Patents by Inventor Richard E. Lewis

Richard E. Lewis 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: 11466549
    Abstract: A technique facilitates hydrocarbon fluid production. A well is formed in a subterranean region by drilling a borehole, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. At least one tunnel is formed and oriented to extend outwardly from the borehole at least 10 feet into a formation surrounding the borehole. The orientation of the at least one tunnel is selected such that it extends at a desired angle with respect to a direction of horizontal stress in the formation. A fracture stimulation of the at least one tunnel is performed to create a network of fractures. The orientation of the at least one tunnel ensures that the network of fractures extends through a target zone in a hydrocarbon bearing region of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Lee, George Alan Waters, Richard E. Lewis, Dmitriy Ivanovich Potapenko
  • Patent number: 11435304
    Abstract: Downhole fluid volumes of a geological formation may be estimated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, even in organic shale reservoirs. Multi-dimensional NMR measurements, such as two-dimensional NMR measurements and/or, in some cases, one or more well-logging measurements relating to total organic carbon may be used to estimate downhole fluid volumes of hydrocarbons such as bitumen, light hydrocarbon, kerogen, and/or water. Having identified the fluid volumes in this manner or any other suitable manner from the NMR measurements, a reservoir producibility index (RPI) may be generated. The downhole fluid volumes and/or the RPI may be output on a well log to enable an operator to make operational and strategic decisions for well production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vivek Anand, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Tianmin Jiang, Erik Rylander, Mansoor Ali, Richard E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11112516
    Abstract: Methods may include normalizing two or more wellbore logs obtained from the output of two or more wellbore tool surveys of a wellbore in a formation of interest; inputting two or more wellbore logs into a correlation matrix; assigning each of the two or more wellbore logs a positive or negative value based on the impact on a selected wellbore quality; performing a principal component analysis of the two or more wellbore logs to obtain one or more loading vectors; computing weighting factors for each of the two or more wellbore logs from the one or more loading vectors; and generating a quality index by linearly combining the two or more wellbore logs using the computed weighting factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tuanfeng Zhang, Richard E. Lewis, Helena Gamero Diaz
  • Publication number: 20210131242
    Abstract: A technique facilitates hydrocarbon fluid production. A well is formed in a subterranean region by drilling a borehole, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. At least one tunnel is formed and oriented to extend outwardly from the borehole at least 10 feet into a formation surrounding the borehole. The orientation of the at least one tunnel is selected such that it extends at a desired angle with respect to a direction of horizontal stress in the formation. A fracture stimulation of the at least one tunnel is performed to create a network of fractures. The orientation of the at least one tunnel ensures that the network of fractures extends through a target zone in a hydrocarbon bearing region of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Donald W. Lee, George Alan Waters, Richard E. Lewis, Dmitriy Ivanovich POTAPENKO
  • Patent number: 10802099
    Abstract: A methods are provided for investigating a sample containing hydrocarbons by subjecting the sample to a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence using NMR equipment, using the NMR equipment to detect signals from the sample in response to the NMR sequence, analyzing the signals to extract a distribution of relaxation times (or diffusions), and computing a value for a parameter of the sample as a function of at least one of the relaxation times (or diffusions), wherein the computing utilizes a correction factor that modifies the value for the parameter as a function of relaxation time for at least short relaxation times (or as a function of diffusion for at least large diffusion coefficients).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lalitha Venkataramanan, Fred K. Gruber, Tarek M. Habashy, Ridvan Akkurt, Badarinadh Vissapragada, Richard E. Lewis, Erik Rylander
  • Publication number: 20190383757
    Abstract: Downhole fluid volumes of a geological formation may be estimated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, even in organic shale reservoirs. Multi-dimensional NMR measurements, such as two-dimensional NMR measurements and/or, in some cases, one or more well-logging measurements relating to total organic carbon may be used to estimate downhole fluid volumes of hydrocarbons such as bitumen, light hydrocarbon, kerogen, and/or water. Having identified the fluid volumes in this manner or any other suitable manner from the NMR measurements, a reservoir producibility index (RPI) may be generated. The downhole fluid volumes and/or the RPI may be output on a well log to enable an operator to make operational and strategic decisions for well production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Vivek Anand, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Tianmin Jiang, Erik Rylander, Mansoor Ali, Richard E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10466186
