David C Hoyal

7925481, Apr 12, 2011

Aug 19, 2005

11/658922

John C. Van Wagoner - Houston TX, US
Paul A. Dunn - Houston TX, US
Max Deffenbaugh - Califon NJ, US
David N. Awwiller - Houston TX, US
Tao Sun - Missouri City TX, US
Dachang Li - Katy TX, US
David C. Hoyal - Houston TX, US
Chris J. Donofrio - The Woodlands TX, US

G06G 7/48

703 10, 702 2

A method is disclosed for using a three-dimensional seismic image of a subsurface earth volume to construct a geologic model specifying the spatially-varying grain size distribution, porosity, and permeability throughout the volume. The method applies to earth volumes composed of water-lain clastic sedimentary deposits and involves, in one embodiment, (a) identifying the outline forms of geologic bodies in geologic data; (b) using the outline forms of the geologic bodies to determine the spatially-varying grain size distribution within the bodies, guided by assumptions about the nature and behavior of the paleoflow that deposited the bodies; (c) determining rock properties such as, porosity and permeability within the geologic bodies based on grain-size distribution, mineralogy and burial history information.

8117019, Feb 14, 2012

Aug 23, 2005

11/660083

Tao Sun - Missouri City TX, US
Dachang Li - Katy TX, US
Max Deffenbaugh - Houston TX, US
Chun Huh - Austin TX, US
David C Hoyal - Houston TX, US
Neal Adair - Sugar Land TX, US
Xiao-Hui Wu - Sugar Land TX, US
Timothy A. Chartrand - Spring TX, US
John C Van Wagoner - Houston TX, US

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

G06G 7/50
G06F 17/10

703 9, 703 2

A method is disclosed for simulating the formation of sedimentary deposits. In one embodiment, this method involves, (a) solving a two-dimensional time-dependent map view system of equations for at least flow momentum, flow height, suspended sediment concentration, and entrainment of overlying water, (b) calculating net sediment deposition at each map view location using the flow properties, (c) recording the time-variability of the net sediment deposition.

8370121, Feb 5, 2013

Nov 16, 2009

13/131800

Tao Sun - Missouri City TX, US
Dachang Li - Katy TX, US
David Hoyal - Houston TX, US

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

G06G 7/48

703 9

The invention is a method of modeling a hydrocarbon reservoir. A parameter value in a set of equations is adjusted so that the output of the equations accurately matches observed sediment erosion and deposition behavior for sediment sizes throughout a range of about 10 microns to about 10 centimeters. An initial condition of a sediment bed in the hydrocarbon reservoir is defined. The equations are applied to the initial condition, wherein outputs of the equations express how a fluid flow affects erosion and deposition of sediments at the initial condition. The initial condition is adjusted based on the equation outputs to create a subsequent sediment bed condition. The equations are re-applied to the subsequent sediment bed condition a pre-determined number of times. The subsequent sediment bed condition is re-adjusted after each re-application of the equations. The model of the hydrocarbon reservoir is created and outputted.

20060173622, Aug 3, 2006

Feb 20, 2004

10/546690

Max Deffenbaugh - Houston TX, US
William Heard - Alexandria VA, US
Chun Huh - Austin TX, US
Tao Sun - Missouri City TX, US
David Hoyal - Houston TX, US

G06F 19/00

702002000

The present invention is a method for predicting the grain size distribution at a designated location within a water-lain sedimentary deposit. Initially, the vertical thickness of the sedimentary deposit at the designated location must be determined, as well as the vertical thickness and grain size distribution at a second location different from the designated location. Second, a distance parameter corresponding to the two locations must be determined. Finally the distance parameter is used, along with the initially determined vertical thickness at both locations and the grain size distribution at the second location to calculate the grain size distribution at the designated location.

20060265131, Nov 23, 2006

Mar 18, 2004

10/550172

Max Deffenbaugh - Annandale NJ, US
David Hoyal - Houston TX, US
Neal Adair - Sugar Land TX, US
Chun Huh - Austin TX, US

EXXON MOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY - Houston TX

G01V 1/28

702014000

A method to determine the properties of a water-lain sediment body from a measurement of grain size distribution and deposit thickness at one location in the body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises (a) determining the flow properties at the measured location, (b) extrapolating the flow properties back to the inlet through which the depositing flow was emitted, (c) determining at least one property of the water-lain sediment throughout the sediment body by modeling the flow properties using the extrapolated flow properties at the inlet from step (b) as a boundary condition. The flow properties associated with the sediment body include flow velocity, suspended sediment volume fractions, deposition time, and flow height. The properties of the water-lain sediments include, in addition to the flow properties associated with deposition of the sediments, the thickness of the sediment body, the size of the body, the shape of the body, and the grain size distribution at each point within the body.