Patents by Inventor Jianfu Ma

Jianfu Ma 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).

  • Publication number: 20180275301
    Abstract: An illustrative hydraulic fracture mapping method includes: collecting microseismic signals during a multistage hydraulic fracturing operation; deriving microseismic event locations from the microseismic signals to create a microseismic event map for each stage of the operation; fitting a set of fracture planes to the microseismic event maps; determining a stimulated reservoir volume (“SRV”) region for each said stage; identifying where SRV regions overlap to form an overlap region; partitioning the overlap region to eliminate any overlap between the SRV regions; truncating the set of fracture planes for the SRV regions to discard any portion outside the revised SRV regions; and storing or displaying the truncated set of fracture planes for the first revised SRV region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Jie Bai, Ken Huang
  • Publication number: 20180245442
    Abstract: An illustrative monitoring system for a hydraulic fracturing operation includes: a data acquisition module collecting microseismic signals from a subterranean formation undergoing a hydraulic fracturing operation; a processing module implementing a monitoring method; and a visualization module that displays an estimate or prediction of fracture extent. The monitoring method implemented by the processing module includes: deriving microseismic event locations and times from the microseismic signals; fitting at least one fracture plane to the microseismic event locations; projecting each microseismic event location onto at least one fracture plane; determining a time-dependent distribution of the projected microseismic event locations; calculating one or more envelope parameters from the time-dependent distribution; and generating an estimate or prediction of fracture extent using the or more envelope parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Baidurja Ray
  • Publication number: 20180119532
    Abstract: An example method may include receiving data corresponding to microseismic events within a subterranean formation generated by a stimulation operation and correlating at least two microseismic events based, at least in part, on the data corresponding to the at least two microseismic events. Characteristics of at least one fracture within the formation may be determined based, at least in part, on the correlation. A subsequent stimulation operation may be performed based, at least in part, on the determined characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 9903189
    Abstract: In some aspects, data for a new microseismic event associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region is received. A boundary that was previously computed to enclose locations of prior microseismic events associated with the stimulation treatment is identified. The boundary is modified based on the data for the new microseismic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Publication number: 20170299742
    Abstract: A method for improved data-driven estimation of a stimulated reservoir volume may generate an optimized surface that encloses a set of data points including microseismic event data corresponding to a treatment of a subterranean formation. A Delaunay triangulation may be performed on the set of data points to generate a set of polytopes. A Voronoi polygon may be generated about each data point and used to obtain a local density measure that is locally and adaptively determined for each data point. Based on the local density measure, polytopes in the set of polytopes may be discriminated for inclusion in the optimized surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Baidurja Ray, Avi Lin, Jianfu Ma
  • Publication number: 20170227663
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of modeling a downhole drilling tool is disclosed. The method may include obtaining microseismic data corresponding to a treatment of a subterranean region, the microseismic data including a microseismic event time for each of a plurality of microseismic events, and a microseismic event location for each of the plurality of microseismic events. The method may additionally include calculating a plurality of fracture planes based upon the microseismic event times, and calculating a closed boundary enclosing a first subset of the plurality of fracture planes. The method may further include identifying a microseismic supported stimulated reservoir volume (?SRN) for the treatment based on the closed boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Jianfu MA, Avi LIN, Baidurja RAY
  • Publication number: 20170139066
    Abstract: In some aspects, a closed boundary is computed based on locations and location-uncertainty domains of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. The closed boundary encloses the locations and respective location-uncertainty domains of multiple microseismic event data points. An error bound of a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified based on the closed boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Baidurja Ray, Avi Lin, Jianfu Ma
  • Publication number: 20170131419
    Abstract: In some aspects, a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) parameter for a stimulation treatment applied to a subterranean region is identified. A parameter of a fracture-plane network generated by application of the stimulation treatment is identified. A correlation between the SRV parameter and the fracture-plane network parameter is identified. In some implementations, the SRV and the fracture-plane network are computed based on microseismic event data associated with the stimulation treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Baidurja Ray
  • Publication number: 20170045636
    Abstract: In some aspects, reservoir characterizations of subterranean regions can be enhanced by using realtime fracture matching techniques for capturing the time dependent evolution of fracture parameters based on the occurrence of the time microseismic events generated by stimulation treatments. These microseismic events may further be used to determine hydraulic fracture planes, identify areas of concentration of high density microseismic events, identify and analyze complex fracture networks, and use these and other techniques to enhance the reservoir characterization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 9551208
