Patents by Inventor Roberto Suarez-Rivera

Roberto Suarez-Rivera 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: 9140109
    Abstract: A technique enables improvements in hydraulic fracturing treatments on heterogeneous reservoirs. Based on data obtained for a given reservoir, a fracturing treatment material is used to create complex fractures, which, while interacting with the interfaces and planes of weakness in the reservoir, develop fracture connectors, e.g. step-overs, which often grow for short distances along these planes of weakness. The technique further comprises closing or sealing at least one of the fracture connectors to enable reinitiation of fracturing from the truncated branches, and to subsequently develop additional connectors. As a result, the overall fracturing becomes more complex (more branches and more surface area per unit reservoir volume is created), which leads to an increase in the effective fracture area and improved fluid flow through the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Dean M. Wulberg, Timothy M. Lesko, Marc Jean Thiercelin, Gisele Thiercelin
  • Patent number: 8899349
    Abstract: A system and a method may determine formation strength of a well. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine controlled fracture pressures before the uncontrolled fracture pressure is reached. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine closure stresses while drilling and may use the closure stresses with core and log measurements to optimize a hydraulic stimulation program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Rasmus, Vladimir Vaynshteyn, Roberto Suarez-Rivera
  • Publication number: 20140297186
    Abstract: A methodology provides improved rock classification. The rock classification may be based on characteristics such as texture and composition. Initially, data is obtained on rock in a given subterranean region. The data is processed to derive a material behavior and/or material properties in the subterranean region based on texture and/or composition of the rock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Ahmed Hakami, Eric Edelman
  • Patent number: 8646526
    Abstract: A method for stimulating production in a wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, fracturing the formation to create a plurality of fractures, determining an operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, and performing the operation, wherein the operation comprises drilling a lateral well originating from the wellbore to maintain conductivity of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: TerraTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Sidney Green, Chaitanya Deenadayalu
  • Patent number: 8571799
    Abstract: A methodology improves sampling and characterization of heterogeneous, unconventional hydrocarbon-bearing regions. The methodology is designed to integrate consistently across measurements and scales. Additionally, the methodology involves characterizing various scales, such as regional-scale heterogeneity, wellbore-scale heterogeneity, core-scale heterogeneity, sample-scale, and pore-scale heterogeneity. The results are integrated across the multiple scales based on results obtained from the characterization of the scales. The methodology further comprises determining data propagation across the multiple scales in a hydrocarbon-bearing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, David Handwerger, Lars Sonneland, Samuel Fluckiger, Mary Milner, Douglas Ekart
  • Publication number: 20130186688
    Abstract: A system and a method may determine formation strength of a well. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine controlled fracture pressures before the uncontrolled fracture pressure is reached. The system and the method may use pressure measurements and temperature measurements to determine closure stresses while drilling and may use the closure stresses with core and log measurements to optimize a hydraulic stimulation program.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: John C. Rasmus, Vladimir Vaynshteyn, Roberto Suarez-Rivera
  • Publication number: 20130140020
    Abstract: A technique enables improvements in hydraulic fracturing treatments on heterogeneous reservoirs. Based on data obtained for a given reservoir, a fracturing treatment material is used to create complex fractures, which, while interacting with the interfaces and planes of weakness in the reservoir, develop fracture connectors, e.g. step-overs, which often grow for short distances along these planes of weakness. The technique further comprises closing or sealing at least one of the fracture connectors to enable reinitiation of fracturing from the truncated branches, and to subsequently develop additional connectors. As a result, the overall fracturing becomes more complex (more branches and more surface area per unit reservoir volume is created), which leads to an increase in the effective fracture area and improved fluid flow through the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Dean M. Wulberg, Timothy M. Lesko, Gisele Thiercelin
  • Patent number: 8347959
    Abstract: A method for stimulating production of a first wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, determining a first operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, performing the first operation within the formation, and fracturing the formation to create a first plurality of fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: TerraTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Sidney Green, Chaitanya Deenadayalu, David Handwerger, Yi-Kun Yang
  • Publication number: 20120316789
    Abstract: A methodology improves sampling and characterization of heterogeneous, unconventional hydrocarbon-bearing regions. The methodology is designed to integrate consistently across measurements and scales. Additionally, the methodology involves characterizing various scales, such as regional-scale heterogeneity, wellbore-scale heterogeneity, core-scale heterogeneity, sample-scale, and pore-scale heterogeneity. The results are integrated across the multiple scales based on results obtained from the characterization of the scales. The methodology further comprises determining data propagation across the multiple scales in a hydrocarbon-bearing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, David Handwerger, Lars Sonneland, Samuel Fluckiger, Mary Milner, Douglas Ekart
  • Patent number: 8234912
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous measurement of a geomaterial is disclosed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a flat bed operatively coupled to the measuring device. The measuring device includes a moving head configured to move in a longitudinal direction relative to a core section of the geomaterial and a first probe coupled to the moving head and configured to continuously measure a property of the core section. The flat bed includes a load actuator configured to secure the core section during the continuous measurement and axially rotate the core section, as well as a core holder assembly configured to apply confining pressure on a length of the core section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: TerraTek Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Sidney J. Green, Joel Wesley Martin, Robert Michael Griffin
  • Patent number: 8200465
