Automatic Control For Production Patents (Class 166/250.15)
  • Patent number: 12226852
    Abstract: An example laser tool includes a laser head to output a laser beam and a robotic arm that is articulated and that is connected to the laser head. The robotic arm includes segments that are connected by flexible joints to enable movement of the laser head in six degrees of freedom. A control system is configured to control the robotic arm to direct output of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Sameeh Issa Batarseh, Wisam Jamal Assiri, Haitham A. Othman
  • Patent number: 12173733
    Abstract: A controller and related system and method for controlling a choke for choking fluid flow are configured to take into account non-linear behaviors of the choke, to allow more accurate and effective control of the choke. To obtain a desired pressure drop across a choke valve, the controller is configured to monitor the position of a choke actuator coupled to the choke valve and the pressure at the inlet of the choke valve. The controller calculates an adaptive proportional gain coefficient, and optionally adaptive integral and derivative coefficients, based on the choke actuator position, to help mitigate the effects of non-linear behaviors of the choke and, where necessary, based on the inlet pressure, the controller calculates an augmentation correction to address any instability in the choke. The controller then commands the choke actuator accordingly to adjust the flow area through the choke valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Opla Energy Ltd.
    Inventors: Hossein Khorshidian, Skyler Lowe, Saied Afshari
  • Patent number: 12152487
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring the oil to water ratio of a wellbore fluid. An example method includes flowing the wellbore fluid into a flow path of a fluid identification device disposed on the outside of a wellbore tubing and within a wellbore annulus. The fluid identification device comprises a shroud, the flow path disposed within the shroud that opens to the wellbore annulus and fluidically links the wellbore annulus to the wellbore tubing thereby allowing fluid flow through the flow path from the wellbore annulus to the wellbore tubing, and an alternating current electrical sensor disposed within the flow path. The method further includes measuring a property of the wellbore fluid with the alternating current electrical sensor when the wellbore fluid has flowed into the flow path and determining the oil to water ratio of the wellbore fluid that flowed through the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Linley Fripp, Luke William Holderman, Xiang Wu, Yijing Fan
  • Patent number: 12153183
    Abstract: A method includes training a proxy model to predict output from a reservoir model of a subterranean volume, receiving data representing an oilfield operation performed at least partially in the subterranean volume, predicting one or more performance indicators for the oilfield operation using the proxy model, and updating the reservoir model based at least in part on the one or more performance indicators predicted in the proxy model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: David Rowan, Rajarshi Banerjee, Omer Gurpinar, Bulent Balci, Gino Camillus Thielens
  • Patent number: 12143037
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting the power provided by an electric drive system to an ESP motor through an electrical network based on a model of the system and real-time inputs indicating operating conditions of the system. Some embodiments use a field oriented control system to adjust a direct-axis current setting to generate output power signals which drives the motor at a desired operating point for optimized performance. The electrical network may include a filter, a transformer, and a transmission line. A drive controller may receive real-time operating conditions and motor parameters as input, and may select further system parameters based on the received parameters. The controller builds a model of the electrical network and generates adjustments to the power generated by the drive using the system model and received real-time input. The adjustments may be recalculated at scheduled intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Inventor: Aider Matarrita Sequeira
  • Patent number: 12130214
    Abstract: A system for sampling groundwater from a well that includes a pump configured to be at least partially submerged in the groundwater within the well and pump the groundwater out of the well, a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of the depth of the groundwater in the well, and a controller in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to receive the signal indicative of the depth of the groundwater from the sensor and compensate for groundwater ingress into the well by adjusting a rate of flow of groundwater pumped by the pump based on the signal to stabilize the depth of groundwater in the well while the pump is pumping groundwater from the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Q.E.D. ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: David B. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 12129756
    Abstract: Optic fibers are embedded within the body of a casing section making up a wellbore casing string. The optic fibers are used to detect damage or deformation of the casing string over the lifespan of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Silviu Livescu, Pierre-Francois Roux
  • Patent number: 12104471
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-plunger lift control device for increasing device durability and production efficiency by synchronizing and controlling operating states of a plurality of plunger lifts sharing some production lines. The multi-plunger lift control device according to the present disclosure includes a plunger lift synchronization setting unit configured to set an operation priority of the plurality of plunger lifts so that production stages of the plurality of plunger lifts do not collide, a stage monitoring unit for each plunger lift configured to monitor current production stages of the plurality of plunger lifts, and a plunger lift logic control unit configured to synchronize and control production operations of the plurality of plunger lifts based on the operation priority set by the plunger lift synchronization setting unit and stage monitoring information received from the stage monitoring unit for each plunger lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: NAONWORKS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: June Kyoung Lee, Seong Woo Lee, Jae Yoon Shim, Ji Su Oh
