Patents by Inventor Jose Oliverio Alvarez

Jose Oliverio Alvarez 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: 20240084695
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a casing within a well includes tubing with an outer surface, a housing having an inner wall, an outer wall, and two end walls extending between the inner wall and the outer wall to define an annular enclosure, the housing extending around at least a portion of the tubing with an outer surface of the inner wall in contact with the outer surface of the tubing, a cylinder including an elastomer, the cylinder extending outward from an outer surface of the outer wall of the housing, the cylinder sized to contact an inner surface of the casing during use, a plurality of optical distance sensors, associated electronics, and a battery positioned inside the housing, a plurality of light sources positioned within the housing, each light source operable to emit light towards an optical distance sensor, and a transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Jose Oliverio Alvarez, Damian Pablo San Roman Alerigi
  • Publication number: 20240035627
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a multiphase production fluid, calculating production fluid phase flow rates, and calculating an oil/gas and oil/gas/water volume fractions of the multiphase production fluid, are provided. Contemplated systems and method may utilize fluidic piping, a production fluid supply valve, a fluidic separation chamber, an inert gas exhaust valve, a separation chamber pressure sensor, a fluidic separation detector, and a fluidic supply and analysis unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20240027031
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a multiphase production fluid include a fluidic supply and analysis unit configured to transition the fluidic separation chamber to a static state after a complete gaseous phase column and a complete oil phase column are formed within the fluidic separation chamber; communicate with the fluidic separation detector to measure the absolute or relative sizes of the complete gaseous phase column and the complete oil phase column; and calculate an oil/gas volume fraction as a function of the measured sizes of the gaseous phase and oil phase columns in the fluidic separation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11852005
    Abstract: A monitoring device monitors deformation of a casing installed in a wellbore and housing a production tubing, and includes: a packer installed within an annulus between the casing and the production tubing; a deformable substrate that is disposed at an outer side of the annulus and contacts an inner surface of the casing to deform along with casing deformation; a light source that is disposed on the deformable substrate and emits light towards an inside of the annulus; an imaging device that is disposed in the packer to be opposite to the light source across the annulus and detects the light emitted from the light source; and a processor that produces a signal from the detected light, processes the produced signal, and transmits the processed signal to a surface control device that monitors the deformation of the casing based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Damian Pablo San Roman Alerigi, Adrian Cesar Cavazos Sepulveda, Sameeh Issa Batarseh, Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11821588
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a multiphase production fluid, calculating production fluid phase flow rates, and calculating an oil/gas and oil/gas/water volume fractions of the multiphase production fluid, are provided. Contemplated systems and method may utilize fluidic piping, a production fluid supply valve, a fluidic separation chamber, an inert gas exhaust valve, a separation chamber pressure sensor, a fluidic separation detector, and a fluidic supply and analysis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11815229
    Abstract: System and methods for analyzing a multiphase production fluid include a fluidic supply and analysis unit configured to transition the fluidic separation chamber to a static state after a complete gaseous phase column and a complete oil phase column are formed within the fluidic separation chamber; communicate with the fluidic separation detector to measure the absolute or relative sizes of the complete gaseous phase column and the complete oil phase column; and calculate an oil/gas volume fraction as a function of the measured sizes of the gaseous phase and oil phase columns in the fluidic separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11808910
    Abstract: A system for looking ahead of a drill bit includes a plane wave generator (PWG) tool deployed downhole inside a wellbore for formation evaluation and generation of reflection data, a power source providing electric power to the PWG tool for the formation evaluation and the generation of the reflection data, a surface control system receiving the reflection data from the PWG tool and generating image data of a subsurface rock formation based on the received reflection data, and a wireline that electrically couples the PWG tool to the power source and communicatively couples the PWG tool to the surface control system. The PWG tool includes a beam forming network (BFN) architecture and a plurality of antenna elements mounted to a base of the PWG tool to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11773717
