Patents by Inventor Christian Hubans

Christian Hubans 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: 11567232
    Abstract: A method for providing a calibrated rock-physics model of a subsoil. First, a geological model of the subsoil comprising a grid made of cells, associated with a rock-physics parameter is obtained. A group of cells forming a calibration body is selected in the grid. The calibration body corresponds to a region of the subsoil having substantially homogenous rock-physics parameter values. Finally, an adjustable constant parameter in a physical equation expressing a relationship between the petro-physical parameter and a petro-elastic parameter in the calibration body is calibrated so as to reduce a mismatch between the petro-elastic parameter estimated using the physical equation and a petro-elastic parameter value determined from inverted seismic data, the calibrated physical equation providing a calibrated rock-physics model of the subsoil in the calibration body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Philippe Solans, Pierre Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Patent number: 11320550
    Abstract: The invention notably relates to a computer-implemented method for processing a 4D seismic signal relative to a subsoil, the subsoil including a zone subject to extraction and/or injection, the method comprising: providing the 4D seismic signal; identifying a part of the 4D seismic signal corresponding to a zone of the subsoil distinct from the zone subject to extraction and/or injection; determining a noise model of the 4D seismic signal based on the identified part of the 4D seismic signal; and processing the 4D seismic signal based on the noise model. This improves the field of 4D seismic data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: TOTAL SE
    Inventors: Christian Hubans, Natalia Shchukina
  • Publication number: 20200217976
    Abstract: The invention notably relates to a computer-implemented method for processing a 4D seismic signal relative to a subsoil, the subsoil including a zone subject to extraction and/or injection, the method comprising: providing the 4D seismic signal; identifying a part of the 4D seismic signal corresponding to a zone of the subsoil distinct from the zone subject to extraction and/or injection; determining a noise model of the 4D seismic signal based on the identified part of the 4D seismic signal; and processing the 4D seismic signal based on the noise model. This improves the field of 4D seismic data processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Christian HUBANS, Natalia SHCHUKINA
  • Patent number: 10393900
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for characterizing the evolution of a reservoir by determining a seismic wavelet which links observed seismic data to a sequence of reflectivities. The method comprises obtaining seismic data (200) representing seismic changes which have occurred between a first time and a second time, said seismic data comprising a plurality of seismic traces; and performing an optimization operation simultaneously (230) on the seismic traces so as to optimize for said seismic wavelet. The optimization operation may be performed without using known reflectivity data as an input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Total S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas David Blanchard, Pierre Daniel Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Publication number: 20190219734
    Abstract: A method for providing a calibrated rock-physics model of a subsoil. First, a geological model of the subsoil comprising a grid made of cells, associated with a rock-physics parameter is obtained. A group of cells forming a calibration body is selected in the grid. The calibration body corresponds to a region of the subsoil having substantially homogenous rock-physics parameter values. Finally, an adjustable constant parameter in a physical equation expressing a relationship between the petro-physical parameter and a petro-elastic parameter in the calibration body is calibrated so as to reduce a mismatch between the petro-elastic parameter estimated using the physical equation and a petro-elastic parameter value determined from inverted seismic data, the calibrated physical equation providing a calibrated rock-physics model of the subsoil in the calibration body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: T0TAL SA
    Inventors: Philippe SOLANS, Pierre THORE, Christian HUBANS
  • Patent number: 9690001
    Abstract: A 4D seismic technique, where a base seismic trace is measured at a first time in a region of the subsoil, and then a monitor seismic trace corresponding to the base seismic trace is measured at a second time. To interpret the 4D measurements, assumptions are made about the variation of elastic parameters in permeable layers at predefined positions in one direction between the first and the second time. Elastic parameters include the density (?) and the speed of propagation of the pressure waves (VP) in the permeable layers. Numerical evaluation is performed for a capability of each assumption about the variation of elastic parameters to give an account of a change between the measured base seismic trace and the measured monitor seismic trace, and the variation of the elastic parameters is estimated in accordance with an assumption of optimum capability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Pierre Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Publication number: 20160349391
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for characterising the evolution of a reservoir by determining a seismic wavelet which links observed seismic data to a sequence of reflectivities. The method comprises obtaining seismic data (200) representing seismic changes which have occurred between a first time and a second time, said seismic data comprising a plurality of seismic traces; and performing an optimisation operation simultaneously (230) on the seismic traces so as to optimise for said seismic wavelet. The optimisation operation may be performed without using known reflectivity data as an input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: Total S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas David BLANCHARD, Pierre Daniel THORE, Christian HUBANS
  • Patent number: 9377549
    Abstract: According to the invention, elastic parameters, including density, pressure wave propagation speed, and/or shear in pervious layers located in a dense underground area along an array of horizontal positions, are estimated by inverting 4D seismic data. Firstly, an estimate of variations in the elastic parameters in one or more starting positions of the array, which can be located on bored wells within the area in question, is obtained. Then, a propagation algorithm is used in order to gradually carry out the 4D data inversion on the basis of the starting positions. The inversion takes into account the previously estimated parameter variations. A spatial variation in the depth and/or the thickness of the pervious lavers in question can also be taken into account. Propagation is based on positions that are consecutively selected as providing optimal values for a cost function assessed in order to invert the 4D data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Total SA
    Inventors: Pierre Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Publication number: 20130176822
    Abstract: According to the invention, elastic parameters, including density, pressure wave propagation speed, and/or shear in pervious layers located in a dense underground area along an array of horizontal positions, are estimated by inverting 4D seismic data. Firstly, an estimate of variations in the elastic parameters in one or more starting positions of the array, which can be located on bored wells within the area in question, is obtained. Then, a propagation algorithm is used in order to gradually carry out the 4D data inversion on the basis of the starting positions. The inversion takes into account the previously estimated parameter variations. A spatial variation in the depth and/or the thickness of the pervious lavers in question can also be taken into account. Propagation is based on positions that are consecutively selected as providing optimal values for a cost function assessed in order to invert the 4D data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Pierre Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Publication number: 20130121112
    Abstract: A 4D seismic technique, where a base seismic trace is measured at a first time in a region of the subsoil, and then a monitor seismic trace corresponding to the base seismic trace is measured at a second time. To interpret the 4D measurements, assumptions are made about the variation of elastic parameters in permeable layers at predefined positions in one direction between the first and the second time. Elastic parameters include the density (?) and the speed of propagation of the pressure waves (VP) in the permeable layers. Numerical evaluation is performed for a capability of each assumption about the variation of elastic parameters to give an account of a change between the measured base seismic trace and the measured monitor seismic trace, and the variation of the elastic parameters is estimated in accordance with an assumption of optimum capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TOTAL SA
    Inventors: Pierre Thore, Christian Hubans
  • Patent number: 5233304
    Abstract: Electromagnetic source intended to be placed permanently in a drill well for studying the electromagnetic properties of the geological formations or of the fluids surrounding the well. This source consists of a coil through which a high current is circulated and which is of a diameter of the order of magnitude of the diameter of the well and is integrated in one of the elements of the casing produced at least partially from a resistant material in which the coil is embedded. This source can either be activated directly by a conductor shoe moving along in the well or be connected to a supply by means of cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production)
    Inventor: Christian Hubans