  • Patent number: 12087996
    Abstract: A downhole communication includes an antenna winding fixed to an inner surface of a collar. A fluid flow flows through a center of the antenna winding. The antenna winding is wound around a chassis in an antenna channel in the chassis. The chassis is attached to the inner surface of the collar with a seal such that fluid does not travel between the fluid flow and an annulus between the antenna winding and the inner surface of the collar. A difference in diameter between an upper seal and a lower seal results in a net force to push the chassis against a shoulder on the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xavier Benoist, Nicolas Mornet, Alexander Hickson, Mohamed Saad
  • Patent number: 12031397
    Abstract: A device for actuating a downhole tool includes a housing having a surface structure on an external surface thereof. The surface structure has an inactive state and an activated state. In the inactive state, the device can travel through seat structures mounted in a well tubing and will experience a physical impact having an impact level exceeding a threshold level when passing through each one of the seat structures. In the activated state, the device can seat in a selected seat in the well tubing. A sensor is enclosed in the housing and configured to generate a signal in response to the physical impact. A controller in the housing communicates with the impact sensor and monitors the physical impacts; and activates the surface structure based on the monitored physical impacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: INTERRA ENERGY SERVICES LTD.
    Inventors: Serhiy Arabskyy, Andrew Barabash
  • Patent number: 12032547
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media of which the method includes obtaining a knowledge graph comprising elements and relationships that connect together the elements, receiving a raw oilfield data, generating structured oilfield data based on the raw oilfield data, wherein the structured oilfield data represents information about the raw oilfield data, and generating unstructured oilfield data based on the raw oilfield data, the structured oilfield data, and the knowledge graph. The unstructured data includes data about the raw oilfield data, and one or more of the elements, one or more of the relationships, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tracy Dorrington, Chiao-Fang Hsu
  • Patent number: 12012842
    Abstract: A computer implemented method of predicting a future maintenance event of a pumping equipment on a wellbore pumping unit comprising loading a pump usage log and a pump maintenance log into a predictive maintenance model. The predictive maintenance model is trained by a machine learning process with a historical database of completed pumping jobs. The predictive maintenance model determines a probability of a future maintenance event in response to the current pump usage. The unit controller displays an alert of the remaining pump life in comparison to a threshold value for a recommended pump maintenance period or a required pump maintenance period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Neal, III, Derek R. Williams, Craig Allen Sneed, Sunny L. Oliver, Keith Edward Blaschke
  • Patent number: 12000542
    Abstract: A method for operating a pipeline system includes obtaining sensor data of a gas in the pipeline system from sensors of a sensing unit. The method also includes performing a real-time and closed loop control scheme using the sensor data and a material model of the gas to determine one or more control decisions. The method also includes operating one or more controllable pipeline elements to adjust a temperature, a pressure, a flow rate, or a composition of the gas according to the one or more control decisions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Sensia LLC
    Inventor: Ross Allen Otto
  • Patent number: 11994010
    Abstract: A system can include isolation devices, a flow control device, and an energy transfer device. The isolation devices can be positioned between a wall of a wellbore and a tubular positioned in the wellbore for carrying fluid for geothermal energy transfer. The flow control device can be positioned in the wellbore and between the isolation devices for controlling flow of the fluid between zones of the wellbore for transferring geothermal energy to a surface of the wellbore. The energy transfer device can be positioned at the surface of the wellbore for transferring the geothermal energy from the fluid into usable energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 11995196
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method for controlling thereof are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a memory storing an artificial neural network and metadata including information of at least one layer in the artificial neural network, and a processor configured to: acquire a security vector based on the metadata and a security key of the electronic apparatus; map the security vector and the metadata with the security key and identification information of the artificial neural network; perform encryption on the at least one layer based on the metadata and the security vector; based on input data input to the artificial neural network, load the metadata and the security vector by using the security key and the identification information of the artificial neural network; and perform an operation between the input data and the encrypted at least one layer based on the loaded security vector and the metadata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jijoong Moon, Wook Song, Sangjung Woo, Geunsik Lim, Jaeyun Jung, Myungjoo Ham
  • Patent number: 11970935
