Patents Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company
  • Patent number: 11161059
    Abstract: A system includes a device disposed within a storage tank. The device includes a cyclonic separator and an electrostatic coalescer. The cyclonic separator is configured to receive and separate phases of a multi-phase fluid stream. The cyclonic separator is configured to induce cyclonic flow of the multi-phase fluid stream to separate the multi-phase fluid stream into a gas stream and a liquid stream. The liquid stream includes a first liquid phase and a second liquid phase. The cyclonic separator is configured to discharge at least a portion of the gas stream and at least a portion of the liquid stream. The electrostatic coalescer is downstream of and fluidically connected to the second outlet of the cyclonic separator. The electrostatic coalescer is configured to demulsify the liquid stream by causing coalescence of liquid droplets of one of the first or second liquid phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohamed Ahmed Soliman, Nisar Ahmad Ansari
  • 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: 11162340
    Abstract: An integrated system is disclosed to handle production of multiphase fluid consisting of oil, gas and water. The production stream is first separated into two streams: a liquid dominated stream (GVF<5% for example) and a gas dominated stream (GVF>95% for example). The separation can be done through shrouds, cylindrical cyclonic, gravity, in-line or the like separation techniques. The two streams are then routed separately to pumps which pump dissimilar fluids, such as a liquid pump and a gas compressor, and subsequently recombined. Both pumps are driven by a single motor shaft which includes an internal passageway associated with one of the pumps for reception of the fluid from the other pump, thereby providing better cooling and greater overall efficiency of all systems associated therewith. A method for providing artificial lift or pressure boosting of multiphase fluid is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinjiang Xiao, Randall Alan Shepler
  • Patent number: 11162035
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A heavy hydrocarbon feed and a non-saline water feed are introduced to a first stage reactor. The first stage reactor is operated under supercritical water conditions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream and a saline water feed are combined to produce a mixed stream, where the saline water feed includes an alkali or alkaline earth metal compound. The mixed stream is introduced to a second stage reactor. The second stage reactor is operated under supercritical water conditions to produce a product stream including upgrading hydrocarbons. The second stage reactor is operated at a temperature less than that of the first stage reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Faisal M. Almulla
  • Patent number: 11162038
    Abstract: A system includes a hydroprocessing zone configured to remove impurities from crude oil; a first separation unit configured to separate a liquid output from the hydroprocessing zone into a light fraction and a heavy fraction; an aromatic extraction subsystem configured to extract aromatic petrochemicals from the light fraction; and a pyrolysis section configured to crack the heavy fraction into multiple olefinic products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Raed Abudawoud, Thamer Mohammad, Alberto Lozano Ballesteros, Essam Al Sayed
  • Patent number: 11162344
    Abstract: System, methods, and devices for simultaneously fracturing a target formation and an adjacent secondary formation are disclosed. The simultaneous fracturing operations interfere with each other to form in-situ dynamic barriers. The in-situ barriers prevent acid from the fracturing treatment in the target formation from invading the secondary formation and, in some instances, sealing formation rock at the location of the in-situ barrier to prevent or reduce water movement from the secondary formation into the primary formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Moataz Mohammad Alharbi
  • Publication number: 20210333188
    Abstract: A method for determining properties of different cation exchange sites in a rock core sample, at a preserved state of the rock core sample may include providing a rock core sample that includes a plurality of indigenous exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites, a plurality of cation exchange sites occupied by a crude oil, and one or more fluids occupying pore spaces in the rock core sample; subjecting the rock core sample to a plurality of coreflooding steps, the plurality of coreflooding step displacing the plurality of indigenous exchangeable cations, the crude oil, and the one or more fluids in at least three separate coreflooding steps to render the rock core sample clean of native components; determining an amount of indigenous exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites; subjecting the rock core sample clean of native components to a plurality of coreflooding steps to determine a total amount of exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites when the ro
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Quan Chen
  • Publication number: 20210332685
