IP Library Granted Patent US 12,631,776
Granted Patent B2
US 12,631,776 · App. 18/065,392 · Granted May 19, 2026

Method to determine poromechanical properties of fluid-saturated rock

Inventors: Chao Liu (Brookshire, TX); Dung T. Phan (Brookshire, TX)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
G01V1/306G01V1/303G01V1/46G01V20/00G06F17/16G01V2210/6244
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,631,776
App. No.
18/065,392
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed. The method includes obtaining well data for a fluid-saturated rock and obtaining a poroelastodynamic relationship linking a deformation of the fluid-saturated rock to a poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock. The method further includes determining the poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock by applying a vector operator to the poroelastodynamic relationship. The method still further includes determining a value of the poromechanical property by substituting the well data into the vector-operated poroelastodynamic relationship.

Claims (33)

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining well data for a fluid-saturated rock;

obtaining a poroelastodynamic relationship linking a deformation of the fluid-saturated rock to a poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock;

determining the poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock by applying a vector operator to the poroelastodynamic relationship;

determining a value of the poromechanical property by substituting the well data into the vector-operated poroelastodynamic relationship; and

determining a hydraulic fracturing process using the value of the poromechanical property; and

fracturing the fluid-saturated rock within a subterranean region of interest based on the hydraulic fracturing process.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a well trajectory plan using the value of the poromechanical property.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the well data comprises a sonic log.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-saturated rock comprises sandstone.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-saturated rock comprises hydrocarbons.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the deformation comprises a change in length.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the poromechanical property comprises Biot's modulus.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vector operator comprises curl.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the poroelastodynamic relationship is governed by Biot's theory of linear poroelastodynamics.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the poromechanical property further comprises:

neglecting a first term within the vector-operated poroelastodynamic relationship; and

assuming a second term within the vector-operated poroelastodynamic relationship.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vector-operated poroelastodynamic relationship links a wave phase velocity to the poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock.

12 . A system comprising:

a well logging system to obtain well data for a fluid-saturated rock;

a computer processor configured to:

receive the well data;

receive a poroelastodynamic relationship linking a deformation of the fluid-saturated rock to a poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock;

determine the poromechanical property of the fluid-saturated rock by applying a vector operator to the poroelastodynamic relationship;

determine a value of the poromechanical property by substituting the well data into the vector-operated poroelastodynamic relationship; and

determine a hydraulic fracturing process using the value of the poromechanical property; and

a hydraulic fracturing system configured to fracture the fluid-saturated rock within a subterranean region of interest based on the hydraulic fracturing process.

13 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a seismic interpretation workstation to determine a well trajectory plan using the value of the poromechanical property.

14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the well logging system comprises a sonic logging system.

15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the well logging system comprises a gamma ray logging system.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the well logging system comprises a density logging system.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2023
From: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065268/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 17, 2023
From: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
To: SAUDI ARAMCO UPSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 065255/0318 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: LIU, CHAO; PHAN, DUNG T.
To: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063856/0370 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240192391A1 · Jun 13, 2024
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