, Christian Linke, Gerald Becker
  • Patent number: 11261727
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring a subterranean formation including conducting openhole saturation logging, via a single wellbore, of both an upper reservoir of hydrocarbon and a lower reservoir of hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Muhammad Munir, Nawaf I. SayedAkram
  • Patent number: 11262474
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a MEMS gravimeter comprising: a spring-mass system, a displacement sensing structure, a displacement detecting circuit, a cavity body and a level adjustment base; the spring-mass system is disposed inside the cavity body and includes: a negative-stiffness spring, a positive-stiffness spring, a proof mass and an outer frame; the proof mass is connected to the outer frame by the negative-stiffness spring and the positive-stiffness spring, the negative-stiffness spring and the positive-stiffness spring are symmetrically disposed with respect to the proof mass, and the outer frame is fixedly connected to the cavity body; the displacement sensing structure is located on a surface of the proof mass, and the displacement detecting circuit is configured to detect a displacement signal from the displacement sensing structure; the spring-mass system realizes reduction in resonant frequency by matching of the positive and negative stiffness springs; and change in gravitational acceleratio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Liangcheng Tu, Shihao Tang, Jinquan Liu, Ji Fan
  • Patent number: 11255672
    Abstract: A system that includes a high performance sensor to provide accurate measurements and at least one dissimilar sensor that is less accurate. The at least one dissimilar sensor is of a different type of sensor than the high performance sensor while providing a same type of measurement as the high performance sensor. The at least one dissimilar sensor has a longer life expectancy than the high performance sensor. An at least one controller is configured to start both the high performance sensor and the at least one dissimilar sensor at startup of the system, to turn off the high performance sensor after a select period of time, and to output measurement data based on measurements of the high performance sensor while the high performance sensor is on and output the measurement data based on the at least one dissimilar sensor when the high performance sensor is off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Bruce Touchberry, Dean Eivind Johnson
  • Patent number: 11225860
    Abstract: The present disclosure introduces methods and systems for capturing knowledge and experience of wellsite operators. Sensors at a wellsite generate sensor data during a wellsite operation. Operator data indicative of human actions performed at the wellsite during the wellsite operation are also generated. The sensor and operator data is synchronized to capture job experience and knowledge pertaining to the wellsite operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corproation
    Inventor: Arturo E. Altamirano
  • Patent number: 11221618
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and implementations of an HMI control system for BOP rigs are disclosed. At least some versions of the disclosed systems enable a user to configure interface settings, perform actions on a BOP stack, view diagnostics, perform testing, and observe and rectify alarms. The disclosed systems may enable a user to more efficiently navigate between different interfaces and perform HMI functions due to a control zone configuration. Additionally, the control zone configuration may reduce operator error by assigning certain control zones to particular functions and requiring the user to take affirmative steps to perform destructive functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Transocean Innovation Labs Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurt Thwaites, Steven Hand, Kevin Hoffmann, Nate Bishop, Bridget Monahan, Amy Ferchak, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 11204441
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an oil-gas reservoir exploration method and apparatus and belong to the technical field of oil-gas exploration. The method includes: acquiring hydrocarbon source rock distribution, reservoir distribution, fault distribution and oil-gas reservoir distribution; determining at least one oil-gas accumulation chain according to the hydrocarbon source rock distribution, the reservoir distribution, the fault distribution and the oil-gas reservoir distribution; and determining exploration targets and an exploration order of oil-gas reservoirs according to the at least one oil-gas accumulation chain and the oil-gas reservoirs on the oil-gas accumulation chain. By using the oil-gas reservoir exploration method and apparatus, the exploration targets and the exploration order may be precisely and rapidly determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: DAGANG OIL FIELD COMPANY OF CNPC
    Inventors: Xianzheng Zhao, Fengming Jin, Xiugang Pu, Qun Luo, Lihong Zhou, Wenya Jiang, Xiongying Dong, Wenzhong Han, Zhannan Shi, Wei Zhang, Hu Wang
  • Patent number: 11199068
    Abstract: A flow distribution may be monitored to one or more clusters of perforations. Plugging criteria may be identified based on the flow distribution and characteristics associated with perforation plugs to be dropped into a wellbore associated with the subsurface formation may be determined based on the flow distribution, characteristics of the one or more clusters, and the plugging objective. The perforation plugs may be dropped into the wellbore. The perforation plugs may have tracers which indicate whether the perforation plugs reached a location associated with the one or more clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ubong Inyang, Joshua Lane Camp, Tyler Austen Anderson, Jim Basuki Surjaatmadja
  • Patent number: 11187076
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and storing sensor data for an oil drilling system is disclosed. The apparatus for collecting and storing sensor data may include a drill string including a bottom whole assembly which includes a drill bit and a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) assembly; a master board including a master board micro controller unit (MCU) in the MWD assembly; a plurality of sensor boards to sense and collect sensor data; a removable central storage unit, including a central storage unit MCU in the MWD assembly, to store sensor data collected by the plurality of sensor boards; and an internal bus coupled to the master board, the plurality of sensor boards, and the removable central storage unit to carry sensor data from the plurality of sensor boards to the removable central storage unit for storage by the removable central storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Han, Sheng Zhan, Fengtao Hu, Jinhai Zhao
