Patents by Inventor Kai Hsu

Kai Hsu 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: 20260085599
    Abstract: Systems and methods for electromagnetic (EM)-assisted in-situ biomining are provided. A method for in-situ mining in a rock formation in an area of interest includes: receiving a first micro-organism from a micro-organism source at a first well extending downward from a ground surface in the area of interest, injecting the first micro-organism into a permeable layer of the rock formation via the first well to dissolve a target material to form a solution containing the first micro-organism and the target material, applying an electric field to the first micro-organism by the first well operating as a first electrode and a second well operating as a second electrode, such that the electric field stimulates activity of the first micro-organism, receiving the solution via the second well, and pumping the solution, via the second well, to a processing plant to separate the target material from the first micro-organism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Denis Heliot, Gritsadapong Leaungvongpaisan, Lina Xu, Rod William Shampine, Amol Bhome, Kai Hsu
  • Patent number: 12560084
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first fluid property data from a sample flowline of a focused sampling system and receiving second fluid property data from a guard flowline of the focused sampling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Thomas Pfeiffer, Kang Wang, Dan Schulz, Morten Kristensen, Youxiang Zuo
  • Publication number: 20260009725
    Abstract: The disclosed techniques relate to techniques for determining a CO2 concentration based on a ratio of one or more peaks in carbon dioxide (CO2) optical spectrometer measurement data. For example, the techniques include receiving CO2 measurement data corresponding to a region within a geological formation; identifying a peak corresponding to CO2 based on the CO2 measurement data; determining a ratio between the peak and a hydrocarbon reference measurement; selecting a model for determining a CO2 concentration based on the ratio; determining the CO2 concentration using the selected model; and generating a downhole operation output based on the determined CO2 concentration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2023
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Kai HSU, Yoko MORIKAMI, Albert Ballard ANDREWS, Evgeniya DEGER, Thomas PFEIFFER, Hua CHEN
  • Patent number: 12428961
    Abstract: A method includes positioning a downhole acquisition tool in a wellbore in a geological formation. The method includes operating a pump module to gather information for a fluid outside of the downhole acquisition tool that enters the downhole acquisition tool from a first flowline, a second flowline, or both while the downhole acquisition tool is within the wellbore. Operating the pump module includes controlling a valve assembly to a first valve configuration that enables the fluid to flow into the downhole tool via the first flowline fluidly coupled to a first pump module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miroslav Slapal, Christopher Albert Babin, Daniel Palmer, Kai Hsu, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin, Julian Pop, Nathan Mathew Landsiedel, Adriaan Gisolf
  • Publication number: 20250257648
    Abstract: A method for cement evaluation through dual-string pipes comprising the steps of: i) acquiring waveforms data using a cement bond logging tool; ii) processing the acquired waveforms data to eliminate one or more potential DC offsets; iii) selecting a first receiver to further process the processed acquired waveforms data in a common-receiver domain; iv) performing in-situ calibration using the processed acquired waveforms data from the common-receiver domain to identify free-pipe and wall-bonded waveforms; v) calculating normalized amplitudes from monopole waveforms and azimuthal waveforms obtained from the free-pipe and wall-bonded waveforms to determine bond index and generate cement map; and vi) calculating statistical averages and variances using the calculated normalized amplitude to generate a final presentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Toshihiro Kinoshita, Hiroaki Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20250243743
    Abstract: The disclosed techniques relate to fluid monitoring and classification techniques that include a method that includes acquiring, via a spectral analysis module of a sampling system of a downhole well tool, spectral data for an unknown reservoir fluid received by the sampling system of the downhole well tool from a geological formation; determining, via the one or more processors, a fluid type of the unknown reservoir fluid in the sampling system of the downhole well tool based at least in part on projections of the spectral data for the unknown reservoir fluid onto at least the first two eigenvectors of spectral data of known fluids stored in a spectral database; and generating, via the one or more processors, a downhole well operation decision based on the determined fluid type of the unknown reservoir fluid in substantially real-time while the sampling system of the downhole well tool receives the unknown reservoir fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Hua Chen, Richard Jackson
  • Publication number: 20250110050
