Patents Examined by Crystal J Miller
  • Patent number: 11124690
    Abstract: Reducing leak-off during acid stimulation with dissolvable material sized to preferentially block crevices and wormholes, thus allowing the acid to travel further down the fractures, etching deeper into the reservoir than a similar process not using such dissolvable materials. After stimulation, the materials dissolve and production can proceed and will be improved over what is possible without such dissolvable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventor: Vibhas Pandey
  • Patent number: 11124700
    Abstract: A treatment additive for hydraulic fracturing made of heated silica to create amorphous silicate with a Mohs hardness between 4.5 and 6 and a particles distribution with maximum diameter between 5 and 2600 microns that has been heated and shaped into amorphous shapes with large surface area to weight ratio and ultra-low settling velocity used to prop microfractures distal from well bore, especially in low viscosity and high temperature wells. The microparticle size and shape allow the treatment to effectively hold microfractures open, stimulate backpressure, and prevent leakoff; which has the added benefit of improving primary fracture development; refrac and frac protect productivity; and reduces the likelihood of interference between offset wells. An additional benefit is that the treatment doesn't contain crystalline silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Michael John Caple, John Stabenau
  • Patent number: 11125059
    Abstract: A downhole-type tool includes a casing joint, a housing affixed to the casing joint, and an electric stator encased in the housing. The housing defines an inner bore and has an inner bore wall that is continuous with an inner wall of the casing joint. The housing is sealed against ingress of cement to the stator. The electric stator is configured to drive an electric rotor-impeller. A flow of cement can be received with an outer surface of the housing. The flow of cement can be directed into an annulus between the housing and a wall of a wellbore. The casing joint can be cemented in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Kuo-Chiang Chen, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11119248
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method for estimating the fractured volume in a reservoir domain, said fractured volume generated by injecting a high pressure fluid into the reservoir domain. The high pressure fluid generates new fractures allowing a more effective drainage of porous rocks, generally identified as geological material, containing oil or gas. As a result, the effective reservoir volume increases. According to embodiments of the invention, the method provides a dynamic estimation of the fractured volume taking into account the evolution of the rock and the fractures. In other embodiment, the evolution of the fractured volume is estimated by generating an envelope surrounding the induced fractures allowing a better estimation of the fractured volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: REPSOL, S.A., UNIVERSIDAD POLITÉCNICA DE CATALUÑA
    Inventors: Lakshmikantha Mookanahallipatna Ramasesha, José Alvarellos Iglesias, José María Segura Serra, Ignacio Carol Vilarasau, Daniel Garolera Vinent, Pere Prat Catalan
  • Patent number: 11091686
    Abstract: Well treatment compositions comprise water, a lipophilic anionic surfactant, a hydrophilic non-ionic surfactant, a second non-ionic surfactant, a water-solubilizing solvent, a water-immiscible solvent and a lipophilic non-ionic surfactant. Optionally, a second solvent may be incorporated. When added to spacer fluids, chemical washes or both, the compositions promote the removal of non-aqueous drilling fluids from casing surfaces. Additionally, the treated casing surfaces are water wet, thereby promoting optimal bonding to cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Quentin Barral, Nicolas Droger, Slaheddine Kefi, Loic Regnault De La Mothe
  • Patent number: 11085257
    Abstract: Particulate dispenser can include a housing enclosing a receiving space. The housing having a fluid inlet aperture and a particulate input aperture, and a fluid outlet aperture. A hopper can be disposed above the housing and coupled to feed particulate from the hopper to the particulate input aperture. A wheel disposed within in the receiving space having at least one distribution aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The apertures being disposed at respective positions so that rotation of the wheel alternately aligns the distribution aperture with the particulate input aperture to feed particulate from the particulate input aperture into the distribution aperture and then aligns the distribution aperture with the fluid input aperture and the fluid output aperture to feed the particulate from the distribution aperture into the fluid flowing through the distribution aperture as the wheel rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Wayne Henry, Courtney Pierre Robinson
  • Patent number: 11078748
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sealing a lost circulation zone associated with a subterranean well include a drill string with a circulating port and a lost circulation material. A lost circulation shape is a hollow body having an outer skin and an open interior chamber. The outer skin includes a plurality of perforations that extend through the outer skin, providing fluid communication between an exterior of the lost circulation shape and the open interior chamber. The plurality of perforations are sized to prohibit a passage of lost circulation material between the exterior of the lost circulation shape and the open interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Graham Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 11078768
