Well Logging Or Borehole Study Patents (Class 702/6)
  • Patent number: 10890059
    Abstract: A layered water injection system and a layered water injection method. The system comprises: a ground water injection valve group configured with an intelligent control valve, for receiving a water injection control instruction sent by a remote control center, and for converting the water injection control instruction into a switching action of the intelligent control valve to control water flow pressure fluctuation in a water injection string, so as to form a first pressure wave code in the water injection string; a water distributor for collecting the first pressure wave code, interpreting the first pressure wave code as a corresponding water outlet switch instruction, and performing layered water injection control according to the water outlet switch instruction. The embodiments of the application can improve the automation level of layered water injection and the reliability of layered water injection control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Lingzhi Yang, Yafeng Ju, Bin Yao, Jiuzheng Yu, Bilin Luo, Fuwei Bi, Zijian Wang, Yanqing Liu
  • Patent number: 10865634
    Abstract: A method may comprise penetrating a subterranean formation with a bottom hole assembly, determining a revolutions-per-minute (RPM) measurement based on a zero crossing of sinusoidal magnetometer data, determining a gyroscope bias from gyroscope data using the determined RPM measurement, determining bias compensated gyroscope data by subtracting the determined gyroscope bias from the gyroscope data, determining an angular displacement measurement using the bias compensated gyroscope data, determining a selected tool-face measurement, computing a weighted sum of the selected tool-face measurement with the determined bias compensated gyroscope data, and determining a gravitational tool-face measurement from the computed weighted sum. A system may comprise a drilling rig, a pipe string attached to the drilling rig, a bottom hole assembly attached to the pipe string, wherein the bottom hole assembly comprises at least one sensor, a drill bit, and a computing subsystem connected to the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Rashobh Rajan Sobhana
  • Patent number: 10844704
    Abstract: A method for controlling a downhole steerable tool, such as a rotary steerable system (RSS), in a drilling system that also includes a rotating drillstring and a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system comprises encoding an original command for the tool into an encoded signal consisting of modulations of the drillstring rotation rate, transmitting the encoded command by modulating the drillstring rotation rate, measuring the drillstring rotation rate at the tool and decoding the encoded command so as to generate a tool-decoded command, separately measuring the drillstring rotation rate and decoding the encoded command from the separate downhole-measurements so as to generate a separately downhole-decoded command, transmitting the separately downhole-decoded command to the uphole location, comparing the separately downhole-decoded command to the original command, and taking corrective action if the two commands are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SANVEAN TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Jones, Junichi Sugiura
  • Patent number: 10810330
    Abstract: A method of performing aspects of an energy industry operation includes receiving input data at a processing system, the input data describing an assembly for performing the energy industry operation and properties of the formation, the assembly including a downhole component, the processing system configured to estimate production properties based on mathematical models including at least a model of the downhole component and one or more models for simulating fluid flow in the formation. The method also includes, based on the input data, generating a workflow that includes steps for estimating production properties using the models, receiving a selection from a user specifying a type of analysis to be performed and/or a level of complexity of analysis to be performed, customizing the workflow based on the user selection, estimating the production properties based on the models, where estimating is performed according to a procedure specified by the workflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Rob Early, Oktay Metin Gokdemir, Christopher J. Freitas, Nathan F. Andrews, Nicholas J. Mueschke, Rhandy Regulacion
  • Patent number: 10803534
    Abstract: Method for mapping a 3D grid or mesh from a faulted subsurface domain to a continuous design domain, wherein the grid may be used to represent a discrete model of a subsurface material property (such as permeability) to use, for example, in a reservoir simulator. The mapping is geometry-based, not physics-based. The mapping is determined by an iterative optimization procedure designed to penalize deformation of tessellated mesh cells (703) in the design domain compared to their geometric quality in the faulted domain (701), but subject to stitching constraints (702) appearing as a penalty term or Lagrange multiplier term in the optimization objective function to influence the final mesh to co-locate pairs of points identified on opposite sides of a fault as having been located together before the fault occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Larisa V. Branets, Xiaohui Wu, Linfeng Bi
  • Patent number: 10796462
    Abstract: Well log data may be used in well log operations by facilitating the identification of hydrogen carbon deposits. More specifically, the well log data may be used to generate visual representations. Aspects of the present disclosure relate to generating a color composite image based on multiple types of well log data and transforming the well log data into a color space. In further embodiments, the color composite image may be modified and/or objects within the color composite image may be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Simone Di Santo, Carlos Maeso
  • Patent number: 10767448
    Abstract: Managing oilfield operations include obtaining a subsurface model including a fracture design model having an fracture property with an uncertain value. A set of representative values that represent uncertainty in the fracture property is obtained and used to solve an oilfield optimization problem with a control variable to obtain a solution. The solution includes an optimal value for the control variable. Based on the solution, an oilfield design is generated and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hugues A. Djikpesse, Kashif Rashid, William J. Bailey, Michael David Prange, Benoit Couet
