IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,631,784
Granted Patent B2
US 12,631,784 · App. 17/758,812 · Granted May 19, 2026

Automatic model selection through machine learning

Inventors: Xiao Bo Hong (Sugar Land, TX); Keli Sun (Sugar Land, TX); Koji Ito (Sugar Land, TX); Xiaoyan Zhong (Sugar Land, TX)
Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
G01V20/00G01V1/46G01V3/38G06N20/20G01V2200/16
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,631,784
App. No.
17/758,812
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method can include receiving data for a geologic region; based at least in part on the data, selecting a model from a plurality of models using a trained machine learning model, and inverting the data using the selected model to determine parameters of the selected model.

Claims (53)

1 . A method comprising:

receiving real-time data for a geologic region, wherein the real-time data is acquired via a tool disposed in a borehole in the geologic region, and wherein the geologic region comprises a plurality of subregions, each subregion corresponding to different structural features of the geologic region;

determining one or more first geometric attributes for a first subregion of the plurality of subregions based on the real-time data;

selecting, based at least in part on the one or more first geometric attributes, a first model from a plurality of models using a trained machine learning model, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least two forward inversion models having distinct dimensionalities, and wherein the first model corresponds to a first forward inversion model of the at least two forward inversion models and is selected based on a dimensionality corresponding to the one or more first geometric attributes;

inverting, for the first subregion, the real-time data using the first model to determine one or more first subsurface parameters associated with the first subregion;

determining that the one or more first subsurface parameters do not converge relative to the real-time data;

selecting, based at least in part on the one or more first geometric attributes, a second model from the plurality of models using the trained machine learning model in response to the one or more first subsurface parameters not converging, wherein the second model corresponds to a second forward inversion model having a higher dimensional complexity relative to the first forward inversion model;

inverting, for the first subregion, the real-time data using the second model to determine one or more second subsurface parameters associated with the first subregion;

determining that the one or more second subsurface parameters converge relative to the real-time data;

consolidating the one or more second subsurface parameters from the first subregion to generate a model for the geologic region in response to the one or more second subsurface parameters converging; and

controlling drilling equipment within the borehole based on the model.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the trained machine learning model comprises a support vector machine model.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the trained machine learning model comprises a k-nearest neighbors model.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the trained machine learning model comprises a classifier model.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the trained machine learning model comprises a neural network model.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the real-time data comprises logging while drilling data.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the real-time data comprises resistivity data.

8 . The method of claim 1 , comprising biasing the selection of the first model towards a lower model dimensionality relative to a respective dimensionality of the second model.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the lower model dimensionality corresponds to a higher computational efficiency.

10 . The method of claim 1 , comprising simulating physical phenomena using the model.

11 . The method of claim 1 , comprising rendering a graphical user interface to a display that comprises a graphical control for selecting the first model, the second model, or both.

12 . The method of claim 1 , comprising training the machine learning model.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the training comprises supervised learning.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first subsurface parameters comprise one or more petrophysics parameters.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the real-time data corresponds to a window size.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the window size is adjustable.

17 . A system comprising:

a processor;

memory operatively coupled to the processor; and

processor-executable instructions stored in the memory to instruct the system to:

receive real-time data for a geologic region, wherein the real-time data is acquired via a tool disposed in a borehole in the geologic region, and wherein the geologic region comprises a plurality of subregions, each subregion corresponding to different structural features of the geologic region;

determine one or more first geometric attributes for a first subregion of the plurality of subregions based on the real-time data;

select, based at least in part on the one or more first geometric attributes, a first model from a plurality of models using a trained machine learning model, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least two forward inversion models having distinct dimensionalities, and wherein the first model corresponds to a first forward inversion model of the at least two forward inversion models and is selected based on a dimensionality corresponding to the one or more first geometric attributes;

invert, for the first subregion, the real-time data using the first model to determine one or more first subsurface parameters associated with the first subregion;

determine that the one or more first subsurface parameters do not converge relative to the real-time data;

