Patents by Inventor Jilin Jay Zhang

Jilin Jay Zhang 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: 20250130155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining caprock integrity for geological sequestration of CO2, such as in above saline aquifers. The testing system for performing the method includes a core container in fluid communication with an upstream reservoir and an upstream pump, further in fluid communication with a downstream liquid reservoir and a downstream liquid pump, and further in fluid communication with a downstream gas reservoir and a downstream gas pump. The method includes determining transient hydraulic conductivity and hydraulic gradient of a caprock core sample using the testing system based on non-Darcy flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Hui-Hai LIU, Jilin Jay ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20250130154
    Abstract: A method includes performing, on a core sample obtained from a reservoir and positioned in a permeability measurement assembly that includes a flow inlet, a permeability operation by flowing a test fluid from the flow inlet and into the core sample and changing an effective stress acting on the core sample. The method also includes determining a natural logarithm of permeability of the core sample as a function of the effective stress, and determining, as a function of the natural logarithm of permeability of the core sample, an initial pore pressure of the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2023
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Jilin Jay Zhang, Rabah Mesdour
  • Publication number: 20250116592
    Abstract: Techniques for determining properties of a rock sample include performing a plurality of series of permeability measurements of a rock sample with a permeability test assembly to derive permeability values, where each series includes permeability measurements of the rock sample at a respective, constant differential pressure between a particular confining pressure and a particular pore pressure; for each series of the plurality of series, performing a curve fit operation to determine a slope and an intercept of a curve associated with a selected Biot coefficient, the permeability values, and the particular pore pressures to generate a plurality of slope values and a plurality of intercept values; determining an effective stress coefficient of the rock sample; and determining an actual Biot coefficient of the rock sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Publication number: 20250067892
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a caprock of an aquifer includes determining, using a laboratory measurement device, a threshold hydraulic gradient of the caprock at which brine flows vertically in the caprock. The method further includes determining a breakthrough pressure of the caprock, wherein the breakthrough pressure reflects a difference between a CO2 pressure in the aquifer and a brine pressure in the caprock. The method further includes calculating, via a computing system that includes one or more hardware processors, an effective breakthrough pressure of the caprock based on the threshold hydraulic gradient and the breakthrough pressure, wherein the effective breakthrough pressure accounts for non-Darcy flow of the brine within the caprock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Jilin Jay Zhang
  • Publication number: 20250012186
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining caprock integrity. The testing apparatus for performing the method including a core container in fluid communication with an upstream reservoir and an upstream pump, and further in fluid communication with a downstream reservoir and a downstream pump. The method including determining threshold hydraulic gradient of a caprock core sample using the testing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Hui-Hai LIU, Jilin Jay ZHANG
  • Publication number: 20250003325
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining reservoir data, hydraulic fracturing data, and static wellbore data for a geological region of interest. The method may further include obtaining temporal production data for the geological region of interest. The temporal production data may include a predetermined production rate with respect to a predetermined period of time. The method may further include determining various temporal features based on the temporal production data and an extraction process. The extraction process may include a deconvolution function that separates a portion of the temporal features from the predetermined production rate. The method may further include determining, using a machine-learning model, predicted hydrocarbon-in-place (HIP) data for the geological region of interest using the reservoir data, the hydraulic fracturing data, the static wellbore data, and the temporal features. The method may further include transmitting a command to a well control system based on the predicted HIP data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicants: ARAMCO SERVOCES COMPANY, SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Rabah Mesdour, Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Faisal F. Almalki
  • Publication number: 20250003856