    Abstract: Methods for performing a hydraulic fracturing operation are provided. The methods include pumping a hydraulic fracturing fluid through a wellbore into a subsurface formation, in which the hydraulic fracturing fluid comprises a plurality of proppants. Individual proppants of the plurality of proppants travel a first distance into the subsurface formation and have a persistent diameter homogeneity. The methods further include shutting in the wellbore to facilitate crushing individual proppants under formation pressure to form microproppants and resuming pumping the hydraulic fracturing fluid after crushing individual proppants and forcing the microproppants to a second distance within the subsurface formation, in which the second distance is beyond the first distance relative to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohammad H. Haque, Younane N. Abousleiman, Rajesh K. Saini, Katherine Hull
  • Publication number: 20210332698
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations including: receiving a real-time density log comprising bulk density readings of a subterranean formation, where a well is being drilled in the subterranean formation; aggregating density readings over a first threshold distance from a current drilling depth in the subterranean formation; calculating a minimum formation density and a maximum formation density in the aggregated density readings; calculating a difference between the maximum formation density and the minimum formation density; in response to determining that the difference is greater than a field threshold, determining whether a previous kick alert occurred at least a second threshold distance from the current drilling depth; and in response to determining that the previous kick alert occurred at least the second threshold distance from the current drilling depth, detecting a kick in the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Zainab Alsaihati, Bader Otaibi, Abdullah Saleh Al-Yami, Salem H. Al Gharbi
  • Publication number: 20210333191
    Abstract: A method for determining properties of different cation exchange sites in a rock core sample may include providing a rock core sample that is in either a preserved state or a non-preserved state, wherein a preserved form of the rock core sample includes a plurality of indigenous exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites, a plurality of cation exchange sites occupied by a crude oil, and one or more fluids occupying pore spaces in the rock core sample; subjecting the rock core sample to a plurality of coreflooding steps, the plurality of coreflooding step displacing the plurality of indigenous exchangeable cations and the one or more fluids in at least two separate coreflooding steps to render the rock core sample clean of indigenous exchangeable cations; and determining an amount of indigenous exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Quan Chen
  • Publication number: 20210332282
    Abstract: An invert-emulsion drilling fluid may include a dispersed aqueous phase including an aqueous base fluid, a continuous non-aqueous phase including a non-aqueous base fluid, and a first bridging package. The first bridging package may include one or more particulate carbonate materials. All of the particulate carbonate materials of the invert-emulsion drilling fluid may be part of the first bridging package. The first bridging package may have a trimodal particle size distribution such that the particle size distribution of the first bridging package includes three peaks, wherein each peak may be in the range of less than or equal to 300 microns in the particle size distribution. The invert-emulsion drilling fluid may be included in methods for reducing lost circulation in subterranean formations during drilling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Vikrant Wagle, Sara Alkhalaf, Khawlah A. Alanqari
  • Publication number: 20210332691
    Abstract: A method may include determining a portion of a microscale fracture using a well log acquired for a stratigraphic interval of interest. The method may further include obtaining seismic data for the stratigraphic interval of interest. The method may further include determining a seismic attribute that correlates the microscale fracture to a subset of the seismic data. The method may further include generating an attribute volume using the seismic attribute with a seismic volume for a region of interest. The method may further include generating, using the attribute volume, a fracture image of the microscale fracture throughout the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Si-Hai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210332647
    Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a subterranean well with a drill bit include a drill bit body with a central bore. A plurality of ports extend through the nose end of the drill bit body from the central bore to an outside of the drill bit body. A blocked nozzle is located within one of the plurality of ports. The blocked nozzle has a nozzle bore end and a nozzle nose end opposite the nozzle bore end. A bore end disk is located at the nozzle bore end of the blocked nozzle, preventing a flow of fluids through the blocked nozzle past the bore end disk. A nose end disk is located at the nozzle nose end of the blocked nozzle, preventing the flow of fluids through the blocked nozzle past the nose end disk. The nose end disk and the bore end disk are removable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Shrikant TIWARI
  • Publication number: 20210333258
    Abstract: A method for determining properties of different cation exchange sites in a rock core sample, at a non-preserved state of the rock core sample may include providing a rock core sample in a non-preserved state; displacing all native components out of the rock core sample; subjecting the rock core sample clean of native components to a plurality of coreflooding steps to determine a total amount of exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites when the rock core sample is clean of native components; injecting formation brine and then a reservoir crude oil into the rock core sample until reaching irreducible water saturation and equilibrium between formation brine, the reservoir crude oil, and the cation exchange sites, such that rock core sample includes a plurality of indigenous exchangeable cations adsorbed onto the cation exchange sites, a plurality of cation exchange sites occupied by a crude oil, and one or more fluids occupying pore spaces in the rock core sample; subjecting the rock core sa