  • Patent number: 10769323
    Abstract: Systems and methods for calculating a standardized Health Index for a plurality of different components are shown and described. There is a vast number of different components used on an oil rig and each one may have a different definition of new, worn, damaged, or depleted. The system includes a measurement component that takes a measurement of the different components, and a health modeling component which calculates the standardized Health Index. Monitoring the Health Indices provides a rig operator information from which decisions on equipment use can be made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Alejandro Camacho Cardenas
  • Patent number: 10768329
    Abstract: Seismic systems and processes for making and using same. In some examples, the seismic system can include an acoustic tool configured for placement in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The acoustic tool can include an acoustic transmitter unit for producing acoustic energy waveforms in the subterranean formation such that the interaction of the acoustic energy waveforms with structures in the formation can be an event that generates event signals. A receiver unit can include acoustic receivers distributed azimuthally around a central axis of the acoustic tool for sensing the event signals. The acoustic tool can determine event signal amplitudes of the event signals at each of the acoustic receivers, can determine which of the acoustic receivers has a maximum amplitude of the event signal amplitudes, and can interpolate between the maximum amplitude acoustic receiver and one or more adjacent acoustic receivers to find an azimuthal direction of the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyasu Hirabayashi, John Tulett, Maduranga Liyanage
  • Patent number: 10760406
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described that can be used for locating conductive bodies such as wellbore casing or piping disposed below the earth's surface. An electrical current can be excited in a conductive body in each wellbore in a given area to produce a magnetic field, and the magnetic field can be detected by a ranging tool. Location and current parameters can be determined for an estimated number of wellbores producing non-negligible contributions to the magnetic field, and the estimated number of wellbores can be adjusted until the number of contributing wellbores is determined. Location solutions can be returned for each of the contributing wellbores, and the location solutions can be employed to facilitate exploration of drilling applications such as well avoidance, well intersection and/or steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) steering operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Burkay Donderici, Baris Guner
  • Patent number: 10746012
    Abstract: A system 10 for controlling a drilling operation by a drill rig 12 includes a receiver 16 for receiving sensed data related to the drilling operation. A processor 18 is in communication with the receiver 16, the processor 18 processing the sensed data to estimate at least one geological property of interest of a zone 20 in which the drill rig 12 is active. The processor 18 is configured to operate as a decision engine 22 to optimize the drilling operation automatically by changing at least one drilling related parameter during the drilling operation based on the at least one geological property of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Charles Benjamin McHugh, Eric William Nettleton
  • Patent number: 10743012
    Abstract: Image block transmission includes reading an image block from a downhole sensor. Based on the image block, a set of formation features attributes for the image block are detected. The set of formation features attributes describe a structural property of a subsurface formation. Based on the set of formation feature attributes, a wavelet transform function is modified to obtain a modified wavelet transform function. The modified wavelet transform function is applied to the image block to obtain a set of wavelet transform coefficients for the image block. The image block transmission further includes generating an encoded bit stream comprising the set of formation features attributes and the set of wavelet transform coefficients for the image block, and transmitting the encoded bit stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Andriy Gelman
  • Patent number: 10729033
    Abstract: An active heat-dissipation system for a base station of a communication system includes a measuring module, configured to detect a temperature sensing signal of the base station; a controller, configured to receive the temperature sensing signal detected by the measuring module to set a preset temperature signal, to generate a difference between the temperature sensing signal and the preset temperature signal and a time derivative of the difference, and to output a control signal according to the difference and the time derivative of the difference based on a control program; and a power module, configured to receive the control signal and output an electrical signal to a heat-dissipation module according to the control signal, such that the heat-dissipation module performs a heat-dissipation process for the base station according to the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Yen-Bin Chen, Sheng-Hsien Shih, Shou-Jen Hsu, Chien-Te Yu
  • Patent number: 10720292
    Abstract: In the field of power distribution networks, a digital output circuit, for controlling an item of equipment within a power distribution network, comprises a switch element openable and closeable to selectively permit the flow of current to an item of equipment being controlled in use by the digital output circuit. The digital output circuit also includes a current acquisition circuit to measure the current flowing through the switch element. In addition, the digital output circuit includes a condition monitoring circuit that is arranged in communication with the current acquisition circuit. The condition monitoring circuit is configured to record the measured current flowing through the switch element as the switch element closes and thereby establish a switch element closing signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Timothy James Fawcett, Mark Draper, Antoine Garcia
  • Patent number: 10718201