    Abstract: A system includes a housing configured to be secured to the casing string. The housing has a ring shape defining a central orifice for passage of the fluid and an interior surface facing the central orifice. A reflectometer is mounted on the interior surface and is configured to emit a microwave signal into the fluid in the central orifice, receive a reflected microwave signal from the central orifice, and determine a microwave reflection parameter. An acoustic transceiver is also mounted on the interior surface and is configured to emit an acoustic signal into the fluid in the central orifice, receive a reflected acoustic signal from the central orifice, and determine an acoustic reflection parameter. A processor is configured to determine the property of the fluid from the microwave reflection parameter and the acoustic reflection parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20230279739
    Abstract: A system for determining shale rock maturity includes a dual mode microwave cavity configured to receive a shale sample, a heating system configured to heat the shale sample to a range of different temperatures using microwave emissions of a first frequency, and a measuring system configured to measure a complex permittivity of the shale sample using a microwave signal of a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Jose Oliverio Alvarez, David Joseph Jacobi
  • Patent number: 11709141
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring a water cut for hydrocarbon fluid in a production pipe. One method includes transmitting a microwave through a first waveguide attached to a production pipe, wherein the microwave is directed to the hydrocarbon fluid in the production pipe; and obtaining, measurement results based on reflection or propagation of the microwave, wherein the measurement results are used to determine a water cut of the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20230184104
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an untethered apparatus for measuring properties along a subterranean well. According to at least one embodiment, the untethered apparatus includes a housing, and one or more sensors configured to measure data along the subterranean well. The data includes one or more physical, chemical, geological or structural properties in the subterranean well. The untethered apparatus further includes a processor configured to control the one or more sensors measuring the data and to store the measured data, and a transmitter configured to transmit the measured data to a receiver arranged external to the subterranean well. Further, the untethered appratus includes a controller configured to control the buoyancy or the drag of the untethered apparatus to control a position of the untethered apparatus in the subterranean well. The processor includes instructions definining measurement parameters for the one or more sensors of the untethered apparatus within the subterranean well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, Gregory D. Ham, Jose Oliverio Alvarez, Gregory Bernero, Sunder Ramachandran, Miguel Gonzalez, Sebastian Csutak, Christopher Powell, Huseyin Seren
  • Publication number: 20230184086
    Abstract: A monitoring device monitors deformation of a casing installed in a wellbore and housing a production tubing, and includes: a packer installed within an annulus between the casing and the production tubing; a deformable substrate that is disposed at an outer side of the annulus and contacts an inner surface of the casing to deform along with casing deformation; a light source that is disposed on the deformable substrate and emits light towards an inside of the annulus; an imaging device that is disposed in the packer to be opposite to the light source across the annulus and detects the light emitted from the light source; and a processor that produces a signal from the detected light, processes the produced signal, and transmits the processed signal to a surface control device that monitors the deformation of the casing based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Damian Pablo San Roman Alerigi, Adrian Cesar Cavazos Sepulveda, Sameeh Issa Batarseh, Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20230100258
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a composition includes: an electromagnetic source that emits a beam; one or more evanescent field sensing element inside a tubular structure, arranged in series along a flow direction of the composition, and configured to be in direct contact with the composition; a waveguide that directs at least a portion of the beam to the evanescent field sensing element as an incident beam; and a detector configured to obtain a spectral distribution of the fingerprint beam. The evanescent field sensing element provides partial or total internal reflection of the incident beam at an interface between the evanescent field sensing element and the composition, and the incident beam interacts with the composition to form a fingerprint beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventors: Adrian Cesar Cavazos Sepulveda, Damian Pablo San Roman Alerigi, Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11578590
