Patents Represented by Attorney R. L. Freeland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3993902
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining oil saturation in a petroleum reservoir using logging signals indirectly related to the abundance of carbon nuclei in the reservoir rock. The first step of the invention is to record a log sensitive to the abundance of carbon nuclei after the region surrounding the well bore is caused to have oil saturations representative of the bulk of the reservoir. A purposeful change is then made in the fuel saturations in the region surrounding the well bore by injecting a liquid capable of displacing substantially all of the original fluids. The log is recorded a second time. The displacing fluid is then itself displaced by brine, and a third log is recorded. Oil saturation is then determined from differences between the logs and from known fractional volume carbon contents of the reservoir oil and the first injected liquid. It is not necessary that the log responses be independent of the material in the bore hole, the casing, the casing cement, or the reservoir rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Charles H. Neuman
  • Patent number: 3993904
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining water saturation in a petroleum reservoir using logging signals indirectly related to the abundance of oxygen nuclei in the reservoir rock. The first step of the invention is to record a log sensitive to the abundance of oxygen nuclei, after the region surrounding the well bore is caused to have fluid saturations representative of the bulk of the reservoir. A purposeful change is then made in the fluid saturations in the region surrounding the well bore by injecting a liquid capable of displacing substantially all of the original fluids. The log is recorded a second time. The displacing fluid is then itself displaced by brine, and a third log is recorded. Water saturation is then determined from differences between the logs and from known fractional volume oxygen contents of the reservoir brine and the first injected liquid. It is not necessary that the log responses be independent of the material in the borehole, the casing, the casing cement, or the reservoir rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Charles H. Neuman
  • Patent number: 3985623
    Abstract: Overflash within a withdrawal zone of a complex fractionating column is monitored to provide a control characteristic related to the efficiency of the fractionation column, and associated processes linked to the column. To accurately monitor the overflash, notched weir means including an upright wall means, is positioned at the intersection of the withdrawal tray and the downcomers connecting the former with a lower, adjacent fractionating tray. Differential pressure measuring means is also provided with sensing means in the vicinity of the notched weir means. The differential pressure measuring means produces a signal characteristic of said overflash. A complex controller means, external of the column, generates correction operators in response to said signal. Respective control means regulate column feed and withdrawal streams in response to said correction operators and thus maintain a pre-selected material balance within the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Barry S. Morgan, Richard P. Sandell
  • Patent number: 3983906
    Abstract: An impression sleeve for use in an impression packer comprising a smooth rolled sheet adapted to be connected on the outside of a packer to form an impression cover therefor, said sheet composed of about 60% to 80% by weight synthetic nitrile rubber, about 10% to 20% by weight natural rubber smoked sheet, about 5% to 15% by weight hydrated amorphous silica, and about 2% to 6% by weight of rubber processing oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Stanley O. Hutchison, Glen W. Anderson, Gordon L. Newby
  • Patent number: 3983372
    Abstract: The apparatus gives a simultaneous readout of the semi-instantaneous rate of fuel consumption, expressed in terms of miles per gallon; the distance traveled; and the total amount of gallons consumed since the apparatus was last reset for a moving vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. The fuel is metered by a flow transducer which emits a pulse rate representative of fuel flow rate while at the same time the miles traveled by the moving vehicle are measured by a distance transducer also emitting a pulse rate. Both pulse rates are fed to digital integrated circuitry that provides readouts for miles traveled, total fuel consumed and for the semi-instantaneous miles per gallon.The apparatus also includes a reset switch, a hold switch to maintain the indicator readings while not inhibiting the accumulation of further counts, and internal switches to accommodate vehicle-to-vehicle variations in rear end ratios and tire sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Rudolf F. Klaver
  • Patent number: 3982324
    Abstract: A method of using an impression element to determine the actual size of a flow opening in a tubular member located in a well by comparing an extrusion formed on the impression element with calibrated data on extrusion size vs. actual hole size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Stanley O. Hutchison, Glenn W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 3983360
    Abstract: A heat-generating pipe is made up of a ferromagnetic pipe having an electrically insulated wire extending through the pipe to a given point so that the pipe and first wire may be electrically connected in series with an alternating current supply to generate heat in the pipe. A second electrically insulated wire is provided parallel to the first wire in that portion of the pipe wherein increased heat output is desired. The second wire is connected to the alternating current supply and the first and second insulated wires are simultaneously energized. The power supply may comprise separate alternating current sources for energizing each of the first and second wires. Alternatively the second wire can be energized from the secondary of a transformer having its primary in series with the first wire. The first and second insulated wires can comprise a single wire looped back along the heat-increase section to provide two series connected wire segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Paul F. Offermann
  • Patent number: 3983034
    Abstract: A skimmer for removal of liquid and debris, such as skimming oil spills from water, comprising three pontoons, one located in each of the corners of a triangle made up of interconnecting structural members floating on a body of water. The corner pontoons are adjustably buoyant permitting the skimmer to move vertically up or down as a unit in the water so as to adapt to the wave height of the body of water. At the base of the triangle is the skimmer mouth sloping upward towards a sump. The two pontoons on each side of the sloped mouth have a clamp easily attachable to an oil boom which guides an oil slick into the skimmer. The function of the mouth is to skim off approximately two inches of the water surface. The sloped mouth terminates at an impregnable deflector centrally located between two screens that serve as a wave quieting assembly as well as a separator of debris floating on the water. The skimmed water is then directed through the debris screens into a quieting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Donald E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 3975167