    Abstract: A system and method for installing casing in a blind horizontal well for blind horizontal directional borings. The system and method may include an example of an offset transmitter sonde assembly that contains an open central passage through which well casing can be inserted, and an example of a drill bit assembly that may be remotely uncoupled from a drill string, leaving the bit in the bore created. Remote uncoupling of the drill bit assembly tends to allow a casing to be installed in the bore while the drill string and bit remain in the bore for support during casing installation. After installation of the casing the drill bit assembly may be uncoupled from the drill string, allowing the drill string to be withdrawn from the bore, with the drill bit assembly remaining in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ELLINGSON DRAINAGE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lubrecht, James M. Doesburg, Daniel W. Ombalski, James Ditto
  • Patent number: 10712297
    Abstract: A method of probing the layers above, at, and below the surface of a conducting region includes exciting nuclear or electronic spins within the conducting region using a first frequency, receiving a second frequency from the conducting region, determining the length scales by the conductivity of the conducting region, the first frequency, and the second frequency, obtaining a depth profile of the conducting region, and indirectly measuring the presence of the surface by characterizing signal distortions above the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Alexej Jerschow, Andrew J. Ilott
  • Patent number: 10705241
    Abstract: Methods of geophysical prospecting are described herein. In the described methods, a data set of electromagnetic readings from a marine geophysical survey is obtained and loaded into a computer processing system. Using the computer processing system, a high-frequency subset of the data is selected based on a frequency threshold, and a seawater resistivity map is resolved from the subset for a seawater portion of the survey by inversion. The seawater resistivity map can subsequently be used to resolve a resistivity map of the seabed from the data set by inversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Tashi Tshering, Allan McKay, Johan Mattsson, Kathrin Flisnes Bergh
  • Patent number: 10704386
    Abstract: A method including receiving a waveform, identifying the presence of a pulse in the waveform, and subtracting a reflection template from the received waveform when a pulse is present in the waveform to obtain a corrected waveform, is presented. The method may further include reading the corrected waveform using a digital processing protocol and adjusting a drilling parameter according to the reading. A device configured to perform a method as above is also provided. A method as above, further including modifying a drilling parameter in a wellbore based on the reading of a pulse sequence including the waveform is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Bipin Kumar Pillai
  • Patent number: 10670563
    Abstract: A calibration system for an electromagnetic (EM) tool includes a processor. The processor employs the EM tool to measure responses at each of a plurality of channels. The processor records the measured responses at each of the channels in an EM data log for the channel. The processor determines a nominal value of each of the channels, as being equal to a histogram peak of the EM data log. The processor selects one or more calibration points from the EM data log for a particular channel, based on a difference between the nominal value of the particular channel and the measured response at the calibration point being greater than a particular threshold. The processor determines a plurality of parameters by reducing a misfit between synthetic data and both the nominal values of the channels and the measured responses of the channels at the selected one or more calibration points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmed E. Fouda, Burkay Donderici, Luis Emilio San Martin, Reza Khalaj Amineh
  • Patent number: 10670767
    Abstract: A method includes acquiring signals generated from operating a multi-component induction tool in a wellbore. The multi-component induction tool has a plurality of receiver arrays. The method includes generating, for each receiver array at a fixed frequency, a combination of components from the acquired signals, wherein the components corresponds to components of an apparent conductivity tensor. The generating of the combination of components includes generating vertical magnetic dipole (VMD) data and horizontal magnetic dipole (HMD) data. The method includes mixing together the combination of VMD data and HMD data measured from the plurality of receiver arrays and generating data, with respect to evaluation of a formation around the wellbore, from the mixing together of combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Emilio San Martin, Junsheng Hou
  • Patent number: 10663612
    Abstract: An acoustic logging system identifies hydrocarbon formation types by a real-time model-constrained mud wave slowness determination method using borehole guided waves. The system also combines data processing from different acoustic waveform processing techniques using an information sharing procedure, for example, using monopole source data and dipole source data, to further improve the processing results and to achieve more stable and reliable real-time shear slowness answers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruijia Wang, Chung Chang, Baichun Sun
  • Patent number: 10666747
    Abstract: Users of social networking computer systems provide location information that is transformed into geo-coded coordinates specifying user locations. Providers of content, such as messages or documents, also participate in the social networking system and use drawing tools or provide data files that define one or more geographical areas or regions of a map, which may define a larger geographical area that encompasses the users of the social networking system. Data specifying the areas is stored. The content providers create one or more messages and associate each of the one or more messages with one or more of the areas. The users communicate requests for messages to the social networking system; in response, the system associates the user location data with the stored areas and messages and returns only those messages that have been associated with the particular areas in which the users are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NEXTDOOR.COM, INC.
