Fluid Flow Investigation Patents (Class 702/12)
-
Publication number: 20120303281Abstract: A computer implemented method for determining reservoir pressure in a shut-in well, the method comprising: determining the initial physical characteristics of the well; determining properties of gas bubble throughout the well; calculating a dynamic mass transfer rate for the gas bubble over a period of time; calculating the physical fluid movement along the well: calculating a rate of fluid influx from the reservoir; determining a corrected pressure gradient along at least part, or all, of the profile of the well using the determined dynamic mass transfer rate, fluid movement and rate of fluid influx; and determining the reservoir pressure from a measure, or determination, of the well head pressure and the calculated pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2010Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Petroliam Nasional BerhadInventors: Vai Yee Hon, Suzalina Bt Zainal
-
Publication number: 20120303280Abstract: A method for estimating a borehole independent porosity of a subterranean formation includes processing a neutron logging data point, preferably including average near and far detector neutron count rates with suitable input data to obtain the porosity estimate. The borehole independent formation porosity may be obtained without any compensation and without any reliance on the measurement or estimation of sensor standoff and/or borehole caliper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Libai Xu, Cornelis Huiszoon
-
Patent number: 8321190Abstract: A method of simulating fluid transport in a system for stimulating a well in a material formation of a resource reservoir, the system comprising a conduit element arranged in the well, the conduit element comprising a conduit wall including one or more openings for discharging a fluid into the material formation surrounding the conduit element; the method comprising establishing and numerically processing a transport model of fluid transport inside the conduit element. The transport model further includes a model of fluid transport in a predetermined space around the conduit element.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2006Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Maersk Olie & Gas A/SInventors: Jens Henrik Hansen, Kristian Mogensen
-
Patent number: 8321131Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining characteristics of earth formations traversed by a borehole that compensates the mudcake and standoff effects with fewer than usual detectors. The apparatus includes an radiation source effective to generate first and, spatially as well as temporally separate, second X-rays for irradiating earth formations from first and second entrance angles, one or more X-ray detectors capable of generating a first and a second signal indicative of the intensity of the first and second X-rays returned from earth formations to the detectors and a housing accommodating the radiation source and the detectors.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2007Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Charles R. Case
-
Patent number: 8321133Abstract: A technique for utilizing tube waves to measure sound speed of fluids and other properties in the frequency range of about 5 to 100 kHz. A drill string is equipped with a sensor tube having a cavity filled with a downhole fluid such as borehole mud or formation fluid. An acoustic transmitter and an array of acoustic receivers are mounted on the tube in direct contact with the fluid. Processing circuitry calculates a property, e.g., sound speed, of the fluid based on time-of-flight of an acoustic signal generated by the transmitter and received by the array of receivers. Alternatively change in signal phase as a function of frequency may be employed by the processing circuitry. The technique is particularly suited to measuring the sound speed of borehole mud in situ.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 27, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Chaur-Jian Hsu, Ralph M. D'Angelo
-
Publication number: 20120277997Abstract: The invention relates to a device for examining a tubular channel, the device comprising a three-way valve, buoyancy means, pressure means, a vent line, at least one sensor and computation means; wherein the three-way valve controls the fluid flow between the pressure means and the buoyancy means and between the buoyancy means and the vent line; the computation means is communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor and adapted to generate a control signal based on data received from the at least one sensor; and wherein the pressure means is fluidly coupled to the buoyancy means via the three-way valve such that a fluid may flow from the pressure means to the buoyancy means or from the buoyancy means to the surroundings of the device via the vent line; and wherein the computation means is communicatively coupled to the three-way valve and controls said three-way valve via the control signal. Thereby, the invention is able to examine e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2010Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: Maersk Oil Qatar A/SInventors: Wilhelmus Hubertus Paulus Maria Heijnen, Robert Bouke Peters
-
Patent number: 8301381Abstract: A method for determining the water saturation of an underground formation traversed by a borehole, the method composing: determining a first parameter (?) that is representative of the critical exponent of the electrical conductivity of the formation: determining a second parameter (Wc or Sc or ?c) that is representative of the formation percolation threshold; measuring a first set of formation properties; and combining, said first set of formation properties, first and second parameters in order to determine the water saturation (Sw) of said underground formation.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Bernard Montaron
