Patents Assigned to BP Exploration Operating Company
  • Patent number: 12203029
    Abstract: The problem of lost circulation is pertinent to the oil industry. To prevent fluid loss, a lost circulation material (LCM), or more generally, a plugging material, can be used to effectively plug the fractures in the rock formation. If the fractures are in the production zone, it is also ideal to unplug them when the drilling operation is complete. Therefore, a material engineered to degrade after a desired period would be useful. In examples, a plugging material has been developed by gelling an oil-based fluid using a low molecular weight gelator, dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS). DBS gels are robust and show plugging behavior. DBS is shown to chemically degrade in presence of an acid. Hence, a self-degrading gel can be synthesized by incorporating an acid into the system. Further, by varying the type and concentration of the acid, the degradation time of the gel can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignees: University of Maryland, College Park, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Faraz A. Burni, Srinivasa R. Raghavan, Joseph Wee, David Chappell, Shanshan Huang
  • Publication number: 20250018813
    Abstract: An end effector for an automated electric vehicle charging system includes a chassis including a chassis connector for coupling the end effector to an end of a robotic arm; and a support rail unit coupled to the chassis and including an elongate support rail, a carriage slidably coupled to the support rail and including a carriage connector configured to couple to an electric distributor charging connector of the electric vehicle charging system, and a carriage actuator coupled between the support rail and the carriage for transporting the carriage along the support rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Thais Moraes LAUER, Noman Nadeem RANA, Abigail Yuh Shyuan LEE, Udit SRIVASTAV, Raihan NOUSHAD, Romeo ORSOLINO, Stefan LIPPITSCH, Thomas SEEBACHER, Mario HIRZ
  • Patent number: 12036511
    Abstract: A desalination system includes a desalination platform, a first skid disposed on a first deck of the desalination platform, the first skid including at least one of a first filtration unit configured to produce a first filtrate stream, and a first permeate unit configured to produce a first permeate stream, a first interconnecting pipework coupled to the first skid, and a first pipework support disposed on the first deck, wherein the first interconnecting pipework is disposed on the first pipework support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 11966252
    Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure provides a method for determining a drift in clock data that is provided by a clock of a seismic sensor. The sensor is exposed to an ambient temperature that varies over time. The method includes obtaining temperature data associated with the ambient temperature as a function of time. The method also includes obtaining the clock data. The method also includes obtaining timestamp data provided by a global navigation satellite system. The method also includes determining drift data which minimizes a difference of a temporal drift in the clock data, based on the timestamp data and the temperature data. The method also includes outputting corrective data based on the determined drift data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: Alistair George Crosby
  • Publication number: 20240103191
    Abstract: In some examples, the disclosure provides a method for deploying a plurality N of seismic sensors, wherein each seismic sensor is adapted to measure seismic energy with at least one gain, within a survey area, the method comprising: obtaining a plurality M of gains from which the at least one gain may be selected; configuring the plurality N of seismic sensors such that, for each given gain of the obtained plurality M of gains, at least N/M seismic sensors are adapted to measure the seismic energy with at least one corresponding gain; and deploying the plurality N of configured seismic sensors on the survey area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: Amine OURABAH
  • Publication number: 20230026535
    Abstract: An offshore node deployment system includes a control system, a surface vessel including a deck, and a propulsion system in signal communication with the control system, a node storage container supported by the deck of the surface vessel, wherein the node storage container is configured to store a plurality of nodes which are physically disconnected from each other, and a node deployment system supported by the deck of the surface vessel and controllable by the control system, wherein the node deployment system is configured to retrieve the nodes from the node storage container and deploy the nodes to a subsea location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Ted Manning, Johnathan Stone
  • Publication number: 20220414301
    Abstract: A method of identifying events includes obtaining an acoustic signal from a sensor, determining one or more frequency domain features from the acoustic signal, providing the one or more frequency domain features as inputs to a plurality of event detection models, and determining the presence of one or more events using the plurality of event detection models. The one or more frequency domain features are obtained across a frequency range of the acoustic signal, and at least two of the plurality of event detection models are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicants: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Lytt Limited
    Inventor: Pradyumna THIRUVENKATANATHAN
  • Publication number: 20220275713
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for managing skin in a subterranean wellbore. In an embodiment, the method includes oscillating a drawdown pressure of the subterranean wellbore in a predetermined pattern that comprises a plurality of alternating drawdown pressure increases and drawdown pressure decreases. The drawdown pressure increases of the predetermined pattern comprise increasing the drawdown pressure at a first rate, and the drawdown pressure decreases of the predetermined pattern comprise decreasing the drawdown pressure at a second rate that is different from the first rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Patrick CALVERT, Gennaro DELLO IOIO, Andrew WOODS