    Abstract: Tracer tracking for control of flow control devices on injection wells includes at least one computer processor executing a reservoir model using numerical tracers to obtain output values for at least one producer well. The numerical tracers are assigned to at least one corresponding injection flow control device in multiple injection flow control devices of an injection well. From the output values at the producer well, a set of volume fraction is calculated for the injection flow control devices. The at least one computer processor solves, using the set of volume fractions, an optimization problem to obtain a flow control device parameter, and stores the flow control device parameter in storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hussein Mustapha
  • Patent number: 11962957
    Abstract: A method for wellsite control includes, at a computing device, receiving sensor information from one or more sensors; determining at least one notification option based at least partially on the sensor information; selecting at least one notification option based at least partially on the sensor information; and sending a notification to a notification destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Julien Converset, Emmanuel Coste, Graeme Paterson
  • Patent number: 11933150
    Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield
    Inventors: Donavan Brown, Tyler Shirk, Stephen Bisset
  • Patent number: 11859490
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in fracturing wells includes a body defining and coupled to a wellhead of a well extending through a subsurface formation with the flow path being in communication with a wellbore of the well. The apparatus includes a flow meter in communication with the flow path and configured to measure a flow attribute of fluid from the wellbore along the flow path. The apparatus further includes a computing device communicatively coupled to the flow meter. The computing device is operable to receive a flow attribute measurement from the flow meter and to transmit an indicator in response to determining that the flow attribute measurement indicates interaction of a fracture in the subsurface formation with the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Devon Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Kyle L. Haustveit, Brett J. Green
  • Patent number: 11850639
    Abstract: A control system for controlling extraction of landfill gas, comprising: at least one sensor configured to measure one or more characteristics of landfill gas; at least one flow control mechanism disposed in well piping and configured to control flow of the landfill gas through the well piping; and at least one processor configured to: obtain a measured concentration of a first gas in landfill gas; determine whether the measured concentration of the first gas is either less than a first threshold concentration or greater than a second threshold concentration; when it is determined that the measured concentration is less than the first threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to reduce flow rate of landfill gas; and when it is determined that the concentration is greater than the second threshold concentration, control the at least one flow control mechanism to increase the flow rate of landfill gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Joseph G. Michels, Peter Quigley, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 11808253
    Abstract: A metering unit for the controlled supply of a substance inside an aquarium tank comprises a containment box and a dosimetric pump which is actuated by an electric motor, both being associated with the containment box. The containment box has at least a first connection element and at least a second connection element which is suitable for being connected to a corresponding first connection element of an additional similar metering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SEACHEM LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Paolo Pettenon, Marco Pierobon, Federico Carraro, James A Rogers
  • Patent number: 11773700
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling gas lift in at least one production well, which determine a quadratic function that relates flow rate or value of oil produced from a production well to gas flow rate for gas injected into the production well based on flow rate measurements for gas injected into the production well and corresponding flow rate measurements of oil produced from the production well. The quadratic function is used to determine an optimal flow rate for gas injected into the production well. The optimal flow rate for gas injected into the production well is used to control the flow rate of gas injected into the production well, and an oil flow rate produced from the production well is measured at the optimal gas flow rate for iterative processing to refine the quadratic function and determination of optimal gas flow rate if need be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terizhandur S. Ramakrishnan, William J. Bailey, Kashif Rashid
  • Patent number: 11762825
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media of which the method includes obtaining a knowledge graph comprising elements and relationships that connect together the elements, receiving a raw oilfield data, generating structured oilfield data based on the raw oilfield data, wherein the structured oilfield data represents information about the raw oilfield data, and generating unstructured oilfield data based on the raw oilfield data, the structured oilfield data, and the knowledge graph. The unstructured data includes data about the raw oilfield data, and one or more of the elements, one or more of the relationships, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Tracy Dorrington, Chiao-Fang Hsu
  • Patent number: 11762117
    Abstract: Downhole tools and methods for detecting a downhole obstruction within a wellbore. The downhole tools include a positioning mechanism, which is configured to facilitate positioning of the downhole tool within a target region of a wellbore of a hydrocarbon well, an acoustic pulse generator, which is configured to generate an acoustic pulse within a wellbore liquid that extends within the wellbore and fluidly contacts the downhole tool, and a sensor assembly, which is configured to detect a reflected acoustic pulse within the wellbore liquid. The methods include positioning a downhole tool within a target region of a wellbore, generating an acoustic pulse, propagating the acoustic pulse within a wellbore liquid, and reflecting the acoustic pulse from a downhole obstruction. The methods also include propagating a reflected acoustic pulse within the wellbore liquid, receiving the reflected acoustic pulse, and characterizing the downhole obstruction based upon the reflected acoustic pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Timothy G. Benish, Rami Jabari
