Patents by Inventor Kurt T. Nihei

Kurt T. Nihei 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: 20230341576
    Abstract: A method is described for monitoring a stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) including receiving simulation parameters, performing 3D fully coupled quasi-static poro-elastic finite difference modeling using the simulation parameters, wherein the 3D fully coupled quasi-static poro-elastic finite difference modeling is based on a rescaling of solid rock and fluid flow density parameters and generates simulated temporal quasi-static stresses, and pore pressure. In addition, simulated stresses may be used for performing calculation of the 3D rotation of the simulated stresses to principal directions; performing calculation of the temporal 3D Mohr-Coulomb (MC) failure criteria from the calculated principal stresses and the simulated pore pressure for all or selected time steps; and displaying the computed temporal MC failure criteria results on a graphical display. The method may also be used in time-lapse monitoring of the reservoir for microseismic depletion delineation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Andrey H. Shabelansky, Kurt T. Nihei, Dimitri Bevc, Gian Luigi Fradelizio, Sinead M. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20230099919
    Abstract: A method is described for generating a subsurface model using stochastic full waveform inversion by receiving a seismic dataset representative of a subsurface volume of interest; performing stochastic full waveform inversion of the seismic dataset to generate a long wavelength subsurface model; and performing full waveform inversion of the seismic dataset using the long wavelength subsurface model as a starting model to generate an improved subsurface model. The method may further include performing seismic imaging of the seismic dataset using the improved subsurface model to generate a seismic image and identifying geologic features based on the seismic image. The method may be executed by a computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Jinsong Chen, Uwe K. Albertin, Kurt T. Nihei, Sam T. Kaplan, Gary Michael Hoversten, Lin Zhang, Dimitri Bevc
  • Patent number: 8559269
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency range and the second frequency, and wherein the non-linear medium has a velocity of sound between 100 m/s and 800 m/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Los Alamos National Security LLC
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Chirstopher Skelt
  • Patent number: 8547790
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and transmitting the collimated beam through a diverging acoustic lens to compensate for a refractive effect caused by the curvature of the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Los Alamos National Security LLC
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Patent number: 8547791
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Los Alamos National Security LLC
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Patent number: 8345509
    Abstract: In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Los Alamos National Security
    Inventors: Cung Vu, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt, Paul A. Johnson, Robert Guyer, James A. TenCate, Pierre-Yves Le Bas
  • Patent number: 8289808
    Abstract: In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventors: Cung Vu, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt, Paul A. Johnson, Robert Guyer, James A. TenCate, Pierre-Yves Le Bas
  • Patent number: 8259530
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a device, positioned within a well bore, configured to generate and direct an acoustic beam into a rock formation around a borehole is disclosed. The device comprises a source configured to generate a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency; a transducer configured to receive the generated first and the second signals and produce acoustic waves at the first frequency and the second frequency; and a non-linear material, coupled to the transducer, configured to generate a collimated beam with a frequency equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency by a non-linear mixing process, wherein the non-linear material includes one or more of a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Patent number: 8233349
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a device, positioned within a well bore, configured to generate and direct an acoustic beam into a rock formation around a borehole is disclosed. The device comprises a source configured to generate a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency; a transducer configured to receive the generated first and the second signals and produce acoustic waves at the first frequency and the second frequency; and a non-linear material, coupled to the transducer, configured to generate a collimated beam with a frequency equal to the difference between the first frequency and the second frequency by a non-linear mixing process, wherein the non-linear material includes one or more of a mixture of liquids, a solid, a granular material, embedded microspheres, or an emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Publication number: 20110080805
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicants: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Los Alamos National Security, LLC, Los Alamos National Laboratory
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Publication number: 20110080804
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and transmitting the collimated beam through a diverging acoustic lens to compensate for a refractive effect caused by the curvature of the borehole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicants: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Publication number: 20110080803
    Abstract: In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency range and the second frequency, and wherein the non-linear medium has a velocity of sound between 100 m/s and 800 m/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicants: Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Los Alamos National Security, LLC, Los Alamos National Laboratory
    Inventors: Cung Khac Vu, Dipen N. Sinha, Cristian Pantea, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Publication number: 20100265794
    Abstract: In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Paul A. Johnson, Cung VU, James A. TenCate, Robert Guyer, Pierre-Yves Le Bas, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Publication number: 20100265795
    Abstract: In some aspects of the disclosure, a method for creating three-dimensional images of non-linear properties and the compressional to shear velocity ratio in a region remote from a borehole using a conveyed logging tool is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventors: Paul A. Johnson, Cung Vu, James A. TenCate, Robert Guyer, Pierre-Yves Le Bas, Kurt T. Nihei, Denis P. Schmitt, Christopher Skelt
  • Patent number: 6108606
    Abstract: A method for detection of a disturbance in a waveguide comprising transmitting a wavefield having symmetric and antisymmetric components from a horizontally and/or vertically polarized source and/or pressure source disposed symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the waveguide at one end of the waveguide, recording the horizontal and/or vertical component or a pressure of the wavefield with a vertical array of receivers disposed at the opposite end of the waveguide, separating the wavenumber transform of the wavefield into the symmetric and antisymmetric components, integrating the symmetric and antisymmetric components over a broad frequency range, and comparing the magnitude of the symmetric components and the antisymmetric components to an expected magnitude for the symmetric components and the antisymmetric components for a waveguide of uniform thickness and properties thereby determining whether or not a disturbance is present inside the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Valeri A. Korneev, Kurt T. Nihei, Larry R. Myer