Using Well Logging Device Patents (Class 324/303)
  • Patent number: 11422283
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool for use in a subterranean region, the NMR tool comprising a magnet assembly to produce a magnetic field in a volume in the region, an antenna assembly to produce an excitation in the volume, and to receive NMR signals from the volume, and an acquisition system coupled to the antenna assembly and configured to acquire a first NMR signal using a first acquisition window having a first duration, and acquire a second NMR signal using a second acquisition window having a second duration, wherein the second duration is different than the first duration, and a processor coupled to the acquisition system and configured to determine a lateral displacement of the NMR tool as a function of time based on the first and second NMR signals, and apply the lateral displacement to the first NMR signal to generate NMR relaxation data with reduced motion effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Arcady Reiderman, Songhua Chen, Zinovy B. Krugliak
  • Patent number: 11415534
    Abstract: A method and system for interspersing different wait times in trainlet and partial recovery sequences is provided. The method includes introducing a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The method also includes applying an NMR pulse sequence to the subterranean formation using the NMR tool, in which the NMR pulse sequence includes at least two different wait times interspersed between successive sequences of radio frequency (RF) pulses. The method also includes measuring one or more echo signals corresponding to a substance in the subterranean formation based on the applied NMR pulse sequence. The method also includes determining a distribution of a characteristic of the substance based on the measured one or more echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lilong Li, Yuesheng Cheng, David R. Beard, Arcady Reiderman, Songhua Chen
  • Patent number: 11397155
    Abstract: A system having an NMR measurement device make measurements on a region of investigation in which an NMR-active fluid has been injected. A source of the NMR-active fluid (e.g., methane) is provided, and the pressure of the region of investigation may be monitored. A sealing apparatus serves to isolate the region of investigation. A parameter is estimating using the obtained measurement. The parameter estimated may include the inter-granular porosity, intra-kerogen porosity, kerogen maturity, free gas volume, and/or adsorbed gas volume. A baseline measurement may be made prior to injecting the NMR-active fluid, and the region of investigation may be evacuated before injecting the NMR-active fluid. The obtained T2 distribution can be resolved and each peak attributed to different constituent sources of the signal. The system can be conveyed into a wellbore using a drillstring, a wireline, a slickline, or a coil tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohammed Badri, Reza Taherian
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11353619
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of determining wettability characteristics of a sub-surface formation within a wellbore utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and bulk fluid measurements at various stages of fluid saturation at that wellbore location. In another aspect, the pumping pressure is incrementally changed within the wellbore, measuring injection fluid and hydrocarbon saturation data values between the incremental pump pressure changes. In another aspect, a measuring and sampling tool is disclosed to execute the method and produce wettability characteristics. In another aspect, a system is disclosed that can operate NMR devices, bulk fluid equipment, pump systems, and other devices to collect data and to determine wettability characteristics on the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Songhua Chen, Lilong Li
  • Patent number: 11346911
    Abstract: Machine training a network for and use of the machine-trained network are provided for tissue parameter estimation for a magnetic scanner using magnetic resonance fingerprinting. The machine-trained network is trained to both reconstruct a fingerprint image or fingerprint and to estimate values for multiple tissue parameters in magnetic resonance fingerprinting. The reconstruction of the fingerprint image or fingerprint may reduce noise, such as aliasing, allowing for more accurate estimation of the values of the multiple tissue parameters from the under sampled magnetic resonance fingerprinting information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Guillaume Daval Frerot, Xiao Chen, Mariappan S. Nadar, Peter Speier, Mathias Nittka, Boris Mailhe, Simon Arberet
  • Patent number: 11346974
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method that includes generating a first pulse at a first position along a geological formation with a plurality of antennae, wherein the first pulse comprises a Can-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence, and wherein each antenna of the plurality of antennae is configured to generate NMR data via transmitting and receiving pulses into the geological formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Henry Nathaniel Bachman, Albina Mutina
  • Patent number: 11340377
    Abstract: A method for evaluating drilling fluid includes making an NMR measurement of a sample of the drilling fluid and inverting the measurements to compute a corresponding T1T2 plot. The T1T2 plot is in turn evaluated to characterize the drilling fluid. In one embodiment, a stability index of the fluid may be computed from multiple NMR measurements made while aging the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yiqiao Tang, Reda Karoum, Yi-Qiao Song, Shin Utsuzawa, Stephen Cliffe
  • Patent number: 11313991
