Patents by Inventor Yih-Bor Chang

Yih-Bor Chang 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: 11567058
    Abstract: A method for simulating a microemulsion system in a chemical enhanced oil recovery process is disclosed. The method includes receiving a geological model of a subsurface reservoir that defines a grid having a plurality of cells, determining a surfactant concentration for each cell based on a volume of surfactant and a volume of water within the cell and independently from a volume of oil in the cell, and simulating fluids flowing in the subsurface reservoir. Results from simulation can be used to optimize a chemical enhanced oil recovery process in a subsurface reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Xundan Shi, Choongyong Han, Yih-Bor Chang, Christian Wolfsteiner, Baris Guyaguler
  • Patent number: 10767475
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product to determine distribution of a plurality of components amongst a plurality of phases for a multi-component, multi-phase system including a multi-component, multi-phase fluid. A plurality of phase boundaries of the multi-component, multi-phase fluid and a vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) are determined based on a plurality of geophysical parameters associated with an oilfield and using one or more computer processors, including by determining hydrocarbon partitioning in a water phase, based in part on applying empirical equilibrium multi-phase mole fraction ratios (K-values) of the multi-component, multi-phase system that are functions of temperature and pressure only. In addition, an amount of at least one fluid component distributed in a plurality of phases of the multi-component, multi-phase system is predicted by solving a set of flash equations with the one or more computer processors based on the plurality of phase boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Wayne Stone, Yih-Bor Chang, James Bennett
  • Publication number: 20190094199
    Abstract: A method for simulating a microemulsion system in a chemical enhanced oil recovery process is disclosed. The method includes receiving a geological model of a subsurface reservoir that defines a grid having a plurality of cells, determining a surfactant concentration for each cell based on a volume of surfactant and a volume of water within the cell and independently from a volume of oil in the cell, and simulating fluids flowing in the subsurface reservoir. Results from simulation can be used to optimize a chemical enhanced oil recovery process in a subsurface reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Xundan Shi, Choongyong Han, Yih-Bor Chang, Christian Wolfsteiner, Baris Guyaguler
  • Publication number: 20180045046
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product to determine distribution of a plurality of components amongst a plurality of phases for a multi-component, multi-phase system including a multi-component, multi-phase fluid. A plurality of phase boundaries of the multi-component, multi-phase fluid and a vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) are determined based on a plurality of geophysical parameters associated with an oilfield and using one or more computer processors, including by determining hydrocarbon partitioning in a water phase, based in part on applying empirical equilibrium multi-phase mole fraction ratios (K-values) of the multi-component, multi-phase system that are functions of temperature and pressure only. In addition, an amount of at least one fluid component distributed in a plurality of phases of the multi-component, multi-phase system is predicted by solving a set of flash equations with the one or more computer processors based on the plurality of phase boundaries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Terry Wayne Stone, Yih-Bor Chang, James Bennett