  • Patent number: 11181659
    Abstract: A method and a system for estimating a pipe property for a plurality of nested pipes. The method may comprise determining the pipe property from the plurality of measurements, wherein the pipe property identifies a feature in the wellbore, forming a pre-computed table of responses for the at least one channel comprising a plurality of points that sample the pipe property, and performing a model-based inversion to estimate the pipe property using the plurality of measurements, the nominal properties of the pipes, and a fast forward model based on the pre-computed table of responses. A system may comprise an electromagnetic logging tool and an information handling system. The electromagnetic logging tool may comprise a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is a first coil and is operable to transmit an electromagnetic field, and a receiver, wherein the receiver and is operable to measure the electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed Elsayed Fouda, Baris Guner, Junwen Dai, Ilker R. Capoglu
  • Patent number: 11180976
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining the frequency of a multi-rate well testing operation in a gas-lifted hydrocarbon well. A well performance characteristic of the well is monitored using single-rate well tests. The monitored well performance characteristic is compared to a current well model performance characteristic. If the monitored well performance characteristic differs from the current well model performance characteristic by less than a predetermined amount, an amount of gas is injected into the well based on the current well model performance characteristic. If the monitored well performance characteristic differs from the current well model performance characteristic by more than a predetermined amount, a multi-rate well test is initiated the results of the multi-rate well test are fitted to a revised well model performance characteristic, and an amount of gas is injected into the well based on the revised well model performance characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Marco De Mattia, Mahsa Memarzadeh, Curtis J. Holub, Amr S. El-Bakry
  • Patent number: 11174723
    Abstract: A method for determining along-hole well depth of a wellbore. A value for a calibrated drill string length is calculated, by determining length of drill pipe sections which form a drill string, prior to insertion of the drill pipe sections in the wellbore as part of the drill string. A correction which is calculated based upon one or more physical characteristics of the drill string. At least one of the physical characteristics is derived from measurements made at defined locations in the wellbore when the drill string is under tension whilst being pulled out of the wellbore. The correction to the calibrated drill string length is applied to obtain a value for a corrected drill string length as a measure of along hole depth. Advantageously, by calculating the correction based upon physical characteristics of the drill string associated with the process of pulling the drill string out of the well, the present invention reduces the number of physical characteristics which affect the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: DRILLER'S WAY-POINT DEPTH LIMITED
    Inventor: Harald Bolt
  • Patent number: 11175431
    Abstract: Various implementations described herein are directed to a method for surveying a wellbore. A statistical estimation process that combines magnetic survey measurement data and gyroscopic survey measurement data to form error estimates in a magnetic survey system is applied. The error estimates are used to correct magnetic survey data provided by the magnetic survey system. Magnetic only survey data is used when convergence of the error estimates has occurred. Information that facilitates drilling the wellbore is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Gyrodata, Incorporated
    Inventors: Adrián Guillermo Ledroz, John Lionel Weston
  • Patent number: 11168558
    Abstract: A cognitive computing system for enhancing oilfield operations, in some embodiments, comprises: neurosynaptic processing logic; and one or more information repositories accessible to the neurosynaptic processing logic, wherein the neurosynaptic processing logic produces a recommendation in response to an oilfield operations indication, the neurosynaptic processing logic produces said recommendation based on a probabilistic analysis of said oilfield operations indication, resources in the one or more information repositories, and oilfield operations models in the one or more information repositories, said oilfield operations models pertaining to oilfield operations associated with said indication, wherein the neurosynaptic processing logic presents said recommendation to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Robert L. Williams, Amir Bar
  • Patent number: 11168542
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for generating a schedule for fluid placement. A computer-implemented method may include determining, for each zone of a plurality of zones of a treatment interval to be treated by the fluids placement system, a criterion value based on a heterogeneity parameter of the zone, sorting the zones into an ordered sequence based on the criterion value associated with each zone, and generating a schedule that designates an order of treating the zones in accordance with the order of the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chaitanya Mallikarjun Karale, Rama Subba Reddy Thavva
  • Patent number: 11163084
    Abstract: Methods for machine learning-based differencing for hydrocarbon well logs are disclosed. A computer system generates an input layer of a machine learning module. The input layer includes a graphical representation of datasets obtained from one or more hydrocarbon wells. The computer system generates an encoding layer of the machine learning module from the graphical representation. The encoding layer includes a two-dimensional array based on the multiple datasets and a merged dataset of the one or more hydrocarbon wells. The computer system determines that a difference between a first hydrocarbon well log of the multiple datasets and a second hydrocarbon well log of the merged dataset warrants an action. The determining is performed using a convolutional layer. Responsive to determining that the difference warrants an action, the computer system performs the action on the first hydrocarbon well log and the second hydrocarbon well log to modify the merged dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Abdullah A. Theyab