-
Publication number: 20120267169Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for drilling a wellbore is disclosed. A fluid is pumped to rotate a drilling assembly at an end of a drill string in the wellbore. A plurality of measurements of pressure of the fluid is obtained. A standard deviation of the mud pressure is estimated from the plurality of fluid pressure measurements, and a variation of a tool face angle of the drilling assembly to the pumped fluid is estimated from a comparison of the estimated standard deviation of pressure to a selected criterion. A drilling parameter can be altered to drill the wellbore based on the estimated variation of the tool face angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventor: Thorsten Schwefe
-
Publication number: 20120241149Abstract: A method of comparing a secondary oil recovery process with a tertiary oil recovery process, the secondary oil recovery process and the tertiary oil recovery process being applied to a substantially fluid-saturated porous medium containing an oil phase and an aqueous phase, the method comprising using relaxation time measurements in the calculation of a wettability index modification factor for the oil phase or the aqueous phase, thereby comparing the tertiary oil recovery process with the secondary oil recovery process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2010Publication date: September 27, 2012Inventors: Quan Chen, Ian Ralph Collins
-
Patent number: 8275549Abstract: The online measurement system of radioactive tracers in oil wells head, object of this invention, is characterized by the use of new technology to measure concentrations of tracer activity in real time, using a radiation detector NaI (TI), with features that make it possible to detect up to three different tracers and be able to operate in temperature conditions up to 150° C., which allows to be immersed in a container with fluid coming from the flow stream, achieving with this to increase the sensitivity of the measurements. This system of measurement in the head of production wells will allow having much more data of the tracer activity, avoiding having to transport the operational staff to production wells to carry out sampling test, with all the advantages that this represents.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Instituto Mexicano del PetroleoInventors: Jetzabeth Ramírez Sabag, Luis Rubén Amado Hidalgo, Saúl Diaz Jiménez, Marco Antonio Hernández Rojo
-
Patent number: 8269501Abstract: Methods for imaging geological structures include injecting magnetic materials into the geological structures, placing at least one magnetic probe in a proximity to the geological structures, generating a magnetic field in the geological structures and detecting a magnetic signal. The at least one magnetic probe may be on the surface of the geological structures or reside within the geological structures. The methods also include injecting magnetic materials into the geological structures, placing at least one magnetic detector in the geological structures and measuring a resonant frequency in the at least one magnetic detector. Methods for using magnetic materials in dipole-dipole, dipole-loop and loop-loop transmitter-receiver configurations for geological structure electromagnetic imaging techniques are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: William Marsh Rice UniversityInventors: Howard K. Schmidt, James M. Tour
-
Patent number: 8265809Abstract: The present invention relates to an autonomous underwater vehicle (“AUV”) for monitoring underwater fluid currents by detecting electrical currents induced by the flow of a conductive liquid through the Earth's magnetic field. More particularly, the present invention relates to the gathering of data related to underwater fluid currents and the control of AUV motion during data gathering.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Teledyne Instruments, Inc.Inventor: Douglas C. Webb
-
Publication number: 20120215452Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons in a reservoir includes determining a relationship between an injection well and a producing well based on an injection rate and a production rate wherein the relationship is filtered to produce a filtered value, and a modified state variable model is selected for each relationship to produce a positive relationship value to determine the production rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: University of Southern CaliforniaInventors: Daoyuan Zhai, Jerry M. Mendel
-
Publication number: 20120209529Abstract: Physical models of wells are used to determine rate and phase composition for fluid produced from or injected into the wells on a near real time and continuous basis. The method can be used to alert operators or others of conditions in a well or field to permit more immediate response. The method can be more tolerant of sensor faults, sensor drift, anomalous data or other occurrences which could otherwise lead to incorrect output. More than one model can be used to permit a hierarchy of calculation such that the rate and phase determination is more tolerant of anomalous data. The calculated rate and phase values from one or more wells can be reconciled against facility data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2012Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: John Foot, Richard Heddle, Michael J. Webster
-