    Abstract: A system for acquiring directional information about a geologic formation includes at least one directionally sensitive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) assembly disposed at a borehole string including the downhole component. The at least one NMR assembly includes at least one magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field and at least one coil configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field, the at least one NMR assembly configured to perform an NMR measurement of at least one sector of a formation region. The system also includes a processing device configured to receive NMR measurement data from the at least one NMR assembly. The processing device is configured to analyze the NMR measurement data to estimate a parameter of the sector, determine a direction of the downhole component based on the estimated parameter; and steer the downhole component according to the determined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Peter, Thomas Kruspe, Sebastian Jung
  • Patent number: 11300531
    Abstract: A method of incorporating the influence of diffusion into the CPMG-based T2 measurement for one or more of the following: water cut measurement; performing inline measurements of flow rate; density; and rheology of a flowing fluid. The method includes conducting a “standard T1/T2 experiment” at least twice by providing one scan without a field gradient during the CMPG echo train. Then, providing a second scan with the application of a gradient, where in the second experiment the measured T2 (T2app) is affected solely by water diffusion, thus shifting cross peaks which represent water on the first T1/T2 spectrum to lower T2 values on the second spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ASPECT AI LTD.
    Inventor: Peter Bendel
  • Patent number: 11294093
    Abstract: A method can include controlling radio frequency emission circuitry of a nuclear magnetic resonance unit to emit radio frequency energy according to a first set of parameters that comprises a first wait time for an even number of sequence repeats with positive and negative phases and to emit radio frequency energy according to a second set of parameters that includes a second wait time for a single sequence with a single phase, where the second wait time is greater than the first wait time; and acquiring, via antenna circuitry and analog-to-digital conversion circuitry, nuclear magnetic resonance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicholas Heaton
  • Patent number: 11280638
    Abstract: At least an output shaft angle associated with an output shaft is initialized to a known value where the output shaft is coupled to a motor shaft via a set of one or more gears. A direction of rotation associated with the motor shaft is determined using a plurality of discrete Hall sensors in the motor and the output shaft angle is updated using an incremental value and the direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Wisk Aero LLC
    Inventors: Geoffrey Alan Long, Brian Robert Viele
  • Patent number: 11280932
    Abstract: Provided are a main control system and a device for a nuclear magnetic resonance logging while drilling tool, the system includes: a digital signal processor, an auxiliary measurement module, a pulse signal generation module and a memory disposed in a downhole drilling tool; wherein the digital signal processor is communicatively connected to an upper computer arranged on the ground, the auxiliary measurement module and the pulse signal generation module respectively; the memory is communicatively connected to the pulse signal generation module. The main control system and a device for a nuclear magnetic resonance logging while drilling tool achieve the effect of improving the accuracy of the logging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM-BEIJING
    Inventors: Guangzhi Liao, Lizhi Xiao, Yangyang Xu, Wei Liu, Yao Wei
  • Patent number: 11280191
    Abstract: A methodology that performs fluid sampling within a wellbore traversing a reservoir and fluid analysis on the fluid sample(s) to determine properties (including asphaltene concentration) of the fluid sample(s). At least one model is used to predict asphaltene concentration as a function of location in the reservoir. The predicted asphaltene concentrations are compared with corresponding concentrations measured by the fluid analysis to identify if the asphaltene of the fluid sample(s) corresponds to a particular asphaltene type (e.g., asphaltene clusters common in heavy oil). If so, a viscosity model is used to derive viscosity of the reservoir fluids as a function of location in the reservoir. The viscosity model allows for gradients in the viscosity of the reservoir fluids as a function of depth. The results of the viscosity model (and/or parts thereof) can be used in reservoir understanding workflows and in reservoir simulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youxiang Zuo, Oliver C. Mullins, Francois Xavier Dubost, Cosan Ayan, Wael Abdallah, Andrew E. Pomerantz, Dingan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11243284
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for sequencing magnetic resonance imaging waveforms uses a multistage sequencing hardware. A method comprises creating, with the aid of a computer processor, an active memory region that includes waveforms and schedules being played, and creating one or more buffer memory regions that contain waveforms and schedules not currently being played. Next, the waveforms and schedules in the one or more buffer memory regions may be updated while waveforms may be played in the active memory region. Upon completion of the waveform playback in the active memory region, the active and buffer memory regions may be swapped so that the former buffer memory region becomes the active memory region, and the former active memory region becomes the buffer memory region. The method may be repeated as needed until the imaging process is completed or otherwise halted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: HEARTVISTA, INC.