    Abstract: Disclosed belongs to the technical field of oil and gas field development engineering, and particularly relates to a super heavy oil development method for strengthening an SAGD steam chamber to break through a low physical property reservoir. The super heavy oil development method for strengthening the SAGD steam chamber to break through the low physical property reservoir includes the following steps: (1) selection of a developed oil reservoir; (2) well distribution; (3) steam chamber forming; (4) steam chamber expansion; (5) steam chamber strengthening. The method may enhance the ability of the steam chamber to break through the low physical property reservoir, enlarge the development height of the steam chamber, and further improve the SAGD development effect of super heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM (EAST CHINA)
    Inventors: Teng Lu, Zhaomin Li, Jianping Yang, Hongyuan Wang, Shizhong Wang, Yao Wei, Zhuangzhuang Wang, Dawei Hou, Yajie Xu
  • Patent number: 11078400
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, compositions, and systems for cementing. A method of cementing may comprise: providing a composite cement composition comprising a pozzolan, an accelerator, and water, wherein the accelerator comprises a chloride salt and a sulfate salt, wherein the composite cement composition is free of Portland cement or comprises Portland cement in an amount of about 50% by weight of cementitious components or less; and allowing the composite cement composition to set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jason Pisklak, Sean William Riggio, Ronnie Glen Morgan, Thomas Singh Sodhi, Simone E A Lumsden, Samuel J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 11060374
    Abstract: Methods for producing a swellable packer in a downhole environment are provided. A method includes introducing a treatment fluid containing a polymeric composition into a wellbore within the downhole environment and exposing the polymeric composition to an acid to produce a swollen polymeric material within the downhole environment. The polymeric composition contains a reaction product of at least one or more monomers, one or more comonomers, and one or more crosslinkers. The acid can be in situ formed from an acid precursor introduced into the downhole environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunita Sameer Kadam, Vaishali Mishra, Rahul Chandrakant Patil, Mohamed A. Salam, Ravikant S. Belakshe, Siddharth Roy, Vilas Ramtenki
  • Patent number: 11060008
    Abstract: A date palm seed-based lost circulation material (LCM) is provided. A date palm seed LCM may be manufactured by drying date palm seeds and grinding the dried date palm seeds to create a plurality of particles. The particles may have sizes less than 4 mm, from 1 mm to 2 mm, or from 2 mm to 4 mm. The date palm seed LCM may have a volumetric swelling greater than an LCM formed from tree nuts and may have a volumetric swelling of at least 0.3 cubic centimeters per gram. The date palm seed LCM may have a D50 shift factor less than an LCM formed from calcium carbonate and may have a D50 shift factor of at least 0.38%. The date palm seed LCM may have a stability index of at least 0.95. Methods of lost circulation control and manufacture of a date palm seed LCM are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Md Amanullah
  • Patent number: 11041111
    Abstract: A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method, a method may comprise providing a proppant-free fracturing fluid; providing a proppant composition, wherein the proppant composition comprises proppant particulates and degradable thermoplastic particulates; introducing the proppant-free fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at an injection rate above a fracture gradient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; introducing the proppant composition into the at least one fracture; and allowing the proppant composition to form a proppant pack in the fracture, wherein the degradable thermoplastic particulates are degradable to generate voids in the proppant pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D Nguyen, Loan K Vo, Matthew Lewis Lahman
  • Patent number: 11028309
    Abstract: A cement slurry may be separated from a drilling mud in a wellbore by introducing into the wellbore an aqueous fluid having a weighting agent, a hydratable gellant powder having a particle size distribution from about 150 to about 300 mesh; and a suspension agent of particulates of a resin encapsulated hydratable polymeric viscosifying agent, the suspension agent having a particle size distribution such that at least 90% of the particulates are retained on a 20 mesh screen and 100% of the particulates are retained on a 6 mesh screen. The weighting agent may be suspended in the viscous fluid by hydrating the hydratable gellant powder. At higher temperatures and after degradation of the hydrated gellant, the weighting agent remains suspended by degrading the resin of the suspension agent and releasing the hydratable polymeric viscosifying agent into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Angela Anh Doan, Matthew Grady Kellum, Shailesh Shashank Dighe, Andrew Christopher Holley
  • Patent number: 11021642