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed. The methods may include obtaining, from a subterranean region of interest, a rock sample having a rock type and defining a sequence of pore pressure, confining stress (PPCS) pairs such that a sequence of effective stresses monotonically changes. The methods may further include determining a sequence of permeabilities by subjecting the rock sample to the sequence of PPCS pairs and determining a relationship between the sequence of PPCS pairs and the sequence of permeabilities. The methods may further still include determining a parameter using the relationship and a permeability model, where the permeability model includes the parameter and determining an in situ permeability for an in situ rock in the subterranean region of interest using, at least in part, the parameter and the permeability model, where the in situ rock is of the rock type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Applicant: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Patent number: 12050168
    Abstract: A method for determining a matrix permeability of a subsurface formation, including the steps: acquiring a core from the subsurface formation, imposing a fluid to the core until the core is saturated with the fluid, conducting a pressure-pulse decay (PD) method on an upstream and a downstream side of the core by applying a pressure-pulse on the upstream and the downstream side of the core, and determining the matrix permeability from decays of the pressure-pulses on the upstream side and downstream side, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Publication number: 20230385604
    Abstract: A system and methods for predicting well performance are disclosed. The method includes obtaining first geoscience data and first performance data, obtaining second geoscience data and second performance data, and obtaining new geoscience data for a new well. The method further includes training a first neural network and determining predicted second performance data using the first neural network. The method still further includes determining a residual between the second performance data and the predicted second performance data and training a second neural network. The method still further includes determining predicted new performance data for the new well by inputting a subset of the new geoscience data into the first neural network, determining a new residual for the new well by inputting the new geoscience data into the second neural network, and updating the predicted new performance data using the new residual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Hui-Hai Liu, Jilin Jay Zhang, Jodel Cornelio, Syamil Mohd-Razak
  • Publication number: 20230341312
    Abstract: A method for determining a matrix permeability of a subsurface formation, including the steps: acquiring a core from the subsurface formation, imposing a fluid to the core until the core is saturated with the fluid, conducting a pressure-pulse decay (PD) method on an upstream and a downstream side of the core by applying a pressure-pulse on the upstream and the downstream side of the core, and determining the matrix permeability from decays of the pressure-pulses on the upstream side and downstream side, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Patent number: 11680887
    Abstract: A method for determining a rock property includes positioning a core sample in a core sample assembly that is enclosed in a pressurized container with a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and a pressurized fluid inlet fluidly coupled to a pressurized fluid reservoir that includes a pressurized fluid pump; sequentially performing at least three test operations on the core sample; at each of the at least three test operations, measuring an inlet pressure at the flow inlet, measuring an outlet pressure at the flow outlet, and measuring a confining pressure within the pressurized container; and determining a permeability of the core sample based at least in part on at least one of the measured inlet pressures, at least one of the measured outlet pressures, and at least one of the measured confining pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Publication number: 20230168173
    Abstract: A method for determining a rock property includes positioning a core sample in a core sample assembly that is enclosed in a pressurized container with a flow inlet, a flow outlet, and a pressurized fluid inlet fluidly coupled to a pressurized fluid reservoir that includes a pressurized fluid pump; sequentially performing at least three test operations on the core sample; at each of the at least three test operations, measuring an inlet pressure at the flow inlet, measuring an outlet pressure at the flow outlet, and measuring a confining pressure within the pressurized container; and determining a permeability of the core sample based at least in part on at least one of the measured inlet pressures, at least one of the measured outlet pressures, and at least one of the measured confining pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Patent number: 11643924
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining permeability of subsurface formations are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: positioning a sample of the subsurface formation in a measurement cell, fluidly connecting an inlet and an outlet of the sample to an upstream reservoir and a downstream reservoir, respectively, flowing a fluid through the sample from the upstream reservoir to the downstream reservoir, measuring changes of an upstream pressure associated with the upstream reservoir and a downstream pressure associated with the downstream reservoir in a measurement time period, and determining a matrix permeability of the subsurface formation based on measurement data before the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure merge at a merging time point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Patent number: 11579065