    Inventors: William Overall, Juan Santos
  • Patent number: 11231517
    Abstract: A method for geosteering while drilling a well in a subterranean formation using a downhole assembly having a toolface comprises measuring at least one motion-related downhole parameter relative to the toolface angle so as to generate azimuthally-associated data, using the azimuthally-associated data to assess formation anisotropy, and using the anisotropy assessment to manually or automatically steer a well while drilling the well. The motion-related downhole parameter may relate to motion of an asymmetric bit or bent housing or bent housing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: SANVEAN TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Junichi Sugiura, Stephen Jones
  • Patent number: 11231474
    Abstract: A method of estimating properties of a resource bearing formation includes receiving, by a processor, a measured echo train generated by a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement device deployed in a region of interest, and a measured noise of the measured echo train, and calculating a T2 distribution subject to a nonlinear equality constraint, the nonlinear equality constraint dependent on the measured noise and a fitting error between the measured echo train and a modeled echo train. Calculating the T2 distribution includes estimating a solution for the T2 distribution that is closest to satisfying the nonlinear equality constraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Baoyan Li, Julio Roberto Arro, Holger Thern, Hasan Kesserwan, Guodong Jin
  • Patent number: 11226275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of measuring the diffusion coefficient of water in a porous medium. The coefficient is measured using a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique (2, 3, 4) and the sample (1) has the shape of a hollow cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventor: Marc Fleury
  • Patent number: 11189363
    Abstract: A method of characterizing chemical and/or morphological features of a material, comprising acquiring energy relaxation data from 1H low field nuclear magnetic resonance (1H LF-NMR) measurements of said material, converting the relaxation signals into a multidimensional distribution of longitudinal and transverse relaxation times by solving an inverse problem under both L1 and L2 regularizations and further imposing a non-negativity constraint, and identifying one or more characteristics of said material with the aid of said multidimensional T1-T2 distribution. The method is useful, inter alia, in monitoring chemical processes, screening of additives and quality control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ze'ev Wiesman, Charles Linder, Ofer Levi
  • Patent number: 11175430
    Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to processing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. An NMR downhole tool may include a housing, magnets disposed within the housing, an antenna extending along a circumference of the housing, and an information handling system configured to receive NMR signals via the antenna, wherein the NMR signals are based on an operating frequency, a static magnetic field B0, and a radio frequency (RF) field B1, which are defined by the antenna and the magnets. The information handling system may be further configured to project the NMR signals to a forward modeling space, and transmit vectors resulting from projecting the NMR signals to the forward modeling space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Shao, Songhua Chen
  • Patent number: 11143782
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing a downhole nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment on a subsurface material in a volume of interest includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the subsurface material; an NMR sensor assembly disposed on the carrier and comprising a static magnetic field source configured to polarize nuclei of the subsurface material in the volume of interest and an antenna configured to receive NMR signals; and a receiver circuit disposed on the NMR sensor assembly and configured to process received NMR signals to perform the downhole NMR experiment; wherein (i) the receiver circuit is disposed in a pressure-excluding enclosure and (ii) the antenna, the static magnetic field source, and the pressure-excluding enclosure are disposed in a pressure-balancing fluid that is at least partially enclosed by an enclosure of non-metallic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Quming Zhou, Marc Stephen Ramirez
  • Patent number: 11143781
