Patents by Inventor Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux

Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux 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).

  • Patent number: 11988794
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a method for using reservoir simulations. Permeabilities are measured from a rock sample at different pressures using single-component gas and bulk gas viscosity values. The rock sample is representative of rock used in a reservoir simulation. For each gas component of reservoir gas, porosities are determined, including determining mean free paths for a range of temperatures and pressures encompassing conditions for both reservoir simulation input and the measured permeabilities. A characteristic pore radius for the rock is determined using the measured permeabilities and the determined porosities. Viscosity adjustment factors for a predefined range of temperatures and pressures are determined using the measured permeabilities. Adjusted gas viscosities for the predefined range of temperatures and pressures and the measured permeabilities are determined using the viscosity adjustment factors. The reservoir simulator is executed using the adjusted gas viscosities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux, HuiHai Liu
  • Patent number: 11708751
    Abstract: Provided are methods of recovering oil from a reservoir using carbon dioxide foam flooding in which a carbon dioxide foam of increased strength is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux, Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220049589
    Abstract: Provided are methods of recovering oil from a reservoir using carbon dioxide foam flooding in which a carbon dioxide foam of increased strength is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux, Huseyin Onur Balan, Anuj Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220011465
    Abstract: Provided are techniques for developing a hydrocarbon reservoir that include: determining a reservoir model of a hydrocarbon reservoir that includes columns of gridblocks that represent a vertical segment of the reservoir; acquiring nano-images of a rock sample of the reservoir; determining, based on the nano-images, properties of an inorganic pore network and an organic pore network of the rock sample; generating a divided reservoir model of the reservoir that represents the inorganic and organic pore networks of the reservoir, including: for each of the columns of gridblocks, dividing each of the gridblocks of the column into: a water-wet gridblock associated with the properties of the inorganic pore network determined based on the nano-images; and an oil-wet gridblock associated with the properties of the organic pore network determined based on the nano-images; and generating, using the divided reservoir model, a simulation of the hydrocarbon reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventor: Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux
  • Publication number: 20210165127
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a method for using reservoir simulations. Permeabilities are measured from a rock sample at different pressures using single-component gas and bulk gas viscosity values. The rock sample is representative of rock used in a reservoir simulation. For each gas component of reservoir gas, porosities are determined, including determining mean free paths for a range of temperatures and pressures encompassing conditions for both reservoir simulation input and the measured permeabilities. A characteristic pore radius for the rock is determined using the measured permeabilities and the determined porosities. Viscosity adjustment factors for a predefined range of temperatures and pressures are determined using the measured permeabilities. Adjusted gas viscosities for the predefined range of temperatures and pressures and the measured permeabilities are determined using the viscosity adjustment factors. The reservoir simulator is executed using the adjusted gas viscosities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Kenneth Richard Kibodeaux, HuiHai Liu