Patents by Inventor Enru Liu

Enru Liu 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: 11531127
    Abstract: Accordingly, there are disclosed herein geologic modeling methods and systems employing reference-based inversion of seismic image volumes. An illustrative method embodiment includes: (a) obtaining a measured seismic image volume; (b) determining a reference seismic image volume based on a reference model; (c) deriving a synthesized seismic image volume from a geologic model; (d) detecting at least one geologic model region where the synthesized seismic image volume and the measured seismic image volume are mismatched; (e) finding a reference model region where the reference seismic image volume best matches the measured seismic image volume; (f) replacing content of the at least one geologic model region with content of the reference model region to obtain an improved geologic model; and (g) outputting the improved geologic model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Enru Liu, Matthew S. Casey, John E. Mayhew, Matthias Imhof, J. Clayton Bell
  • Publication number: 20190331812
    Abstract: Accordingly, there are disclosed herein geologic modeling methods and systems employing reference-based inversion of seismic image volumes. An illustrative method embodiment includes: (a) obtaining a measured seismic image volume; (b) determining a reference seismic image volume based on a reference model; (c) deriving a synthesized seismic image volume from a geologic model; (d) detecting at least one geologic model region where the synthesized seismic image volume and the measured seismic image volume are mismatched; (e) finding a reference model region where the reference seismic image volume best matches the measured seismic image volume; (f) replacing content of the at least one geologic model region with content of the reference model region to obtain an improved geologic model; and (g) outputting the improved geologic model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Enru Liu, Matthew S. Casey, John E. Mayhew, Matthias Imhof, J. Clayton Bell
  • Patent number: 10422922
    Abstract: A system and method to predict rock strength by directly inverting for petrophysical properties. In one embodiment, seismic data is received or obtained from a seismic survey (step 101). The seismic data are then conditioned (step 103) in order to prepare them for an inversion process (step 105). The inversion process has an embedded rock physics model that allows the inversion to be formulated based upon, and thereby outputting or calculating (step 107), petrophysical properties. Rock strength data may then be calculated from the petrophysical properties (step 109).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Xiaoxia Xu, Enru Liu, Dominique Gillard, Yaping Zhu, Kaushik Bandyopadhyay, Fuping Zhou
  • Patent number: 9797868
    Abstract: Systems and methods which determine geologic properties using acoustic analysis are shown. Acoustic signals are collected during processing (e.g., crushing, shearing, striking, compressing, etc.) of geologic media, such as rock samples, for determining geologic properties according to embodiments. The acoustic signals collected may include frequency information, amplitude information, time information, etc. which may be utilized in determining geologic properties, such as geologic media properties (e.g., mineralogy, porosity, permeability, sealing capacity, fracability, compressive strength, compressibility, Poisson's Ratio, Youngs Modulus, Bulk Modulus, Shear Modulus), geologic structure properties (e.g., lithology, seal quality, reservoir quality), geologic acoustic properties (e.g., acoustic logging effectiveness, acoustic response, natural or harmonic frequencies, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Gordon Macleod, Robert J. Pottorf, Dennis P. Smith, Limin Song, Peng Xu, Enru Liu
  • Patent number: 9405026
    Abstract: Method for estimating fluid heterogeneity in a subsurface region from seismic wave attenuation or velocity dispersion that is either measured or extracted from geophysical data (210). A rock physics model in the form of a mathematical relationship is selected that relates attenuation or velocity to frequency and to physical properties that are related to fluid heterogeneity (220). The model, or asymptotes (230) representing the model's behavior at frequency extremes, is inverted (240) and that relationship is used to obtain (250) one or more of the physical properties related to fluid heterogeneity, such as characteristic length scale for fluid saturation heterogeneities (270) and relative volume fractions of the fluids saturating the pore space (280).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Julianna J. Toms, Christine E. Krohn, Enru Liu
  • Publication number: 20150301223