    Abstract: An electromagnet model or models are created to generate the static and radio frequency magnetic fields of an NMR downhole logging tool. The magnetic field distributions are then used in spin dynamics (SD) simulations to model the impacts of various effects on NMR logging data, effects that cannot be accurately describe by theoretical formulation alone. The accuracy of the electromagnetic model and the SD simulation may be verified against experimental observations or trial logging runs. Simulation of electronic circuit, molecular diffusion, tool motion can all be incorporated in the SD simulation. The NMR data inversion process can be modified according to echoes obtained from SD simulation to obtain more accurate petrophysical parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventors: Lilong Li, Songhua Chen, Mark Cheiron Butler
  • Patent number: 11131186
    Abstract: A method for rapid wettability evaluation during exploratory drilling of a hydrocarbon. The method include pre-saturation of the sample by a brine, measuring the bulk brine's T2 NMR relaxation parameter, expelling the brine by oil in the sample, measuring the oil's bulk and pore T2 NMR relaxation parameter, measuring the brine's non-reducible content and T2 NMR relaxation parameter of water in the presence of dominant oil content, expelling the oil by the brine and measuring the T2 NMR relaxation parameter of the irreducible oil content in the dominant brine. The measurements are combined in the index: I=[(T2WB?T2WIOIRR)/T2WB]?[(T2OB?T2OIWIRR)/T2OB], where WB is water bulk, OB is oil bulk, WIOIRR—injected pore water at the irreducible oil content, OIWIRR—injected pore oil at the irreducible water content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Karem Al-Garadi, Ammar El-Husseiny, Mohamed Mahmoud, Mahmoud Elsayed
  • Patent number: 11125903
    Abstract: A method and system for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sequence for partially polarized echo trains is provided. An NMR pulse sequence is applied into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation using a NMR tool. The NMR pulse sequence includes a first cycle and a second cycle. The first cycle includes a first sequence of radio frequency (RF) pulses of a first duration and a first trainlet sequence of a second duration different from the first duration. The second cycle includes a second sequence of RF pulses of the first duration and a second trainlet sequence of the second duration. The second sequence of RF pulses forms a phase alternated pair with the first sequence of RF pulses. Echo signals corresponding to a substance in the subterranean formation are measured based on the NMR pulse sequence. A distribution of a characteristic of the substance is determined based on the echo signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lilong Li
  • Patent number: 11112525
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M Althaus, Daniel T Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 11086044
    Abstract: A shale oil analysis method and apparatus for continuously characterizing saturation of adsorbed oil and free oil, comprising: obtain NMR T2 spectrum, NMR porosity, oil saturation and wettability indexes of a core samples, determine a lower limit value for the saturation calculation of the absorbed oil based on the NMR T2 spectrum, the NMR porosity, the oil saturation and wettability indices; determining a lower limit value for the saturation calculation of the free oil according to the bulk relaxation T2 spectrum of the crude oil of the well interval or an adjacent well interval and the NMR T2 spectrum of the core samples; calculating the saturation of the absorbed oil and the free oil, and analyzing the shale oil in the well interval to be analyzed. The solution realizes the quantitative and continuous characterization of the adsorbed oil and the free oil of the shale oil via well logs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Dongming Zhi, Lichun Kuang, Xiaojun Wang, Zhongchun Sun, Zhijun Qin, Wei Wang, Ni Zhang, Xinjun Mao, Min Ouyang, Qiusheng Chang
  • Patent number: 11073634
    Abstract: A material for constructing a drill collar is selected based on a cost and a minimum thickness for a cross-sectional area of material that satisfies a structural constraint. An interior volume of the drill collar houses one or more downhole nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) components based on its minimum thickness. A central magnet coupled to a booster magnetic element disposed in the interior volume. A first end magnet and a second end magnet are positioned in the interior volume proximate respective axial sides of the booster magnetic element, and an antenna assembly is positioned proximate to the interior volume, between the respective axial sides of the magnetic assembly and about at least a portion of the central magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Arcady Reiderman
  • Patent number: 11073633