    Inventors: David Wiesen, Rishi Mukhopadhyay, Ryan Sims, Paul Howe, Morgan Hallmon
  • Patent number: 10663619
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods to visualize formation properties and distances associated with formations can be implemented in a variety of applications. In various embodiments, one or more visualization schemes and systems arranged to implement such schemes can use a combination of visual structures to provide information about measured formations. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Baris Guner, Burkay Donderici, Hsu-Hsiang Wu
  • Patent number: 10655409
    Abstract: Methods and systems for enhancing workflow performance in the oil and gas industry may include modeling preferred sensor locations, sensor types, and sampling frequency for effective and efficient monitoring of a mud circulation system. For example, a method may include circulating a mud through a mud circulation system that includes a plurality of sensors that include at least one of: a pressure sensor, a stroke counter, a flow sensor, a viscosity sensor, or density sensor; and modeling the plurality of sensors using a state reduction approach to determine at least one selected from the group consisting of preferred locations, preferred sensory types, preferred sensor frequency resolution, and a combination thereof that effectively represent or substantially impact conditions of the mud circulation system, thereby providing a preferred sensor scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuzhen Xue, Jason D. Dykstra, Xiaoqing Ge
  • Patent number: 10655453
    Abstract: Systems and methods compute dysfunctions via mapping of tri-axial accelerations of drill pipe into drill-string motions. The methods remove gravitational and centripetal accelerations to yield corrected acceleration data due to the vibration only, transform the corrected acceleration data, and maps resulting transformed acceleration data into continuous drill-string positions. The maps provide 2D/3D visualization of drill-string motions to enable real-time optimization and control of well drilling operations and other scenarios where proactive detection of temporal events in automated systems may aid in avoiding failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Stephen K. Chiu, Phil D. Anno
  • Patent number: 10635760
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for estimating the level of contamination of downhole fluid and underlying composition using physical property measurements, and mathematical modeling of contamination functions and fluid property mixing laws. The proposed approaches enable computation of estimates of the pumping time needed to achieve a certain contamination threshold level and the determination of whether or not sampling is appropriate at the current point in time based on the predicted compositional properties of the formation fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Hamed Chok, Endre Anderssen, Jess V. Ford
  • Patent number: 10621292
    Abstract: A method includes constructing a digital model of a porous rock sample using input data and establishing for the digital model of a porous rock sample and for a fluid of interest figures-of-merit that are established for full-sample dimensions. For a selected fluid flow model, the method performs a calibration so as to match parameters of the selected fluid flow model to the established figures-of-merit and, based on the calibrated fluid flow model, performs at least one simulation of a flow of the fluid through the digital model of a porous rock sample with a fluid additive to provide a predicted enhanced fluid recovery efficiency. Also disclosed is a system as well as a computer program product configured to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rodrigo Neumann Barros Ferreira, Mathias B. Steiner
  • Patent number: 10612538
    Abstract: An integrated wireless data system and method for controlling and measuring operational data of a pumpjack system, for safety, health monitoring, and pump control is provided. The integrated wireless data system and method may be configured to allow for bi-directional communication with a central station to enable human intervention with pumpjack and to store pump parameters in a database for use in development of predictive maintenance techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tecat Performance Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas M. Baker
  • Patent number: 10605948