Patent number: 8244509Abstract: The invention relates to a method of performing an oilfield operation of an oilfield having at least one wellsite, each wellsite having a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation for extracting fluid from an underground reservoir therein. The method steps include obtaining a plurality of real-time parameters from a plurality of sensors disposed about the oilfield, wherein the plurality of real-time parameters comprise at least one selected from a group consisting of real-time flow rate data and real-time pressure data of the wellbore, configuring a gridless analytical simulator for simulating the underground reservoir based on the plurality of real-time parameters, generating real-time simulation results of the underground reservoir and the at least one wellsite in real-time using the gridless analytical simulator, and performing the oilfield operation based on the real-time simulation results.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Raj Banerjee, Michael Thambynayagam, Jeffrey Spath, Bobby Poe, Lumay Viloria, Greg Grove
-
Publication number: 20120203463Abstract: Methods for determining fluid rheology, the methods including determining a first discharged volume or weight of a fluid at a first time, determining at least a second discharged volume or weight of the fluid at a second time, and calculating fluid rheology based on the determined first and at least second discharged fluid volumes or weights at the first and second times.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2010Publication date: August 9, 2012Inventors: Quanxin Guo, Cong Wang, Thomas Geehan, Lujun Ji
-
Patent number: 8239134Abstract: A system and method for detecting abnormal operation of a hydrocracker includes a hydrocracker model. The model may be configurable to include one or more regression models corresponding to different operating regions of the portion of the hydrocracker. The system and method may also determine if a monitored temperature difference variable deviates significantly from the temperature difference variable predicted by the model. If there is a significant deviation, this may indicate an abnormal operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Fisher-Rosemount Systems, Inc.Inventors: Ravi Kant, John Philip Miller, Tautho Hai Nguyen
-
Patent number: 8230917Abstract: Methods and systems are described for stimulating a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, one method comprising contacting the formation with a treating fluid, and monitoring the movement of the treating fluid in the reservoir by providing one or more sensors for measurement of temperature and/or pressure which is disposed on a support adapted to maintain a given spacing between the sensors and the fluid exit. In some embodiments the support is coiled tubing.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Jeanne Boles, Vibhas Pandey, Murtaza Ziauddin
-
Patent number: 8229672Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for determining the percolation rate of soil. The method includes providing a test assembly configured to be placed over the top of a test hole, the test assembly containing a remote sensor (such as an ultrasound sensor) positioned proximate the top of the hole. The depth to the bottom of the hole, as well as the elevation of water within the hole during the test process, is measured using the remote sensor and used to determine perc rate of the soil within which the hole is dug.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Inventors: Brian Lee Prigge, Chad Michael Kraemer
-
Publication number: 20120179379Abstract: Models of fluid flow in wells in formation of a subsurface earth reservoir are formed by computers based on measurements obtained by well logging tools run in the wells and measurements of formation rock characteristics obtained from laboratory data. The models so formed are used to form measures of injection/production profiles and assist reservoir engineers in allocation of production and injection wells for the reservoir, and in other reservoir production planning and analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Mohammed H. Alshawaf, Lewis M. Warlick, Fahad A. Al-Ajmi
-
Patent number: 8214187Abstract: This method for evaluating fluid flows in a heterogeneous medium, uses a hybrid grid constructed from a CPG type structured grid and from a radial grid. The first stage includes locally deforming a CPG type grid into a non-uniform Cartesian grid. These local grid cell deformations correspond to the change from a “CPG” frame to a “Cartesian” frame defined by the deformation. These deformations are then quantified, by a deformation function ?, and applied to the radial grid so as to shift to the “Cartesian” frame. The second stage includes locally correcting the definition of this deformation function around the radial grid, so that the radial grid, in the “Cartesian” frame, keeps its geometrical characteristics. A hybrid grid is then generated in the “Cartesian” frame from the two grids thus deformed. Finally, this hybrid grid is deformed to return to the “CPG” frame, using the inverse of deformation function ?.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: IFPInventors: Thibaud Mouton, Chakib Bennis, Houman Borouchaki, Frédéric Roggero
-
Publication number: 20120166089Abstract: Job monitoring methods and apparatus for logging-while-drilling equipment are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes obtaining a fluid associated with an underground geological formation, analyzing the fluid with one or more sensors to form respective ones of sensor outputs, identifying a downhole scenario associated with the fluid based on the sensor outputs, the identifying being performed while the sensors are within the underground geological formation, and selecting a telemetry frame type based on the identified downhole scenario.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Inventors: Sylvain Ramshaw, Julian J. Pop, Peter Swinburne, Kai Hsu, Steven G. Villareal
