Patents by Inventor Randall Cygan

Randall Cygan 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: 10330657
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating conductivity of clay mineral systems, and for applying the estimates in larger-scale analysis. Conductivity of the clay may be estimated by constructing a molecular model of an anhydrous charge-neutral clay, and then assigning a charge density by substitution of ions in the model of the clay structure. Counterions are inserted for charge neutrality, and water molecules are added to the model to reflect a selected level of hydration. Following assignment of force-field coefficients, molecular dynamics simulation provides data from which diffusion coefficients can be estimated. Application of the Nernst-Einstein relationship to the diffusion coefficients of the counterions provides the ion conductivity of the clay system. This conductivity can be used to derive a formation factor, and can be applied in direct numerical simulation analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Greathouse, Joanne Fredrich, Gary Jerauld, Randall Cygan
  • Publication number: 20160169854
    Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating conductivity of clay mineral systems, and for applying the estimates in larger-scale analysis. Conductivity of the clay may be estimated by constructing a molecular model of an anhydrous charge-neutral clay, and then assigning a charge density by substitution of ions in the model of the clay structure. Counterions are inserted for charge neutrality, and water molecules are added to the model to reflect a selected level of hydration. Following assignment of force-field coefficients, molecular dynamics simulation provides data from which diffusion coefficients can be estimated. Application of the Nernst-Einstein relationship to the diffusion coefficients of the counterions provides the ion conductivity of the clay system. This conductivity can be used to derive a formation factor, and can be applied in direct numerical simulation analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffery Greathouse, Joanne Fredrich, Gary Jerauld, Randall Cygan