  • Patent number: 11753910
    Abstract: A variable flow resistance system for use with a subterranean well includes a first flow path configured to receive a fluid, a sensor configured to measure a property of the fluid received into the first flow path, and an actuator configured to control an inflow rate of the fluid received into the first flow path based upon the property of the fluid measured by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jules Frosell, Michael Linley Fripp, Zahed Kabir, Zachary Ryan Murphree
  • Patent number: 11753913
    Abstract: A method of unloading and producing liquids from a well uses a plurality of gas injection valves installed on a production tubing. The injection valves are controlled by pressure signals transmitted through a single fluid control line. A first pressure signal is applied to the control line to open the plurality of injection valves. Gas is pumped into the annulus at an injection pressure until a first pressure drop occurs in the injection pressure, the first pressure drop being indicative of gas flowing through a first, upper one of the injection valves. Pumping of gas is continued until a second pressure drop occurs in the injection pressure, the second pressure drop being indicative of gas flowing through a second, lower one of the injection valves. A second, lower pressure signal then is applied to close the first injection valve while leaving the second injection valve open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KHOLLE Magnolia 2015, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen W. Turk, Michael S. Juenke, E. Lee Colley, III
  • Patent number: 11746645
    Abstract: A virtual sensor system includes one or more electric submersible pumping systems deployed in a reservoir and a computer system that receives data from the one or more electric submersible pumping systems. Field data is provided to computerized statistical models for predicting whether individual electric submersible pumping systems and the reservoir have undergone changes in condition. The statistical models are established with reference data obtained by running electric submersible pumping systems of known working condition in test wells under a variety of controlled conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.
    Inventors: Sameer Vittal, Renee He, Mark Andrew Sporer, Michael Franklin Hughes
  • Patent number: 11708749
    Abstract: A downhole device for installation in a petroleum well, comprising a sensor, a controller and a power source. The device further comprises an acoustic speaker configured to output a sound signal from the downhole device to a fiber optic cable in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Petroleum Technology Company AS
    Inventor: Erling Kleppa
  • Patent number: 11674366
    Abstract: A method of predicting hydrocarbon production from one or more artificial lift wells is disclosed. Measurements and/or well test data are obtained from one or more artificial lift wells representing well performance at more than one time period. A statistical model, representing well performance, is generated. Using the statistical model and the measurements and/or well test data, real-time production of the one or more artificial lift wells is predicted and a measure of confidence is generated. Potential optimization opportunities are identified for well performance based on the predicted real-time production of the one or more artificial lift wells. The optimization opportunities are outputted. Hydrocarbon production activities are modified using the optimization opportunities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Sumeet Trehan, Damian N. Burch, Amr S. El-Bakry, Peeyush Bhargava, Curtis J. Holub, Jose F. Zapata Usandivaras
  • Patent number: 11675320
    Abstract: A method for controlling equipment includes grouping a plurality of granular assets to form one or more general assets and generating models of the general assets based on the granular assets that form the general assets. Each model corresponds to a general asset and defines a relationship between resources produced by the general asset and resources consumed by the general asset. The method includes performing a first control process using the models of the general assets to determine a first allocation of resources among the general assets. The first allocation defines amounts of the resources to be consumed, produced, or stored by each of the general assets. The method includes operating the equipment to consume, produce, or store the resources in accordance with the first allocation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP
    Inventors: John H. Burroughs, Andrew J. Przybylski, Michael J. Wenzel, Matthew J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 11649837
    Abstract: A controller and related system and method for controlling a choke for choking fluid flow are configured to take into account non-linear behaviors of the choke, to allow more accurate and effective control of the choke. To obtain a desired pressure drop across a choke valve, the controller is configured to monitor the position of a choke actuator coupled to the choke valve and the pressure at the inlet of the choke valve. The controller calculates an adaptive proportional gain coefficient, and optionally adaptive integral and derivative coefficients, based on the choke actuator position, to help mitigate the effects of non-linear behaviors of the choke and, where necessary, based on the inlet pressure, the controller calculates an augmentation correction to address any instability in the choke. The controller then commands the choke actuator accordingly to adjust the flow area through the choke valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Opla Energy Ltd.
