Patents by Inventor Si-Hai Zhang

Si-Hai Zhang 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: 11762116
    Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes: obtaining a seismic data volume for a subterranean region of interest; transforming, by a computer processor using a non-stationary series analysis, the seismic data volume into a seismic spectral volume where the seismic spectral volume includes a seismic spectrum for each of a plurality of voxels; and determining a seismic attribute volume composed of a seismic attribute for each of the plurality of voxels. The seismic attribute for a voxel of the plurality of voxels is based, at least in part, on an integral of the seismic spectrum for the voxel over a range bounded by a first frequency and a second frequency. The method further includes determining a presence of hydrocarbon in the subterranean region of interest based on the seismic attribute volume. A system for performing the method is also disclosed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, Weihua Wang
  • Patent number: 11725483
    Abstract: A method for generating a fracability model of a subterranean formation. The method includes coring and collecting rock cores from a plurality of geographical locations in the subterranean formation, capturing a plurality of core images of the rock cores, generating, by a computer processor and based on the plurality of core images, a plurality of artificial fracture counts of the rock cores, computing, by the computer processor and based on the plurality of artificial fracture counts, a first fracture density curve corresponding to a first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations, generating, by the computer processor and based on the first fracture density curve, a first fracability measure curve of the rock cores, and generating, by the computer processor and based at least on the first fracability measure curve, a fracability model of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Si-Hai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20220298908
    Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes: obtaining a seismic data volume for a subterranean region of interest; transforming, by a computer processor using a non-stationary series analysis, the seismic data volume into a seismic spectral volume where the seismic spectral volume includes a seismic spectrum for each of a plurality of voxels; and determining a seismic attribute volume composed of a seismic attribute for each of the plurality of voxels. The seismic attribute for a voxel of the plurality of voxels is based, at least in part, on an integral of the seismic spectrum for the voxel over a range bounded by a first frequency and a second frequency. The method further includes determining a presence of hydrocarbon in the subterranean region of interest based on the seismic attribute volume. A system for performing the method is also disclosed and described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, Weihua Wang
  • Patent number: 11269101
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems for direct gas reservoir detection using frequency slope. One computer-implemented method includes receiving seismic data corresponding to a target formation. Further, the method includes based on a time-frequency analysis of the seismic data, generating a representation of a time-variant frequency response of the seismic data. Yet further, the method includes generating a frequency spectrum for each of one or more locations within the target formation using the representation of the time-variant frequency response. Additionally, the method includes calculating one or more frequency slopes between a peak frequency and a maximum frequency of each frequency spectrum. The method also includes based on the one or more frequency slopes, determining for each location whether gas are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, Maher Al Marhoon
  • Publication number: 20210389499
    Abstract: A method for generating a fracability model of a subterranean formation. The method includes coring and collecting rock cores from a plurality of geographical locations in the subterranean formation, capturing a plurality of core images of the rock cores, generating, by a computer processor and based on the plurality of core images, a plurality of artificial fracture counts of the rock cores, computing, by the computer processor and based on the plurality of artificial fracture counts, a first fracture density curve corresponding to a first geographical location of the plurality of geographical locations, generating, by the computer processor and based on the first fracture density curve, a first fracability measure curve of the rock cores, and generating, by the computer processor and based at least on the first fracability measure curve, a fracability model of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Si-Hai Zhang
  • Publication number: 20210332691
    Abstract: A method may include determining a portion of a microscale fracture using a well log acquired for a stratigraphic interval of interest. The method may further include obtaining seismic data for the stratigraphic interval of interest. The method may further include determining a seismic attribute that correlates the microscale fracture to a subset of the seismic data. The method may further include generating an attribute volume using the seismic attribute with a seismic volume for a region of interest. The method may further include generating, using the attribute volume, a fracture image of the microscale fracture throughout the region of interest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Si-Hai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11143771
    Abstract: Methods for dolomite mapping using multiscale fracture characterization include using a computer system to receive seismic data for a geographical area. The computer system identifies one or more macroscale fractures located within the geographical area based on a three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the seismic data. The computer system identifies one or more mesoscale fractures located within the geographical area based on a curvature map generated from the seismic data. The computer system identifies one or more microscale fractures located within the geographical area based on an amount of chaotic seismic reflections indicated by the seismic data. The computer system identifies a dolomite distribution of the geographical area based on the one or more macroscale fractures, the one or more mesoscale fractures, and the one or more microscale fractures. A display device of the computer system generates a graphical representation of the dolomite distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, David Tang, Wenbin Tan
  • Publication number: 20210116591
    Abstract: Methods for dolomite mapping using multiscale fracture characterization include using a computer system to receive seismic data for a geographical area. The computer system identifies one or more macroscale fractures located within the geographical area based on a three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the seismic data. The computer system identifies one or more mesoscale fractures located within the geographical area based on a curvature map generated from the seismic data. The computer system identifies one or more microscale fractures located within the geographical area based on an amount of chaotic seismic reflections indicated by the seismic data. The computer system identifies a dolomite distribution of the geographical area based on the one or more macroscale fractures, the one or more mesoscale fractures, and the one or more microscale fractures. A display device of the computer system generates a graphical representation of the dolomite distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Sauid Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, David Tang, Wenbin Tan
  • Patent number: 10983235
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for characterizing depositional features. The methods and systems include accessing data encoding seismic waves as seismic traces reflected from cells at various locations within a particular stratum in response to a seismic source. The cells are classified into multiple non-overlapping groups according to the amplitude values or other seismic attributes of the seismic waves reflected from the various locations within the particular stratum. One or more subgroups of adjacent cells are identified. A subgroup area metric is calculated for each subgroup of cells by combining individual area metrics from adjacent cells in a given subgroup and subsequently assigning the calculated subgroup area metric to each cell of the given subgroup. One or more depositional features within the stratum are characterized based at least in part on the variation map based on the subgroup area metric of each cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, Yin Xu, Mahdi A. AbuAli
  • Publication number: 20200333488
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems for direct gas reservoir detection using frequency slope. One computer-implemented method includes receiving seismic data corresponding to a target formation. Further, the method includes based on a time-frequency analysis of the seismic data, generating a representation of a time-variant frequency response of the seismic data. Yet further, the method includes generating a frequency spectrum for each of one or more locations within the target formation using the representation of the time-variant frequency response. Additionally, the method includes calculating one or more frequency slopes between a peak frequency and a maximum frequency of each frequency spectrum. The method also includes based on the one or more frequency slopes, determining for each location whether gas are present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, Maher Al Marhoon
  • Publication number: 20200088898
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for characterizing depositional features. The methods and systems include accessing data encoding seismic waves as seismic traces reflected from cells at various locations within a particular stratum in response to a seismic source. The cells are classified into multiple non-overlapping groups according to the amplitude values or other seismic attributes of the seismic waves reflected from the various locations within the particular stratum. One or more subgroups of adjacent cells are identified. A subgroup area metric is calculated for each subgroup of cells by combining individual area metrics from adjacent cells in a given subgroup and subsequently assigning the calculated subgroup area metric to each cell of the given subgroup. One or more depositional features within the stratum are characterized based at least in part on the variation map based on the subgroup area metric of each cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Si-Hai Zhang, Yin Xu, Mahdi A. AbuAli