  • Patent number: 11163080
    Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for generating a subsurface rock and/or fluid model on a determined domain. The subsurface rock and/or fluid model generated by the invention combines acoustic data and data obtained by an electromagnetic survey in such a way that the resulting model avoids the need of generating an image of the resistivity with the low resolution imposed by the known techniques inverting EM electromagnetic survey data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: REPSOL EXPLORACIÓN, S.A
    Inventors: Carlos Cobos, Marco Zanzi, Lucy MacGregor, Francisco Bolivar, Pedro Alvarez, David Andreis, Dario Grana
  • Patent number: 11156084
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for estimating a presence of oil-based mud (OBM) in a downhole fluid. Methods include generating measurement values by measuring one or more gross physical properties of the downhole fluid with at least one sensor, the measurement values comprising at least one measurement value representative of each gross physical property; and estimating with at least one processor a relative concentration of OBM with respect to the downhole fluid by using a model correlating the measurement values with the relative concentration. Methods may include taking measurements from the downhole fluid in situ and/or estimating the relative concentration in real-time with respect to generating the measurement values. The model may comprise a correlation prediction function mapping the measurement values to the relative concentration, which may use the measurement values as input to predict the relative concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Rocco DiFoggio, Hermanus J. Nieuwoudt
  • Patent number: 11149538
    Abstract: A system for determining bending of a drilling tool includes at least one element attached to the drilling tool and the at least one element includes a magnetic material, and at least one electrical conduit in the drilling tool and electro-magnetically coupled to the at least one element. The system also includes at least one signal source that feeds a signal into the electrical conduit and a measurement system that: measures at least one property of the signal in the electrical conduit as the signal source feeds the signal; and determines the bending of the drilling tool based on the measured property of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Kersten Kraft, Andreas Hartmann, Eugen Medvedev
  • Patent number: 11136882
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for directing the operation of a drilling system are provided. The location of a bottom hole assembly (BHA) of a drilling rig may be determined using survey data. One or more steering objective locations may be defined and one or more sets of directional motor instructions are generated to drive the BHA to the one or more steering objective location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Colin Gillan, Andrew J. Gorrara
  • Patent number: 11131182
    Abstract: Methods are provided for estimating a quality of cement in the annuli of a multi-string wellbore. Wideband acoustic energy signals are generated and detected in the wellbore and are processed to obtain indications of wideband casing-formation phase slowness dispersions in the wellbore. The indications are compared to reference wideband model casing-formation phase slowness dispersions in order to estimate status of cement or lack of cement in the annuli at that location based on the results of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Bikash K. Sinha, Smaine Zeroug
  • Patent number: 11125908
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, using multiple internal well-modeling applications, data from an engineer's data model (EDM) database. The method further includes deriving data relevant to an external application from at least a first portion of the obtained data. The method further includes formatting the derived data and at least a second portion of the obtained data, relevant to the external application, to be compatible with the external application. The method further includes sending the formatted data to the external application or a user of the external application. The method further includes receiving results of processing the formatted data by the external application or the user of the external application. The method further includes storing the results in the EDM database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Joe Eli Hess, Keith David Romaine
  • Patent number: 11118451
    Abstract: A system to determine a contamination level of a formation fluid, the system including a formation tester tool to be positioned in a borehole, wherein the borehole has a mixture of the formation fluid and a drilling fluid and the formation tester tool includes a sensor to detect time series measurements from a plurality of sensor channels. The system includes a processor to dimensionally reduce the time series measurements to generate a set of reduced measurement scores in a multi-dimensional measurement space and determine an end member in the multi-dimensional measurement space based on the set of reduced measurement scores, wherein the end member comprises a position in the multi-dimensional measurement space that corresponds with a predetermined fluid concentration. The processor also determines the contamination level of the formation fluid at a time point based the set of reduced measurement scores and the end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Dai, Dingding Chen, Christopher Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 11112519
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for selecting modes and frequencies of interest in a slowness-frequency map of sonic logging information. These include measuring, by a sonic logging tool, sonic data within a borehole, determining a frequency range for a selected mode of the sonic data, determining a slowness range for the selected mode of the sonic data, applying the frequency range and the slowness range to the sonic data to select a subset of data from the sonic data, processing the selected subset of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ruijia Wang, Chung Chang, John Philip Granville, Baichun Sun
