Patents Examined by Elias Desta
  • Patent number: 11340368
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for generating a velocity model and a density model for a subsurface region of a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes: receiving, by a data processing apparatus, a set of seismic data of the hydrocarbon reservoir; setting, by the data processing apparatus, an initial velocity model and an initial density model; generating, by the data processing apparatus, wavefields of the hydrocarbon reservoir based on the set of seismic data; selecting, by the data processing apparatus, a spatial direction; generating, by the data processing apparatus, a velocity gradient and a reflectivity gradient of the selected spatial direction based on the wavefields; and updating, by the data processing apparatus, the velocity model and the density model using the velocity gradient and the reflectivity gradient of the selected spatial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Yimin Sun, Tong Wang Fei
  • Patent number: 11333780
    Abstract: A method of processing a three-dimensional (3D) seismic dataset includes: producing a relative amplitude preserved (RAP) processed seismic volume that includes a reservoir from the 3D seismic dataset; decomposing the RAP processed seismic volume into a first iso-frequency volume; generating a first overburden sediment interval map and a first reservoir interval zone map for the first iso-frequency volume; generating and outputting a first ratio map for the first iso-frequency volume by dividing the first overburden sediment interval map by the first reservoir interval zone map; and characterizing a fluid content of the reservoir based on the first ratio map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Taher M. Sodagar, Ahmed M. Alhamad
  • Patent number: 11327175
    Abstract: A method for determining a substitute distance between a location and a substitute impact point of a projectile in a horizontal plane common with the location, the method determining a target distance between the location and a target arranged on a sight line, and the method determining an elevation angle formed by the sight line with the horizontal plane, wherein an equivalent horizontal distance is calculated as a substitute distance by correcting the target distance with at least one correction coefficient dependent on the elevation angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Inventor: Andreas Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 11320557
    Abstract: A computer system receives a post-stack time-domain image having a first spectrum and representing one or more subsurface structures. The computer system reconstructs an increased-frequency version of the post-stack time-domain image using L0-constrained inversion and a least-squares mismatch ratio. The increased-frequency version of the post-stack time-domain image includes structural artifacts. The computer system removes the structural artifacts from the increased-frequency version of the post-stack time-domain image using singular value decomposition. The computer system combines the increased-frequency version of the post-stack time-domain image with the post-stack time-domain image using a weighting function. The computer system generates a combined version of the increased-frequency version of the post-stack time-domain image and the post-stack time-domain image. The combined version represents the one or more subsurface structures and has a second spectrum broader than the first spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Yimin Sun, Woodon Jeong, Constantinos Tsingas
  • Patent number: 11320449
    Abstract: A visualization device for a flow field includes a chamber, a power supply, at least one pair of electrodes, and at least one flow field observation module. The flow field observation module includes a high-speed camera, a light detecting component, and a light filter component. The power supply outputs a voltage to generate a plasma, and the pair of electrodes is disposed in the chamber. The flow field observation module is disposed outside the chamber and captures an image of a fluid particle excited by the plasma toward the chamber. The light filter component is disposed between the high-speed camera and the chamber. The light detecting component obtains a light information within the chamber and sends the light information to the light filter component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chih-Yung Huang, Yao-Hsien Liu, Kuan-Chou Chen, Yi-Jiun Lin, Shih-Chin Lin, Ching-Chiun Wang
  • Patent number: 11313986
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for mapping surface and near surface features and processing artifacts from stacked and processed seismic data are disclosed. In some implementations, a computer system receives a three-dimensional (3D) seismic cube including seismic reflectivity data obtained at a geographical location. The computer system generates a vertical analysis window of the 3D seismic cube. The computer system extracts a second 3D seismic cube from the seismic reflectivity data based on the vertical analysis window. The second 3D seismic cube has multiple vertical amplitude traces associated with the seismic reflectivity data. The computer system generates 3D data comprising multiple frequency traces from the multiple vertical amplitude traces using a domain transform. The computer system generates a two-dimensional (2D) map from the 3D data. The 2D map represents geographical features of the geographical location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Sami N. Awfi
