Patents by Inventor Alberto F. Marsala

Alberto F. Marsala has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10808529
    Abstract: A method for surface logging a well uses a plurality of polymeric taggants distinguishable from each other. The method includes selecting the polymeric taggants that have ceiling temperatures that do not interfere with pyrograms from source rock decomposition and adding each of the plurality of polymeric taggants to a circulating drilling fluid in a sequence while drilling the well. A sample of drill cuttings carried by the circulating drilling fluid is then taken. The method also includes measuring, using pyrolysis-gas chromatographymass spectrometry, concentrations of individual polymeric taggants attached to the drill cuttings in the sample and analyzing, using pyrolysis-gas chromatographymass spectrometry, properties of the drill cuttings. A depth associated with the sample is identified based, at least in part, on the measured concentrations of individual polymeric taggants and on the sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hooisweng Ow, Jason R. Cox, Martin E. Poitzsch, Daniel T. Georgi, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Patent number: 10677035
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling hydrocarbon production includes (i) identifying a plurality of reservoir measurements of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir located between at least one injection wellbore and at least one production wellbore; (ii) processing the identified plurality of reservoir measurements to generate a petrophysical model of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; (iii) determining, based on the petrophysical model, a flow of an injectant from the injection wellbore toward the production wellbore; and (iv) adjusting an inflow control device (ICD) positioned about the production wellbore based on the determined flow of the injectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta, Daniel T. Georgi, Ali Alkhatib, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Patent number: 10677034
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling hydrocarbon production includes (i) identifying a plurality of reservoir measurements of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir located between at least one injection wellbore and at least one production wellbore; (ii) processing the identified plurality of reservoir measurements to generate a petrophysical model of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; (iii) determining, based on the petrophysical model, a flow of an injectant from the injection wellbore toward the production wellbore; and (iv) adjusting an inflow control device (ICD) positioned about the production wellbore based on the determined flow of the injectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta, Daniel T. Georgi, Ali Alkhatib, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Publication number: 20200116019
    Abstract: Systems and methods of surface logging a well using a plurality of polymeric taggants distinguishable from each other include adding each of the plurality of polymeric taggants to a circulating drilling fluid while drilling the well in a repeating sequence and taking a sample drill cuttings carried by the circulating drilling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hooisweng Ow, Jason R. Cox, Martin E. Poitzsch, Daniel T. Georgi, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Patent number: 10570716
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling hydrocarbon production includes (i) identifying a plurality of reservoir measurements of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir located between at least one injection wellbore and at least one production wellbore; (ii) processing the identified plurality of reservoir measurements to generate a petrophysical model of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; (iii) determining, based on the petrophysical model, a flow of an injectant from the injection wellbore toward the production wellbore; and (iv) adjusting an inflow control device (ICD) positioned about the production wellbore based on the determined flow of the injectant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta, Daniel T. Georgi, Ali Alkhatib, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Patent number: 10267943
    Abstract: Some examples of monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs using induced polarization effect includes inducing polarization in a subterranean zone using an induced polarization fluid. The subterranean zone includes first formations and second formations. A quantity of hydrocarbons in the first formations is greater than quantity of hydrocarbons in the second formations. The induced polarization data is obtained from the subterranean zone. A portion of the induced polarization data from the first formations is different from a portion of the induced polarization data from the second formations. The second formations in the subterranean zone are identified based on the obtained induced polarization data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Michael S. Zhdanov, Vladimir Burtman
  • Publication number: 20190011593
    Abstract: Some examples of monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs using induced polarization effect includes inducing polarization in a subterranean zone using an induced polarization fluid. The subterranean zone includes first formations and second formations. A quantity of hydrocarbons in the first formations is greater than quantity of hydrocarbons in the second formations. The induced polarization data is obtained from the subterranean zone. A portion of the induced polarization data from the first formations is different from a portion of the induced polarization data from the second formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Michael S. Zhdanov, Vladimir Burtman
  • Publication number: 20190003291
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling hydrocarbon production includes (i) identifying a plurality of reservoir measurements of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir located between at least one injection wellbore and at least one production wellbore; (ii) processing the identified plurality of reservoir measurements to generate a petrophysical model of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; (iii) determining, based on the petrophysical model, a flow of an injectant from the injection wellbore toward the production wellbore; and (iv) adjusting an inflow control device (ICD) positioned about the production wellbore based on the determined flow of the injectant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta, Daniel T. Georgi, Ali Alkhatib, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Publication number: 20190003292
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling hydrocarbon production includes (i) identifying a plurality of reservoir measurements of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir located between at least one injection wellbore and at least one production wellbore; (ii) processing the identified plurality of reservoir measurements to generate a petrophysical model of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; (iii) determining, based on the petrophysical model, a flow of an injectant from the injection wellbore toward the production wellbore; and (iv) adjusting an inflow control device (ICD) positioned about the production wellbore based on the determined flow of the injectant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta, Daniel T. Georgi, Ali Alkhatib, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Patent number: 10156654
    Abstract: Some examples of monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs using induced polarization effect includes inducing polarization in a subterranean zone using an induced polarization fluid. The subterranean zone includes first formations and second formations. A quantity of hydrocarbons in the first formations is greater than quantity of hydrocarbons in the second formations. The induced polarization data is obtained from the subterranean zone. A portion of the induced polarization data from the first formations is different from a portion of the induced polarization data from the second formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Michael S. Zhdanov, Vladimir Burtman
  • Publication number: 20180347349
    Abstract: A deviated or horizontal wellbore is drilled in a geologic formation with a multiphase fluid including a gas by a rotating drill bit positioned at a downhole end of a drill string. Portions of the gas are released into the wellbore during the drilling. During the drilling, soundwaves are emitted into the geologic formation from within the wellbore by a set of acoustic emitters attached to the drill string. The received reflected soundwaves are transmitted by the set of solid acoustic couplers to a set of acoustic sensors contacting the solid acoustic couplers. The reflected soundwaves are received by the acoustic sensors. Rock properties of the geologic formation are determined based on the less attenuated reflected soundwaves transmitted to the acoustic sensors by the solid acoustic couplers. A drilling direction of the wellbore is adjusted based on the determined rock properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Alberto F. Marsala
  • Patent number: 10132952
    Abstract: An electromagnetic sensing system operates either in land environments or in marine environments on the floor of a body of water to measure electromagnetic fields. The sensing system has electrodes that provide capacitive coupling to the local environment where measurements are being made. A new method of deployment in water provides considerable size and weight reductions. The size and weight reductions also facilitate deployment and rapid repositioning on land. The system is particularly beneficial for surveying sites adjacent to bodies of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Groundmetrics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Andrew Dennis Hibbs
  • Publication number: 20180298752
    Abstract: Techniques for controlling hydrocarbon production includes (i) identifying a plurality of reservoir measurements of a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir located between at least one injection wellbore and at least one production wellbore; (ii) processing the identified plurality of reservoir measurements to generate a petrophysical model of the subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir; (iii) determining, based on the petrophysical model, a flow of an injectant from the injection wellbore toward the production wellbore; and (iv) adjusting an inflow control device (ICD) positioned about the production wellbore based on the determined flow of the injectant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta, Daniel T. Georgi, Ali Alkhatib, Alberto F. Marsala
  • Publication number: 20180275306
    Abstract: Some examples of monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs using induced polarization effect includes inducing polarization in a subterranean zone using an induced polarization fluid. The subterranean zone includes first formations and second formations. A quantity of hydrocarbons in the first formations is greater than quantity of hydrocarbons in the second formations. The induced polarization data is obtained from the subterranean zone. A portion of the induced polarization data from the first formations is different from a portion of the induced polarization data from the second formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Michael S. Zhdanov, Vladimir Burtman
  • Patent number: 9983328
    Abstract: Some examples of monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs using induced polarization effect includes inducing polarization in a subterranean zone using an induced polarization fluid. The subterranean zone includes first formations and second formations. A quantity of hydrocarbons in the first formations is greater than quantity of hydrocarbons in the second formations. The induced polarization data is obtained from the subterranean zone. A portion of the induced polarization data from the first formations is different from a portion of the induced polarization data from the second formations. The second formations in the subterranean zone are identified based on the obtained induced polarization data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Michael S. Zhdanov, Vladimir Burtman
  • Publication number: 20160291194
    Abstract: Some examples of monitoring hydrocarbon reservoirs using induced polarization effect includes inducing polarization in a subterranean zone using an induced polarization fluid. The subterranean zone includes first formations and second formations. A quantity of hydrocarbons in the first formations is greater than quantity of hydrocarbons in the second formations. The induced polarization data is obtained from the subterranean zone. A portion of the induced polarization data from the first formations is different from a portion of the induced polarization data from the second formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Michael S. Zhdanov, Vladimir Burtman
  • Publication number: 20140361777
    Abstract: An electromagnetic sensing system operates either in land environments or in marine environments on the floor of a body of water to measure electromagnetic fields. The sensing system has electrodes that provide capacitive coupling to the local environment where measurements are being made. A new method of deployment in water provides considerable size and weight reductions. The size and weight reductions also facilitate deployment and rapid repositioning on land. The system is particularly beneficial for surveying sites adjacent to bodies of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Alberto F. Marsala, Andrew Dennis Hibbs