    Abstract: An untethered apparatus for measuring properties along a subterranean well includes a housing, and one or more sensors configured to measure data along the subterranean well. The data includes one or more physical, chemical, geological or structural properties in the subterranean well. The untethered apparatus further includes a processor configured to control the one or more sensors measuring the data and to store the measured data, and a transmitter configured to transmit the measured data to a receiver arranged external to the subterranean well. Further, the untethered apparatus includes a controller configured to control the buoyancy or the drag of the untethered apparatus to control a position of the untethered apparatus in the subterranean well. The processor includes instructions defining measurement parameters for the one or more sensors of the untethered apparatus within the subterranean well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, Gregory D. Ham, Jose Oliverio Alvarez, Gregory Bernero, Sunder Ramachandran, Miguel Gonzalez, Sebastian Csutak, Christopher Powell, Huseyin Seren
  • Publication number: 20230036565
    Abstract: A system includes a housing configured to be secured to the casing string. The housing has a ring shape defining a central orifice for passage of the fluid and an interior surface facing the central orifice. A reflectometer is mounted on the interior surface and is configured to emit a microwave signal into the fluid in the central orifice, receive a reflected microwave signal from the central orifice, and determine a microwave reflection parameter. An acoustic transceiver is also mounted on the interior surface and is configured to emit an acoustic signal into the fluid in the central orifice, receive a reflected acoustic signal from the central orifice, and determine an acoustic reflection parameter. A processor is configured to determine the property of the fluid from the microwave reflection parameter and the acoustic reflection parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11460416
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method of determining the presence of a hydrocarbon in an aqueous medium used for secondary oil recovery. The method includes the step of introducing the aqueous medium into a subterranean hydrocarbon formation to displace hydrocarbons. The method includes the step of retrieving an aqueous sample from the aqueous medium introduced into the subterranean hydrocarbon formation. The method includes the step of cooling the aqueous sample such that the aqueous sample is in a solid state. The method includes the step of exposing the aqueous sample to an electromagnetic wave at a microwave frequency such that a scattering response is induced from the hydrocarbon included in the aqueous sample. The method includes the step of determining permittivity of the hydrocarbon based on the scattering response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jose Oliverio Alvarez, David Joseph Jacobi
  • Patent number: 11366071
    Abstract: A pressure cell system includes a pressure cell configured to house a sample within inner walls of the pressure cell. An injectable medium is injected by an injection system of the pressure cell system into the pressure cell in a gap between the sample and the inner walls. The injectable medium in the pressure cell is heated by a heating element of the pressure cell system. A pressure inside the pressure cell is measured by a pressure gauge of the pressure cell system. A temperature in the pressure cell is measured by a temperature gauge of the pressure cell system. Microwave permittivity measurements of the sample are captured by a coaxial resonator system of the pressure cell system. The microwave permittivity measurements of the sample are captured at different combinations of temperatures and pressures. The microwave permittivity measurements include measurements of permittivity of gas under pressure at plural frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20220187220
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring a water cut for hydrocarbon fluid in a production pipe. One method includes transmitting a microwave through a first waveguide attached to a production pipe, wherein the microwave is directed to the hydrocarbon fluid in the production pipe; and obtaining, measurement results based on reflection or propagation of the microwave, wherein the measurement results are used to determine a water cut of the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11293881
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for measuring a water cut for hydrocarbon fluid in a production pipe. One method includes transmitting a microwave through a first waveguide attached to a production pipe, wherein the microwave is directed to the hydrocarbon fluid in the production pipe; and obtaining, measurement results based on reflection or propagation of the microwave, wherein the measurement results are used to determine a water cut of the hydrocarbon fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jose Oliverio Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20220099597
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method of determining the presence of a hydrocarbon in an aqueous medium used for secondary oil recovery. The method includes the step of introducing the aqueous medium into a subterranean hydrocarbon formation to displace hydrocarbons. The method includes the step of retrieving an aqueous sample from the aqueous medium introduced into the subterranean hydrocarbon formation. The method includes the step of cooling the aqueous sample such that the aqueous sample is in a solid state. The method includes the step of exposing the aqueous sample to an electromagnetic wave at a microwave frequency such that a scattering response is induced from the hydrocarbon included in the aqueous sample. The method includes the step of determining permittivity of the hydrocarbon based on the scattering response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jose Oliverio ALVAREZ, David Joseph JACOBI