    Abstract: A system and method for minimizing the standoff effect on an imaging tool in a borehole are provided. The imaging tool may include a sensor assembly for transmitting current in the direction of the formation to obtain complex measurements having a real part and an imaginary part. The real-part measurement may be sensitive to, or affected by, the resistivity of the formation and the standoff of the imaging tool. The imaginary-part measurement may be affected by only to standoff. A computing device may determine a ratio using the imaginary-part measurement and corresponding to change in standoff at various imaging tool azimuths. The ratio may be applied to the real-part measurement to enhance the resolution of image data corresponding to formations adjacent to the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Hsiang Wu, Yumei Tang
  • Patent number: 10605060
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing stimulation operations at a wellsite having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein. The method involves acquiring integrated wellsite data (e.g., geomechanical, geological, and/or geophysical properties of the formation, and/or geometrical properties of the mechanical discontinuities in the formation). The method also involves generating a mechanical earth model using the integrated wellsite data, and identifying a crossing behavior between an induced hydraulic fracture and at least one discontinuity in the formation. The method also involves optimizing a stimulation plan to achieve an optimized crossing behavior. The stimulation plan includes at least one of fluid viscosity, rate of injection of the fracturing fluid, and concentration of a fluid loss additive. The optimization may further include adjusting the stimulation plan to achieve the optimized crossing behavior between the induced hydraulic fracture and the discontinuity in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitry Arefievich Chuprakov, Romain Charles André Prioul, Xiaowei Weng, Olga Kresse, Hongren Gu
  • Patent number: 10605073
    Abstract: The present invention provides a methodology and system for formation boundary detection ahead and around of a drilling bit. By setting symmetrical design of receivers/transmitters around a transmitter/receiver and the direction of the receivers/transmitters, the system can measure the signals reflected by a formation boundary ahead of and around the drilling bit. The measured signals can be used to determine formation boundary positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Inventor: Shanjun Li
  • Patent number: 10593107
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include methods, machines, and non-transitory computer-readable medium having one or more computer programs stored therein to enhance core analysis planning for a plurality of core samples of subsurface material. Embodiments can include positioning electronic depictions of structure of encased core samples of subsurface material on a display and determining portions of each of the images as different planned sample types thereby to virtually mark each of the images. Planned sample types can include, for example, full diameter samples, special core analysis samples, conventional core analysis samples, and mechanical property samples. Embodiments further can include transforming physical properties of encased core samples of subsurface material into images responsive to one or more penetrative scans by use of one or more computerized tomography (CT) scanners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Sinan Caliskan, Abdullah M. Shebatalhamd
  • Patent number: 10590762
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment, a method is disclosed for developing an N-phasic finite element model for performing fully coupled analyses of multi-phase compositional fluid flow and heat flow in nonlinearly deforming porous solid media with time-dependent failure. The method can include formulating a finite element model of the behavior of a coupled solid-fluid formation, having complex geometry and behavior, and applying the model to derive the response of the formation in the form of one or more displacement fields for the solid phases and one or more pressure fields for the fluid phases in a zone of interest in a formation. In an exemplary embodiment, a system is disclosed for estimating the uncertainties in the derived displacement and pressure field solutions for the response of the fully coupled solid-fluid phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GeoScale, Inc.
