Patents by Inventor Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili

Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili 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: 20250075578
    Abstract: An ultrasonic system for downhole cleaning of a wellbore includes: an ultrasonic generator that generates high-frequency electric power; a measurement device that monitors electrical parameters related to operation of the ultrasonic system; and an ultrasonic emitter including one or more transducers that break drill cuttings in the wellbore. The ultrasonic emitter is disposed on a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) and breaks the drill cuttings made by the BHA in drilling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIA OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Jesus Mierez
  • Patent number: 12168920
    Abstract: A method of increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a wellbore penetrating a tight hydrocarbon formation is disclosed. The method involves inserting a hydro-jetting tool into the wellbore; jetting a thermally controlled fluid against the wall of the wellbore to create a cavity in the wall, using the hydro-jetting tool; injecting, using the hydro-jetting tool, a further amount of the thermally controlled fluid into the wellbore such that the pressure in the wellbore increases, wherein the increased pressure creates a fracture from the cavity, wherein injecting the further amount of the thermally controlled fluid cools the tight hydrocarbon formation surrounding the cavity by circulating the thermally controlled fluid within the cavity; withdrawing the hydro-jetting tool from the wellbore; and recovering the thermally controlled fluid and the hydrocarbons escaped from the fracture in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Misfer J. Almarri, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Publication number: 20240384638
    Abstract: Methods for stimulating a subterranean formation and maintaining the conductivity therein may comprise: stimulating a subterranean formation comprising a carbonate mineral by performing matrix acidizing, hydraulic fracturing, or acid-fracturing upon the subterranean formation to form a plurality of flow pathways; after forming the plurality of flow pathways, introducing an ammonium phosphate salt in an aqueous carrier fluid into the subterranean formation; and interacting the carbonate mineral with the ammonium phosphate salt to convert at least a portion of the carbonate mineral into a hydroxyapatite mineral. The subterranean formation, after interacting with the ammonium phosphate salt, has an increased conductivity relative to the subterranean formation, after stimulating but before interacting with the ammonium phosphate salt, under a closure stress of about 600 psi or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Mahmoud Hassan DESOUKY, Yevgeniy SAMARKIN, Murtada Saleh ALJAWAD, Murtadha J. ALTAMMAR, Khalid Mohammed ALRUWAILI
  • Patent number: 12146382
    Abstract: A method for improving oil and gas well productivity includes introducing a lubricating agent into a microfracture in a subterranean formation, coating at least a portion of a first surface and a second surface of the microfracture with the lubricating agent to produce a coated microfracture; and, providing a sufficient time for the coated microfracture to close. The introducing, the coating and the providing cause the first surface and the second surface of the coated microfracture to misalign after the closure of the coated microfracture and an opening to form between the first surface and the second surface. An encapsulated lubricating agent includes 30 to 50 wt % of a lubricating agent, and 50 to 70 wt % of an encapsulant encapsulating at least a portion of the lubricating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Murtadha J. AlTammar, Abeer A. Alarawi, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Publication number: 20240344418
    Abstract: A method for improving oil and gas well productivity includes introducing a lubricating agent into a microfracture in a subterranean formation, coating at least a portion of a first surface and a second surface of the microfracture with the lubricating agent to produce a coated microfracture; and, providing a sufficient time for the coated microfracture to close. The introducing, the coating and the providing cause the first surface and the second surface of the coated microfracture to misalign after the closure of the coated microfracture and an opening to form between the first surface and the second surface. An encapsulated lubricating agent includes 30 to 50 wt % of a lubricating agent, and 50 to 70 wt % of an encapsulant encapsulating at least a portion of the lubricating agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Murtadha J. AlTammar, Abeer A. Alarawi, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Patent number: 12084958
    Abstract: In some examples, a system can include a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions and one or more processors communicatively coupled to a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or processors to receive data of a fracking stage, determine a penetration gradient of the fracking stage based on the data, and classify the fracking stage based on the penetration gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Murtadha J. Altammar
  • Patent number: 12071590
    Abstract: Carbonates, such as chalk and limestone, are rather soft minerals and may lose at least some mechanical integrity after undergoing stimulation. For instance, carbonate minerals may experience proppant embedment or asperity weakening after fracturing or matrix acidizing. Methods for hardening a carbonate mineral may comprise: introducing an aqueous carrier fluid comprising an ammonium phosphate salt into a subterranean formation comprising a carbonate mineral, and interacting the carbonate mineral with the ammonium phosphate salt to convert at least a portion of the carbonate mineral into a hydroxyapatite mineral. The subterranean formation may exhibit an increased hardness after forming the hydroxyapatite mineral. The ammonium phosphate salt may be diammonium hydrogen phosphate in some examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Samarkin, Murtada Saleh Aljawad, Abduljamiu Olalekan Amao, Murtadha J. Al-Tammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Publication number: 20240247181
    Abstract: Carbonates, such as chalk and limestone, are rather soft minerals and may lose at least some mechanical integrity after undergoing stimulation. For instance, carbonate minerals may experience proppant embedment or asperity weakening after fracturing or matrix acidizing. Methods for hardening a carbonate mineral may comprise: introducing an aqueous carrier fluid comprising an ammonium phosphate salt into a subterranean formation comprising a carbonate mineral, and interacting the carbonate mineral with the ammonium phosphate salt to convert at least a portion of the carbonate mineral into a hydroxyapatite mineral. The subterranean formation may exhibit an increased hardness after forming the hydroxyapatite mineral. The ammonium phosphate salt may be diammonium hydrogen phosphate in some examples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Yevgeniy SAMARKIN, Murtada Saleh ALJAWAD, Abduljamiu Olalekan AMAO, Murtadha J. AL-TAMMAR, Khalid Mohammed ALRUWAILI
  • Publication number: 20240240072
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a wellbore includes introducing a hardening agent into the wellbore, mixing the hardening agent with a carrier fluid in the wellbore to produce a wellbore stabilizing fluid, and treating a wellbore wall of the wellbore by contacting the wellbore stabilizing fluid to a surface of the wellbore wall for at least 48 hours. A wellbore stabilizing fluid includes a hardening agent and a carrier fluid. The hardening agent is selected from one of 10 to 100 g/L of the calcium hydroxide nanocrystals, 5 to 99.9% by volume of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and 10 to 50 g/L of zinc sulfate. A stabilized wellbore includes a wellbore having a wellbore wall treated with a wellbore stabilizing fluid comprising a hardening agent. The Young's modulus of the treated wellbore wall is at least 5% higher than a Young's modulus of a non-treated wellbore wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Desouky, Murtada Saleh Aljawad, Theis Solling, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Publication number: 20240218778
    Abstract: In some examples, a system can include a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions and one or more processors communicatively coupled to a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or processors to receive data of a fracking stage, determine a penetration gradient of the fracking stage based on the data, and classify the fracking stage based on the penetration gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Khalid Mohammed ALRUWAILI, Murtadha J. ALTAMMAR
  • Patent number: 11920413
    Abstract: Methods and systems for quantifying and minimizing wellbore breakouts are disclosed. The methods include obtaining a mechanical earth model (MEM), determining a critical collapse pressure (CCP) using an inclination angle and the MEM, and determining an initial mud weight based on the CCP. The methods also include generating a breakout analysis using the initial mud weight, the MEM and a numerical modeling algorithm, updating the inclination angle of the planned wellbore, updating the CCP based on the updated inclination angle and the MEM, and updating the breakout analysis using the initial mud weight, the updated CCP, the MEM, and the numerical modeling algorithm. The methods further include selecting the updated CCP based, on the updated inclination angle that meets the stopping condition, calculating a final mud weight for the planned wellbore based on the updated CCP, and conditioning a drilling mud to the final mud weight, using a mud system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Rima Taqi AlFaraj, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Aijaz Ali Shaikh, Otto Meza
  • Publication number: 20240052735
    Abstract: A method of increasing hydrocarbon recovery from a wellbore penetrating a tight hydrocarbon formation is disclosed. The method involves inserting a hydro-jetting tool into the wellbore; jetting a thermally controlled fluid against the wall of the wellbore to create a cavity in the wall, using the hydro-jetting tool; injecting, using the hydro-jetting tool, a further amount of the thermally controlled fluid into the wellbore such that the pressure in the wellbore increases, wherein the increased pressure creates a fracture from the cavity, wherein injecting the further amount of the thermally controlled fluid cools the tight hydrocarbon formation surrounding the cavity by circulating the thermally controlled fluid within the cavity; withdrawing the hydro-jetting tool from the wellbore; and recovering the thermally controlled fluid and the hydrocarbons escaped from the fracture in the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Misfer J. Almarri, Murtadha J. AITammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Patent number: 11851989
    Abstract: A method for reducing breakdown pressure at a formation includes detecting a tight reservoir formation in a well and providing hydraulic fracturing equipment assembled together as a hydraulic fracturing system at a surface of the well. The hydraulic fracturing system includes a fluid source containing a base fluid and fluidly connected to a blender and a pump and manifold system fluidly connecting an outlet of the blender to a wellhead of the well. The method further includes connecting a cooling system to the hydraulic fracturing system, using the cooling system to cool the base fluid to a cooled base temperature upstream of the pump and manifold system, pumping the cooled base fluid down the well to the tight reservoir formation, and using the cooled base fluid to lower a temperature of the tight reservoir formation and reduce a breakdown pressure of the tight reservoir formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Misfer J. Almarri, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Publication number: 20230316152
    Abstract: A method to predict wireline caliper log data from logging-while-drilling data which includes collecting logging-while-drilling logs and caliper logs from a plurality of wells. The caliper log contains at least one channel. The method further includes pre-processing the logging-while-drilling data, selecting a subset of logs within the logging-while-drilling data, and aggregating the channels of the caliper logs forming aggregate logs. The method further includes splitting the pre-processed logging-while-drilling data and aggregate logs into train, validation, and test sets, wherein the validation and test sets may be the same, selecting a machine-learned model and architecture, and training the machine-learned model to form predicted aggregate logs from the logging-while-drilling data using the training set. Additionally, the method consists of using the machine-learned model to predict the aggregate logs using pre-processed logging-while-drilling data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Khaqan Khan, Rima Taqi AlFaraj, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Mohammad H. Altwaijri
  • Patent number: 11767461
    Abstract: A method of treating a carbonate formation includes introducing a stimulation fluid into the carbonate formation at a pressure greater than a fracture pressure of the formation and creating openings in the carbonate formation via the stimulation fluid. Then, a fluoride salt solution, optionally including a proppant, may be introduced into the carbonate formation such that it at least partially penetrates into the openings. The fluoride salt may then be reacted with a carbonate surface in the carbonate formation to form fluorite on a surface of the formation thereby increasing a hardness of the carbonate formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Yevgeniy Samarkin, Murtada Saleh Aljawad, Theis Solling, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Patent number: 11767738
    Abstract: A wellbore stimulation operation method includes conveying a downhole assembly into a wellbore. The downhole assembly includes one or more perforating guns and a pressure wave resonator. The perforating guns are axially aligned with a production zone and fired to create a plurality of perforations in the production zone. The pressure wave resonator is axially aligned with the perforations and actuated to emit pressure waves that propagate radially outward and into the production zone. The pressure waves help remove debris from the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Murtadha J. Altammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Publication number: 20230295482
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a wellbore includes introducing a hardening agent into the wellbore, mixing the hardening agent with a carrier fluid in the wellbore to produce a wellbore stabilizing fluid, and treating a wellbore wall of the wellbore by contacting the wellbore stabilizing fluid to a surface of the wellbore wall for at least 48 hours. A wellbore stabilizing fluid includes a hardening agent and a carrier fluid. The hardening agent is selected from one of 10 to 100 g/L of the calcium hydroxide nanocrystals, 5 to 99.9% by volume of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), and 10 to 50 g/L of zinc sulfate. A stabilized wellbore includes a wellbore having a wellbore wall treated with a wellbore stabilizing fluid comprising a hardening agent. The Young's modulus of the treated wellbore wall is at least 5% higher than a Young's modulus of a non-treated wellbore wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Mahmoud H. Desouky, Murtada Saleh Aljawad, Theis Solling, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili
  • Patent number: 11753927
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a collapse pressure of a well using a drill stem test tool (DSTT). The method includes isolating a zone of interest in the wellbore, then reducing and recording pressure inside the drill string while recording acoustic emissions from the sensors on the DSTT, then correlating the recordings of the acoustic emissions with the pressure. The method includes using the processed acoustic emissions to determine a candidate sound of interest and a pressure at which the candidate sound of interest is recorded, then comparing the candidate sound of interest with a reference lookup table of known lithology classifications. The method includes determining a collapse pressure of the wellbore using the lithology of the wellbore and the pressure at which the candidate sound of interest is recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khaqan Khan
  • Patent number: 11680469
    Abstract: A method may include determining time-derivative pressure data based on pressure data regarding a pump system that is performing a hydraulic stimulation operation in a geological region. The method may further include determining a moving average value based on the time-derivative pressure data and a predetermined time window. The method may further include determining a flow rate adjustment for the pump system based on the moving average value, an update interval for adjusting flow rates, and a predetermined flow rate rule. A size of the predetermined time window may be different from the update interval. The method may further include using smoothed pressure data to determine time-derivative pressure data. The method may further include determining a flow rate adjustment for the pump system based on the time-derivative pressure data derived from the smoothed pressure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili, Dung T. Phan
  • Publication number: 20230175354
    Abstract: A method for reducing breakdown pressure at a formation includes detecting a tight reservoir formation in a well and providing hydraulic fracturing equipment assembled together as a hydraulic fracturing system at a surface of the well. The hydraulic fracturing system includes a fluid source containing a base fluid and fluidly connected to a blender and a pump and manifold system fluidly connecting an outlet of the blender to a wellhead of the well. The method further includes connecting a cooling system to the hydraulic fracturing system, using the cooling system to cool the base fluid to a cooled base temperature upstream of the pump and manifold system, pumping the cooled base fluid down the well to the tight reservoir formation, and using the cooled base fluid to lower a temperature of the tight reservoir formation and reduce a breakdown pressure of the tight reservoir formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Misfer J. Almarri, Murtadha J. AlTammar, Khalid Mohammed Alruwaili