  • Patent number: 11307324
    Abstract: Drilling systems and related methods are disclosed. A drilling systems may include a tool configured to be positioned at an end of a drill string adjacent a drill bit, and the tool may be configured to detect localized seismo-electromagnetic conversion from one or more predetermined positions within a medium ahead of the drill bit. The tool may include two or more pressure sources configured to generate focused acoustic and/or elastic energy at the one or more predetermined positions to generate the localized seismo-electric conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Niels Grobbe, Aime Fournier, Laurent Demanet
  • Patent number: 11307318
    Abstract: Provided is a technique that can suppress erroneous determination of noise as an earthquake in a seismic sensor and erroneous output of a shut-off signal. The seismic sensor includes: an earthquake determination unit configured to determine an occurrence of an earthquake based on acceleration measured in a determination period after shifting from a power saving mode to a measurement mode with higher power consumption when measured acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold; and an index calculator configured to calculate an index value indicating a scale of an earthquake in an earthquake processing period after the determination period, when the earthquake determination unit determines that an earthquake has occurred. The seismic sensor causes output of a shut-off signal when the index value is equal to or larger than a threshold in the earthquake processing period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Mino, Naotsugu Ueda, Masakazu Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11298297
    Abstract: A baby bottle sensor with content deduction logic is attachable to a baby bottle. The sensor uses programmed logic to deduce whether formula or some other fluid is being fed. Collected data is stored and reported to a paired Bluetooth device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventor: Zak Wood
  • Patent number: 11294084
    Abstract: According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising a memory configured to store seismic data, at least one processing core configured to perform a geographic determination, based on the seismic data and reference data, the geographic determination relating to a geographical location of a device that produced the seismic data. In some embodiments, the device that produced the seismic data is comprised in a cloud computing server. In other embodiments, the device that produced the seismic data is integrated in a secure computing element on a motherboard of a computer. In further embodiments, the reference data originates in a trusted seismographic source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Leo Hippeläinen, Ian Oliver
  • Patent number: 11286766
    Abstract: A system for optimizing a tubular running operation (TRO) in which a running string is disposed in a wellbore includes sensors located at the wellsite, plus one or more processors, displays, and user-input devices, which may be at the wellsite or elsewhere. The sensors are configured to measure running string parameters including the running strings position within the well, the running and rotation rates, and loads acting at the top of the running string. Based on this information, the processor(s) perform torque-and-drag analysis (TDA) in the top-down direction to estimate downhole loads on user-selected running string components, accounting for measurement and modelling uncertainties. Based on the estimated loads, the processor(s) calculate one or more damage indicators, which are communicated to the user via the display(s), enabling the user to take corrective action to prevent or manage damage to the running string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: C. John Van Vliet, Spencer Taubner, Victor Yung, Daniel Dall'Acqua
  • Patent number: 11280925
    Abstract: A method for separating the unknown contributions of two or more sources from a commonly acquired set of wavefield signals representing a wavefield where the contributions from different sources are both encoded by means of the principles of signal apparition and as well as by means of different source encoding techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: APPARITION GEOSERVICES GMBH
    Inventors: Johan Robertsson, Kurt Eggenberger, Dirk-Jan Van Manen, Fredrik Andersson
  • Patent number: 11269304
    Abstract: A system and method for managing of a particulate bulk good that includes a set of wireless sensor nodes, wherein each wireless sensor node comprises a set of environmental sensors configured to collect condition data of the particulate bulk good proximal to the wireless sensor node; an analysis engine that is configured to generate a particulate state analysis from the condition data; and a task manager that is configured to act on the particulate state analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Amber Agriculture, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Liu Varikooty, Lucas Nelson Stanley Delbert Frye
  • Patent number: 11255993