    Abstract: An NMR system includes a radio frequency (RF) NMR application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip configured to generate an RF output signal and a rectifier configured to receive the RF output signal and convert the RF output signal to (a) a direct current (DC) pulsed field gradient (PFG) signal or (b) a DC trigger signal for at least one of (i) activating at least one component of an NMR system external to the NMR RF ASIC chip and (ii) synchronizing at least one component of an NMR system external to the NMR RF ASIC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Yi-Qiao Song, Soumyajit Mandal, Yiqiao Tang, David McCowan
  • Patent number: 11069063
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a system for noise analysis. The system may acquire a plurality of signals of a subject, and determine a signal representation of the subject based on the plurality of signals. The system may determine an updated signal representation of the subject by adding a signal disturbance into the plurality of signals. The system may further determine a value of a noise parameter indicative of a signal level of the plurality of signals relative to noise of the plurality of signals based on the signal representation and the updated signal representation of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: UIH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Yongquan Ye
  • Patent number: 11060398
    Abstract: A method may comprise disposing a nuclear magnetic resonance logging tool into a wellbore, identifying an upper limit of an amplitude for tool motion, identifying a frequency range based at least in part on the upper limit of the amplitude for tool motion, measuring the one or more frequencies from the echo train, and performing a frequency-domain processing of the one or more frequencies to suppress distortions in an echo train. A system may comprise a nuclear magnetic resonance logging tool and an information handling system. The nuclear magnetic resonance logging tool may further comprise an electromagnetic transmitter configured to emit a magnetic field, a radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit a pulse and one or more refocusing pulses, and a receiver configured to detect one or more frequencies from an echo train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Butler, Rebecca Corina Jachmann
  • Patent number: 11054540
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M Althaus, Daniel T Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 11048014
    Abstract: A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logging tool configured to be positioned in a borehole created in a subsurface formation. The NMR logging tool includes a magnet to induce a magnetic field in the subsurface formation, a transmission line, and a first shield positioned between the magnet and the transmission line. The NMR logging tool includes a transmitter and an antenna coupled to the transmitter by the transmission line. The antenna is to transmit a radio frequency (RF) magnetic field into the subsurface formation in response to the transmitter supplying power by the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Yang, Lilong Li
  • Patent number: 11035977
    Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) well logs are obtained from a well in the reservoir measures of the total fluid, including both water and hydrocarbon, in the shale of the reservoir. NMR measurement at the surface of shale subsurface samples obtained in the form of drill cuttings or core samples from the same well provide measures of total water content of the shale. At the surface, pressure on the subsurface sample becomes that of atmospheric pressure, and hydrocarbon gas contained in the shale cuttings bleeds off. The remaining fluid within the shale cuttings is then only water, which can be measured using NMR techniques. Compensation for the effect of drilling fluids (drilling mud) on the NMR measures from the fluid cuttings is also performed. The hydrocarbon gas content of the formation shale can be determined from the difference between formation NMR well log readings and NMR measurements from subsurface sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Stacey M Althaus, Daniel T Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu
  • Patent number: 11009621
    Abstract: A wireline or logging while drilling device includes: a first coil configured to vary the intensity of a main magnetic field so as to produce phase modulation of signals emitted by spins in a sensitive volume; and a second coil configured to excite the spins in the sensitive volume in an inverse ratio of gyromagnetic constants of the spins; and receive signals from the spins displaced in frequency from the Larmor frequency of the spins by the phase modulation produced by the first coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: WOLLIN VENTURES, INC.