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Quan Chen
  • Patent number: 11156034
    Abstract: A wellbore is drilled in a formation using a drill string assembly that includes a drill string. A drill bit is connected to a downhole end of the drill string. A notching tool is connected to the drill string. After drilling the wellbore to a depth from a surface in the formation, the drilling is paused. The notching tool is rotated. a notch is formed with the rotating notching tool. In subsequent operations, DSA is removed from the well and the fracturing fluid pumped from the surface can create fractures at the locations of notches. These fractures would improve wellbore connectivity with the reservoir for better oil and gas recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Muhammad Ayub
  • Patent number: 11154845
    Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a catalyst composition includes a catalyst support and at least one hydrogenative metal component disposed on the catalyst support. The catalyst support includes at least one USY zeolite having a framework substituted with titanium and zirconium and at least one beta zeolite also having a framework substituted with titanium and zirconium. A method of using such a catalyst in a hydrocracking process is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd., Japan Cooperation Center Petroleum
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Robert Peter Hodgkins, Mitsunori Watabe, Koji Uchida
  • Patent number: 11156073
    Abstract: A method includes drilling a first, non-vertical wellbore in a first direction. The first wellbore includes a first heel section residing at a first production zone of a subterranean formation and a first toe section downhole of the first heel section and residing at a second production zone of the subterranean formation. The first wellbore defines a first central axis defining a first plane. The method also includes drilling a second, non-vertical wellbore in a second direction opposite the first direction. The second wellbore defines a second central axis defining a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane. The second wellbore includes a second heel section residing at a third production zone opposite the first production zone and a second toe section downhole of the second heel section and residing at a fourth production zone opposite the second production zone to help prevent pressure interference between the wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ali Saleh Rabba, Sultan S. Madani
  • Patent number: 11156052
    Abstract: Wellbore tool assembly to open collapsed tubing includes a chisel head having a first end configured to be positioned within an end of a collapsed tubing portion of a tubular member. The chisel head has a second end opposite the first end. The second end has an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of an uncollapsed tubing portion of the tubular member. The chisel head is configured to expand a diameter of the collapsed tubing portion responsive to a movement of the chisel head toward the collapsed tubing portion. The assembly includes a packer attached to the chisel head. The packer is configured to expand responsive to fluidic pressure and to further expand the diameter of the collapsed tubing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ahmed Al-Mousa, Ahmed A. Al-Ramadhan, Qadir Looni
  • Patent number: 11156411
    Abstract: Certain implementations of natural gas liquid fractionation plant waste heat conversion to simultaneous cooling capacity and potable water using Kalina Cycle and modified multi-effect distillation system can be implemented as a system. The system includes first waste heat recovery heat exchanger configured to heat a first buffer fluid stream by exchange with a first heat source in a natural gas liquid fractionation plant. The system includes a water desalination system comprising a first train of one or more desalination heat exchangers configured to heat saline by exchange with the heated first buffer fluid stream to generate fresh water and brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mahmoud Bahy Mahmoud Noureldin, Akram Hamed Mohamed Kamel
  • Patent number: 11156079
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system includes a downhole tool in a bottom hole assembly attached to a drill string, configured to perform gas measurements during drilling operations. The downhole tool includes a housing to house the downhole tool; sensors positioned along external walls of the housing and including coaxial resonators; electrical circuitry located inside the downhole tool and configured to enable communication by, and operation of, the downhole tool; at least one processor configured to convert scattering parameter 11 signals received from sensors to permittivity values and determine signatures from permittivity values. A memory stores data collected by sensors. A sensor system monitors changes from a baseline signal of drill mud produced during the drilling operations, the changes based at least in part on signatures determined from permittivity values. The downhole tool provides communications to surface systems when a gas kick event is detected by the downhole tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez