Patents by Inventor Michael H. Kovalski

Michael H. Kovalski 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: 11521122
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated seismic interpretation (ASI), including: obtaining trained models comprising a geologic scenario from a model repository, wherein the trained models comprise executable code; obtaining test data comprising geophysical data for a subsurface region; and performing an inference on the test data with the trained models to generate a feature probability map representative of subsurface features. A method and apparatus for machine learning, including: an ASI model; a training dataset comprising seismic images and a plurality of data portions; a plurality of memory locations, each comprising a replication of the ASI model and a different data portion of the training dataset; a plurality of data augmentation modules, each identified with one of the plurality of memory locations; a training module configured to receive output from the plurality of data augmentation modules; and a model repository configured to receive updated models from the training module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Wei D. Liu, Huseyin Denli, Kuang-Hung Liu, Michael H. Kovalski, Victoria M. Som De Cerff, Cody J. MacDonald, Diego A. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10915073
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agent to provide adaptive tuning of process controllers, such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. The agent can monitor process controller performance, and if unsatisfactory, can attempt to improve it by making incremental changes to the tuning parameters for the process controller. The effect of a tuning change can then be observed by the agent and used to update the agent's process controller tuning policy. It has been unexpectedly discovered that providing adaptive tuning based on incremental changes in tuning parameters, as opposed to making changes independent of current values of the tuning parameters, can provide enhanced or improved control over a controlled variable of a process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Badgwell, Kuang-Hung Liu, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, Wei D. Liu, Michael H. Kovalski
  • Publication number: 20200302293
    Abstract: An example apparatus for optimizing output of resources from a predefined field can comprise an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted reservoir simulation framework configured to produce a performance profile associated with resources output from the field. The apparatus can further comprise an optimization framework configured for determining one or more financial constraints associated with the field, the optimization framework providing the one or more financial constraints to the AI-assisted reservoir simulation framework, and a deep learning framework configured for training a neural network for use by the optimization framework. The AI-assisted reservoir simulation framework determines, as an output, a plurality of actions for optimizing output of resources from the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kuang-Hung Liu, Michael H. Kovalski, Myun-Seok Cheon, Xiaohui Wu
  • Publication number: 20200184374
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated seismic interpretation (ASI), including: obtaining trained models comprising a geologic scenario from a model repository, wherein the trained models comprise executable code; obtaining test data comprising geophysical data for a subsurface region; and performing an inference on the test data with the trained models to generate a feature probability map representative of subsurface features. A method and apparatus for machine learning, including: an ASI model; a training dataset comprising seismic images and a plurality of data portions; a plurality of memory locations, each comprising a replication of the ASI model and a different data portion of the training dataset; a plurality of data augmentation modules, each identified with one of the plurality of memory locations; a training module configured to receive output from the plurality of data augmentation modules; and a model repository configured to receive updated models from the training module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Wei D. LIU, Huseyin Denli, Kuang-Hung Liu, Michael H. Kovalski, Victoria M. Som De Cerff, Cody J. MacDonald, Diego A. Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20190187631
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agent to provide adaptive tuning of process controllers, such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. The agent can monitor process controller performance, and if unsatisfactory, can attempt to improve it by making incremental changes to the tuning parameters for the process controller. The effect of a tuning change can then be observed by the agent and used to update the agent's process controller tuning policy. It has been unexpectedly discovered that providing adaptive tuning based on incremental changes in tuning parameters, as opposed to making changes independent of current values of the tuning parameters, can provide enhanced or improved control over a controlled variable of a process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas A. Badgwell, Kuang-Hung Liu, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, Wei D. Liu, Michael H. Kovalski