    Inventor: Ernest Wollin
  • Patent number: 10997705
    Abstract: A method is described for ways to generate a Fraction of Sand (Fsand) estimate and net-to-gross (NTG) estimate of sand in a formation using a machine-learning algorithm such as a neural network based on borehole image logs. The method may use the Fsand and other information to estimate hydrocarbons in place in a subsurface formation. The method may be executed by a computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Bo Gong, Dustin J. Keele, Emmanuel Toumelin, Simon Clinch
  • Patent number: 10983077
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the oleophilic fluid to aqueous fluid ratio of a drilling fluid includes selecting a sample of the drilling fluid that has been recirculated, measuring the NMR response of the sample of the drilling fluid and determining the oleophilic fluid to aqueous fluid ratio of the drilling fluid based at least in part on the NMR response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Songhua Chen, Magdalena Traico Sandor, Cato Russell McDaniel, Jason Glen Bell, William W. Shumway
  • Patent number: 10969352
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10969353
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for determining a permeability of a rock sample. One method includes measuring a first set of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxation times for the rock sample saturated with regular water (H2O); injecting heavy water (D2O) into the rock sample; measuring a second set of NMR relaxation times for the rock sample after injecting D2O; calculating a pore connectivity factor based on the first set of NMR relaxation times and the second set of NMR relaxation times; and calculating the permeability of the rock sample based on the pore connectivity factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kwak, Ahmad Mubarak Al-Harbi
  • Patent number: 10962675
    Abstract: Exemplary implementations may: obtain subsurface relaxation time data specifying subsurface relaxation time values corresponding to a well in the subsurface volume of interest; generating a subsurface relaxation time distribution using the subsurface relaxation time data; generating a subsurface porosity distribution using the subsurface relaxation time distribution; generating a representation of the subsurface porosity distribution in the subsurface volume of interest using visual effects to depict at least one of the one or more subsurface relaxation time values; and display the representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Boqin Sun, Simon Clinch, Dustin J. Keele, Byron Dean Gulick
  • Patent number: 10962674
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments are directed to applying a nuclear magnetic resonance sequence to a substance within an inhomogeneous static magnetic field. Various embodiments include applying a series of refocusing pulses to the substance, each refocusing pulse in the series of refocusing pulses having at least two segments, and a total pulse duration less than or equal to approximately 1.414 times T180. Various embodiments can further include applying an excitation pulse to the substance in the inhomogeneous static magnetic field, where the excitation pulse generates an initial magnetization that is aligned with a refocusing axis produced by a refocusing cycle that is performed after the excitation pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Martin D. Hürlimann, Soumyajit Mandal, Van Mai Do, Yi-Qiao Song
  • Patent number: 10961848
    Abstract: NMR tools are described having unidirectional magnetization throughout the magnet assembly. An antenna assembly is positioned around the magnet assembly in order to excite a volume in the surrounding subterranean formation. A layer of soft magnetic core material is positioned under the antenna assembly in order to shield all or most of the RF field generated by the RF antenna away from the conductive components inside the NMR tool. The conductive components may be conductive structural members or a conductive magnet assembly. The soft magnetic core material also shapes the static magnetic field by smoothing out the longitudinal magnetic field variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lilong Li, Songhua Chen, Arcady Reiderman
  • Patent number: 10955581
    Abstract: A method of evaluating a subterranean formation includes conveying a tool along a borehole. The tool includes a transmitter that transmits a drive pulse and a receiver that receives at least one formation response to the drive pulse. The method further includes calculating a signal-to-noise ratio of the at least one formation response and comparing the signal-to-noise ratio to a programmable threshold. The method further includes determining, based on the comparing, an adjusted drive pulse to transmit and transmitting the adjusted drive pulse. The method further includes and receiving at least one formation response to the adjusted drive pulse and deriving formation data from the at least one formation response to the adjusted drive pulse. The method further includes displaying a representation of the formation based on the formation data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Dykstra, Yiming Zhao, Xingyong Song
  • Patent number: 10942289
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a ferrite for use in a resistivity logging tool includes mixing a ferrite powder with a binder to provide a mixture, and pressing the mixture into a mold to form the ferrite. The mold exhibits a specific geometry corresponding to a channel defined on an inner surface of a bobbin associated with the resistivity logging tool, and the channel is arcuate and extends at an angle offset from a central axis of the bobbin. At least one of a length, a width, and a thickness of the ferrite is then adjusted to manipulate a magnetic permeability of the ferrite in a direction of a magnetic field passing through the ferrite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew Chase Griffing
  • Patent number: 10921480