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a process can include obtaining a first formation fluid sample using a sample-line of a focused fluid sampling system and obtaining a second formation fluid sample using a guard-line of the focused fluid sampling system. The process can also include measuring a first optical density spectrum of the first formation fluid sample and measuring a second optical density spectrum of the second formation fluid sample. The process can also include decolorizing the first and second optical density spectrums to produce a decolorized first spectrum and a decolorized second spectrum, respectively. The process can also include normalizing the first and second decolorized spectrums to provide a first normalized spectrum and a second normalized spectrum. The process can also include determining a difference between the first and the second normalized spectrums to provide a sampling difference and adjusting a fluid sampling operation based on the sampling difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Hua Chen, Richard Jackson, Evgeniya Deger
  • Patent number: 12146406
    Abstract: Embodiments present a method for fluid type identification from a downhole fluid analysis that uses machine learning techniques that are trained and derived from a computer model using pressure, temperature and downhole optical characteristics of sampled fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shahnawaz Hossain Molla, Farshid Mostowfi, John Nighswander, Adriaan Gisolf, Kai Hsu, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Thomas Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20240309760
    Abstract: A method includes positioning a downhole acquisition tool in a wellbore in a geological formation. The method includes operating a pump module to gather information for a fluid outside of the downhole acquisition tool that enters the downhole acquisition tool from a first flowline, a second flowline, or both while the downhole acquisition tool is within the wellbore. Operating the pump module includes controlling a valve assembly to a first valve configuration that enables the fluid to flow into the downhole tool via the first flowline fluidly coupled to a first pump module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2023
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Miroslav Slapal, Christopher Albert Babin, Daniel Palmer, Kai Hsu, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin, Julian Pop, Nathan Mathew Landsiedel, Adriaan Gisolf
  • Patent number: 11808150
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a separating a fluid having multiple phases during formation testing. For example, certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to receiving contaminated formation fluid on a first flow line and separating a contamination (e.g., mud filtrate) from the formation fluid by diverting the relatively heavier and/or denser fluid (e.g., the mud filtrate) downward through a second flow line and diverting the relatively lighter and/or less dense fluid upward through a third flow line. In some embodiments, the third flow line is generally oriented upwards at a height that may facilitate the separation of the heavier fluid from the relatively lighter fluid based on gravity and/or pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Pfeiffer, Ashers Partouche, Kai Hsu, Simon Edmundson
  • Patent number: 11732581
    Abstract: A method includes positioning a downhole acquisition tool in a wellbore in a geological formation. The method includes operating a pump module to gather information for a fluid outside of the downhole acquisition tool that enters the downhole acquisition tool from a first flowline, a second flowline, or both while the downhole acquisition tool is within the wellbore. Operating the pump module includes controlling a valve assembly to a first valve configuration that enables the fluid to flow into the downhole tool via the first flowline fluidly coupled to a first pump module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Miroslav Slapal, Christopher Albert Babin, Daniel Palmer, Kai Hsu, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin, Julian Pop, Nathan Mathew Landsiedel, Adriaan Gisolf
  • Patent number: 11725474
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for setting an inflatable packer. The method includes positioning an inflatable packer within a borehole, and pumping fluid into an inflatable element of the inflatable packer using a pump that is driven by a motor. The method includes measuring pressure of the inflatable element, determining a derivative of the measured pressure with respect to time, and determining onset of restraining of the inflatable element has occurred. Upon or after determining the onset of restraining, the method includes turning off the motor or slowing down an rpm of the motor. The disclosure also provides for a system, including a computer readable medium with processor-executable instructions stored thereon that are configured to instruct a processor to execute a pressure control algorithm to control a speed of the motor in response to pressure measurement data from the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Kai Hsu, Deopaul Dindial
  • Publication number: 20220381098
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for setting an inflatable packer. The method includes positioning an inflatable packer within a borehole, and pumping fluid into an inflatable element of the inflatable packer using a pump that is driven by a motor. The method includes measuring pressure of the inflatable element, determining a derivative of the measured pressure with respect to time, and determining onset of restraining of the inflatable element has occurred. Upon or after determining the onset of restraining, the method includes turning off the motor or slowing down an rpm of the motor. The disclosure also provides for a system, including a computer readable medium with processor-executable instructions stored thereon that are configured to instruct a processor to execute a pressure control algorithm to control a speed of the motor in response to pressure measurement data from the pressure sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Kai Hsu, Deopaul Dindial
  • Publication number: 20220349302
    Abstract: Embodiments present a method for fluid type identification from a downhole fluid analysis that uses machine learning techniques that are trained and derived from a computer model using pressure, temperature and downhole optical characteristics of sampled fluid. The method comprises collecting optical spectral data for a downhole fluid; providing the collected optical spectral data to a trained classification module; processing the collected optical spectral data with the trained classification module configured to determine a fluid type classification; and determining a fluid type based upon the classification based upon the trained classification module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Shahnawaz Hossain Molla, Farshid Mostowfi, John Nighswander, Adriaan Gisolf, Kai Hsu, Shunsuke Fukagawa, Thomas Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20220275725
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a separating a fluid having multiple phases during formation testing. For example, certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to receiving contaminated formation fluid on a first flow line and separating a contamination (e.g., mud filtrate) from the formation fluid by diverting the relatively heavier and/or denser fluid (e.g., the mud filtrate) downward through a second flow line and diverting the relatively lighter and/or less dense fluid upward through a third flow line. In some embodiments, the third flow line is generally oriented upwards at a height that may facilitate the separation of the heavier fluid from the relatively lighter fluid based on gravity and/or pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Pfeiffer, Ashers Partouche, Kai Hsu, Simon Edmundson
  • Patent number: 11408244
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for a method for setting an inflatable packer. The method includes positioning an inflatable packer within a borehole, and pumping fluid into an inflatable element of the inflatable packer using a pump that is driven by a motor. The method includes measuring pressure of the inflatable element, determining a derivative of the measured pressure with respect to time, and determining onset of restraining of the inflatable element has occurred. Upon or after determining the onset of restraining, the method includes turning off the motor or slowing down an rpm of the motor. The disclosure also provides for a system, including a computer readable medium with processor-executable instructions stored thereon that are configured to instruct a processor to execute a pressure control algorithm to control a speed of the motor in response to pressure measurement data from the pressure sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bo Yang, Kai Hsu, Deopaul Dindial
  • Patent number: 11384637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include systems and methods for formation fluid sampling. In one embodiment, a method can include monitoring a relationship between a first characteristic of a formation fluid extracted from a formation and a second characteristic of the formation fluid extracted from the formation, determining, based at least in part on the monitoring, that a linear trend is exhibited by the relationship between the first characteristic of the formation fluid extracted from the formation and the second characteristic of the formation fluid extracted from the formation, and determining a reservoir fluid breakthrough based at least in part on the identification of the linear trend, wherein the reservoir fluid breakthrough is indicative of virgin reservoir fluid entering a sampling tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Adriaan Gisolf, Youxiang Zuo, Yong Chang, Beatriz E. Barbosa
  • Patent number: 11333017
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a separating a fluid having multiple phases during formation testing. For example, certain embodiments of the present disclosure relate to receiving contaminated formation fluid on a first flow line and separating a contamination (e.g., mud filtrate) from the formation fluid by diverting the relatively heavier and/or denser fluid (e.g., the mud filtrate) downward through a second flow line and diverting the relatively lighter and/or less dense fluid upward through a third flow line. In some embodiments, the third flow line is generally oriented upwards at a height that may facilitate the separation of the heavier fluid from the relatively lighter fluid based on gravity and/or pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Pfeiffer, Ashers Partouche, Kai Hsu, Simon Edmundson
  • Publication number: 20220003114
    Abstract: A method includes positioning a downhole acquisition tool in a wellbore in a geological formation. The method includes operating a pump module to gather information for a fluid outside of the downhole acquisition tool that enters the downhole acquisition tool from a first flowline, a second flowline, or both while the downhole acquisition tool is within the wellbore. Operating the pump module includes controlling a valve assembly to a first valve configuration that enables the fluid to flow into the downhole tool via the first flowline fluidly coupled to a first pump module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Miroslav Slapal, Christopher Albert Babin, Daniel Palmer, Kai Hsu, Anthony Robert Holmes Goodwin, Julian Pop, Nathan Mathew Landsiedel, Adriaan Gisolf
  • Publication number: 20210388721
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first fluid property data from a sample flowline of a focused sampling system and receiving second fluid property data from a guard flowline of the focused sampling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Kai Hsu, Thomas Pfeiffer, Kang Wang, Dan Schulz, Morten Kristensen, Youxiang Zuo