    Inventors: Hossein Khorshidian, Skyler Lowe, Saied Afshari
  • Patent number: 11639656
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon gas capture from a well stream can involve recovering light hydrocarbon gases from liquids and solids via a multiphase separator that is upstream of a sand removal system. Pressure is controlled in the multiphase separator to facilitate hydrocarbon gas capture. The light hydrocarbon gases can be recovered for sale or can be used on-site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TOTAL GAS RESOURCE RECOVERY, LLC
    Inventors: Nick Welch, Tracy Turner
  • Patent number: 11591884
    Abstract: A technique provides a desired control over incremental actuation of hydraulic devices. A hydraulically actuated tool is combined with a control module. The hydraulically actuated tool has an actuator piston positioned in a piston chamber and movable between operating positions. The control module comprises a hydraulic indexing circuit arranged to enable incremental movement of the actuator piston in a first direction and full stroke movement in a second direction based on hydraulic input delivered via control lines. The hydraulic indexing circuit comprises an indexing piston system and at least one check valve working in cooperation with the indexing piston system to enable the incremental and full stroke movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Clayton, Jerome Prost, Brad Swenson, Michael Jasper, Gabriel Isaicu, Emrah Gokdag, Ron Perez, Julia Huynh
  • Patent number: 11585330
    Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting geothermal energy use temperature-based flow control to optimize the extraction of thermal energy from a geothermal reservoir. In one example, a thermal transport fluid is flowed into a wellbore traversing a thermal reservoir of a formation. Flow of the thermal transport fluid into and out of the thermal reservoir is dynamically controlled at each of a plurality of injection and/or return locations in response to a downhole parameter such as temperature. For example, flow may be controlled so that the flow into the thermal reservoir is greater at the injection locations where the temperature is hotter and that the flow out of the thermal reservoir is greater at the return locations where the temperature is hotter. The thermal transport fluid produced from the return locations is then conveyed to surface to extra the thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: David Joe Steele
  • Patent number: 11577337
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control the acoustic properties of optical cables used as in-well oil and gas probes for acoustic monitoring, such as distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). One example aspect provides a solid path for the acoustic wave to propagate from an outside armor layer of the cable to the sensing optical waveguide embedded therein. Another example aspect offers ways to spatially dispose the optical sensing elements to create response delays indicative of the propagation speed and/or direction of an acoustic wave. Yet another example aspect provides ways to utilize additional spectral interrogation to increase ultimate spatial resolution. Yet another example aspect provides ways to locally vary the acoustic properties along the length of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Andre R. Vincelette, Christopher S. Baldwin, Paul Lefebvre, Hongbo Li, Domino Taverner, James R. Dunphy
  • Patent number: 11519260
    Abstract: A method of operating a reciprocating system including a rod pump for pumping liquids from a wellbore. The method includes determining rod position of the rod pump using a wave-based technology detector, the rod pump comprising a rod string carrying a down hole pump and a drive system including a drive motor coupled to the rod string through a transmission unit; communicating rod position to a data acquisition system receiving one or more other measurements of rod pump operation to determine rod pump performance; and adjusting at least one operating parameter to enhance rod pump performance. A method of determining operating parameters and optimizing performance of an oil or gas production rod pump, and a system for determining rod position of an oil or gas production rod pump are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Tony W. Hord
  • Patent number: 11480039
    Abstract: A motor of an electric submersible pump (ESP) is positioned in a wellbore. Measured data is received from one or more sensors. A first deep learning model running on a motor controller of the ESP determines first operating parameters or first operating conditions for the ESP based on the measured data. The motor controller sends the first operating parameters or first operating conditions to a centralized computer system. A second deep learning model running on the centralized computer system determines second operating parameters or second operating conditions associated with the ESP based on the first operating parameters or first operating conditions. The centralized computer system sends the second operating parameters or second operating conditions to the motor controller. The motor controller adjusts operation of the motor of the ESP based on the second operating parameters or second operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Beck, Luke Golden Janger, Donn J. Brown
  • Patent number: 11454738
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for developing a reservoir. In one implementation, a reservoir model is received. The reservoir model includes a static model and a dynamic model. The static model includes one or more clusters of a three-dimensional volume of the reservoir and an uncertainty quantification generated using a neural network. The dynamic model includes pressure values and fluid saturation values propagated across the three-dimensional volume through a nodal connectivity of neighboring clusters. A set of input features is generated from the static model and the dynamic model. The set of input features is related to a drilling attractiveness of a target region of the reservoir using a set of rules executed by a fuzzy inference engine. A quantification of the drilling attractiveness is generated. A recommendation for drilling in the reservoir is output based on the quantification of the drilling attractiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Beyond Limits, Inc.