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for imaging seismic data includes obtaining an initial model of a subsurface formation, wherein the model includes a plurality of nodes that form at least part of a grid; an initial dip value for the nodes; and a set of origin coordinates for each of the nodes; performing bottom-up ray tracing for each node in the model, resulting in a set of arrival coordinates for each node; identifying a plurality of gathers from the seismic data; for each gather: calculating a set of midpoint coordinates; defining a midpoint vicinity surrounding the set of midpoint coordinates; identifying the nodes having arrival coordinates within the midpoint vicinity; and estimating a unique aperture for each of the gathers based on the respective origin coordinates; storing the estimated apertures in a table; and generating a subsurface volume or image with subsurface reflectors determined with apertures of the respective gathers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Valeriy V. Brytik, Yaxun Tang, David Gaines, Fuxian Song, Anton Spirkin
  • Patent number: 11255995
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining a subsurface feature, includes: determining a first velocity model based on an initial velocity model; generating a second velocity model based on measured seismic data at one or more first frequencies, the first velocity model, and a full waveform inversion (FWI); and in response to the second velocity model not satisfying a preset condition, performing a seismic forward simulation on the second velocity model to generate simulated seismic data at one or more second frequencies lower than the one or more first frequencies; updating the first velocity model based on the simulated seismic data at the one or more second frequencies; and updating the second velocity model based on the measured seismic data at the one or more first frequencies, the updated first velocity model, and the FWI, to determine the subsurface feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Advanced Geophysical Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Wenyi Hu
  • Patent number: 11249874
    Abstract: Content-sensitive computer applications are run on computer hosts in a computer cluster. A computer application running history including but not limited to computer host scores is recorded for the computer cluster. A request to start a container for a content-sensitive computer application type in the computer cluster is received. In response, available computer hosts in the computer cluster are identified. A specific computer host is selected from among the available computer hosts to run the container for the content-sensitive computer application type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: salesforce.com, inc.
    Inventor: Dhiraj Hegde
  • Patent number: 11243319
    Abstract: Methods for separating the unknown contributions of two or more sources from a commonly acquired set of wavefield signals based on varying parameters at the firing time, location and/or depth of the individual sources in a lateral 2D plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Apparition Geoservices GmbH
    Inventors: Fredrik Andersson, Johan Robertsson
  • Patent number: 11231516
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for hydrocarbon management including generating an image of a subsurface formation by: obtaining simultaneous-source survey data, an earth model, and a first and a second velocity model of the subsurface formation; generating synthetic survey data with at least one of the earth model, the first velocity model, and the second velocity model. The method and apparatus may include directly migrating the simultaneous-source survey data; migrating the synthetic survey data; and subtracting the migrated synthetic survey data from the migrated simultaneous-source survey data. The method and apparatus may include subtracting the synthetic survey data from the simultaneous-source survey data; and directly migrating the result of the subtraction. The method and apparatus may include generating an artifact-reduced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Young Ho Cha, Dennis E. Willen
  • Patent number: 11215720
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing seismic data acquired with multicomponent sensors build an accurate S-wave velocity model of a surveyed underground formation using a full waveform inversion (FWI) approach. PS synthetic data is generated using approximative acoustic equations in anisotropic media with a P-wave model, a current S-wave velocity model and a reflectivity model as inputs. The current S-wave velocity model is updated using FWI to minimize an amplitude-discrepancy-mitigating cost function that alleviates the amplitude mismatch between the PS observed data and the PS synthetic data due to the use of the approximative acoustic equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventors: Min Wang, Yi Xie, Tengfei Wang, Adriano Gomes
  • Patent number: 11215725
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer-readable medium for a full seismic wavefield de-aliasing workflow. To achieve the de-aliasing, the workflow employs a four-dimension (4D) anti-leakage anti-aliasing regularization algorithm. The workflow involves application of successive de-aliasing steps while restricting computations only to the significant spatial dimensions. In areas of strong elastic property variation in the near-surface, the benefit of de-aliasing the full wavefield is both significant and demonstrable. In addition to achieving de-aliased sampling of the full wavefield, the workflow reduces the complexity of both the computational and geophysical aspects of the problem of de-aliasing full wavefields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Pierre Leger, Fuhao Qin