Patents by Inventor Susan Herron

Susan Herron 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: 9874551
    Abstract: A method for determining mineralogy of a formation includes determining a model of arenites in the formation by performing a first type of linear regression on a plurality of elemental dry weights of the formation based upon a sum of elemental dry weights of calcium and magnesium being at least a given value, or performing a second type of linear regression on the elemental dry weights based upon the sum of the elemental dry weights of elemental calcium and magnesium being less than the given value. A model of arkoses in the formation is determined by performing a third type of linear regression on the elemental dry weights. A partitioning function is then determined. The mineralogy of the formation is then determined by applying the partitioning function to the model of arenites and the model of arkoses, and adding the model of arenites and the model of arkoses together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susan Herron, Michael Herron, Dale May
  • Patent number: 9851468
    Abstract: The accurate determination of formation hydrocarbon or water saturation is a useful step in the petrophysical evaluation of petroleum reservoirs. This disclosure presents a new method for estimating hydrocarbon saturation directly from a porosity log and a total organic carbon (TOC) log. The method is enabled by the recent development of a geochemical spectroscopy logging tool that combines inelastic and capture gamma ray measurements to provide a robust and accurate TOC log. The method differs from the prior approach of using carbon-to-oxygen ratios that is most often applied in cased hole evaluation. The main advantages of this method are that it does not use knowledge of formation water resistivity, it does not rely on a resistivity model, it does not use an extensive calibration database, and it is largely independent of clay or other lithology effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, James A. Grau, John P. Horkowitz, Paul R. Craddock, Robert Badry
  • Patent number: 9696453
    Abstract: A method for predicting at least one property of a geological formation may include generating mapping function values relating a plurality of reference elemental compositions to corresponding reference properties thereof based upon at least one non-linear mapping function. The method may further include determining a sample elemental composition of at least one sample associated with the geological formation and performing, using a processor, an interpolation to map the sample elemental composition to at least one sample property based upon the mapping function values and the at least one non-linear function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Freedman, Vivek Anand, Susan Herron, Michael M. Herron
  • Patent number: 9329122
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the evaluation of lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to evaluating lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, Alyssa Charsky, Ridvan Akkurt
  • Publication number: 20160084756
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for analyzing hydrocarbon bearing earth samples to determine information indicating the maturation, or changes in composition of kerogen from original deposition over geologic time as the kerogen is subjected to heat and pressure. A DRIFTS spectrometry signal is corrected and normalized and then plotted against TOC data to obtain an index indicating thermal maturity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, Alyssa Charsky
  • Publication number: 20150285944
    Abstract: The accurate determination of formation hydrocarbon or water saturation is a useful step in the petrophysical evaluation of petroleum reservoirs. This disclosure presents a new method for estimating hydrocarbon saturation directly from a porosity log and a total organic carbon (TOC) log. The method is enabled by the recent development of a geochemical spectroscopy logging tool that combines inelastic and capture gamma ray measurements to provide a robust and accurate TOC log. The method differs from the prior approach of using carbon-to-oxygen ratios that is most often applied in cased hole evaluation. The main advantages of this method are that it does not use knowledge of formation water resistivity, it does not rely on a resistivity model, it does not use an extensive calibration database, and it is largely independent of clay or other lithology effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Michael M. Herron, Susan Herron, James A. Grau, John P. Horkowitz, Paul R. Craddock, Robert Badry
  • Publication number: 20150260034
    Abstract: A method for determining mineralogy of a formation includes determining a model of arenites in the formation by performing a first type of linear regression on a plurality of elemental dry weights of the formation based upon a sum of elemental dry weights of calcium and magnesium being at least a given value, or performing a second type of linear regression on the elemental dry weights based upon the sum of the elemental dry weights of elemental calcium and magnesium being less than the given value. A model of arkoses in the formation is determined by performing a third type of linear regression on the elemental dry weights. A partitioning function is then determined. The mineralogy of the formation is then determined by applying the partitioning function to the model of arenites and the model of arkoses, and adding the model of arenites and the model of arkoses together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Susan Herron, Michael Herron, Dale May
  • Publication number: 20140214324
    Abstract: A method for predicting at least one property of a geological formation may include generating mapping function values relating a plurality of reference elemental compositions to corresponding reference properties thereof based upon at least one non-linear mapping function. The method may further include determining a sample elemental composition of at least one sample associated with the geological formation and performing, using a processor, an interpolation to map the sample elemental composition to at least one sample property based upon the mapping function values and the at least one non-linear function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Freedman, Vivek Anand, Susan Herron, Michael M. Herron
  • Publication number: 20130046469
    Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to the evaluation of lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials. More particularly, the subject disclosure relates to evaluating lithology, mineralogy and organic content of earth materials using diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael M. HERRON, Susan HERRON, Alyssa CHARSKY, Ridvan AKKURT
  • Patent number: 7366615
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the content of a first element in a formation which cannot otherwise be determined via a capture spectrum measurement. The methods and apparatus utilize the inelastic spectrum measurement of the first element and the inelastic and capture spectrum measurements of at least a second element. The methods and apparatus have particular application to determining the carbon content of a formation although they are not limited thereto. The inelastic and capture spectrum measurements of silicon are useful in making such determinations, although other chemical elements may be used as the second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumber Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Susan Herron, James Grau, Bradley Roscoe, Michael Herron, Kenneth Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20080023629
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining the content of a first element in a formation which cannot otherwise be determined via a capture spectrum measurement. The methods and apparatus utilize the inelastic spectrum measurement of the first element and the inelastic and capture spectrum measurements of at least a second element. The methods and apparatus have particular application to determining the carbon content of a formation although they are not limited thereto. The inelastic and capture spectrum measurements of silicon are useful in making such determinations, although other chemical elements may be used as the second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Susan Herron, James Grau, Bradley Roscoe, Michael Herron, Kenneth Stephenson