Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Williams
Kenneth E. Williams 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).
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Publication number: 20190382643Abstract: Methods and compositions for mitigating the embedment of proppant into fracture faces in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: introducing a treatment fluid into a subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures in the subterranean formation; introducing an anchoring agent into the subterranean formation to deposit the anchoring agent on a portion of a fracture face in the one or more fractures within the subterranean formation; introducing a first particulate material comprising fine particulates into the subterranean formation to attach to the anchoring agent on the portion of the fracture face, wherein said fine particulates have a mean particle size of up to about 50 ?m; introducing a second particulate material comprising proppant into the one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2016Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Loan K. Vo, Kenneth E. Williams, Vladimir Nikolayevich Martysevich
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Patent number: 10385658Abstract: Systems and methods for generation of in-situ wellbore, core and cuttings information systems. An image and image derivative based property visualization, analysis and enhancement system is provided, which utilizes various types of image data, such as digital rock physics and physical laboratories, petrographic analysis and the in-situ wellbore imaging and derivative products of image segmentation in the construction of a static earth model.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2013Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Landmark Graphics CorporationInventors: Travis S Ramsay, Amit Kumar, Mamdouh Abdel-Aal Shebl, Matt James Croy, Kenneth E Williams
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Patent number: 9684093Abstract: Determining characteristics of a formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including determining at least one characteristics of a shale formation. The determining may include: collecting optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from a portion of the shale formation; directing a first portion of the optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from the formation to a first multivariate optical element (MOE), the first MOE creates first modified electromagnetic radiation; applying the first modified electromagnetic radiation to a first detector, the first detector creates a first signal; and determining a first characteristic of the shale formation from the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Kenneth E. Williams, Amit Kumar, Robert P. Freese, Michael T. Pelletier
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Publication number: 20160202390Abstract: Systems and methods for generation of in-situ wellbore, core and cuttings information systems. An image and image derivative based property visualization, analysis and enhancement system is provided, which utilizes various types of image data, such as digital rock physics and physical laboratories, petrographic analysis and the in-situ wellbore imaging and derivative products of image segmentation in the construction of a static earth model.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2013Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Travis S Ramsay, Amit Kumar, Mamdouh Abdel-Aal Shebl, Matt James Croy, Kenneth E. Williams
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Patent number: 9377547Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 5, 2012Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth E. Williams, Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
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Patent number: 9285500Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow, from layered shale formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modeling movement of hydrocarbons through kerogen-related porosity, the movement through a first model volume; estimating a first permeability of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation based on the modeling; and modeling hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation. The modeling hydrocarbon production may include: utilizing the first permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation; and utilizing a second permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation, the second permeability different than the first permeability. In various cases the modeling of hydrocarbon production is with respect to a second model volume greater than the first model volume.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: March 15, 2016Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Sheldon B. Gorell, Kenneth E. Williams, Amit Kumar, Ronald G. Dusterhoft
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Patent number: 9262563Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow from kerogens in a hydrocarbon bearing formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including modeling flow of hydrocarbons through a hydrocarbon bearing formation by: obtaining an indication of kerogen-wet porosity of kerogen within a portion of the formation; obtaining an indication of water-wet porosity within the portion of the formation; modeling hydrocarbon movement through the kerogen-wet porosity; and modeling hydrocarbon movement through the water-wet porosity.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2011Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth E. Williams, Sheldon B. Gorell, Amit Kumar, Ronald G. Dusterhoft
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Publication number: 20150293256Abstract: Determining characteristics of a formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including determining at least one characteristics of a shale formation. The determining may include: collecting optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from a portion of the shale formation; directing a first portion of the optically interacted electromagnetic radiation from the formation to a first multivariate optical element (MOE), the first MOE creates first modified electromagnetic radiation; applying the first modified electromagnetic radiation to a first detector, the first detector creates a first signal; and determining a first characteristic of the shale formation from the first signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2012Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Kenneth E. Williams, Amit Kumar, Robert P. Freese, Michael T. Pelletier
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Patent number: 9064066Abstract: Optimizing well planning scenarios. At least some of the illustrating embodiments include: receiving, by a computer system, a complex fracture model that estimates fractures in a subsurface target; applying the complex fracture model to a reservoir model that estimates geological features between the subsurface target and earth's surface; and determining an earth surface well site and a well path from the earth surface well site to the subsurface target based on the complex fracture model and the geological information, wherein the earth surface well site is offset from the subsurface target.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2011Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Amit Kumar, Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Richard D. Colvin, Kenneth E. Williams
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Patent number: 9009010Abstract: Systems and methods for hydraulic fracture characterization using microseismic event data to identify the orientation spacing and dip for subsurface fractures.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Landmark Graphics CorporationInventors: Jianfu Ma, Kenneth E. Williams
