Patents by Inventor Michael M. Herron
Michael M. Herron 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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Patent number: 9851468Abstract: The accurate determination of formation hydrocarbon or water saturation is a useful step in the petrophysical evaluation of petroleum reservoirs. This disclosure presents a new method for estimating hydrocarbon saturation directly from a porosity log and a total organic carbon (TOC) log. The method is enabled by the recent development of a geochemical spectroscopy logging tool that combines inelastic and capture gamma ray measurements to provide a robust and accurate TOC log. The method differs from the prior approach of using carbon-to-oxygen ratios that is most often applied in cased hole evaluation. The main advantages of this method are that it does not use knowledge of formation water resistivity, it does not rely on a resistivity model, it does not use an extensive calibration database, and it is largely independent of clay or other lithology effects.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, James A. Grau, John P. Horkowitz, Paul R. Craddock, Robert Badry
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Patent number: 9696453Abstract: A method for predicting at least one property of a geological formation may include generating mapping function values relating a plurality of reference elemental compositions to corresponding reference properties thereof based upon at least one non-linear mapping function. The method may further include determining a sample elemental composition of at least one sample associated with the geological formation and performing, using a processor, an interpolation to map the sample elemental composition to at least one sample property based upon the mapping function values and the at least one non-linear function.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2013Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Robert Freedman, Vivek Anand, Susan Herron, Michael M. Herron
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Patent number: 9513213Abstract: A method of analyzing physical properties of a sample includes obtaining the sample and obtaining an electromagnetic spectrum of the sample using terahertz spectroscopy. A sample complex permittivity is computed from the electromagnetic spectrum of the sample. The method further includes estimating the constituents and the constituent fractions and computing an estimated effective complex permittivity based upon a model and the constituent fractions. The method further includes comparing the computed sample complex permittivity with the estimated effective complex permittivity in order to determine the physical properties the sample.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Logan Chieffo, Richard Averitt, Andrew Speck, Michael M. Herron, A. Ballard Andrews, Ronald E. G. Van Hal
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Patent number: 9329122Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the evaluation of lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to evaluating lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS).Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, Alyssa Charsky, Ridvan Akkurt
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Publication number: 20160084756Abstract: Systems and methods are described for analyzing hydrocarbon bearing earth samples to determine information indicating the maturation, or changes in composition of kerogen from original deposition over geologic time as the kerogen is subjected to heat and pressure. A DRIFTS spectrometry signal is corrected and normalized and then plotted against TOC data to obtain an index indicating thermal maturity.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2014Publication date: March 24, 2016Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, Alyssa Charsky
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Publication number: 20150285944Abstract: The accurate determination of formation hydrocarbon or water saturation is a useful step in the petrophysical evaluation of petroleum reservoirs. This disclosure presents a new method for estimating hydrocarbon saturation directly from a porosity log and a total organic carbon (TOC) log. The method is enabled by the recent development of a geochemical spectroscopy logging tool that combines inelastic and capture gamma ray measurements to provide a robust and accurate TOC log. The method differs from the prior approach of using carbon-to-oxygen ratios that is most often applied in cased hole evaluation. The main advantages of this method are that it does not use knowledge of formation water resistivity, it does not rely on a resistivity model, it does not use an extensive calibration database, and it is largely independent of clay or other lithology effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2013Publication date: October 8, 2015Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, James A. Grau, John P. Horkowitz, Paul R. Craddock, Robert Badry
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Publication number: 20150046090Abstract: A method of analyzing physical properties of a sample includes obtaining the sample and obtaining an electromagnetic spectrum of the sample using terahertz spectroscopy. A sample complex permittivity is computed from the electromagnetic spectrum of the sample. The method further includes estimating the constituents and the constituent fractions and computing an estimated effective complex permittivity based upon a model and the constituent fractions. The method further includes comparing the computed sample complex permittivity with the estimated effective complex permittivity in order to determine the physical properties the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: LOGAN CHIEFFO, RICHARD AVERITT, ANDREW SPECK, MICHAEL M. HERRON, A. BALLARD ANDREWS, RONALD E. G. VAN HAL
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Publication number: 20140214324Abstract: A method for predicting at least one property of a geological formation may include generating mapping function values relating a plurality of reference elemental compositions to corresponding reference properties thereof based upon at least one non-linear mapping function. The method may further include determining a sample elemental composition of at least one sample associated with the geological formation and performing, using a processor, an interpolation to map the sample elemental composition to at least one sample property based upon the mapping function values and the at least one non-linear function.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Robert Freedman, Vivek Anand, Susan Herron, Michael M. Herron
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Publication number: 20130046469Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the evaluation of lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to evaluating lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2012Publication date: February 21, 2013Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Michael M. HERRON, Susan HERRON, Alyssa CHARSKY, Ridvan AKKURT
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Patent number: 7635838Abstract: Formation strontium concentrations are measured utilizing a borehole tool. A log may be provided as a function of depth or distance. The strontium measurements can be correlated chronostratigraphically to provide a depth to absolute time correlation. Measures of strontium made in the borehole can be correlated to information obtained via seismic exploration of the formation traversed by the borehole. Measures of strontium in multiple boreholes of a single formation can be correlated.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2008Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Michael M. Herron
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Publication number: 20090168955Abstract: Formation strontium concentrations are measured utilizing a borehole tool. A log may be provided as a function of depth or distance. The strontium measurements can be correlated chronostratigraphically to provide a depth to absolute time correlation. Measures of strontium made in the borehole can be correlated to information obtained via seismic exploration of the formation traversed by the borehole. Measures of strontium in multiple boreholes of a single formation can be correlated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: July 2, 2009Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Michael M. Herron
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Patent number: 6959246Abstract: A modification to the Coates-Timur relationship to produce a more coherent relationship applicable to carbonate formations is disclosed. In this method, permeability may be determined using porosity and the ratio of bound fluid volume to (1—bound fluid volume). This method also allows for improved estimation of irreducible water saturation of a carbonate formation using the ratio of kc and (e?f+kc). Likewise, the bound fluid volume of a carbonate formation may be determined using the ratio of ?kc and (e?f+kc). In these relationships, e, x, and f are constants according to the following relationships e=xc, f=bc+1, x is between 1 and 100 mD (preferably 10 mD).Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Michael M. Herron
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Patent number: 6844729Abstract: A method of using nuclear spectroscopy measurements acquired while drilling a subsurface formation including: measuring indicators of a plurality of absolute or relative formation elemental concentrations; processing the measurements to determine a petrophysical parameter associated with the subsurface formation while drilling, and using the petrophysical parameter to determine a drilling parameter. The petrophysical parameter may include, for instance, the permeability of the subsurface formation and the drilling parameter may include, for instance, a change in the orientation of a directional drilling assembly or the point at which to stop drilling. The invention further involves an apparatus adapted to carry out the inventive method.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan L. Herron
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Patent number: 6718265Abstract: A method of estimating a petrophysical property of a subsurface area that includes deriving an acoustic calibration relationship correlating acoustic propagation characteristics of a first subsurface area with a petrophysical property of the first subsurface area determined using nuclear spectroscopy measurements; processing acoustic data acquired from a second subsurface area to determine acoustic propagation characteristics associated with a plurality of regions within the second subsurface area; and estimating the petrophysical property of the regions within the second subsurface area using the calibration relationship and the acoustic propagation characteristics associated with the second subsurface area.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2002Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan L. Herron
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Publication number: 20040034474Abstract: A method of estimating a petrophysical property of a subsurface area that includes deriving an acoustic calibration relationship correlating acoustic propagation characteristics of a first subsurface area with a petrophysical property of the first subsurface area determined using nuclear spectroscopy measurements; processing acoustic data acquired from a second subsurface area to determine acoustic propagation characteristics associated with a plurality of regions within the second subsurface area; and estimating the petrophysical property of the regions within the second subsurface area using the calibration relationship and the acoustic propagation characteristics associated with the second subsurface area.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2002Publication date: February 19, 2004Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan L. Herron
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Publication number: 20030205082Abstract: A method of using nuclear spectroscopy measurements acquired while drilling a subsurface formation including: measuring indicators of a plurality of absolute or relative formation elemental concentrations; processing the measurements to determine a petrophysical parameter associated with the subsurface formation while drilling, and using the petrophysical parameter to determine a drilling parameter. The petrophysical parameter may include, for instance, the permeability of the subsurface formation and the drilling parameter may include, for instance, a change in the orientation of a directional drilling assembly or the point at which to stop drilling. The invention further involves an apparatus adapted to carry out the inventive method.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan L. Herron
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Patent number: 6571619Abstract: A subsurface formation petrophysical evaluation method including: determining formation porosity and permeability using a quantitative indication of formation composition; estimating water-filled formation resistivity using the formation porosity; associating differences between measured formation resistivity and estimated water saturated formation resistivity with the presence of subsurface hydrocarbons; and estimating irreducible formation water saturation using the formation porosity and the formation permeability. The invention further involves an apparatus adapted to carry out the inventive method.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan L. Herron
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Publication number: 20030070480Abstract: A subsurface formation petrophysical evaluation method including: determining formation porosity and permeability using a quantitative indication of formation composition; estimating water-filled formation resistivity using the formation porosity; associating differences between measured formation resistivity and estimated water saturated formation resistivity with the presence of subsurface hydrocarbons; and estimating irreducible formation water saturation using the formation porosity and the formation permeability. The invention further involves an apparatus adapted to carry out the inventive method.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2001Publication date: April 17, 2003Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan L. Herron
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Patent number: 6140816Abstract: A permeability estimator is constructed from the lambda parameter, .LAMBDA., which is the size of dynamically connected pores. For simple pore geometries at high permeabilities, .LAMBDA. should theoretically be proportional to the pore volume-to-surface area ratio. Further, at high permeabilities, the permeability is proportional to .LAMBDA..sup.2 /F where F is the formation factor. Core data are used to establish the proportionality constant. At permeabilities less than about 100 md, the estimated permeability is seen to overestimate the actual permeability by a factor related to the estimate. Thus, a corrected second estimate can be readily made and is shown to match measured permeabilities on a diverse set of sands and shaly sands with a correlation coefficient of 0.89 for log k. The estimate can also be made using NMR relaxation time data with a correlation coefficient of 0.92 for the same data set.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1997Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Michael M. Herron
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Patent number: 6047595Abstract: There is provided a method of accurately estimating the permeability of sedimentary rock formations from well logging data. The method involves a short relaxation time strategy with the identification of the key k-Lambda parameter S/V.sub.p, which is the surface-to-pore ratio. The inverse of T.sub.2 is related to this ratio by the surface relaxivity, .rho.2. The k-Lambda estimator is given by: ##EQU1## where: .DELTA.V.sub.1 represents the volume elements of the T.sub.2 distribution and the sum over i=1 to n represents some set of early to later volume elements; and V.sub.p is the total pore volume.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1997Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael M. Herron, Christian Straley