    Abstract: In some aspects, first and second boundaries are computed based on locations of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. Based on the first and second boundaries, an uncertainty associated with a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified. The first and second boundaries are defined in a common spatial domain and at least a portion of the second boundary resides outside the first boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 9529104
    Abstract: In some aspects, a closed boundary is computed based on locations of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. Based on the boundary, a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified. The boundary encloses a first subset of the locations and a second, different subset of the locations reside outside the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 9529103
    Abstract: In some aspects, a first boundary is computed based on microseismic event locations associated with a first stage of a multi-stage injection treatment of a subterranean region. A second boundary is computed based on microseismic event locations associated with a second stage of the multi-stage injection treatment. Based on the first and second boundaries, an overlap between stimulated reservoir volumes (SRVs) associated with the first and second stages is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 9523275
    Abstract: In some aspects, a boundary is computed based on locations of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. A major axis of a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified based on the boundary. In some examples, the boundary is an ellipsoid, and the major axis of the ellipsoid is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 9377547
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to calculate fracture stratigraphy of a subterranean zone. In some aspects, microseismic event data associated with a fracture treatment of a subterranean zone are received, and the subterranean zone includes multiple subsurface layers. A filter is used to select a subset of the microseismic event data corresponding to fractures in a particular subsurface layer. Fracture stratigraphy is calculated for the particular subsurface layer from fracture planes associated with the selected subset of the microseismic event data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Williams, Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 9341727
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to analyze microseismic data from a fracture treatment. In some aspects, fracture planes are identified based on microseismic event data from a fracture treatment of a subterranean zone. Each fracture plane is associated with a subset of the microseismic event data. Confidence level groups are identified from the fracture planes. Each confidence level group includes fracture planes that have an accuracy confidence value within a respective range. A graphical representation of the fracture planes is generated. The graphical representation includes a distinct plot for each confidence level group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 9285492
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to identify fracture planes in a subterranean zone. In some aspects, data representing locations of microseismic events associated with a subterranean zone are received. Fracture plane parameters are calculated from the locations of the microseismic events. The fracture plane parameters are calculated based on a sum of weighted terms, and each of the weighted terms includes a weighting factor that decreases with a distance between at least one of the microseismic events and a fracture plane defined by the fracture plane parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
  • Patent number: 9268050
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to determine a confidence value for a fracture plane. In some aspects, a subset of microseismic events associated with a fracture treatment of a subterranean zone are selected. Confidence in associating the selected subset of microseismic events with a common fracture plane is determined. The confidence can be determined, for example, based on the number of microseismic events in the subset, a location uncertainty for each microseismic event in the subset, a moment magnitude for each microseismic event in the subset, a distance between each microseismic event and a fracture plane fitted to the microseismic events, an orientation of the fracture plane fitted to the microseismic events, or a combination of these and other factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Lin, Jianfu Ma
  • Patent number: 9176246
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and software can be used to identify properties of fractures in a subterranean zone. In some aspects, a basic plane orientation is determined for each of a plurality of basic planes. The basic planes are defined by coplanar subsets of microseismic event data from a fracture treatment of a subterranean zone. The quantity of the basic plane orientations in each of a plurality of ranges is calculated. In some implementations, a histogram is displayed to indicate the quantity of basic plane orientations in each of the orientation ranges. A dominant fracture orientation is identified for the subterranean zone based on one or more of the identified quantities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters
  • Patent number: 9009010
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydraulic fracture characterization using microseismic event data to identify the orientation spacing and dip for subsurface fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Kenneth E. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150057934
    Abstract: In some aspects, first and second boundaries are computed based on locations of microseismic events associated with a stimulation treatment of a subterranean region. Based on the first and second boundaries, an uncertainty associated with a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) for the stimulation treatment is identified. The first and second boundaries are defined in a common spatial domain and at least a portion of the second boundary resides outside the first boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin, Harold Grayson Walters