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Patent number: 8978461Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a stress field in a subterranean formation include deploying a stress measurement tool on a tubular string, opening at least three fractures in three different radial directions in the subterranean formation, and closing the at least three fractures. The at least three fractures are reopened while measuring stress and strain conditions. From the reopening, a tangential stress component for each of the at least three fractures is determined. From the tangential stress components and radial directions of the at least three fractures, the stress field of the subterranean formation is determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Gang Li, Kenneth E. Williams
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Publication number: 20140136172Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow, from layered shale formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modeling movement of hydrocarbons through kerogen-related porosity, the movement through a first model volume; estimating a first permeability of a kerogen-rich layer of a layered shale formation based on the modeling; and modeling hydrocarbon production from the layered shale formation. The modeling hydrocarbon production may include: utilizing the first permeability for the kerogen-rich layer of the layered shale formation; and utilizing a second permeability for a kerogen-poor layer of the layered shale formation, the second permeability different than the first permeability. In various cases the modeling of hydrocarbon production is with respect to a second model volume greater than the first model volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2012Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Sheldon B. Gorell, Kenneth E. Williams, Amit Kumar, Ronald G. Dusterhoft
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Publication number: 20140100833Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2012Publication date: April 10, 2014Inventors: Kenneth E. Williams, Jianfu Ma, Avi Lin
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Publication number: 20130304437Abstract: Systems and methods for hydraulic fracture characterization using microseismic event data to identify the orientation spacing and dip for subsurface fractures.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: Landmark Graphics CorporationInventors: Jianfu Ma, Kenneth E. Williams
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Publication number: 20130231908Abstract: Modeling hydrocarbon flow from kerogens in a hydrocarbon bearing formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including modeling flow of hydrocarbons through a hydrocarbon bearing formation by: obtaining an indication of kerogen-wet porosity of kerogen within a portion of the formation; obtaining an indication of water-wet porosity within the portion of the formation; modeling hydrocarbon movement through the kerogen-wet porosity; and modeling hydrocarbon movement through the water-wet porosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2011Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Kenneth E. Williams, Sheldon B. Gorell, Amit Kumar, Ronald G. Dusterhoft
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Publication number: 20130231910Abstract: Optimizing well planning scenarios. At least some of the illustrating embodiments include: receiving, by a computer system, a complex fracture model that estimates fractures in a subsurface target; applying the complex fracture model to a reservoir model that estimates geological features between the subsurface target and earth's surface; and determining an earth surface well site and a well path from the earth surface well site to the subsurface target based on the complex fracture model and the geological in formation, wherein the earth surface well site is offset from the subsurface target.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2011Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATIONInventors: Amit Kumar, Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Richard D. Colvin, Kenneth E. Williams
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Publication number: 20120152010Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a stress field in a subterranean formation include deploying a stress measurement tool on a tubular string, opening at least three fractures in three different radial directions in the subterranean formation, and closing the at least three fractures. The at least three fractures are reopened while measuring stress and strain conditions. From the reopening, a tangential stress component for each of the at least three fractures is determined. From the tangential stress components and radial directions of the at least three fractures, the stress field of the subterranean formation is determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2009Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Gang Li, Kenneth E. Williams
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Patent number: 7948402Abstract: The present invention relates to an object oriented architecture that includes a plurality of host aircraft interface objects that enable a plurality of different host aircraft or variants to be attached or interfaced to an associated store, such as a targeting pod or a weapon system. The union of all aircraft hosts and variants are packaged and maintained as one executable capable of adapting to the predetermined suite of identified hosts and host variants. At least one or more interface objects provide a virtual translation layer which is dynamically determined and allocated during instantiation. Auto detection of the host aircraft/host aircraft variant provides the specific interface protocol by which the store can process and provide status via a predetermined signal format.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Robin H. Lewis, Kenneth E. Williams
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Publication number: 20090240856Abstract: The present invention relates to an object oriented architecture that includes a plurality of host aircraft interface objects that enable a plurality of different host aircraft or variants to be attached or interfaced to an associated store, such as a targeting pod or a weapon system. The union of all aircraft hosts and variants are packaged and maintained as one executable capable of adapting to the predetermined suite of identified hosts and host variants. At least one or more interface objects provide a virtual translation layer which is dynamically determined and allocated during instantiation. Auto detection of the host aircraft/host aircraft variant provides the specific interface protocol by which the store can process and provide status via a predetermined signal format.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2009Publication date: September 24, 2009Inventors: Robin H. Lewis, Kenneth E. Williams
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Patent number: 7551105Abstract: The present invention relates to an object oriented architecture that includes a plurality of host aircraft interface objects that enable a plurality of different host aircraft or variants to be attached or interfaced to an associated store, such as a targeting pod or a weapon system. The union of all aircraft hosts and variants are packaged and maintained as one executable capable of adapting to the predetermined suite of identified hosts and host variants. At least one or more interface objects provide a virtual translation layer which is dynamically determined and allocated during instantiation. Auto detection of the host aircraft/host aircraft variant provides the specific interface protocol by which the store can process and provide status via a predetermined signal format.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Robin H. Lewis, Kenneth E. Williams