    Abstract: A method for testing an unconventional core sample is provided. The method involves loading the unconventional core sample into a sample holder and introducing fluid into the sample holder at an elevated pressure such that fluid is injected into the internal pore space of the unconventional core sample in order to resaturate the unconventional core sample with the fluid, wherein the fluid is selected from the group including a hydrocarbon fluid and a water-based formation fluid. An apparatus and a system used in combination with the method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Kamilla Fellah, Erik Rylander, Philip M. Singer, Richard E. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20190331813
    Abstract: Methods may include normalizing two or more wellbore logs obtained from the output of two or more wellbore tool surveys of a wellbore in a formation of interest; inputting two or more wellbore logs into a correlation matrix; assigning each of the two or more wellbore logs a positive or negative value based on the impact on a selected wellbore quality; performing a principal component analysis of the two or more wellbore logs to obtain one or more loading vectors; computing weighting factors for each of the two or more wellbore logs from the one or more loading vectors; and generating a quality index by linearly combining the two or more wellbore logs using the computed weighting factors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Tuanfeng Zhang, Richard E. Lewis, Helena Gamero Diaz
  • Patent number: 10401313
    Abstract: Downhole fluid volumes of a geological formation may be estimated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, even in organic shale reservoirs. Multi-dimensional NMR measurements, such as two-dimensional NMR measurements and/or, in some cases, one or more well-logging measurements relating to total organic carbon may be used to estimate downhole fluid volumes of hydrocarbons such as bitumen, light hydrocarbon, kerogen, and/or water. Having identified the fluid volumes in this manner or any other suitable manner from the NMR measurements, a reservoir producibility index (RPI) may be generated. The downhole fluid volumes and/or the RPI may be output on a well log to enable an operator to make operational and strategic decisions for well production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Vivek Anand, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Tianmin Jiang, Erik Rylander, Mansoor Ali, Richard E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10360282
    Abstract: A method and system for evaluation of a hydrocarbon-bearing shale formation employs a data processing system that defines a response model that relates first data representing measured petrophysical properties of the shale formation at a given location to second data representing volume fractions for a particular set of formation components at the given location. The first data includes hydrogen index at the given location, and the particular set of formation components of the second data include a number of mineral components and a number of hydrocarbon-bearing components. The hydrocarbon-bearing components include at least one kerogen component. A computation solver processes the response model along with the first data to solve for the second data. The solved second data representing the volume fraction of the at least one kerogen component is processed to derive at least one ratio that is indicative of kerogen maturity at the given location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Rasmus, Richard E. Lewis, David Handwerger, Jack LaVigne
  • Publication number: 20190011517
    Abstract: A methods are provided for investigating a sample containing hydrocarbons by subjecting the sample to a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence using NMR equipment, using the NMR equipment to detect signals from the sample in response to the NMR sequence, analyzing the signals to extract a distribution of relaxation times (or diffusions), and computing a value for a parameter of the sample as a function of at least one of the relaxation times (or diffusions), wherein the computing utilizes a correction factor that modifies the value for the parameter as a function of relaxation time for at least short relaxation times (or as a function of diffusion for at least large diffusion coefficients).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Lalitha Venkataramanan, Fred K. Gruber, Tarek M. Habashy, Ridvan Akkurt, Badarinadh Vissapragada, Richard E. Lewis, Erik Rylander
  • Patent number: 9939506
    Abstract: A methods are provided for investigating a sample containing hydrocarbons by subjecting the sample to a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence using NMR equipment, using the NMR equipment to detect signals from the sample in response to the NMR sequence, analyzing the signals to extract a distribution of relaxation times (or diffusions), and computing a value for a parameter of the sample as a function of at least one of the relaxation times (or diffusions), wherein the computing utilizes a correction factor that modifies the value for the parameter as a function of relaxation time for at least short relaxation times (or as a function of diffusion for at least large diffusion coefficients).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lalitha Venkataramanan, Fred K. Gruber, Tarek M. Habashy, Ridvan Akkurt, Badarinadh Vissapragada, Richard E. Lewis, Erik Rylander
  • Publication number: 20170343497
    Abstract: Downhole fluid volumes of a geological formation may be estimated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements, even in organic shale reservoirs. Multi-dimensional NMR measurements, such as two-dimensional NMR measurements and/or, in some cases, one or more well-logging measurements relating to total organic carbon may be used to estimate downhole fluid volumes of hydrocarbons such as bitumen, light hydrocarbon, kerogen, and/or water. Having identified the fluid volumes in this manner or any other suitable manner from the NMR measurements, a reservoir producibility index (RPI) may be generated. The downhole fluid volumes and/or the RPI may be output on a well log to enable an operator to make operational and strategic decisions for well production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Vivek Anand, Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Tianmin Jiang, Erik Rylander, Mansoor Ali, Richard E. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9535187