select, based at least in part on the one or more first geometric attributes, a second model from the plurality of models using the trained machine learning model in response to the one or more first subsurface parameters not converging, wherein the second model corresponds to a second forward inversion model having a higher dimensional complexity relative to the first forward inversion model;

invert, for the first subregion, the real-time data using the second model to determine one or more second subsurface parameters associated with the first subregion;

determine that the one or more second subsurface parameters converge relative to the real-time data;

consolidate the one or more second subsurface parameters from the first subregion to generate a model for the geologic region in response to the one or more second subsurface parameters converging; and

control drilling equipment within the borehole based on the model.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor-executable instructions instruct the system to bias the selection of the first model towards a lower model dimensionality relative to the second model.

19 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising computer-executable instructions executable to instruct a computing system to:

receive real-time data for a geologic region, wherein the real-time data is acquired via a tool disposed in a borehole in the geologic region, and wherein the geologic region comprises a plurality of subregions, each subregion corresponding to different structural features of the geologic region;

determine one or more first geometric attributes for a first subregion of the plurality of subregions based on the real-time data;

select, based at least in part on the one or more first geometric attributes, a first model from a plurality of models using a trained machine learning model, wherein the plurality of models comprises at least two forward inversion models having distinct dimensionalities, and wherein the first model corresponds to a first forward inversion model of the at least two forward inversion models and is selected based on a dimensionality corresponding to the one or more first geometric attributes;

invert, for the first subregion, the real-time data using the first model to determine one or more first subsurface parameters associated with the first subregion;

determine that the one or more first subsurface parameters do not converge relative to the real-time data;

select, based at least in part on the one or more first geometric attributes, a second model from the plurality of models using the trained machine learning model in response to the one or more first subsurface parameters not converging, wherein the second model corresponds to a second forward inversion model having a higher dimensional complexity relative to the first forward inversion model;

invert, for the first subregion, the real-time data using the second model to determine one or more second subsurface parameters associated with the first subregion;

determine that the one or more second subsurface parameters converge relative to the real-time data;

consolidate the one or more second subsurface parameters from the first subregion to generate a model for the geologic region in response to the one or more second subsurface parameters converging; and

control drilling equipment within the borehole based on the model.

20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media of claim 19 , wherein the computer-executable instructions instruct the computing system to bias the selection of the first model towards a lower model dimensionality relative to the second model.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST INVENTOR'S FIRST NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 060522 FRAME 0917. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: HONG, XIAO BO; SUN, KELI; ITO, KOJI; ZHONG, XIAOYAN
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060729/0512 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2022
From: HONG, XIO BO; SUN, KELI; ITO, KOJI; ZHONG, XIAOYAN
To: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060522/0917 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62965869 · Jan 25, 2020
Related Publication 20230041525A1 · Feb 9, 2023
References Cited (13)
US 20120090834A1 · Imhof · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20180004865A1 · Borrel et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180348395A1 · Wilson et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190107642A1 · Farhadi Nia · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190265373A1 · Ito et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200011158A1 · Xu et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019088543A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
Xu, Chicheng, et al. “When petrophysics meets big data: What can machine do?.” SPE Middle East oil and gas show and conference. SPE, 2019. (Year: 2019). [cited by examiner]
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in International Patent application PCT/US2021/014674 on Apr. 19, 2021, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Omeragic et al., “New directional electromagnetic tool for proactive geosteering and accurate formation evaluation while drilling,” 46th SPWLA Annual Well Logging Symposium, Paper UU, 2005. [cited by applicant]
Cortes et al., “Support-vector networks”. Machine Learning. 20 (3): pp. 273-297, 1995. [cited by applicant]
Altman, N. S., “An introduction to kernel and nearest-neighbor nonparametric regression.” The American Statistician. 46 (3): 175-185, Aug. 1992. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability issued in International Patent application PCT/US2021/014674 on Aug. 4, 2022, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]