Patents by Inventor Richard Edward Hinkley

Richard Edward Hinkley 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: 11163923
    Abstract: A three-dimensional reservoir simulator used for automated upscaling relative permeability and capillary pressure in multi-porosity systems comprising disparate rock-types. A coarse-scale single-porosity model incorporating multi-porosity model properties may be derived from a fine-scale single-porosity model based, at least in part, on simulation of a model comprising data from one or more regions of interest. Real-world and laboratory measurements of the one or more regions of interest may be provided to the fine-scale single-porosity simulation model and the fine-scale single-porosity model may be subjected to one or more fractional flow simulation processes and one or more displacement simulation processes. The fine-scale model properties may be modified based, at least in part, on the results of the one or more fractional flow simulation processes and one or more displacement simulation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Travis St. George Ramsay, Richard Edward Hinkley
  • Patent number: 10997326
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for forecasting a time to complete a simulation of a reservoir simulation model. A processor can run a simulation of a reservoir simulation model for a first predetermined period of time associated with a first computation step of the simulation. The processor can measure a performance result of the simulation for the first predetermined period of time. The performance result can include an elapsed wall clock time and a timespan simulated. The processor can then forecast a remaining time to complete the simulation of the reservoir simulation model based on the performance result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Edward Hinkley, Terry Wayne Wong, Graham Christopher Fleming, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 10900329
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to generate map values for a plurality of parameters corresponding to respective grid blocks of a reservoir, wherein the values have been previously generated based on an initial simulation result from a model of the reservoir; to generate a sector surrogate model that includes a subset of grid blocks of the reservoir based on a criterion for identifying grid blocks that negatively affect simulation of the reservoir; to provide data inputs to execute a simulation of the reservoir using the sector surrogate model; and to generate revised data inputs, based on results of the simulation of the reservoir using the sector surrogate model, to use in a subsequent simulation using the model of the reservoir. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: LANDMARK GRAPHICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Edward Hinkley, Terry Wayne Wong, Graham Christopher Fleming
  • Publication number: 20190026405
    Abstract: A three-dimensional reservoir simulator used for automated upscaling relative permeability and capillary pressure in multi-porosity systems comprising disparate rock-types. A coarse-scale single-porosity model incorporating multi-porosity model properties may be derived from a fine-scale single-porosity model based, at least in part, on simulation of a model comprising data from one or more regions of interest. Real-world and laboratory measurements of the one or more regions of interest may be provided to the fine-scale single-porosity simulation model and the fine-scale single-porosity model may be subjected to one or more fractional flow simulation processes and one or more displacement simulation processes. The fine-scale model properties may be modified based, at least in part, on the results of the one or more fractional flow simulation processes and one or more displacement simulation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 24, 2019
    Inventors: Travis St. George Ramsay, Richard Edward Hinkley
  • Publication number: 20180218098
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for forecasting a time to complete a simulation of a reservoir simulation model. A processor can run a simulation of a reservoir simulation model for a first predetermined period of time associated with a first computation step of the simulation. The processor can measure a performance result of the simulation for the first predetermined period of time. The performance result can include an elapsed wall clock time and a timespan simulated. The processor can then forecast a remaining time to complete the simulation of the reservoir simulation model based on the performance result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Edward HINKLEY, Terry Wayne WONG, Graham Christopher FLEMING, Amit KUMAR
  • Publication number: 20180112498
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to generate map values for a plurality of parameters corresponding to respective grid blocks of a reservoir, wherein the values have been previously generated based on an initial simulation result from a model of the reservoir; to generate a sector surrogate model that includes a subset of grid blocks of the reservoir based on a criterion for identifying grid blocks that negatively affect simulation of the reservoir; to provide data inputs to execute a simulation of the reservoir using the sector surrogate model; and to generate revised data inputs, based on results of the simulation of the reservoir using the sector surrogate model, to use in a subsequent simulation using the model of the reservoir. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Edward Hinkley, Terry Wayne Wong, Graham Christopher Fleming
  • Patent number: 9898560
    Abstract: Simulation system and method for a reservoir represented by a model having a plurality of matrix nodes, a plurality of fracture nodes, a fracture zone and a fracture-free zone are described. One embodiment includes computer-implemented steps of, for each of a plurality of matrix nodes in interconnected zones, characterizing the matrix nodes as dual matrix nodes or non-dual matrix nodes. Dual matrix nodes may be treated as a block and eliminated, after which the coefficient matrix and RHS vector for the model are updated. In-fill patterns between and among fracture nodes and non-dual matrix nodes resulting from the elimination are determined. For non-dual matrix nodes, the nodes are merged to a fracture grid, after which the coefficient matrix and RHS vector for the model are updated accordingly. The resultant linear system is linearly solved, and backsolving is performed for any eliminated dual matrix nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Edward Hinkley, Qinghua Wang, James William Watts, Graham Christopher Fleming, Dominic Camilleri, Kefei Wang, Wei David Liu