  • Publication number: 20220252748
    Abstract: Example seismic sensors and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the seismic sensor includes an outer housing and a proof mass disposed in the inner cavity of the outer housing. In addition, the seismic sensor includes a first biasing member positioned in the inner cavity between the proof mass and an outer housing upper end that is configured to flex in response to axial movement of the outer housing relative to the proof mass. Further, the seismic sensor includes a second biasing member positioned in the inner cavity between the first biasing member and the outer housing upper end. Still further, the seismic sensor includes a sensor element positioned in the inner cavity between the proof mass and an outer housing lower end that is configured to generate a potential in response to movement of the outer housing relative to the proof mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicants: Rosneft Oil Company, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: Mathias CONTANT
  • Publication number: 20220251943
    Abstract: A method of abandoning a wellbore can include obtaining a first sample data set within a wellbore, wherein the first sample data set is a sample of an acoustic signal originating within the wellbore; determining a plurality of frequency domain features of the first sample data set; identifying a fluid flow location within the wellbore using the first plurality of frequency domain features; setting a barrier at or above the fluid flow location; obtaining a second sample data set above the barrier, wherein the second sample data set is a sample of an acoustic signal originating within the wellbore above the barrier; determining a second plurality of frequency domain features of the second sample data set; and identifying that a fluid flow rate or flow mechanism at the fluid flow location has been reduced or eliminated and/or identifying another fluid flow location using the second plurality of frequency domain features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicants: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, Lytt Limited
    Inventors: Pradyumna THIRUVENKATANATHAN, Tommy LANGNES
  • Publication number: 20220229198
    Abstract: Example sensor assemblies, seismic sensor incorporating the sensor assemblies, and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the sensor assembly includes an electrically conductive outer housing, and an electrically insulating holder disposed within the outer housing. The holder comprises a recess. In addition, the sensor assembly includes a sensor element disposed within the recess of the holder. The sensor element is electrically insulated from outer housing by the holder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicants: Rosneft Oil Company, BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: Mathias CONTANT
  • Publication number: 20210389486
    Abstract: A method of identifying inflow locations along a wellbore comprises obtaining an acoustic signal from a sensor within the wellbore, determining a plurality of frequency domain features from the acoustic signal, and identifying, using a plurality of fluid flow models, a presence of at least one of a gas phase inflow, an aqueous phase inflow, or a hydrocarbon liquid phase inflow at one or more fluid flow locations. The acoustic signal comprises acoustic samples across a portion of a depth of the wellbore, and the plurality of frequency domain features are obtained across a plurality of depth intervals within the portion of the depth of the wellbore. Each fluid flow model of the plurality of fluid inflow models uses one or more frequency domain features of the plurality of the frequency domain features, and at least two of the plurality of fluid flow models are different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: Pradyumna THIRUVENKATANATHAN
  • Publication number: 20210230017
    Abstract: A control system configured to control operation of reverse osmosis (RO) array(s), nanofiltration (NF) array(s) and/or a blending system including a control panel (CP), regulatory controllers (RCs), and a supervisory controller (SC), wherein the SC is in signal communication with the CP, and with the RCs, wherein the SC is configured to: receive user inputs from the CP, and receive inputs from RCs regarding data from sensors, wherein the RCs are in signal communication with the plurality of sensors, wherein the RCs are configured to: receive data from the sensors, provide outputs to and receive permissions from the SC, and instruct devices in response to the received permissions from the SC, and wherein the SC is configured to: monitor trends in the inputs regarding and/or predict outcomes from data received from the RCs and determine the permissions for RCs based on the monitored trends and/or user inputs from the CP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: John Henry Crouch
  • Publication number: 20210215030
    Abstract: A method of dynamically allocating a total amount of produced water (PW) from a reservoir during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) via a low salinity or softened water EOR flood by receiving measurement data; receiving reservoir configuration information comprising: an EOR injection rate associated with one or more EOR injection zones, a disposal zone injection rate associated with one or more disposal injection zones, and a non-reinjection disposal rate associated with one or more non-reinjection disposal routes; determining a blending rate comprising at least a portion of the PW production rate and at least a portion of the low salinity or softened water injection rate to provide a blended injection fluid; blending at least a portion of the PW with at least a portion of the low salinity or softened water at the blending rate; and dynamically allocating the PW production rate among injection and/or non-reinjection routes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Stuart William DAY, Christopher Kylie MAIR
