Patents by Inventor Olivier M. Burtz

Olivier M. Burtz 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: 11815642
    Abstract: Methods for inversion of seismic data to infer subsurface physical property parameters, comprising constructing an inhomogeneous anisotropy model and/or inhomogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model; and inverting the seismic data in a sequential or simultaneous approach to obtain at least one subsurface physical property parameter using an elastic inversion algorithm and the inhomogeneous anisotropy model and/or inhomogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model. Constructing an inhomogeneous anisotropy model may comprise deriving geobodies from at least one of seismic facies analysis, regional geologic information, or seismically derived earth models; and adjusting at least one of ?, ?, ?, or parameters of the elastic stiffness tensor matrix in a homogeneous anisotropy model in areas corresponding to the geobodies. Constructing an inhomogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model may comprise deriving geobodies and adjusting values in a homogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model in areas corresponding to the geobodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Haiyang Wang, Jacob A. Violet, Olivier M. Burtz, Partha S. Routh
  • Publication number: 20200132873
    Abstract: Methods for inversion of seismic data to infer subsurface physical property parameters, comprising constructing an inhomogeneous anisotropy model and/or inhomogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model; and inverting the seismic data in a sequential or simultaneous approach to obtain at least one subsurface physical property parameter using an elastic inversion algorithm and the inhomogeneous anisotropy model and/or inhomogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model. Constructing an inhomogeneous anisotropy model may comprise deriving geobodies from at least one of seismic facies analysis, regional geologic information, or seismically derived earth models; and adjusting at least one of ?, ?, ?, or parameters of the elastic stiffness tensor matrix in a homogeneous anisotropy model in areas corresponding to the geobodies. Constructing an inhomogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model may comprise deriving geobodies and adjusting values in a homogeneous VS/VP or VP/VS model in areas corresponding to the geobodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Haiyang Wang, Jacob A. Violet, Olivier M. Burtz, Partha S. Routh
  • Patent number: 9015010
    Abstract: Systems and methods which provide electromagnetic subsurface mapping to derive information with respect to subsurface features whose sizes are near to or below the resolution of electromagnetic data characterizing the subsurface are shown. Embodiments operate to identify a region of interest (203) in a resistivity image generated (202) using electromagnetic data (201). One or more scenarios may be identified for the areas of interest, wherein the various scenarios comprise representations of features whose sizes are near to or below the resolution of the electromagnetic data (204). According to embodiments, the scenarios are evaluated (205), such as using forward or inverse modeling, to determine each scenarios' fit to the available data and further to determine their geologic reasonableness (206). Resulting scenarios may be utilized in a number of ways, such as to be substituted in a resistivity image for a corresponding region of anomalous resistivity for enhancing the resistivity image (207).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Green, Leslie A. Wahrmund, Olivier M. Burtz, Dennis E. Willen, Rebecca L. Saltzer, Leonard J. Srnka
  • Patent number: 8706462
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for creating a physical property model representative of a physical property of a region. An exemplary method comprises transforming information from a model domain that represents the physical property model into simulated data in a data domain, the data domain comprising simulated data and measured data representative of a plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method also comprises determining an areal misfit between the simulated data and the measured data representative of the plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method additionally comprises performing an evaluation of the areal misfit based on known criteria. The exemplary method comprises adjusting data in the data domain or information in the model domain corresponding to a region in the model domain based on the evaluation of the areal misfit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Olivier M. Burtz, Charlie Jing, Dmitriy A. Pavlov, Scott C. Hornbostel
  • Patent number: 8294466
    Abstract: Method for improving frequency-domain (1505), controlled-source electromagnetic data readability and interpretability in hydrocarbon prospecting by mapping a scaled amplitude or the relative amplitude (or phase) of the electromagnetic field in a scaled offset?scaled frequency plane (1510). The preferred mapping space uses the offset times the square-root of the frequency as the X-axis and the square-root of the frequency as the Y-axis. The preferred way to scale the amplitude of the electric field is to multiply it by the frequency to the power of ?1.5. Resistive anomalies in the data may be identified by comparing negative offset data (or data relative to a reference) to positive offset data (1515). The location and size of a potentially hydrocarbon-bearing resistive body may be estimated from the position of the anomaly on the map (1520).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: Olivier M. Burtz
  • Patent number: 8027790
    Abstract: A structured computer-implemented method (1000) based on graphical user interfaces for interpretation and mapping of data from a controlled-source electromagnetic survey, featuring capability to store electromagnetic data in layers (1004), each layer having the same internal structure for ease of comparison, editing, display and other manipulation by an assortment of software tools (1005) useful to an interpreter. Thus, different layers might contain actual data (1001) from different surveys and simulated results (1002) based on different resistivity models or inversion results (1003), all pertaining to the same subterranean survey region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co.
