Patents by Inventor Stacey M. Althaus

Stacey M. Althaus 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: 10557962
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in from drill cuttings or core samples of the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M. Althaus, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 10488352
    Abstract: Certain techniques for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) whole core logging are described. NMR tests are performed on a standard sample using a NMR radio frequency (rf) coil having a length. A response map of the NMR rf coil is determined. The response map relates multiple relative NMR rf coil positions to multiple relative signal intensities. The NMR tests are performed using the NMR rf coil on a rock sample containing fluid. A length of the rock sample is greater than the NMR rf coil. Fluid content in the sample is determined using results of the NMR tests using the NMR rf coil on the rock sample and using the response map for the NMR rf coil and a mathematical deconvolution to obtain high resolution. The same method can be used to obtain high spatial resolution NMR log measurement in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jin-Hong Chen, Stacey M. Althaus, Mohammad Delshad, Yang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180217073
    Abstract: Certain techniques for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) whole core logging are described. NMR tests are performed on a standard sample using a NMR radio frequency (rf) coil having a length. A response map of the NMR rf coil is determined. The response map relates multiple relative NMR rf coil positions to multiple relative signal intensities. The NMR tests are performed using the NMR rf coil on a rock sample containing fluid. A length of the rock sample is greater than the NMR rf coil. Fluid content in the sample is determined using results of the NMR tests using the NMR rf coil on the rock sample and using the response map for the NMR rf coil and a mathematical deconvolution to obtain high resolution. The same method can be used to obtain high spatial resolution NMR log measurement in the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 2, 2018
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jin-Hong Chen, Stacey M. Althaus, Mohammad Delshad, Yang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20180081077
    Abstract: Measures of the hydrocarbon content of a shale gas formation or reservoir are obtained. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M. Althaus, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu