Patents by Inventor Yunlai Yang
Yunlai Yang 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).
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Publication number: 20250034994Abstract: A well site may include a wellbore extending into a subsurface formation and a drilling rig with a top drive and a drive shaft to rotate a drill string extending into the wellbore. The drill string includes a drill bit at an end distal to the drilling rig to cut rock of the subsurface formation to form the wellbore. Acoustic sensors may be positioned on the drive shaft, or the top drive, or the drill string. The acoustic sensors are configured to record and transmit drilling acoustic signals during a dummy drilling operation and a real drilling operation. A computer system may be in communication with the acoustic sensors. The computer system processes the drilling acoustic signals during the dummy drilling operation and the real drilling operation to minimize a drilling environmental effect by deducting a drilling environmental noise from the drilling acoustic signals to calculate clean drilling acoustic signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2022Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, ARAMCO FAR EAST (BEIJING) BUSINESS SERVICES CO., LTD.Inventors: Yunlai Yang, Wei Li, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Patent number: 12117580Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer implemented method for evaluating rock physical properties. Drilling acoustic signals are received in real time during a drilling operation through rock at a drilling location. Transformed data is generated in a frequency domain from the drilling acoustic signals. The transformed data includes frequency and amplitude information for the drilling acoustic signals. De-noised transformed data is generated from the transformed data by filtering noise including background noise generated in a recording system and top drive rotation generated traces. A lithological significant frequency range that includes de-noised significant data points is determined from the de-noised transformed data. Physical properties of the rock are determined in real time using drill bit rotation rates and the amplitudes of the de-noised significant data points.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: October 15, 2024Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Yunlai Yang, Wei Li, Maher I. Almarhoon, Fahd A. Almalki
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Publication number: 20240167339Abstract: A system includes an acoustic attenuation interface disposed between a first acoustic transmission conduit and a second acoustic transmission conduit. An acoustic signal source acoustically coupled to the first acoustic transmission conduit generates an acoustic signal. An acoustic noise source acoustically coupled to the second acoustic transmission conduit generates an acoustic noise. A first sensor is configured to detect a first composite signal including the acoustic signal after transmission through at least a portion of the first acoustic transmission conduit and an attenuated acoustic noise. A second sensor is configured to detect a second composite signal including the acoustic signal after transmission through at least a portion of the first acoustic transmission conduit and attenuated by the acoustic attenuation interface and the acoustic noise. An acoustic signal processing system is configured to determine a noise-reduced signal from the first composite signal and the second composite signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2022Publication date: May 23, 2024Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANYInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Patent number: 11920467Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for determining normalized apparent power. Drilling acoustic signals corresponding to a time domain and generated during drilling of a well. A fast Fourier transformation (FFT) is performed using the drilling acoustic signals to generate FFT data. Normalized FFT data is generated using normalization parameters and a drill string rotation rate record of a drill string used to drill the well. The drill string rotation rate is received during drilling. Normalized apparent power is determined from data points of a predetermined top percentage of the normalized FFT data within a lithological significant frequency range. The normalized apparent power is a measure of the power of the drilling acoustic signals and it is a function of the amplitude and frequency of the normalized FFT data. The lithological significant frequency range is a frequency range within which the drill sounds are more closely related with lithology.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Yunlai Yang, Wei Li
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Patent number: 11920460Abstract: Some systems and methods for determining depths of subterranean formation layer tops while drilling through the subterranean formation include a drill bit, a drill rig, a microphone, a depth sensor, and a processor. While drilling the through the subterranean formation, the processor receives a measured sound from the microphone and a measured drill bit depth from the depth sensor, normalizes the measured sound across all measured drill bit depths, determines frequency information of the normalized sound for each depth of the plurality of depths, determines frequency spectrums of the normalized sound for one or more depths of the plurality of depths, transforms the frequency spectrums into a depth spectrum, and determines the depths of subterranean formation layer tops based on the depth spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Wisam Al Kawai, Yunlai Yang, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Publication number: 20240069232Abstract: Example computer-implemented methods, media, and systems for evaluating density and seismic impedance values of geologic layers using drill bit sound during drilling are disclosed. One example computer-implemented method includes receiving an acoustic signal associated with a sound produced by a well tool implemented to perform a well operation by contacting a portion of a subterranean zone, where the acoustic signal includes a source acoustic signal and a reflected acoustic signal, the reflected acoustic signal is produced in response to the source acoustic signal, and the sound is produced during a drilling operation. The acoustic signal is processed to determine the source acoustic signal and the reflected acoustic signal. A first signal is determined based on the source acoustic signal. A second signal is determined based on the reflected acoustic signal. Properties of the subterranean zone are determined based on a convolution of the first signal and the second signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 24, 2022Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Wisam Al Kawai, Yunlai Yang
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Publication number: 20230220769Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for determining normalized apparent power. Drilling acoustic signals corresponding to a time domain and generated during drilling of a well. A fast Fourier transformation (FFT) is performed using the drilling acoustic signals to generate FFT data. Normalized FFT data is generated using normalization parameters and a drill string rotation rate record of a drill string used to drill the well. The drill string rotation rate is received during drilling. Normalized apparent power is determined from data points of a predetermined top percentage of the normalized FFT data within a lithological significant frequency range. The normalized apparent power is a measure of the power of the drilling acoustic signals and it is a function of the amplitude and frequency of the normalized FFT data. The lithological significant frequency range is a frequency range within which the drill sounds are more closely related with lithology.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Yunlai Yang, Wei Li
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Publication number: 20230175390Abstract: Some systems and methods for determining depths of subterranean formation layer tops while drilling through the subterranean formation include a drill bit, a drill rig, a microphone, a depth sensor, and a processor. While drilling the through the subterranean formation, the processor receives a measured sound from the microphone and a measured drill bit depth from the depth sensor, normalizes the measured sound across all measured drill bit depths, determines frequency information of the normalized sound for each depth of the plurality of depths, determines frequency spectrums of the normalized sound for one or more depths of the plurality of depths, transforms the frequency spectrums into a depth spectrum, and determines the depths of subterranean formation layer tops based on the depth spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2021Publication date: June 8, 2023Inventors: Wisam Al Kawai, Yunlai Yang, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Patent number: 11231512Abstract: Apparatus and methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor installed in a drilling fluid circulation system of a drilling rig, the acoustic sensor coupled to one of the following: (i) a bell nipple, (ii) a gooseneck, or (iii) a standpipe. Raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling is received, and a plurality of acoustic characteristics are derived from the raw acoustic sensor data. The lithology type of rock undergoing drilling may be determined from the acoustic characteristics. Petrophysical properties of the rock undergoing drilling may be determined using a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict the petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling from the raw acoustic sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Publication number: 20210389492Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer implemented method for evaluating rock physical properties. Drilling acoustic signals are received in real time during a drilling operation through rock at a drilling location. Transformed data is generated in a frequency domain from the drilling acoustic signals. The transformed data includes frequency and amplitude information for the drilling acoustic signals. De-noised transformed data is generated from the transformed data by filtering noise including background noise generated in a recording system and top drive rotation generated traces. A lithological significant frequency range that includes de-noised significant data points is determined from the de-noised transformed data. Physical properties of the rock are determined in real time using drill bit rotation rates and the amplitudes of the de-noised significant data points.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Yunlai Yang, Wei Li, Maher I. Almarhoon, Fahd A. Almalki
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Patent number: 10920574Abstract: A central member defines a sample chamber and includes an elastic material configured to enclose at least a portion of a sample, acoustic sensors configured to detect sound waves in the sample chamber, and acoustic emitters configured to emit sounds waves in the central member. A pressure-retaining case is configured to contain a pressurized fluid between an annulus formed between the pressure-retaining case and the central member. A switch is configured to connect or disconnect a pulser and receiver circuit to a specified emitter of the acoustic emitters. A data acquisition unit is configured to receive a signal from each of the acoustic sensors. A pulser and receiver circuit is configured to send an electric pulse to an acoustic emitter and a control signal to the data acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Yunlai Yang, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Publication number: 20210032977Abstract: A central member defines a sample chamber and includes an elastic material configured to enclose at least a portion of a sample, acoustic sensors configured to detect sound waves in the sample chamber, and acoustic emitters configured to emit sounds waves in the central member. A pressure-retaining case is configured to contain a pressurized fluid between an annulus formed between the pressure-retaining case and the central member. A switch is configured to connect or disconnect a pulser and receiver circuit to a specified emitter of the acoustic emitters. A data acquisition unit is configured to receive a signal from each of the acoustic sensors. A pulser and receiver circuit is configured to send an electric pulse to an acoustic emitter and a control signal to the data acquisition unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Yunlai Yang, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Patent number: 10851641Abstract: A central member defines a sample chamber and includes an elastic material configured to enclose at least a portion of a sample, acoustic sensors configured to detect sound waves in the sample chamber, and acoustic emitters configured to emit sounds waves in the central member. A pressure-retaining