-
Publication number: 20120158309Abstract: The propagation of a flood front as it is being injected in a porous media segment such as a subterranean oil-bearing formation or a core composite is measured as a function of time during a number of discrete time steps. A model is formed of measures of water saturation profiles along the length of travel through the porous media segment for the time steps. The model in effect subdivides the porous media segment into individual sections or subsystems of equal distances. The saturation of each subsystem is determined based on the volume of the fluid injected, the pre-determined fractional flow and the initial average saturation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventor: Mohammed Jawad D. Alshakhs
-
Publication number: 20120158310Abstract: A new approach is disclosed for measuring the pressure of tight gas reservoirs, using information obtain from continuous injection prior to hydraulic fracture stimulation. The technique can be obtained utilizing either bottom-hole or surface pressure gauges and properly instrumented surface injection pumps. The analysis is completed by plotting injection and rate data in a specialized form from terms arranged in Darcy's radial flow equation to obtain a curve or trend. The key component to proper application of this technique is to obtain both baseline and one or more calibration data sets. These calibration data sets are obtained by either increasing or decreasing the injection pressure and/or rate from the baseline data. Initial reservoir pressure is assumed, but the calibration data indicates if the guess was too high or low. Accurate estimates of reservoir pressure may be obtained in a few iterations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.Inventors: John R. Adams, Siyavash Motealleh, Herbert M. Sebastian, Yuanlin Jiang, Bryan Dotson
-
Publication number: 20120152548Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of an underground formation with a fluid is described. The method includes providing a sample material of the underground formation; measuring the permeability and the porosity of the sample material; performing a drainage test on the sample material using the fluid; estimating the threshold pressure of the sample material from the drainage test, the permeability and the porosity measurements; and determining the receding contact angle of the fluid on the sample material from the threshold pressure. The sample material can be disaggregated material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Jerald J. Hinkel, Dean Willberg, Markus Pagels
-
Publication number: 20120158308Abstract: Flowmeters and methods of measuring a fluid flow or manufacturing flowmeters are presented. A flowmeter has a tool body and one or more spinner arms configured to extend with a first end away from the tool body and a second end joined to the tool body, when deployed to measure a fluid flow. Each spinner arm includes a helical blade configured to rotate due to a fluid flowing substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool body, around a rotation axis between the first end and the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: SONDEX LIMITEDInventor: Keith Robert WOOTTEN
-
Patent number: 8204726Abstract: A multi-scale method to efficiently determine the fine-scale saturation arising from multi-phase flow in a subsurface reservoir is disclosed. The method includes providing a simulation model that includes a fine-scale grid defining a plurality of fine-scale cells, and a coarse-scale grid defining a plurality of coarse-scale cells that are aggregates of the fine-scale cells. The coarse-scale cells are partitioned into saturation regions responsive to velocity and/or saturation changes from the saturation front. A fine-scale saturation is determined for each region and the saturation regions are assembled to obtain a fine-scale saturation distribution. A visual display can be output responsive to the fine-scale saturation distribution.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Seong H. Lee, Hui Zhou, Hamdi A. Tchelepi
-
Patent number: 8204693Abstract: A method for virtually metering flow rates in a cluster of injection wells comprises: closing each well in and performing a dynamically disturbed injection test (DDIT) on it, during which the injection rate to the well is varied while the flow rate in the header conduit assembly (HCA) and one or more injection well variables of the test well and the other wells are monitored, and the other wells are controlled so that their tubing head pressures or flow meter readings remain constant; for each tested well deriving a model providing a correlation between variations of the fluid flowrate attributable to the test well and variations of the well variables monitored during each DDIT; injecting fluid into each well while monitoring a flow pattern in the HCA and one or more well variables; calculating an estimated injection rate at each well basis on flow pattern, well variables and the model.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Jan Jozef Maria Briers, Keat-Choon Goh, Christophe Lauwerys, Peter Stefaan Lutgard Van Overschee
-