    Inventors: Zackary H. Nolan, Shahram Farhadi Nia
  • Patent number: 11414987
    Abstract: Disclosed are perturbation signaling systems and methods for use in a downhole well. Such systems can include a downhole tool configured to hang from a wellbore anchoring mechanism. The tool can have or associate with an energy harvesting system, a power management system, a sensing system, and a wireless communication system. A turbine generator can encode signals into flowing fluid through electric load and related changes in hydraulic energy, transmitting information through the fluid. A receiver station positioned at another well location can decode and or relay the signals. Signals can bypass impediments such as noise zones by inducing signals in adjacent parallel well environments such as an annulus. The receiver station can accumulate energy from repeated redundant signaling over time to enhance communication and signal resolution. An additional wireless communication system can receive and/or relay data to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: WiDril AS
    Inventors: Jarl André Fellinghaug, Vegard Fiksdal, Anton Kulyakhtin
  • Patent number: 11414954
    Abstract: Provided is a hydrocarbon well choke system that includes a choke valve and a choke control system adapted to obtain production data from production sensors of the well (e.g., including flowrate, wellhead pressure, wellhead temperature, water cut and gas-oil-ratio (GOR) data obtained by way of respective sensors of the well), generate (based on the data) a well profile that is indicative of the flow of production from the well for different settings of the valve, receive (from a well control system) a target production rate, determine (based on the well profile) whether the rate is obtainable, in response to determining that the rate is obtainable, determine (based on the well profile) a choke setting that corresponds to the rate, and control the choke valve to operate at the setting, and, in response to determining that the rate is not obtainable, communicate (to the well control system) a corresponding alert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Abdulrahman Ahmari
  • Patent number: 11332986
    Abstract: A packoff pressure prevention system includes an internal pressure sensor to measure fluid pressure within a drillstring. The system further includes an annular vent to, when open, enable fluid to escape from within the drillstring into an annulus. The system further includes a processor coupled to receive pressure measurements from the internal pressure sensor and coupled to signal the annular vent to open if the fluid pressure within the drillstring rises a first threshold amount over a second threshold time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Henrik Erevik Riise, Helge Rorvik
  • Patent number: 11320565
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product may evaluate a field by receiving a dataset including well measurements collected from a plurality of wells in a field, generating a synthetic dataset from the received dataset by computing a plurality of synthetic samples from the received dataset using a self-organized may (SOM), and propagating one or more models generated from the synthetic dataset to the plurality of wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Sylvain Wlodarczyk, Florent D'Halluin
  • Patent number: 11306573
    Abstract: A frac tree coupled to a wellhead is connected to either flowback equipment or zipper modules using a single straight-line connection of pipes, valves, and/or frac iron that define a straight-line pathway for fluid, gas, or flowback materials. The disclosed single straight-line connections referenced herein may be used in pressure pumping operations to deliver hydraulic fracturing fluid (“frack fluid”) to a frac tree for delivery to a wellhead or for carrying flowback from the wellhead to a flowback-collecting equipment. Using the single straight-line connections referenced herein dramatically reduces the complexity of connections needed to deliver frack fluid to or carry flowback away from a well, thereby reducing the cost, improving the efficiency, and increasing the safety of pressure-pumping and flowback operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas PC LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Thomas Robinson Webster
  • Patent number: 11299986
    Abstract: A method for assessing an optimal acid injection rate in the process of hydrocarbon formation stimulation. The method comprises evaluating an anisotropic diffusion coefficient by pulsed gradient NMR, introduction of a semi-empirical correction based on comparison of the downhole conditions with the library of laboratory experiments where such corrections were measured, extrapolation of the library data to the real downhole conditions. The improved values of the diffusion coefficients are applied in determining wormhole regime conditions that are optimal in terms of acid consumption per a unit of stimulated yield of the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Mahmoud Elsayed, Mohamed Mahmoud, Ammar El-Husseiny, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal, Karem Al-Garadi