case is configured to contain a pressurized fluid between an annulus formed between the pressure-retaining case and the central member. A switch is configured to connect or disconnect a pulser and receiver circuit to a specified emitter of the acoustic emitters. A data acquisition unit is configured to receive a signal from each of the acoustic sensors. A pulser and receiver circuit is configured to send an electric pulse to an acoustic emitter and a control signal to the data acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Yunlai Yang, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Patent number: 10669846Abstract: Apparatus, computer readable medium, and program code for identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of an embodiment of such an apparatus includes a downhole sensor subassembly connected between a drill bit and a drill string, acoustic sensors operably coupled to a downhole data interface, and a surface computer operably coupled to the downhole data interface.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Publication number: 20200166662Abstract: Apparatus and methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor installed in a drilling fluid circulation system of a drilling rig, the acoustic sensor coupled to one of the following: (i) a bell nipple, (ii) a gooseneck, or (iii) a standpipe. Raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling is received, and a plurality of acoustic characteristics are derived from the raw acoustic sensor data. The lithology type of rock undergoing drilling may be determined from the acoustic characteristics. Petrophysical properties of the rock undergoing drilling may be determined using a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict the petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling from the raw acoustic sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2019Publication date: May 28, 2020Inventor: Yunlai Yang
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Publication number: 20200072039Abstract: A central member defines a sample chamber and includes an elastic material configured to enclose at least a portion of a sample, acoustic sensors configured to detect sound waves in the sample chamber, and acoustic emitters configured to emit sounds waves in the central member. A pressure-retaining case is configured to contain a pressurized fluid between an annulus formed between the pressure-retaining case and the central member. A switch is configured to connect or disconnect a pulser and receiver circuit to a specified emitter of the acoustic emitters. A data acquisition unit is configured to receive a signal from each of the acoustic sensors. A pulser and receiver circuit is configured to send an electric pulse to an acoustic emitter and a control signal to the data acquisition unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventors: Yunlai Yang, Maher I. Almarhoon
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Patent number: 10551516Abstract: Apparatus and methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor installed in a drilling fluid circulation system of a drilling rig, the acoustic sensor coupled to one of the following: (i) a bell nipple, (ii) a gooseneck, or (iii) a standpipe. Raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling is received, and a plurality of acoustic characteristics are derived from the raw acoustic sensor data. The lithology type of rock undergoing drilling may be determined from the acoustic characteristics. Petrophysical properties of the rock undergoing drilling may be determined using a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict the petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling from the raw acoustic sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Publication number: 20190072685Abstract: Apparatus and methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An apparatus includes an acoustic sensor installed in a drilling fluid circulation system of a drilling rig, the acoustic sensor coupled to one of the following: (i) a bell nipple, (ii) a gooseneck, or (iii) a standpipe. Raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling is received, and a plurality of acoustic characteristics are derived from the raw acoustic sensor data. The lithology type of rock undergoing drilling may be determined from the acoustic characteristics. Petrophysical properties of the rock undergoing drilling may be determined using a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict the petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling from the raw acoustic sensor data.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Inventor: Yunlai Yang
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Patent number: 10180061Abstract: Methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of such a method includes connecting a downhole sensor subassembly between a drill bit and a drill string, operably coupling acoustic sensors to a downhole data interface, and operably coupling a surface computer to the downhole data interface. The method can also include receiving raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling, transforming the raw data into the frequency domain, filtering the transformed data, and deriving a plurality of acoustic characteristics from the filtered data. This can be performed by a petrophysical properties analyzing program stored in memory of the computer. The method can also include deriving petrophysical properties from the filtered data utilizing a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict one or more petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventor: Yunlai Yang
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Evaluation of rock boundaries and acoustic velocities using drill bit sound during vertical drilling
Patent number: 10120090Abstract: Implementations provide identification of rock boundaries and evaluation of rock interval velocities in subterranean zones. Actions can include receiving acoustic signals associated with sounds produced by a well tool implemented to perform a well operation by contacting a portion of a subterranean zone, the acoustic signals being composed of source acoustic signals and reflected acoustic signals produced in response to the source acoustic signals, processing the acoustic signals to determine the source acoustic signals and the reflected acoustic signals and determining properties of the subterranean zone based on the source acoustic signals and the reflected acoustic signals.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Maher I. Almarhoon, Yunlai Yang