    Abstract: A system and method to predict rock strength by directly inverting for petrophysical properties. In one embodiment, seismic data is received or obtained from a seismic survey (step 101). The seismic data are then conditioned (step 103) in order to prepare them for an inversion process (step 105). The inversion process has an embedded rock physics model that allows the inversion to be formulated based upon, and thereby outputting or calculating (step 107), petrophysical properties. Rock strength data may then be calculated from the petrophysical properties (step 109).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Xiaoxia Xu, Enru Liu, Dominique Gillard, Yaping Zhu, Kaushik Bandyopadhyay, Fuping Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140283609
    Abstract: Systems and methods which determine geologic properties using acoustic analysis are shown. Acoustic signals are collected during processing (e.g., crushing, shearing, striking, compressing, etc.) of geologic media, such as rock samples, for determining geologic properties according to embodiments. The acoustic signals collected may include frequency information, amplitude information, time information, etc. which may be utilized in determining geologic properties, such as geologic media properties (e.g., mineralogy, porosity, permeability, sealing capacity, fracability, compressive strength, compressibility, Poisson's Ratio, Youngs Modulus, Bulk Modulus, Shear Modulus), geologic structure properties (e.g., lithology, seal quality, reservoir quality), geologic acoustic properties (e.g., acoustic logging effectiveness, acoustic response, natural or harmonic frequencies, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Gordon Macleod, Robert J. Pottorf, Dennis P. Smith, Limin Song, Peng Xu, Enru Liu
  • Patent number: 8781762
    Abstract: Systems and methods which determine geologic properties using acoustic analysis are shown. Acoustic signals are collected during processing (e.g., crushing, shearing, striking, compressing, etc.) of geologic media, such as rock samples, for determining geologic properties according to embodiments. The acoustic signals collected may include frequency information, amplitude information, time information, etc. which may be utilized in determining geologic properties, such as geologic media properties (e.g., mineralogy, porosity, permeability, sealing capacity, fracability, compressive strength, compressibility, Poisson's Ratio, Youngs Modulus, Bulk Modulus, Shear Modulus), geologic structure properties (e.g., lithology, seal quality, reservoir quality), geologic acoustic properties (e.g., acoustic logging effectiveness, acoustic response, natural or harmonic frequencies, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Gordon Macleod, Robert J. Pottorf, Dennis Patrick Smith, Limin Song, Peng Xu, Enru Liu
  • Patent number: 8676556
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image (102) of a rock sample characteristic of a reservoir of interest (101); segmenting the 3D image into compositional classes (103) based on similarities in mineralogy, structure and spatial distribution; selecting a model (105) that relates an effective material property of interest to the volume fractions of each compositional class; and determining the parameters of the model (106). The model may be used to assess the commercial potential of the subsurface reservoir (107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, John H. Dunsmuir, Limin Song, Ganglin Chen, Shiyu Xu, Michael A. Payne, Enru Liu
  • Publication number: 20140058678
    Abstract: Method for determining fracture orientation and fracture intensity in multiple fractured layers in the subsurface in a layer-stripping manner. Multi-component, multi-azimuth seismic data are required (31), from which the horizontal, primarily converted wave, components are selected, and these data are further reduced by selecting only the data for which the survey azimuths are either parallel or perpendicular to the general fracture strike (33). If the general fracture trend is unknown, such selective data may be determined by an azimuth-offset scanning process. Layer stripping is performed on azimuth/offset stacks (42) to produce fracture parameter maps (43). All offsets are stacked in those azimuths that produce consistent fracture parameter maps (44), then layer stripping is performed (45) on the stacks to produce final fracture orientation and S-wave time difference maps (46). These maps can be used to produce true amplitude fast and slow S-waves (56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Reeshidev Bansal, Michael P. Matheney, Enru Liu
  • Patent number: 8473213
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for generating anisotropic resistivity models of a subsurface reservoir from seismic and well data using a rock physics model. In one embodiment, the method comprises: selecting wells within a region of interest (101); obtaining a plurality of rock properties (102) and adjusting selected rock parameters (103) in the calibration of the rock physics model at the well locations; inverting porosity and shale content from seismic data (107); propagating the calibrated rock physics model to the region of interest (109) and calculating effective resistivity for the entire region of interest (109). The inventive method also provides for analyzing the uncertainty associated with the prediction of the resistivity volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Yaping Zhu, Xinyou Lu, Shiyu Xu, Enru Liu, Michael A. Payne, Carrie X. Zhan