Patent number: 8204690Abstract: A machine, method and computer-usable medium for modeling an average flow of a substance through a composite material. Such a modeling includes an analytical calculation of an effective tensor Kå suitable for use with a variety of media. The analytical calculation corresponds to an approximation to the tensor K, and follows by first computing the diagonal values, and then identifying symmetries of the heterogeneity distribution. Additional calculations include determining the center of mass of the heterogeneous cell and its angle according to a defined Cartesian system, and utilizing this angle into a rotation formula to compute the off-diagonal values and determining its sign.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2009Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLCInventor: Rosangela De Fatima Sviercoski
-
Publication number: 20120136578Abstract: The various embodiments herein provide a method for determining core wettability characteristics of reservoir rock samples based on modified form of Washburn equation. The method involves saturating a core sample with a first reservoir fluid such as water and imbibing with a second reservoir fluid such as oil. The change in square of the core mass with respect to time is monitored during an imbibition process to acquire a data to calculate a contact angle to determine the wettability of the sample. The contact angle is calculated by using the modified form of Washburn equation. A single or twin core sample is used to calculate the wettability characteristics. The method measures wettability characteristics in terms of contact angle and not in terms of wettability index.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: THE PETROLEUM INSTITUTEInventors: Shawket Ghedan, Celal Hakan Canbaz
-
Publication number: 20120136579Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method and an apparatus to investigate and quantify a leakage rate for a fluid (FG, FL) between a first pipe and a second pipe, the first pipe being surrounded by at least a portion of the second pipe, where the pipes are arranged in a well in a ground and where a measuring arrangement including a flow meter and a pressure meter is put into fluid communication with an annulus (B) defined by the first pipe and the second pipe, where fluid (FG) in the gaseous phase is conveyed through the measuring arrangement, as the annulus (B) is used as a separation chamber for gas (FG) and liquid (FL).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventor: Morten Kvernvold
-
Patent number: 8190458Abstract: A method of performing oilfield operations for an oilfield having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein is provided. The method involves generating a business analysis of the oilfield based on business inputs, generating an operational analysis of the oilfield based on operational inputs, and selectively integrating the business analysis with the operational analysis by using the operational outputs as at least a portion of the business inputs and by using the business outputs as at least a portion of the operational inputs to form an integrated oilfield analysis. The business analysis includes business outputs for characterizing the business impact of projects performed on the oilfield. The operational analysis includes operational outputs for characterizing the operational impact of projects performed on the oilfield. The integrated oilfield analysis includes integrated oilfield outputs for characterizing the business and operational impact of projects performed on the oilfield.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael Back, Daniel Fichter, Doug MacDonald, Peter Tyler, Roger Gallant, Dave Mason
-
Patent number: 8185314Abstract: A method and system for determining dynamic permeability of gas hydrate formations including deploying a tool within a wellhole configured for magnetic resonance measurements, determining permeability of a formation at or near zero saturation of the gas hydrate and deriving the relationship between permeability and gas hydrate saturation for the formation.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Doug Murray
-
Publication number: 20120116681Abstract: A method and system includes acquiring a seismic dataset while fluids are injected into the subsurface with seismic data recorded at multiple sensor locations. Seismic travel times are computed between sensors and subsurface locations using a velocity model. Travel times and travel time delays between pairs of sensors may be used as input to determine a similarity coefficient associated with subsurface positions. The similarity coefficients are determined using cross correlation, semblance calculations or eigenstructure decomposition. The coefficient values are related to the acoustic response at each subsurface position and may be summed together for each position for comparison with other subsurface positions to determine the position of a fluid front moving through the subsurface. The values may be displayed to illustrate the position of fluids in the subsurface and displayed to show the time variance of the fluid position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2010Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: HIPOINT RESERVOIR IMAGING, LLCInventors: Brian Fuller, John Marcus Sterling, Les G. Engelbrecht
-
Patent number: 8170801Abstract: Physical models of wells are used to determine rate and phase composition for fluid produced from or injected into the wells on a near real time and continuous basis. The method can be used to alert operators or others of conditions in a well or field to permit more immediate response. The method can be more tolerant of sensor faults, sensor drift, anomalous data or other occurrences which could otherwise lead to incorrect output. More than one model can be used to permit a hierarchy of calculation such that the rate and phase determination is more tolerant of anomalous data. The calculated rate and phase values from one or more wells can be reconciled against facility data.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company LimitedInventors: John Foot, Richard Heddle, Michael J. Webster