    Abstract: A method for characterizing one or more properties of a geological formation including brine, the method including inputting at least one first property of the geological formation into an equation of state (EOS) model, the EOS model accounting for a high temperature effect on the brine; solving the EOS model to determine at least one second property of the geological formation; and outputting the at least one second property to a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Indranil Roy, Oliver C. Mullins, Richard E. Lewis, Colin Longfield, Chris Wilkinson, Paul George, Rashmi Bhavsar
  • Publication number: 20160341680
    Abstract: A method for testing an unconventional core sample is provided. The method involves loading the unconventional core sample into a sample holder and introducing fluid into the sample holder at an elevated pressure such that fluid is injected into the internal pore space of the unconventional core sample in order to resaturate the unconventional core sample with the fluid, wherein the fluid is selected from the group including a hydrocarbon fluid and a water-based formation fluid. An apparatus and a system used in combination with the method are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Inventors: Ravinath Kausik Kadayam Viswanathan, Kamilla Fellah, Erik Rylander, Philip M. Singer, Richard E. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20160186556
    Abstract: A method and system for evaluation of a hydrocarbon-bearing shale formation employs a data processing system that defines a response model that relates first data representing measured petrophysical properties of the shale formation at a given location to second data representing volume fractions for a particular set of formation components at the given location. The first data includes hydrogen index at the given location, and the particular set of formation components of the second data include a number of mineral components and a number of hydrocarbon-bearing components. The hydrocarbon-bearing components include at least one kerogen component. A computation solver processes the response model along with the first data to solve for the second data. The solved second data representing the volume fraction of the at least one kerogen component is processed to derive at least one ratio that is indicative of kerogen maturity at the given location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: John Rasmus, Richard E. Lewis, David Handwerger, Jack LaVigne
  • Publication number: 20150177351
    Abstract: A methods are provided for investigating a sample containing hydrocarbons by subjecting the sample to a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence using NMR equipment, using the NMR equipment to detect signals from the sample in response to the NMR sequence, analyzing the signals to extract a distribution of relaxation times (or diffusions), and computing a value for a parameter of the sample as a function of at least one of the relaxation times (or diffusions), wherein the computing utilizes a correction factor that modifies the value for the parameter as a function of relaxation time for at least short relaxation times (or as a function of diffusion for at least large diffusion coefficients).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Lalitha Venkataramanan, Fred K. Gruber, Tarek M. Habashy, Ridvan Akkurt, Badarinadh Vissapragada, Richard E. Lewis, Erik Rylander
  • Publication number: 20130289961
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to reservoir characterization techniques and methods for accurately predicting scale tendencies of formation fluids, developed with the newly discovered phenomena that extreme downhole conditions affect the properties of reservoir fluids, including both the brine and dense hydrocarbon gas phases. In one aspect, there is disclosed a method for producing fluids from a geological formation. The method comprises inputting at least one property of a geological formation into an equation of state (EOS) model. The EOS model accounts for bound water, a high temperature effect on the brine and a high temperature effect on the dense gas phase. The EOS model is solved to determine a character of fluids contained in the geological formation, and inputting a production condition or a plurality of production conditions into the EOS model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Indranil Ray, Richard E. Lewis, Oliver Clinton Mullins, Colin Longfield, Bruce MacKay, Paul George, Rashmi Bhanulal Bhavsar, Chris Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20120059636
    Abstract: A method for characterizing one or more properties of a geological formation including brine, the method including inputting at least one first property of the geological formation into an equation of state (EOS) model, the EOS model accounting for a high temperature effect on the brine; solving the EOS model to determine at least one second property of the geological formation; and outputting the at least one second property to a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Indranil Roy, Oliver C. Mullins, Richard E. Lewis, Colin Longfield, Chris Wilkinson, Paul George, Rashmi Bhavsar
  • Publication number: 20120059640
    Abstract: One or more computer-readable media include computer-executable instructions to instruct a computing system to receive input as to physical characteristics of a resource recovery system and a resource reservoir; simulate fluid thermodynamics of the system and the reservoir; and output information as to phase composition, for example, in at least one dense phase affected by the resource recovery system. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Indranil Roy, Chris Wilkinson, Colin Longfield, Oliver C. Mullins, Richard E. Lewis