  • Publication number: 20210171362
    Abstract: A predictive system for monitoring fouling of membranes of a desalination or water softening plant includes ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, and/or nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In addition, the system includes one or more UF skids including a plurality of UF units. Each UF unit contains therein a plurality of UF membranes. Further, the system includes one or more RO/NF skids including one or more RO/NF arrays. Each of the one or more RO/NF arrays includes a plurality of RO units, with each RO unit containing therein a plurality of RO membranes, a plurality of NF units, with each NF unit containing therein a plurality of NF membranes, or a combination thereof. Still further, the system includes UF sensors and/or RO/NF sensors. The system also includes a controller comprising a processor in signal communication with the UF sensors and/or the RO/NF sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: George Leslie Cunningham
  • Patent number: 11016207
    Abstract: A seismic survey apparatus includes a body having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an inner cavity positioned between the first end and the second end. In addition, the seismic survey apparatus includes a proof mass moveably disposed in the inner cavity of the body. The proof mass is configured to move axially relative to the body. Further, the seismic survey apparatus includes a first sensor disposed in the inner cavity. The first sensor comprises a first piezoelectric element configured to detect the axial movement of the proof mass relative to the body. Still further, the seismic survey apparatus includes electronic circuitry coupled to the first piezoelectric element. The electronic circuitry is configured to receive and process an output of the first piezoelectric element. The proof mass comprises a power supply configured to provide electrical power to the electronic circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventor: John Gerard Bouska
  • Publication number: 20210131243
    Abstract: A method for recovering crude oil from a reservoir including at least one layer of reservoir rock having crude oil and a formation water within the pore space thereof includes injecting into the layer(s) of reservoir rock from an injection well, alternating slugs of an aqueous displacement fluid comprising a concentrated solution of a water-soluble additive in an aqueous solvent and of an aqueous spacer fluid. The number of injected slugs of aqueous displacement fluid, n, is in the range of 15 to 1000 per swept pore volume, PVR, of the layer(s) of reservoir rock. The injected pore volume of each individual slug, PVSlug-i, of aqueous displacement fluid is in the range of 10?12 to 10?2 of the swept pore volume, PVR, of the layer(s) of reservoir rock. The total injected pore volume of the slugs of aqueous displacement fluid is in the range of 10?8 to 10?1 of the swept pore volume, PVR, of the layer(s) of reservoir rock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: John William Couves, Piotr Krawiec, Bilal Rashid, Timothy Stephen Totton
  • Publication number: 20210130193
    Abstract: An integrated system includes a desalination plant including a reverse osmosis (RO) array to produce an RO permeate blending stream and a nanofiltration (NF) array to produce an NF permeate blending stream. The integrated system also includes a blending system. Further, the integrated system includes a control unit. Still further, the integrated system includes an injection system for one or more injection wells that penetrate an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. Moreover, the integrated system includes a production facility to separate fluids produced from one or more production wells that penetrate the oil-bearing layer of the reservoir and to deliver a produced water (PW) stream to the blending system. The blending system is configured to blend the RO permeate and NF permeate blending streams with the PW stream to produce a blended low salinity water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20200256834
    Abstract: A system for processing acoustic data to identify an event includes a receiver unit including a processor and a memory. The receiver unit is configured to receive a signal from a sensor disposed along a sensor path or across a sensor area. A processing application is stored in the memory. The processing application, when executed on the processor, configures the processor to: receive the signal from the sensor, where the signal includes an indication of an acoustic signal received at one or more lengths along the sensor path or across a portion of the sensor area and the signal is indicative of the acoustic signal across a frequency spectrum; determine a plurality of frequency domain features of the signal across the frequency spectrum; and generate an output comprising the plurality of frequency domain features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Tommy LANGNES, Pradyumna THIRUVENKATANATHAN
  • Publication number: 20200248514
    Abstract: An integrated system includes a desalination plant including a reverse osmosis (RO) array to produce an RO permeate blending stream and a nanofiltration (NF) array to produce an NF permeate blending stream. The integrated system also includes a blending system, a control unit, and an injection system for an injection well that penetrates an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. The blending system is to blend the RO permeate blending stream and the NF permeate blending stream to produce a blended injection water stream. The control unit is to dynamically alter operation of the blending system to adjust amounts of at least one of the RO permeate blending stream and the NF permeate blending stream to alter the composition of the blended injection water stream from an initial composition to a target composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams