Patents by Inventor Wei D. LIU

Wei D. LIU 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: 11521122
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated seismic interpretation (ASI), including: obtaining trained models comprising a geologic scenario from a model repository, wherein the trained models comprise executable code; obtaining test data comprising geophysical data for a subsurface region; and performing an inference on the test data with the trained models to generate a feature probability map representative of subsurface features. A method and apparatus for machine learning, including: an ASI model; a training dataset comprising seismic images and a plurality of data portions; a plurality of memory locations, each comprising a replication of the ASI model and a different data portion of the training dataset; a plurality of data augmentation modules, each identified with one of the plurality of memory locations; a training module configured to receive output from the plurality of data augmentation modules; and a model repository configured to receive updated models from the training module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Wei D. Liu, Huseyin Denli, Kuang-Hung Liu, Michael H. Kovalski, Victoria M. Som De Cerff, Cody J. MacDonald, Diego A. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11397272
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for machine learning for use with automated seismic interpretation include: obtaining input data; extracting patches from a pre-extraction dataset based on the input data; transforming data of a pre-transformation dataset based on the input data and geologic domain knowledge and/or geophysical domain knowledge; and generating augmented data from the extracted patches and the transformed data. A method and apparatus for machine learning for use with automated seismic interpretation include: a data input module configured to obtain input data; a patch extraction module configured to extract patches from a pre-extraction dataset that is based on the input data; a data transformation module configured to transform data from a pre-transformation dataset that is based on the input data and geologic domain knowledge and/or geophysical domain knowledge; and a data augmentation module configured to augment data from the extracted patches and the transformed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Wei D. Liu, Huseyin Denli, Kuang-Hung Liu, Cody J. Macdonald
  • Patent number: 11320551
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for seismic interpretation including machine learning (ML). A method of training a ML system for seismic interpretation includes: preparing a collection of seismic images as training data; training an interpreter ML model to learn to interpret the training data, wherein: the interpreter ML model comprises a geologic objective function, and the learning is regularized by one or more geologic priors; and training a discriminator ML model to learn the one or more geologic priors from the training data. A method of hydrocarbon management includes: training the ML system for seismic interpretation; obtaining test data comprising a second collection of seismic images; applying the trained ML system to the test data to generate output; and managing hydrocarbons based on the output. A method includes performing an inference on test data with the interpreter and discriminator ML models to generate a feature probability map representative of subsurface features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Kuang-Hung Liu, Wei D. Liu, Huseyin Denli, Cody J. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 11119235
    Abstract: A method to automatically interpret a subsurface feature within geophysical data, the method including: storing, in a computer memory, geophysical data obtained from a survey of a subsurface region; and extracting, with a computer, a feature probability volume by processing the geophysical data with one or more fully convolutional neural networks, which are trained to relate the geophysical data to at least one subsurface feature, wherein the extracting includes fusing together outputs of the one or more fully convolutional neural networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Wei D. Liu, Diego A. Hernandez, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, D. Braden Fitz-Gerald
  • Patent number: 10915073
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agent to provide adaptive tuning of process controllers, such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. The agent can monitor process controller performance, and if unsatisfactory, can attempt to improve it by making incremental changes to the tuning parameters for the process controller. The effect of a tuning change can then be observed by the agent and used to update the agent's process controller tuning policy. It has been unexpectedly discovered that providing adaptive tuning based on incremental changes in tuning parameters, as opposed to making changes independent of current values of the tuning parameters, can provide enhanced or improved control over a controlled variable of a process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Badgwell, Kuang-Hung Liu, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, Wei D. Liu, Michael H. Kovalski
  • Publication number: 20200183035
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for machine learning for use with automated seismic interpretation include: obtaining input data; extracting patches from a pre-extraction dataset based on the input data; transforming data of a pre-transformation dataset based on the input data and geologic domain knowledge and/or geophysical domain knowledge; and generating augmented data from the extracted patches and the transformed data. A method and apparatus for machine learning for use with automated seismic interpretation include: a data input module configured to obtain input data; a patch extraction module configured to extract patches from a pre-extraction dataset that is based on the input data; a data transformation module configured to transform data from a pre-transformation dataset that is based on the input data and geologic domain knowledge and/or geophysical domain knowledge; and a data augmentation module configured to augment data from the extracted patches and the transformed data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Wei D. LIU, Huseyin DENLI, Kuang-Hung LIU, Cody J. MACDONALD
  • Publication number: 20200183032
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for seismic interpretation including machine learning (ML). A method of training a ML system for seismic interpretation includes: preparing a collection of seismic images as training data; training an interpreter ML model to learn to interpret the training data, wherein: the interpreter ML model comprises a geologic objective function, and the learning is regularized by one or more geologic priors; and training a discriminator ML model to learn the one or more geologic priors from the training data. A method of hydrocarbon management includes: training the ML system for seismic interpretation; obtaining test data comprising a second collection of seismic images; applying the trained ML system to the test data to generate output; and managing hydrocarbons based on the output. A method includes performing an inference on test data with the interpreter and discriminator ML models to generate a feature probability map representative of subsurface features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kuang-Hung LIU, Wei D. Liu, Huseyin Denli, Cody J. Macdonald
  • Publication number: 20200184374
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated seismic interpretation (ASI), including: obtaining trained models comprising a geologic scenario from a model repository, wherein the trained models comprise executable code; obtaining test data comprising geophysical data for a subsurface region; and performing an inference on the test data with the trained models to generate a feature probability map representative of subsurface features. A method and apparatus for machine learning, including: an ASI model; a training dataset comprising seismic images and a plurality of data portions; a plurality of memory locations, each comprising a replication of the ASI model and a different data portion of the training dataset; a plurality of data augmentation modules, each identified with one of the plurality of memory locations; a training module configured to receive output from the plurality of data augmentation modules; and a model repository configured to receive updated models from the training module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Wei D. LIU, Huseyin Denli, Kuang-Hung Liu, Michael H. Kovalski, Victoria M. Som De Cerff, Cody J. MacDonald, Diego A. Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20190278880
    Abstract: This disclosure generally relates to a methodology of effectively designing and/or discovering new materials based on microstructure, and more particularly, to designing and/or discovering new materials by combining material fundamentals and experimental data. The methodology disclosed herein provides cost-effective and time-effective solutions for material design that combine the benefits of both of the two major computational material design approaches: physics-based and data-driven computer models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Ning Ma, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, Wei D. Liu, Sumathy Raman
  • Publication number: 20190187631
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for using a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agent to provide adaptive tuning of process controllers, such as Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers. The agent can monitor process controller performance, and if unsatisfactory, can attempt to improve it by making incremental changes to the tuning parameters for the process controller. The effect of a tuning change can then be observed by the agent and used to update the agent's process controller tuning policy. It has been unexpectedly discovered that providing adaptive tuning based on incremental changes in tuning parameters, as opposed to making changes independent of current values of the tuning parameters, can provide enhanced or improved control over a controlled variable of a process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas A. Badgwell, Kuang-Hung Liu, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, Wei D. Liu, Michael H. Kovalski
  • Publication number: 20190064378
    Abstract: A method to automatically interpret a subsurface feature within geophysical data, the method including: storing, in a computer memory, geophysical data obtained from a survey of a subsurface region; and extracting, with a computer, a feature probability volume by processing the geophysical data with one or more fully convolutional neural networks, which are trained to relate the geophysical data to at least one subsurface feature, wherein the extracting includes fusing together outputs of the one or more fully convolutional neural networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Inventors: Wei D. LIU, Diego A. Hernandez, Niranjan A. Subrahmanya, D. Braden Fitz-Gerald
  • Patent number: 8957057
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the uses of an azaphilone compound of formula (I): formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof as described in the specification for modulation of the activity of a nuclear hormone receptor and for prevention and/or treatment of a disease or disorder related to nuclear hormone receptor activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Food Industry Research and Development Institute
    Inventors: Ta-Wei D. Liu, Yen-Lin Chen, Ming-Der Wu, Ming-Jen Cheng, Hui-Ping Chen, Wen-Jung Wu, Kai-Ping Chen, Yu-Shan Lin, Gwo-Fang Yuan
  • Publication number: 20100256227
    Abstract: The present invention concerns the uses of an azaphilone compound of formula (I): formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof as described in the specification for modulation of the activity of a nuclear hormone receptor and for prevention and/or treatment of a disease or disorder related to nuclear hormone receptor activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Ta-Wei D. LIU, Yen-Lin Chen, Ming-Der Wu, Ming-Jen Cheng, Hui-Ping Chen, Wen-Jung Wu, Kai-Ping Chen, Yu-Shan Lin, Gwo-Fang Yuan