    Abstract: A method for creating a heterogeneous earth model (HEM) of a reservoir field includes generating a group of wellsite models for a group of wellsites of the reservoir field based at least on cluster analysis and cluster tagging performed on log data of the group of wellsites, generating a reference model from the group of wellsite models, where cluster tagging errors of the group of wellsite models is minimized to obtain the reference model, constructing a contour plot of the cluster tagging errors on a cluster by cluster basis in the reservoir field, identifying at least one well location and associated core depth interval based on the contour plot for obtaining additional sampling results, and updating the reference model based on the additional sampling results to create the HEM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: TerraTek Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, David Handwerger, Timothy Sodergren, Yi-Kun Yang
  • Patent number: 8175807
    Abstract: A method for determining properties of a subterranean formation. The method includes determining at least one characterization parameter based on wave velocity measurement data, determining a plurality of elastic coefficients based on the at least one characterization parameter using a plurality of equations, determining an anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations based on the stiffness matrix of the subterranean formation comprising the plurality of elastic coefficients wherein the elastic coefficients are approximated using the plurality of equations, and displaying the anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Tom R. Bratton
  • Patent number: 7983885
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer usable program code for identifying regions in the ground at a well site. Continuous data is received from the well site; reducing redundancies in the continuous data received from the well site to form processed data. Cluster analysis is performed using the processed data to form a set of cluster units, wherein the set of cluster units include different types of cluster units that identify differences between regions in the ground at the well site. Properties are identified for each type of cluster unit in the set of cluster units to form a model for the well site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: TerraTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, David A. Handwerger, Timothy L. Sodergren
  • Publication number: 20100305927
    Abstract: A method of updating a model of a subsurface reservoir using a sidewall core obtained from within the reservoir that comprises: making one or more directionally dependent measurements on said sidewall core, determining the in-situ position and orientation of the sidewall core, and updating a reservoir model of the reservoir using the directionally dependent measurements and the in-situ position and orientation of said sidewall core. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, William B. Batzer, Luis Ochoa
  • Publication number: 20090319243
    Abstract: A method for creating a heterogeneous earth model (HEM) of a reservoir field includes generating a group of wellsite models for a group of wellsites of the reservoir field based at least on cluster analysis and cluster tagging performed on log data of the group of wellsites, generating a reference model from the group of wellsite models, where cluster tagging errors of the group of wellsite models is minimized to obtain the reference model, constructing a contour plot of the cluster tagging errors on a cluster by cluster basis in the reservoir field, identifying at least one well location and associated core depth interval based on the contour plot for obtaining additional sampling results, and updating the reference model based on the additional sampling results to create the HEM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: TerraTek, Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERTO SUAREZ-RIVERA, DAVID HANDWERGER, TIMOTHY SODERGREN, YI-KUN YANG
  • Publication number: 20090260883
    Abstract: A method for continuous measurement of heterogeneity of geomaterials. The method includes identifying a core section from a first well within a field, obtaining the core section from the first well, and obtaining a continuous measurement of the core section. The method further includes overlaying the continuous measurement with a portion of a log response for the first well to obtain an overlay, associating an observation with the overlay to obtain an integrated overlay, and analyzing the integrated overlay to determine a heterogeneity of the core section. The method further includes identifying a location in the core section from which to obtain a sample based on the heterogeneity, obtaining the sample from the core section, and analyzing the sample to obtain an analysis result. The method further includes developing a continuous model for the first well using the integrated overlay and the analysis result and presenting the continuous model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: TerraTek Inc.
    Inventors: ROBERTO SUAREZ-RIVERA, SIDNEY J. GREEN, JOEL WESLEY MARTIN, ROBERT MICHAEL GRIFFIN
  • Publication number: 20090260415
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous measurement of a geomaterial is disclosed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a flat bed operatively coupled to the measuring device. The measuring device includes a moving head configured to move in a longitudinal direction relative to a core section of the geomaterial and a first probe coupled to the moving head and configured to continuously measure a property of the core section. The flat bed includes a load actuator configured to secure the core section during the continuous measurement and axially rotate the core section, as well as a core holder assembly configured to apply confining pressure on a length of the core section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Sidney J. Green, Joel Wesley Martin, Robert Michael Griffin
  • Publication number: 20090210160
    Abstract: A method for determining properties of a subterranean formation. The method includes determining at least one characterization parameter based on wave velocity measurement data, determining a plurality of elastic coefficients based on the at least one characterization parameter using a plurality of equations, determining an anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations based on the stiffness matrix of the subterranean formation comprising the plurality of elastic coefficients wherein the elastic coefficients are approximated using the plurality of equations, and displaying the anisotropic stress profile of the subterranean formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Tom R. Bratton
  • Publication number: 20090065198
    Abstract: A method for stimulating production in a wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, fracturing the formation to create a plurality of fractures, determining an operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, and performing the operation, wherein the operation comprises drilling a lateral well originating from the wellbore to maintain conductivity of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: TerraTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Sidney Green, Chaitanya Deenadayalu
  • Publication number: 20090065253
    Abstract: A method for stimulating production of a first wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, determining a first operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, performing the first operation within the formation, and fracturing the formation to create a first plurality of fractures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: TERRATEK, INC.
    Inventors: Roberto Suarez-Rivera, Sidney Green, Chaitanya Deenadayalu, David Handwerger, Yi-Kun Yang