    Inventor: Elan Yogeswaren
  • Patent number: 10578547
    Abstract: An on-chip spectroscopic sensor includes a tunable diode laser. A laser driver for drives the tunable diode laser. An analyte test cavity receives a chemical sample and exposes the received chemical sample to light from the tunable diode laser. An optical detector detects light emerging from the analyte test cavity as a result of the laser exposure. A spectral analyzer determines a spectrum of the emerging light, matches and removes one or more known optical fringe patterns from the determined spectrum, and determines a composition or concentration of the chemical sample from the optical fringe pattern-removed spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Green, Chu Cheyenne Teng, Gerard Wysocki, Eric Zhang
  • Patent number: 10578472
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for obtaining an indication of fluid inflow in a section of a gas well having multiple perforations through which fluids comprising gas and/or liquid enter the well are described. In an example, the temperature within the section of the gas well is monitored at a plurality of locations. The locations comprising (a) a first set of locations, at or near a perforation; and (b) a second set of locations at which the temperature is substantially independent of the effects of the inflow of gas at a perforation. An indication of temperature excursions at the locations is obtained and used to obtaining an indication of the inflow of fluids to the well by relating the indications of temperature excursions from the second set of locations to liquid inflow and relating the indications of temperature excursions from the first set of locations to liquid and gas inflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: OPTASENSE HOLDINGS LIMITED
    Inventors: Roger Crickmore, Andrew Ridge
  • Patent number: 10570698
    Abstract: A technology is described for controlling an electric choke actuator included in a drilling rig. An example system can include a computing device configured to provide position data for an electric choke actuator configured to control a well choke valve in selective fluid communication with a blow-out preventer arranged to close a borehole. The system can receive a choke position command to move the electric choke actuator from a first position to a second position, whereupon a control signal can be sent to the electric choke actuator that causes the electric choke actuator to move from the first position to the second position. Position data for the electric choke actuator can be updated to indicate the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Joey Peyregne, Adam Keith, Scott Boone
  • Patent number: 10567409
    Abstract: A method for implementing automatic and scalable log pattern learning in security log analysis is provided. The method includes collecting security logs generated by a computer system. An incremental learning process is implemented to generate a set of log patterns from the collected security logs. The collected security logs are parsed using the set of log patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Hui Zhang, Jianwu Xu, Bo Zong
  • Patent number: 10557333
    Abstract: A segregated flow mechanism of oil and water usually takes place in the presence of strong gravity forces in subsurface environments, having specific geometrical and petrophysical properties undergoing simultaneous flow of multiphase fluids. The segregated flow of oil and water is modeled as a two-layer reservoir system, based on the observed data. Accurate estimates or measures of the values of phase mobility of oil and water, in addition to the actual flow capacity of the formation are provided. Reliable reservoir characterizations and reserve estimations are provided based on the in-situ conditions of oil and water in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hasan A. Nooruddin, Noor M. Anisur Rahman
  • Patent number: 10487641
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for wireless emergency stop of automated machines. A method may include inputting into an electrical control system association information indicative of which one or more of a plurality of electronically controlled automated machines at a worksite are to be associated with a wireless communicator, and operating the wireless communicator to cause the one or more associated machines to stop operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Shunfeng Zheng, Joergen K. Johnsen
  • Patent number: 10480314
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods may include quantifying a pore-scale heterogeneity of a porous medium; determining an adjusted pore volume to breakthrough based on the pore scale heterogeneity determined; and designing a stimulating fluid treatment for the porous medium. Other aspects may include the development of a wellbore stimulation methodology that allows stimulation fluid breakthrough curves of differing formation samples to be plotted as a single curve that accounts for the varied pore structure of the respective samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Murtaza Ziauddin, Ahmed S. Zakaria, Hisham Nasr-El-Din
  • Patent number: 10480289
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a fracturability index for use in identifying fracture locations and propagation in subterranean formations. A well path can be divided into a plurality of segments and the order of fracture locations along the path can be identified. Such an order is based on an optimal fracture stage from a production point of view followed by subsequent fracture stages. The above steps or operations can be repeated with respect to additional paths to generate data for use in determining prioritized segments and identifying fracture locations and propagation in subterranean formations. Such data can be compiled in the context of a fracturability index map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Ahmed Alzahabi, Mohamed Y. Soliman, Noah Everett Berlow, Timothy Michael Spinner
  • Patent number: 10474642
    Abstract: Methods and systems for log management include pre-processing heterogeneous logs and performing a log management action on the pre-processed plurality of heterogeneous logs. Pre-processing the logs includes performing a fixed tokenization of the heterogeneous logs based on a predefined set of symbols, performing a flexible tokenization of the heterogeneous logs based on a user-defined set of rules, converting timestamps in the heterogeneous logs to a single target timestamp format, and performing structural log tokenization of the heterogeneous logs based on user-defined structural information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Jianwu Xu, Biplob Debnath, Hui Zhang, Guofei Jiang