  • Patent number: 11111782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oilfield management system. The oilfield management system comprises: one or more devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells, the one or more devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells are installed on one or more oil wells respectively for measuring working conditions of the one or more oil wells, the working conditions of oil wells at least comprise indicator diagrams of oil wells; one or more remote transmission units, each of the remote transmission units receives the working conditions measured by one or more of the devices for measuring working conditions of oil wells; and server, which determines running status of the one or more oil wells according to the working conditions of oil wells from the one or more remote transmission units; maintenance staff or administrators manage the one or more oil wells according to the running status of the one or more oil wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Inventor: Xinhua Li
  • Patent number: 11100595
    Abstract: Calculation of a value of energy passing a point of an electric power delivery system, and price associated with the value is disclosed herein. Use of energy packets according with the embodiments of this disclosure more accurately represents the amount of energy produced and consumed by equipment. Energy packets may be calculated over one or more phases, over configurable time periods. Energy packets may be used in conjunction with a monetary rate to calculate the price for billing an energy consumer or crediting an energy producer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead, Gregary C. Zweigle, Dallas J. Jacobsen
  • Patent number: 11092006
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a subsurface sensor in a borehole to provide a measurement series, a first processor, and a machine-readable medium having program code. The program code causes the apparatus to obtain the measurement series and generate a combination of functions based on the measurement series, wherein the combination of functions includes a subset of functions from a basis function library. The system also generate a set of values and communicates the set of values to a second processor, wherein the set of values includes a function identifier and corresponding function weight. The second processor is to generate a set of reconstructed measurement series based on the set of values and determine at least one of a formation property, a fluid property, and a well status based on the set of reconstructed measurement series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Jones, Darren George Gascooke, Anthony Herman Van Zuilekom, Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 11093576
    Abstract: Well core data descriptions are received as input digital data for computer lithofacies modeling. Digital templates are established for carbonate and clastic core description based on reservoir rock formation analysis. Description criteria of the template for carbonate rock can include texture, mineral composition, grain size, and pore type. For clastic rock, the criteria in the template can include grain size, sedimentary structure, lithology, and visual porosity. The data and observations regarding these criteria are entered into a computer 3D geological modeling system directly. Wireline log data are integrated to calibrate with well core description to derive lithofacies. The lithofacies are exported in digital format to be entered into the 3D geological modeling system. A geologically realistic model of the reservoir can be established.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Roger R. Sung, Ahmed S. Al-Ramadan
  • Patent number: 11092935
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for demulsifier automation of the wet crude handling facilities can include a computer-implemented method. Demulsifier automation parameters for automating demulsifier injection points of a wet crude handling facility are determined. The determining includes performing a data convolution and a smoothening of inlet demulsifier automation parameters. Performing the demulsifier automation of the wet crude handling facility, includes, for each demulsifier, the following: A current state of the demulsifier is identified based on the demulsifier automation parameters. Demulsifier calculation input parameters are determined, including performing a convolution and a smoothening of the demulsifier calculation input parameters. A demulsifier dosage rate is calculated using the determined demulsifier calculation input parameters. A state dependent dosage multiplication factor is applied to the demulsifier based on the current state based on the calculated demulsifier dosage rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Syed Haizir Syed Khuzzan, Marnix Jan Teuling, Randall L. Franklin
  • Patent number: 11092004
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for correcting clock drift between multiple data streams detected during oil or gas drilling operations. The method generally includes drilling a well segment using a drilling rig. During the drilling of the well segment, first and second drilling conditions are detected over a time interval using first and second sensors. First and second data streams based on the detected first and second drilling conditions are received at a surface location. It is then determined, based on a relationship between the first and second drilling conditions, whether the first and second data streams are asynchronous with each other and relative to the time interval. If it is determined that the first and second data streams are asynchronous: an extent to which the first and second data streams are asynchronous is determined; and based on said extent, the first and second data streams are synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NABORS DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES USA, INC.
    Inventors: Namitha Vinay, Srikanth Valleru, Jayaprasad Jayabal
  • Patent number: 11078760
    Abstract: Pullout information for a drilling tool may be obtained. The pullout information may characterize one or more operating characteristics of the drilling tool during pullout of the drilling tool from the wellbore. A pullout friction factor for the wellbore may be determined based on the pullout information. A comparison of the pullout friction factor to a pullout friction factor threshold may be performed to determine whether the pullout friction factor satisfies or violates the pullout friction factor threshold. The condition of the wellbore to run the casing into the wellbore may be determined based on whether the pullout friction factor satisfies or violates the pullout friction factor threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Namig Khochbar, Raafat Z. Abbas, Emre Doruk Tanyel, Johan C. Delgado