  • Publication number: 20130146282
    Abstract: Method for estimating fluid heterogeneity in a subsurface region from seismic wave attenuation or velocity dispersion that is either measured or extracted from geophysical data (210). A rock physics model in the form of a mathematical relationship is selected that relates attenuation or velocity to frequency and to physical properties that are related to fluid heterogeneity (220). The model, or asymptotes (230) representing the model's behavior at frequency extremes, is inverted (240) and that relationship is used to obtain (250) one or more of the physical properties related to fluid heterogeneity, such as characteristic length scale for fluid saturation heterogeneities (270) and relative volume fractions of the fluids saturating the pore space (280).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Julianna J. Toms, Christine E. Krohn, Enru Liu
  • Publication number: 20130013209
    Abstract: Method for predicting physical properties of a source rock formation wherein an inclusion-based (103) mathematical rock physics model (101) is constructed that treats organic matter as solid inclusions, solid background, or both, and relates anisotropic elastic and electric properties of source rock to in-situ rock and fluid properties (102). The model is calibrated with well log data and may be used to forward model calculate effective anisotropic elastic (104.1) and electrical (104.2) properties of the source rock formation, or by inversion (441-442) of sonic and resistivity log data to calculate total organic carbon (423) in terms of a difference (421) between elastic and electrical properties of the source rock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Yaping Zhu, Shiyu Xu, Enru Liu, Michael A. Payne, Martin J. Terrell
  • Publication number: 20110066390
    Abstract: Systems and methods which determine geologic properties using acoustic analysis are shown. Acoustic signals are collected during processing (e.g., crushing, shearing, striking, compressing, etc.) of geologic media, such as rock samples, for determining geologic properties according to embodiments. The acoustic signals collected may include frequency information, amplitude information, time information, etc. which may be utilized in determining geologic properties, such as geologic media properties (e.g., mineralogy, porosity, permeability, sealing capacity, fracability, compressive strength, compressibility, Poisson's Ratio, Youngs Modulus, Bulk Modulus, Shear Modulus), geologic structure properties (e.g., lithology, seal quality, reservoir quality), geologic acoustic properties (e.g., acoustic logging effectiveness, acoustic response, natural or harmonic frequencies, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Gordon Macleod, Robert J. Pottorf, Dennis Patrick Smith, Limin Song, Peng Xu, Enru Liu
  • Publication number: 20100326669
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for generating anisotropic resistivity models of a subsurface reservoir from seismic and well data using a rock physics model. In one embodiment, the method comprises: selecting wells within a region of interest (101); obtaining a plurality of rock properties (102) and adjusting selected rock parameters (103) in the calibration of the rock physics model at the well locations; inverting porosity and shale content from seismic data (107); propagating the calibrated rock physics model to the region of interest (109) and calculating effective resistivity for the entire region of interest (109). The inventive method also provides for analyzing the uncertainty associated with the prediction of the resistivity volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Yaping Zhu, Xinyou Lu, Shiyu Xu, Enru Liu, Michael A. Payne, Carrie X. Zhan
  • Publication number: 20100198638
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon exploration method is disclosed for developing a model of at least one effective material property of a subsurface reservoir as a function of the composition and structure of the reservoir rock. In one embodiment, the method comprises: obtaining a 3D image (102) of a rock sample characteristic of a reservoir of interest (101); segmenting the 3D image into compositional classes (103) based on similarities in mineralogy, structure and spatial distribution; selecting a model (105) that relates an effective material property of interest to the volume fractions of each compositional class; and determining the parameters of the model (106). The model may be used to assess the commercial potential of the subsurface reservoir (107).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, John H. Dunsmuir, Limin Song, Ganglin Chen, Shiyu Xu, Michael A. Payne, Enru Liu