-
Patent number: 8165814Abstract: An apparatus and method for mapping a water pathway. A group of sensors can be employed for detecting one or more features associated with the water pathway in a direction of flow through the water pathway. A buoyant vessel maintains the sensors, and the sensors assist in compiling data indicative of the detected features. The velocity in the direction of flow through the water pathway can be then determined based on data indicative of the detected feature(s). A mapping of the water pathway can be thereafter generated utilizing the velocity with respect to the features detected by the sensors.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Joshua Douglas Kenney, Ronald Nelson McGinnis, Jr., Gregory Charles Willden, Ben Allen Abbott, Ronald Thomas Green
-
Publication number: 20120095688Abstract: A Stoneley wave is generated in a borehole in a saturated porous earth formation. Measurements are made of the velocity of motion of the formation and the fluid in the formation. The difference in the velocities is indicative of formation permeability. An additional measurement of the electric field at the borehole wall enables determination of the electroacoustic constant.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2009Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Vitaly Nikolaevich Dorovsky, Alexander Igorevich Fedorov, Yury Vadimovich Perepechko
-
Patent number: 8155911Abstract: The present invention provides a flow rate measurement device for measuring a volume of gas flowing through a gas supply system in which a plurality of appliances are connected. The flow rate measurement device according to the second embodiment comprises a flow rate sensor configured to detect a gas flow flowing through the gas supply system and a differentiator configured to differentiate the detected gas flow. A memory is provided in which profiles of gas consumption by appliances are storable in relation to identities of the appliances. The flow rate measurement device according to the present invention also comprises a first profile finder which is responsive to the differentiated gas flow to search for a profile from the stored profiles which corresponds to the detected gas flow.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Hajime Miyata, Yasuhiro Umekage, Kenichi Kamon
-
Patent number: 8150637Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer program products for evaluating the performance of a gas lift well are disclosed. A gas lift well surveillance kit is disclosed. A method for evaluating the performance of a gas lift well includes injecting a tracer into an annulus, measuring a concentration of the tracer present in a substance retrieved from the well, determining actual travel times of the tracer, segmenting the gas lift well into a plurality of ranges of well depth, determining lift gas loss parameters, calculating lift gas velocities in the annulus and in the production tubing for each of the plurality of ranges of well depth based on the lift gas loss parameters, and determining points of entry of the lift gas into the production tubing based on: (i) the actual travel times of the tracer, and (ii) the lift gas velocities in the annulus and in the production tubing.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: WellTracer Technology, LLCInventors: Larry Peacock, Dan Dees
-
Patent number: 8150663Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for partitioning data for modelling a geological structure including laterally partitioning the data into multiple columns, where each column may be substantially laterally centered about a dual fiber and vertically partitioning each column at each of multiple intersection points of multiple surfaces and the dual fiber about which the column may be substantially laterally centered.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Paradigm Geophysical (Luxembourg) S.A.R.L.Inventor: Jean-Laurent Mallet
-
Patent number: 8131470Abstract: Automated monitoring and management of well tests of hydrocarbon wells in a production field. Routing of the output of a well to a flow meter, separated from the output from other wells in the field, is detected by a computer system such as a server. Measurement data including the flow as measured by the flow meter, and also other measurements such as temperatures and pressures contemporaneous with the flow meter measurements, are acquired by the computer system; a stable period is identified, over which the flow test measurement data are considered valid. Upon completion of a specified duration or upon a change in the flow environment, the computer system notifies the user of the completion of the flow test. The flow test results can be used to modify predictive well models, with the modification dependent on validation by the user. The system can also plan and schedule future flow tests.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company LimitedInventors: German Yusti, Hugh Rees, Michael J. Webster, John Foot
-
Patent number: 8126661Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
-
Publication number: 20120046870Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining phase fractions (relative concentrations) within a multiphase fluid mixture, in the presence of an injected hydrate inhibitor. Combining this phase fraction information with a hydrate inhibitor injection rate (HIIR) enables resolving oil and water flow rates for the phase fractions. The liquid flow rates and a total combined flow rate of the fluid mixture—determined based on a differential pressure of the fluid mixture through a given area—enable resolving a gas flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Inventors: John Lievois, Vijay Ramakrishnan, Babajide Adejuyigbe
-
Publication number: 20120041680Abstract: Radial waves are generated in a borehole in a saturated porous earth formation. Measurements are made of the velocity of motion of the formation and the fluid in the formation. The difference in the velocities is indicative of formation permeability.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Inventors: Vitaly Nikolaevich Dorovsky, Yury Vadimovich Perepechko, Alexander Igorevich Fedorov
-
Patent number: 8099248Abstract: A flow rate measuring device has a flow rate measurement unit, an appliance registering unit, a calculating unit, a determining unit, a first appliance identifying unit, and a second appliance identifying unit. The appliance registering unit stores at least first gas flow rate variation profiles on activation of respective gas appliances coupled to a flow channel, and second gas flow rate variation profiles based on the control specific to the respective gas appliances. The first appliance identifying unit identifies which gas appliance is activated based on the first gas flow rate variation profiles on activation. When a determining unit detects a stop of any of gas appliances, the second appliance identifying unit identifies a gas appliance in continuous use by using the second gas flow rate variation profiles based on the control specific to the respective gas appliances.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2009Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Umekage, Hajime Miyata, Kenichi Kamon
-
Patent number: 8095320Abstract: Systems, program product, and methods of suppressing residual water bottom energy in seismic data, are provided. An example of a system, program product, and method can be applied to post-stack datasets and can combine multi-channel deconvolution with novel sorting keys to efficiently identify and suppress residual water bottom energy in common depth point (CDP) stacked seismic data, thereby increasing the resolving power of seismic data leading to an improved interpretation of seismic signals reflected from oil reservoirs.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Roy Matthew Burnstad, Mahmoud Elabd Hedefa
-
Publication number: 20110320127Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control a formation testing operation based on a mudcake leakage are disclosed. A disclosed example method for use with a downhole tool disposed in a wellbore comprises measuring a property of a mudcake layer at a first location in a wellbore, determining a value representative of an estimated leakage through the mudcake layer based on the property, and determining, based on the value, whether to continue a formation testing operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Alexander Zazovsky, Fernando Garcia-Osuna, Steve G. Villareal, Timur Zharnikov
-
Publication number: 20110308792Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating an oil pool based on a reservoir model gradually deformed by means of cosimulations. A map of a property of the pool is obtained by a stochastic simulation of a first random function. A correlation coefficient is chosen between the first random function and a second random function with an identical mean and covariance. The map is modified by a cosimulation of the two random functions by using the correlation coefficient. The correlation coefficient is modified and the cosimulation step is reiterated to deform the map and minimize a matching objective function. Finally, the pool is operated by implementing an operating scheme accounting for the deformed map.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Mickaële Le Ravalec, Sébastien Da Veiga
-
Patent number: 8078404Abstract: Method for recognizing one or more properties of a geological formation by the injection of a fluid into at least one borehole within the formation. The injection fluid either has a different resistivity to the formation and/or formation fluids or has the capacity to change the resistivity of the formation and/or formation fluids. Resistivity mapping is undertaken to determine the distribution of the injected fluid and to therefore understand the permeability structure and fluid distribution of the formation. In addition the injected fluid or mixture of injected and formation fluids can be ignited. By making consecutive resistivity mapping of the formation at selected time intervals during injection, the flow path of injected fluid can be determined by using the collected time lapse resistivity data.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: GeoContrast ASInventors: Jan Sjølie, Dag Ø. Dvergsten
-
Patent number: 8078405Abstract: A method for optimizing the development of a fractured hydrocarbon reservoir wherein the network permeability is determined using a reliable compromise between numerical and analytical methods which has application to oil reservoir development. The reservoir is discretized into a set of grid cells and a geometrical description of the fracture network in each cell is elaborated. A connectivity index is then deduced within each cell for the fractures. The permeability of the fracture network of the cells whose connectivity index is above a first threshold is determined and a zero permeability value is assigned in the other cells. Other thresholds can be determined so as to choose between a numerical method and an analytical method to determine the permeability. These permeabilities are exploited in a flow simulator so as to optimize the development of the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: IFPInventors: Matthieu Delorme, Bernard Bourbiaux