  • Patent number: 11295048
    Abstract: An embodiment includes a method for use by at least one machine learning classifier. The method comprises the machine learning classifier obtaining one or more recent results from at least one geomechanical simulation; the machine learning classifier comparing the recent results to stored historical data; and, based on the comparing, the machine learning classifier deciding at least one reservoir model for use by at least one reservoir simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Borrel, Matthias Kormaksson, Carmen Nilda Mena Paz
  • Patent number: 11255169
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for controlling flow in a well bore, comprising: a housing defining a fluid passage; a flow control device sealing an outlet of said fluid passage; an actuator for manipulating said flow controller control device to an open condition to permit fluid flow through said outlet; a controller for selectively activating said actuator; an acoustic receiver in communication with said controller, said acoustic receiver configured to receive acoustic signals comprising programming instructions for said controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.
    Inventors: Ramin Tajallipour, Lyle Laun, Michael Werries, Roman Vakulin
  • Patent number: 11236751
    Abstract: A method for monitoring operation of an electric submersible pump. The method includes receiving data signals indicating values for a plurality of parameters regarding operation of the electric submersible pumping system; establishing, for at least some of the plurality of parameters, an associated reference signal; and detecting a deviation of one of the parameters from the reference signal associated with that parameter. As a result of the deviation having a rate of change below a predetermined threshold, the method includes updating the value of the reference signal to reflect the deviation. As a result of the deviation having a rate of change above the predetermined threshold, the method includes detecting an event and generating an indication of the event. The indication of the event further depends on a type of the parameter and a direction of the deviation from the reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sensia LLC
    Inventors: Nam Nguyen, Yves-Marie Clet Robert Subervie, Emmanuel Coste
  • Patent number: 11236592
    Abstract: A valve system for use in a wellbore, comprising a side pocket mandrel having a main bore for alignment with a wellbore tubular and a laterally offset side pocket bore separated from the main bore by an internal wall, the laterally offset side pocket bore comprising a first receptacle for a first device and a second receptacle for a second device, the internal wall having an opening through which each of the first device and the second device is independently retrievable. There is also provided a side pocket mandrel, a hydrocarbon well and a method of operating a hydrocarbon well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PETROLEUM TECHNOLOGY COMPANY AS
    Inventor: Kristian Korbøl Josefsen
  • Patent number: 11238379
    Abstract: A method for optimizing oil production includes receiving historical production data for one or more wells. A first model is generated based at least partially upon the historical production data. The production in the one or more wells is predicted based at least partially upon the first model. A second model is generated based at least partially on the predicted production. A production allocation is determined in the one or more wells to maximize production based at least partially upon the second model. The production allocation is then implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Supriya Gupta, Satya Deepthi Gopisetti
  • Patent number: 11199088
    Abstract: A method includes activating a first electromagnetic source at a first frequency, acquiring a first set of electromagnetic measurements from a first fiber optic electromagnetic sensor in a first well, wherein the first fiber optic electromagnetic sensor is in electromagnetic communication with the first electromagnetic source. The method also includes acquiring a second set of electromagnetic measurements from a second fiber optic sensor in a second well, wherein the second fiber optic sensor is in electromagnetic communication with the first electromagnetic source. The method also includes determining a formation property based on the first set of electromagnetic measurements and the second set of electromagnetic measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Glenn Andrew Wilson