Patents by Inventor Tae Kwak

Tae Kwak 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).

  • Publication number: 20230151716
    Abstract: A method for history matching utilizing Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) workflow may include selecting a reservoir simulation model of interest, identifying a mathematical model relevant to the reservoir simulation model, and identifying a plurality of history matching parameters as initial priors. The method may include constructing a first model, utilizing the initial priors, to obtain updated priors. The method may include constructing a second model to obtain posteriors. The method may include determining history matching accuracy of the reservoir simulation model by comparing medians of the posteriors and a plurality of measured data. The method may further include, upon determining accuracy of the reservoir simulation model, performing a plurality of predictions of a reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid Alsinan, Xupeng He, Hyung Tae Kwak, Hussein Hoteit
  • Publication number: 20230152252
    Abstract: A method includes deriving spatial permeability along a core axis by saturating the rock with an aqueous solution, performing T2 NMR on the saturated rock to detect spatial NMR data along the core axis, desaturating the rock, performing T2 NMR on the desaturated rock to detect spatial NMR data along the core axis, determining the spatial cutoff data for the saturated and desaturated rock along the core axis, and analyzing the spatial NMR data. The method further includes deriving spatial permeability along a second core axis by additionally performing T2 NMR on the saturated rock to detect spatial NMR data along a second core axis, performing T2 NMR on the desaturated rock to detect spatial NMR data along a second core axis, and determining the spatial cutoff data for the saturated and desaturated rock along the second core axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Jun Gao
  • Publication number: 20230095763
    Abstract: A method for fracture dynamic hydraulic properties estimation and reservoir simulation may include obtaining a first set of images of a first fracture. The method may include obtaining a first set of fracture detections from the first set of images, generating a plurality of numerical calculations based on the first set of fracture detections, and generating a second model based on the plurality of numerical calculations and the first set of fracture detections. The method may further include obtaining a second set of images of a second fracture of a new reservoir, generating a second set of fracture detections of the second fracture, and generating dynamic hydraulic estimations of the second fracture. The method may also include generating a three-dimensional reservoir simulation and determining a plurality of recovery schemes for the new reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Xupeng He, Ryan Santoso, Hyung Tae Kwak, Hussein Hoteit
  • Publication number: 20230097859
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining fracture image data regarding a geological region of interest. The method may further include determining various fractures in the fracture image data using a first artificial neural network and a pixel-searching process. The method may further include determining a fracture model using the fractures, a second artificial neural network, and borehole image data. The method may further include determining various fracture permeability values using the fracture model and a third artificial neural network. The method may further include determining various matrix permeability values for the geological region of interest using core sample data. The method may further include generating a coarsened grid model for the geological region of interest using a fourth artificial neural network, the matrix permeability values, and the fracture permeability values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Xupeng He, Hyung Tae Kwak, Hussein Hoteit
  • Patent number: 11614417
    Abstract: A porosity model of a core sample obtained from a subterranean formation is determined. The porosity model includes a macroporosity group and a microporosity group. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement is performed to obtain an NMR T2 distribution of the core sample at 100% water saturation. A desaturation step is performed on the core sample. An NMR measurement is performed for the desaturation step to obtain an NMR T2 distribution of the core sample. A resistivity index of the subterranean formation is determined at least based on the porosity model and each of the NMR T2 distributions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11613311
    Abstract: A radiator support assembly may include a radiator support upper member including an upper internal surface, a radiator support side member including a side internal surface and provided in pairs, and a radiator support lower member including a lower internal surface, wherein the radiator support upper member, the radiator support side member and the radiator support lower member are joined so that the upper internal surface, the side internal surface and the lower internal surface form a single closed-loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11598735
    Abstract: A method includes screening heterogeneity of a rock sample using nuclear magnetic resonance testing to determine a composition of the rock sample, drilling at least one smaller rock sample representative of the determined composition, and testing the at least one smaller rock sample with mercury injection capillary pressure to obtain a capillary pressure distribution of the at least one smaller rock sample. The method further includes decomposing a T2 distribution from the nuclear magnetic resonance testing and the capillary pressure distribution using Gaussian fitting to identify multiple pore systems, where the small ends of the Gaussian fitted T2 distribution and the Gaussian fitted capillary pressure distribution are overlapped for at least one of the identified pore systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak, Marwah M. AlSinan