  • Patent number: 10449578
    Abstract: Devices and techniques related to landfill gas extraction are disclosed. A technique for controlling extraction of landfill gas from a landfill through a gas extraction system is described. The method may include measuring a plurality of values indicating conditions associated with the landfill; computing, based at least in part on the plurality of values and on a model of the landfill, a predicted future state of the landfill; determining, based at least in part on the predicted future state of the landfill, one or more control parameters for one or more respective control devices configured to control operation of the gas extraction system; applying the one or more control parameters to the one or more respective control, and with the one or more control devices, controlling extraction of the landfill gas from the landfill based, at least in part, on the one or more respective control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Loci Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Campanella, Melinda Sims, Nathan Pallo, Ian Martin
  • Patent number: 10450860
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a subterranean formation traversed by a wellbore includes generating a reservoir model using data collected from the formation, generating a perturbation object comprising a perturbation of the wellbore, integrating the perturbation object with the reservoir model, and forming a geological model wherein the perturbation object is integrated in the reservoir model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Valery Polyakov, Dzevat Omeragic, Torbjørn Vik, Tarek M. Habashy
  • Patent number: 10443217
    Abstract: A supply network for supplying consumers with a medium is provided. Based on a reduction of data and a subsequent reconstruction of at least one pressure and/or flow value, the state at least at one further location in the supply network can be determined without having to be measured. An improved actuation of the at least one pump and/or of the at least one valve is thus possible. A device for pressure control in a supply network is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Moritz Allmaras, Jan Christoph Wehrstedt, Utz Wever
  • Patent number: 10435996
    Abstract: A segregated flow mechanism of oil and water usually takes place in the presence of strong gravity forces in subsurface environments, having specific geometrical and petrophysical properties undergoing simultaneous flow of multiphase fluids. The segregated flow of oil and water is modeled as a two-layer reservoir system, based on the observed data. Accurate estimates or measures of the values of phase mobility of oil and water, in addition to the actual flow capacity of the formation are provided. Reliable reservoir characterizations and reserve estimations are provided based on the in-situ conditions of oil and water in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hasan A. Nooruddin, Noor M. Anisur Rahman
  • Patent number: 10429532
    Abstract: A technique facilitates estimating elastic properties of formations by exciting a wavefield and acquiring the signal with and without azimuthal decompositions. For example, the elastic properties may be estimated by exciting a multipole wavefield and acquiring the signal with and without the azimuthal decomposition. The technique is effective for estimating elastic properties of azimuthally homogeneous and heterogeneous formations including isotropic and anisotropic formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Sakiyama, Denis Syresin
  • Patent number: 10430530
    Abstract: A method for generating a visual representation of wellbore drilling parameters includes representing a predetermined length of drilled wellbore as a two dimensional shape, wherein one dimension of the shape corresponds to the predetermined length and the other dimension of the shape corresponds to at least one of a drilling parameter, a statistical measure of a drilling parameter and an environmental parameter. In a computer, values of the at least one of a drilling parameter, a statistical measure of a drilling or environmental parameter and an environmental parameter are received as input. The two dimensional shape is plotted in a visual representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Meehan
  • Patent number: 10428639
    Abstract: Damage to a casing string in a wellbore resulting from a wellbore operation can be predicted. For example, a stiff string model can be used to determine a contact point between the casing string and a well tool positionable within the casing string for performing the wellbore operation. The stiff string model can be used to determine a force of the well tool against the casing string at the contact point. The force can be used to determine a volume of damage to the casing string proximate to the contact point. A depth of a groove formed in the casing string proximate to the contact point can be determined based on the volume of damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Aniket, Adolfo Gonzales, Robello Samuel, Robert D. Gilcrist
  • Patent number: 10400548
    Abstract: System and methods of modeling fluids in a simulation of fluid production in a multi-reservoir system with a common surface network are provided. Pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) data is determined for fluids in each of a plurality of reservoirs coupled to the common surface network. A shared equation of state (EOS) characterization representing each of the fluids across the plurality of reservoirs is generated based on the corresponding PVT data. Data representing properties of the fluids in each reservoir is calculated based on the shared EOS characterization of the fluids. When the calculated data is determined not to match the PVT data associated with the fluids in each reservoir, to the shared EOS characterization is adjusted based on a difference between the calculated data and the PVT data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Landmark Graphics Corporation
    Inventors: Terry Wong, Graham Fleming