    Inventors: Olivier M. Burtz, Mark Stiver
  • Publication number: 20110155389
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method for creating a physical property model representative of a physical property of a region. An exemplary method comprises transforming information from a model domain that represents the physical property model into simulated data in a data domain, the data domain comprising simulated data and measured data representative of a plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method also comprises determining an areal misfit between the simulated data and the measured data representative of the plurality of observations of the region. The exemplary method additionally comprises performing an evaluation of the areal misfit based on known criteria. The exemplary method comprises adjusting data in the data domain or information in the model domain corresponding to a region in the model domain based on the evaluation of the areal misfit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Olivier M. Burtz, Charlie Jing, Dmitriy A. Pavlov, Scott C. Hornbostel
  • Patent number: 7894989
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining earth vertical electrical anisotropy from offshore electromagnetic survey measurements. The method requires both online and offline data, which includes at least one electromagnetic field component sensitive at least predominantly to vertical resistivity and another component sensitive at least predominantly to horizontal resistivity. Using a horizontal electric dipole source, online EZ and offline HZ measurements are preferred. For a horizontal magnetic dipole source, online HZ and offline EZ data are preferred. magnetotelluric data may be substituted for controlled source data sensitive to horizontal resistivity. Maxwell's equations are solved by forward modeling or by inversion, using resistivity models of the subsurface that are either isotropic or anisotropic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co.
    Inventors: Leonard J. Srnka, Xinyou Lu, Olivier M. Burtz
  • Publication number: 20100179761
    Abstract: A food making process comprises starting with Lupin legumes with minimum levels of alkaloids, dehulling the Lupin legumes to produce split seed kernels, mixing the split seed kernels with hot water to hydrate them into a slurry, grinding the slurry to blend and smooth it into a product base, cooking the product base to achieve a particular flavor and aroma consistent with a target food product, cooling the product base to stop cooking, and further processing the product base into a target food product like soups and beverages. In particular, the Lupinus Angustifolius variety produces the best results, but other sweet lupin varieties can be used if they have been leached of their bitter tasting alkaloids. The products produced have high levels of protein, vitamins, and other nutritional values. Both batch and continuous processes are possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Inventors: Olivier M. Burtz, Mark Stiver
  • Publication number: 20100065278
    Abstract: Method for improving frequency-domain (1505), controlled-source electromagnetic data readability and interpretability in hydrocarbon prospecting by mapping a scaled amplitude or the relative amplitude (or phase) of the electromagnetic field in a scaled offset?scaled frequency plane (1510). The preferred mapping space uses the offset times the square-root of the frequency as the X-axis and the square-root of the frequency as the Y-axis. The preferred way to scale the amplitude of the electric field is to multiply it by the frequency to the power of -1.5. Resistive anomalies in the data may be identified by comparing negative offset data (or data relative to a reference) to positive offset data (1515). The location and size of a potentially hydrocarbon-bearing resistive body may be estimated from the position of the anomaly on the map (1520).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventor: Olivier M. Burtz
  • Publication number: 20090096457
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining earth vertical electrical anisotropy from offshore electromagnetic survey measurements. The method requires both online and offline data, which includes at least one electromagnetic field component sensitive at least predominantly to vertical resistivity and another component sensitive at least predominantly to horizontal resistivity. Using a horizontal electric dipole source, online EZ and offline HZ measurements are preferred. For a horizontal magnetic dipole source, online HZ and offline EZ data are preferred. Magnetotelluric data may be substituted for controlled source data sensitive to horizontal resistivity. Maxwell's equations are solved by forward modeling or by inversion, using resistivity models of the subsurface that are either isotropic or anisotropic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Leonard J. Srnka, Xinyou Lu, Olivier M. Burtz
  • Patent number: 7383132
    Abstract: Method for enhancing resistive anomalies in electromagnetic geophysical survey data. Scaled values of a measured electromagnetic field parameter are plotted on a depth section at locations related to corresponding source/receiver locations. Scaling is performed relative to a reference signal selected to represent a baseline free of unknown resistive bodies. Scaled values are represented by a color scale in the display, and the color scale may be adjusted to enhance perceived anomalies. The method may be employed in either the frequency domain or the time domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth Green, Olivier M. Burtz, Denny E. Willen
  • Patent number: 7333893
    Abstract: Method for removing effects of shallow resistivity structures in electromagnetic survey data to produce a low frequency resistivity anomaly map, or alternatively imaging resistivity structures at their correct depth levels. The method involves solving Maxwell's electromagnetic field equations by either forward modeling or inversion, and requires at least two survey data sets, one taken at the source frequency selected to penetrate to a target depth, the other a higher frequency able to penetrate only shallow depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Olivier M. Burtz, James J. Carazzone, Dmitriy A. Pavlov