  • Publication number: 20230008054
    Abstract: A porosity model of a core sample obtained from a subterranean formation is determined. The porosity model includes a macroporosity group and a microporosity group. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement is performed to obtain an NMR T2 distribution of the core sample at 100% water saturation. A desaturation step is performed on the core sample. An NMR measurement is performed for the desaturation step to obtain an NMR T2 distribution of the core sample. A resistivity index of the subterranean formation is determined at least based on the porosity model and each of the NMR T2 distributions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Publication number: 20220307998
    Abstract: A method includes screening heterogeneity of a rock sample using nuclear magnetic resonance testing to determine a composition of the rock sample, drilling at least one smaller rock sample representative of the determined composition, and testing the at least one smaller rock sample with mercury injection capillary pressure to obtain a capillary pressure distribution of the at least one smaller rock sample. The method further includes decomposing a T2 distribution from the nuclear magnetic resonance testing and the capillary pressure distribution using Gaussian fitting to identify multiple pore systems, where the small ends of the Gaussian fitted T2 distribution and the Gaussian fitted capillary pressure distribution are overlapped for at least one of the identified pore systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak, Marwah M. AlSinan
  • Patent number: 11391683
    Abstract: A method for determining pore size distribution of rocks is provided. Capillary pressure measurements on rock cores are analyzed to determine a pore size distribution, with smaller pores requiring greater capillary pressure to relinquish contained fluid. Large pores with rough surfaces introduce inaccuracies in determining the pore size distribution. Embodiments of the invention correct the rough surface induced inaccuracies by measuring the shift in NMR T2 distribution from full saturation to the current state of desaturation and subtracting the T2 contributions in the desaturated state that have smaller T2 values (i.e., smaller transverse relaxation time) than the smallest T2 values (i.e., shortest transverse relaxation time) in the saturated distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak, Marwah M. Alsinan
  • Publication number: 20220212724
    Abstract: A radiator support assembly may include a radiator support upper member including an upper internal surface, a radiator support side member including a side internal surface and provided in pairs, and a radiator support lower member including a lower internal surface, wherein the radiator support upper member, the radiator support side member and the radiator support lower member are joined so that the upper internal surface, the side internal surface and the lower internal surface form a single closed-loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11371335
    Abstract: A fracture geometry mapping method includes determining a value of a diffusive tortuosity in a first direction in a first rock sample from a subterranean formation with one or more hardware processors; determining a value of a diffusive tortuosity in a second direction in the first rock sample from the subterranean formation with the one or more hardware processors, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the first rock sample; determining a value of a diffusive tortuosity in third direction in the first rock sample from the subterranean formation with the one or more hardware processors, the third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction in the first rock sample; comparing the values of the diffusive tortuosities in the in the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction; and based on the comparison, generating a first fracture network map of the subterranean formation, the first fracture network map including a first plurality of anisotrop
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Mahmoud Elsayed, Ammar El-Husseiny, Mohamed Mahmoud
  • Publication number: 20220187491
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a 3D hydraulic aperture of a 3D fracture are disclosed. The method includes, obtaining a geometry of the 3D fracture, determining a fluid flow direction through the 3D fracture, and dividing the 3D fracture into a plurality of 2D cross-sections oriented substantially parallel to the fluid flow direction. The method further includes dividing each 2D cross-section into a plurality of Type I and Type II fracture segments based on a segment aspect ratio and a segment roughness ratio, determining a 2D segment hydraulic aperture for each of the plurality of Type I and Type II fracture segments, and determining the 3D hydraulic aperture of the 3D fracture based, at least in part, on the 2D segment hydraulic apertures of the plurality of Type I and Type II fracture segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Hyung Tae Kwak, Xupeng He, Hussein Hoteit
  • Patent number: 11293886
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining pore volume and pore volume compressibility of secondary porosity in rock samples is disclosed. In some implementations, determining a pore volume of a secondary porosity in a rock core sample may include saturating the rock sample with deuterium oxide (D2O) by applying a vacuum to the core sample covered by D2O; centrifuging the saturated rock sample at a selected rotational speed in the presence of a second fluid to displace a portion of the D2O from the rock sample with the second fluid; measuring the rock sample with low-field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine a volume of the second fluid within the rock sample; and determining a pore volume associated with a secondary porosity based on the volume of the second fluid within the rock sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Patent number: 11287546
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to methods for assessing inaccessible pore volume for polymer flooding. The methods include utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance to monitor polymer-based fluid displacements into porous media. According to an embodiment, the method includes providing a core sample of a porous medium, determining a total pore volume of the core sample, introducing polymer solutions, obtaining nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation time distributions of water within the core sample, and assessing the inaccessible pore volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ahmad Mubarak Alharbi, Hyung Tae Kwak, Jun Gao
  • Publication number: 20220065095
    Abstract: A fracture geometry mapping method includes determining a value of a diffusive tortuosity in a first direction in a first rock sample from a subterranean formation with one or more hardware processors; determining a value of a diffusive tortuosity in a second direction in the first rock sample from the subterranean formation with the one or more hardware processors, the second direction orthogonal to the first direction in the first rock sample; determining a value of a diffusive tortuosity in third direction in the first rock sample from the subterranean formation with the one or more hardware processors, the third direction orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction in the first rock sample; comparing the values of the diffusive tortuosities in the in the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction; and based on the comparison, generating a first fracture network map of the subterranean formation, the first fracture network map including a first plurality of anisotrop
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Mahmoud Elsayed, Ammar El-Husseiny, Mohamed Mahmoud
  • Publication number: 20220012883
    Abstract: A learning method for generating a multiphase collateral image comprises the steps of: receiving inputs of an MRI image of a head part and a multiphase collateral image generated on the basis of the MRI image; generating a brain mask by using the MRI image; generating an MRI image and a multiphase collateral image which are masked by the brain mask; and learning the masked multiphase collateral image for the masked MRI image by using a learning network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Jin Tae KWAK, Nhat To MINH NGUYEN, Hyun Jeong KIM, Hong Gee ROH
  • Publication number: 20210381993
    Abstract: A method for determining pore size distribution of rocks is provided. Capillary pressure measurements on rock cores are analyzed to determine a pore size distribution, with smaller pores requiring greater capillary pressure to relinquish contained fluid. Large pores with rough surfaces introduce inaccuracies in determining the pore size distribution. Embodiments of the invention correct the rough surface induced inaccuracies by measuring the shift in NMR T2 distribution from full saturation to the current state of desaturation and subtracting the T2 contributions in the desaturated state that have smaller T2 values (i.e., smaller transverse relaxation time) than the smallest T2 values (i.e., shortest transverse relaxation time) in the saturated distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Jun Gao, Hyung Tae Kwak, Marwah M. Alsinan
  • Patent number: 11112373
    Abstract: Provided is a local slice selective T2 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test procedure that includes: (1) identifying a location of a fracture within a core plug; (2) conducting an initial local slice selective T2 NMR test on a slice of the plug that corresponds to the location to generate initial T2 measurements; (3) determining an initial fracture pore volume of the fracture based on the initial T2 measurements; (4) conducting an in-situ local slice selective T2 NMR test on the slice of the plug to generate in-situ T2 measurements and corresponding measures of a volume of fluid expelled from the plug; (5) determining an in-situ fracture pore volume for the fracture based on the in-situ T2 measurements; and (6) comparing the volume of water to a difference between the initial and the in-situ fracture pore volumes to confirm the accuracy of the in-situ pore volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Hyung Tae Kwak
  • Publication number: 20210262955
    Abstract: Provided is a local slice selective T2 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) test procedure that includes: (1) identifying a location of a fracture within a core plug; (2) conducting an initial local slice selective T2 NMR test on a slice of the plug that corresponds to the location to generate initial T2 measurements; (3) determining an initial fracture pore volume of the fracture based on the initial T2 measurements; (4) conducting an in-situ local slice selective T2 NMR test on the slice of the plug to generate in-situ T2 measurements and corresponding measures of a volume of fluid expelled from the plug; (5) determining an in-situ fracture pore volume for the fracture based on the in-situ T2 measurements; and (6) comparing the volume of water to a difference between the initial and the in-situ fracture pore volumes to confirm the accuracy of the in-situ pore volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Marwah Mufid AlSinan, Hyung Tae Kwak