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a formulation and methods for simultaneously dissolving metal sulfide scales, inhibiting acid gas corrosion, and inhibiting the formation of calcite and barite in a system having low or high shear stress conditions due to fluid movement, in which the formulation contains a THP+ salt, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more scale inhibitors, and one or more acid corrosion inhibitors. The formulation may be applied to the system in diluted or undiluted form, and continuously or in batch style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Patrick James Rodgers, Brian Lundy, Sunder Ramachandran, David J. Poelker, James D. Ott
  • Patent number: 11015107
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to methods of cleaning invert emulsion drilling fluids. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of cleaning a drilling fluid. The method includes cleaning a used invert emulsion drilling fluid that includes drilled cuttings to form a cleaned invert emulsion drilling fluid. The cleaning includes processing the used invert emulsion drilling fluid in a separator to remove at least some of the drilled cuttings therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Miller, Yerzhan Ayapbergenov, Katerina V. Newman, Jonathan Walker
  • Patent number: 11008523
    Abstract: Methods may include admixing an additive composition with a hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the additive composition contains at least one inhibitor and at least one sub-micron particle. Additional methods may include providing an additive composition containing at least one inhibitor and at least one sub-micron particle; adding the additive composition to a fluid capable of precipitating at least one of at least of asphaltenes, wax, scale, and gas hydrates; and transporting the fluid containing the additive composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Merlyn Xavier Pulikkathara, Chandrashekhar Yeshwant Khandekar
  • Patent number: 11008497
    Abstract: Spacer fluid compositions comprising water, a clay, and a sulfur-containing polyether surfactant are disclosed, and such compositions often can further include a weighting additive, an antifoaming additive, and a co-solvent. These spacer fluid compositions can be used to treat metal casing and to remove drilling fluid residue for improved cement bonding in wellbore applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Marshall D. Bishop, Shawn M. Flom, Marcus D. Banks
  • Patent number: 10988662
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a method of encapsulating a solid cement additive. The method includes the step of applying a base film-forming monomer to the solid cement additive. The method includes the step of forming a coating layer surrounding the solid cement additive. The coating layer includes the base film-forming monomer. The method includes the step of applying an overlay film-forming monomer to the coating layer surrounding the solid cement additive. The method includes the step of reacting the base film-forming monomer and the overlay film-forming monomer to produce a polymer shell. The solid cement additive includes solid particles useful in cementing applications. The polymer shell includes a crosslinked polymer. The polymer shell surrounds the solid cement additive. The polymer shell has a permeability to water allowing controlled release of the solid cement additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Elizabeth Q. Contreras, B. Raghava Reddy
  • Patent number: 10982517
    Abstract: Systems and methods of enhancing oil recovery with an electrochemical apparatus include introducing the electrochemical apparatus into an injection well bore. The electrochemical apparatus includes an anode, a cathode and an interior wall, the interior wall defining an interior that contains both the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical apparatus is operated such that injection water of the injection well bore is introduced into the interior of the electrochemical apparatus. Electrical power is introduced to the electrochemical apparatus such that a portion of the injection water is converted into a product gas, the product gas including hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The electrochemical apparatus is operated such that the product gas forms product gas bubbles and the product gas bubbles travel into a formation, where the product gas bubbles react with a reservoir hydrocarbon of the formation to form a production fluid that is produced through a production well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Mulhem, Mohammed A. Al-Daous, Hussam A. Bahlouli
  • Patent number: 10975291
    Abstract: In-situ upgrading of heavy hydrocarbons includes injecting into a reservoir solvent, an asphaltene precipitant additive and optionally steam, at a ratio of solvent to heavy hydrocarbon between 0.1:1 and 20:1 under reservoir conditions. The additive has C—H, C—C and/or C—O bonds that thermally crack to generate free radicals in the vapor phase after injection. Formed downhole are a blend containing an upgraded hydrocarbon, and precipitated asphaltenes. The upgraded hydrocarbon is produced such that the precipitated asphaltenes remain in the reservoir. The upgraded hydrocarbon has a greater API gravity, lower asphaltene content, and lower viscosity than the heavy hydrocarbon. The precipitated asphaltenes are present in a higher amount than a similar blend not containing the additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Cesar Ovalles, Estrella Rogel, Ian Phillip Benson, Ronald A. Behrens