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for transporting a natural gas in the form of a hydrate. The method utilizes the pressure and temperature conditions of a submerged vessel to facilitate the formation and maintenance of natural gas as a hydrate during the subsea voyage and the subsequent reconversion of the hydrate to a natural gas when the destination of the vessel is reached.The submarine vessel can have: supplementary refrigeration, a hold or void in which a natural gas is hydrated, and a membrane pervious to gas and water within the hold. In the vicinity of the hold bottom are situated gas conductors with spargers through which the natural gas is pumped into the hold. Adjacent to them are cold-water distributor pipes through which water is pumped into the hold for forming a gas hydrate and for removing the heat of formation.The membrane is spaced from the interior wall of the hold so that a gap around and within the hold is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Albert J. Nierman
  • Patent number: 3972199
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing ice forces on a marine structure erected in a body of water which becomes frozen through natural weather conditions. The structure has a low-ice-adhesional wall forming its perimetrical surface in the zone where natural ice will freeze onto or impinge against the structure. Enclosed chambers are built within the structure and may be in heat-transmitting relationship with the outer wall. Heat is applied to the chambers to heat and maintain the outer wall at a temperature above the melting point of the natural ice occurring in the water around it. In a preferred embodiment, the marine structure is formed with a heated wall which slopes upwardly and inwardly in the area of ice contact to provide a ramp-like surface upon which a sheet of ice will be forced with reduced friction as it moves against the structure. Thus, an edge of the sheet of ice will be prevented from strongly adhering to the structure either initially or subsequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Thomas A. Hudson, Gordon E. Strickland, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3965412
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, at least the polarity of the direction of the remanent magnetization of an earth formation penetrated by a bore hole is accurately measured utilizing a highly sensitive magnetometer, positioned within the bore hole so as to decrease sensitivity of the instrument to the induced magnetization of the adjacent earth formation while maintaining high resolution for detection of the natural remanent magnetization property of the formation. Preferred logging posture: the magnetometer is positioned such that its response direction is in a plane orthogonal to the earth's normal field in a given azimuthal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Sulhi H. Yungul
  • Patent number: 3965413
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, the polarity of the remanent magnetization of an earth formation penetrated by a bore hole is accurately determined utilizing a highly sensitive magnetometer positioned within the bore hole in a direction S within the bore hole. The magnetometer is positioned such that its response direction remains parallel to the S direction at a plurality of logging stations along the vertical extent of the bore hole. The magnetometer can be oriented at the earth's surface, or in situ, to assume a posture which will place the magnetometer in the aforementioned position at a given logging depth. The response measured is the intensity of the total contribution from the remanent and induced magnetization of the formations adjacent to the well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Sulhi H. Yungul
  • Patent number: 3963654
    Abstract: An impression packer for use in obtaining impressions in wells and having an impression sleeve formed of a mixture of partially curved synthetic nitrile rubber, natural rubber smoked sheet, silica powder and rubber processing oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Stanley O. Hutchison, Glenn W. Anderson, Gordon L. Newby
  • Patent number: 3961667
    Abstract: A self-contained wire line inflatable packer useful to carry an impression sleeve into a well for making impressions of the well surface, the inflatable sleeve of the wire line packer being automatically sequentially inflated and deflated by a valve controlled by a sequencing timer actuating means utilizing the flow of a noncompressible liquid through an orifice to provide time-sequenced operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Neal L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 3960215
    Abstract: A self-contained wire line inflatable packer useful to carry an impression sleeve into a well for making impressions of the well surface, the inflatable sleeve of the wire line packer being automatically sequentially inflated and deflated by a valve controlled by a sequencing timer actuating means utilizing the flow of a noncompressible liquid through an orifice to provide time-sequenced operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1975
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Neal L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 3960014
    Abstract: A method of using an impression element in a tubular member positioned in a well and having a flow opening located under liquid to obtain information on the effective connection to permeability of the flow opening with the formation penetrated by the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Stanley O. Hutchison, Glenn W. Anderson
  • Patent number: 3960211
    Abstract: A self-contained wire line inflatable packer useful to carry an impression sleeve into a well for making impressions of the well surface, the inflatable sleeve of the wire line packer being automatically sequentially inflated and deflated by a valve controlled by a sequencing timer actuating means driven by an operating gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: Stanley O. Hutchison, Neal L. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 3946238
    Abstract: A nuclide generator for on-site radioisotope generation is disclosed in which the formation of a short-lived daughter radioisotope from its longer-lived parent features batch flow of eluting reagent interior of the generator in a completely shielded environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Bernard A. Fries
  • Patent number: 3946237
    Abstract: A support housing for on-site radioisotope generation is disclosed in which the formation of a short-lived daughter radioisotope from its longer-lived parent features countercurrent batch flow of the eluting reagent interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Bernard A. Fries
  • Patent number: 3943775
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for changing the inert gaseous content of a volume including hydrocarbon vapors to air without producing an explosive mixture. First a sample is obtained from the volume and then mixed with air to form a gas mixture. During the mixing, the mixture is monitored for values including percentage in tenths of lower explosive limit and percentage of oxygen. Then the values are evaluated to see if the mixture forms an explosive mixture; and, if so, the volume is purged with an inert gas prior to ventilating the volume with air to remove the inert gaseous content including hydrocarbon vapors from the volume without producing an explosive mixture of the hydrocarbon vapors and air.Apparatus is also disclosed for use with the method. A sampling hose is located in a gaseous sample volume of inert gas and hydrocarbon vapors. It is connected to a valve to regulate the flow of gas through it. A second valve is connected to a source of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: Bruce De Baun