    Abstract: The application provides a downhole three-dimensional scanning nuclear magnetic resonance imaging logging instrument and a probe, an antenna thereof, wherein the antenna comprises: an radio frequency antenna, an orienting device and a rotating device; the radio frequency antenna is fixed on an outer surface of the orienting device, and the orienting device is arranged on a magnet, the rotating device is fixed on the magnet; the rotating device is movably connected to the orienting device; and the rotating device is configured to drive the orienting device to rotate relative to the magnet, such that the radio frequency antenna on the orienting device can be drived to rotate, and echo signals in different directions can be acquired by the radio frequency antenna. The purpose of multi-directional measurement can be achieved, and the overall properties of an undisturbed stratum can be reflected by the applicant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM-BEIJING
    Inventors: Lizhi Xiao, Guangzhi Liao, Zhe Sun, Xin Li, Sihui Luo
  • Patent number: 10907472
    Abstract: A method and system are described for imaging core samples associated with a subsurface region. The imaging results may be used to create or update a subsurface model and using the subsurface model and/or imaging results in hydrocarbon operations. The imaging techniques may include NMR imaging and CT imaging. Further, the imaging techniques may also include exposing the core sample to the imaging gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Hubert E. King, Jr., Shawn Fullmer, Antonio S. Buono, Michael Sansone, Pavel Kortunov, John H. Dunsmuir, Bo Gao, James G. Kralik, Ye Xu
  • Patent number: 10900916
    Abstract: A method for transforming an earth formation and/or a completion component for the earth formation based on estimating a parameter of the earth formation includes: performing a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment on the earth formation, the NMR experiment includes transmitting an initial radio-frequency (RF) pulse and a series of refocusing RF pulses; detecting a truncated free induction decay (FID) signal following the initial RF pulse and a spin echo following at least one refocusing RF pulse, the truncated FID signal missing an initial part of a total FID signal; reconstructing the total FID signal using the truncated FID signal, the detected spin echo, and a calculated or measured time between end of transmitting the initial RF pulse and beginning of receiving the truncated FID signal; estimating the parameter using the total FID signal; and transforming the earth formation and/or the completion component based on the estimated property using transformation-equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Marc Stephen Ramirez, Quming Zhou
  • Patent number: 10895659
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for tracking lateral motion of a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tool are disclosed. In some embodiments, a phase shift for one or more spin-echo signals received by the NMR tool is detected during a velocity measurement sequence that corresponds to at least one formation measurement sequence. A lateral velocity of the NMR tool is determined based, at least in part, on the detected phase shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Arcady Reiderman, Songhua Chen, Mark Cheiron Butler
  • Patent number: 10890686
    Abstract: A method for making a log of material properties in a plurality of beds from an instrument utilizes steps such as estimating material properties for said plurality of beds and/or estimating positions for a plurality of bed boundaries and/or estimating orientations for said plurality of bed boundaries wherein the bed boundary orientations are individually variable. The estimated positions, orientations, and/or material properties can be utilized to compute the log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Richard H. Hardman
  • Patent number: 10884082
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a receiver array coil structured with a plurality of receiver coils. Each of the receiver coils included in the receiver array coil includes a coil element, a first tuning element configured to tune a tunable frequency of the receiver coil to a desired frequency, and a series circuit including a switching element and a second tuning element and being connected in parallel with the first tuning element. The switching element is configured to disconnect the first tuning element and the second tuning element from each other at the time of transmitting and is configured to arrange the first tuning element and the second tuning element to be electrically conductive with each other at the time of receiving. At least two receiver coils positioned adjacent to each other among the plurality of receiver coils are decoupled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CANON MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10877332
    Abstract: An electronic device may be provided with a display having a thin-film transistor layer. One or more holes in the thin-film transistor layer may be used to form pathways from display circuitry to other circuitry underneath the display. One or more conductive bridges may pass through holes in the thin-film transistor layer and may have one end that couples to the display circuitry and a second end that couples to a printed circuit underneath the display. These conductive bridges may be formed from wire bonding. Wire bond connections may be encapsulated with potting material to improve the reliability of the wire bond and increase the resiliency of the display. Display signal lines may be routed through holes in a thin-film transistor layer to run along a backside of the display thereby reducing the need for space in the border region for display circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Jeremy C. Franklin, Stephen Brian Lynch, Scott A. Myers, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Fletcher R. Rothkopf, John P. Ternus