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fracture and matrix permeability of a subsurface formation. The system includes two upstream reservoirs and two downstream reservoirs, and a sample cell connecting to the reservoirs with valves. The sample cell has a confining pressure (CF) from a fluid. A horizontal plug sample with sleeve is placed in a measurement cell with the confining fluid (CF). A pressure gauge is connected to the small upstream reservoir, and a pressure gauge is connected to the small downstream reservoir. The results provide two sets of effective-stress-dependent permeability values (including fracture permeability and matrix permeability, respectively) for characterizing the reservoir properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Patent number: 11371905
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting leakage in a permeability measurement system. The method includes connecting a plurality of flow lines to a first dimension of a core sample assembly, connecting one or more flow lines to a second dimension of the core sample assembly, placing the core sample assembly with the connections in a measurement cell such that the flow lines are accessible from outside of the measurement cell, connecting one or more gas sensors to one end of each of the flow lines, connecting an inlet of the measurement cell to a gas tank, setting fluid pressure inside the measurement cell to a predetermined value, and detecting a leakage in the core sample assembly by the one or more gas sensors coupled to the flow lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Publication number: 20220056798
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for determining permeability of subsurface formations are provided. In one aspect, a method includes: positioning a sample of the subsurface formation in a measurement cell, fluidly connecting an inlet and an outlet of the sample to an upstream reservoir and a downstream reservoir, respectively, flowing a fluid through the sample from the upstream reservoir to the downstream reservoir, measuring changes of an upstream pressure associated with the upstream reservoir and a downstream pressure associated with the downstream reservoir in a measurement time period, and determining a matrix permeability of the subsurface formation based on measurement data before the upstream pressure and the downstream pressure merge at a merging time point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Jewel Duncan
  • Patent number: 11187766
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fluid content in a formation sample are disclosed. The method includes disposing the formation sample with a standard sample of a known chemical composition and one or more nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) attributes in a NMR coil or probe, and acquiring NMR signals for the formation sample and the standard sample simultaneously. The system includes a NMR probe or NMR coil, a formation sample, and a standard sample with known chemical composition and one or more nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) attributes, wherein the formation sample and the standard sample are disposed in the NMR coil or probe, and wherein NMR signals are acquired for the formation sample and the standard sample simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Jin-Hong Chen, Stacey Marie Althaus
  • Patent number: 11079313
    Abstract: Methods and systems method for determining core permeability of a subsurface formation. The method includes connecting an upstream reservoir to one end of a sample holder comprising a core sample of a subsurface formation, connecting a downstream reservoir to another end of the sample holder, providing a constant confining pressure within the sample holder, saturating the sample holder and the core sample with nitrogen at a saturation pressure, applying a pressure pulse to one end of the sample holder, and determining core permeability using the porosity of the mobile continuum when the pressure in the upstream reservoir, the downstream reservoir, and the mobile continuum is in equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Publication number: 20200386664
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining fracture and matrix permeability of a subsurface formation. The system includes two upstream reservoirs and two downstream reservoirs, and a sample cell connecting to the reservoirs with valves. The sample cell has a confining pressure (CF) from a fluid. A horizontal plug sample with sleeve is placed in a measurement cell with the confining fluid (CF). A pressure gauge is connected to the small upstream reservoir, and a pressure gauge is connected to the small downstream reservoir. The results provide two sets of effective-stress-dependent permeability values (including fracture permeability and matrix permeability, respectively) for characterizing the reservoir properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen
  • Publication number: 20200370989
    Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting leakage in a permeability measurement system. The method includes connecting a plurality of flow lines to a first dimension of a core sample, connecting one or more flow lines to a second dimension of the shale sample, placing the core sample with the connections in a measurement cell such that the flow lines are accessible from outside of the measurement cell, connecting one or more gas sensors to one end of each of the flow lines, connecting the outlet of the measurement cell to a gas tank, setting fluid pressure inside the measurement cell to a predetermined value, and detecting a leakage in the core sample by the one or more gas sensors coupled to the flow lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Jilin Jay Zhang, Hui-Hai Liu, Huangye Chen