Patents Examined by Kerry W. Leonard
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Patent number: 7559372Abstract: The present invention includes a cost effective custom-designed blend of organic chemicals to stimulate oil production. The invention includes a chemical composition for use in drilling operations for oil recovery and the method of using the chemical composition. The chemical composition includes an ammonia compound, an alcohol, and aqueous carrier solution. The aqueous carrier solution is of sufficient volume such that it is operable to fully dissolve the ammonia compound and alcohol in the aqueous carrier solution.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Coriba Technologies, L.L.C.Inventor: Harvey G. Cobb
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Patent number: 7506689Abstract: Treatment fluids comprising degradable diverting agents and methods of using such treatment fluids in subterranean formations are provided. Examples of methods include methods of fracturing a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of enhancing production from multiple regions of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore during a single trip through the well bore.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Jim B. Surjaatmadja, Bradley L. Todd
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Patent number: 7497263Abstract: In the presence of certain polyols, a guar gum or similar polysaccharide thickener solution is boron crosslinked before achievement of complete hydration of the thickener, without compromising the viscosity level achieved in a fracturing fluid by the time it is pumped into the wellbore and fractures the subterranean formation adjacent the wellbore. Methods continuously involve hydrating a polysaccharide thickener to an extent of 10% to 75%, but less than full hydration. Before 75% hydration is exceeded, a boron crosslinker is added. Upon addition of the boron crosslinker, the fluid is injected into the wellbore to stimulate hydrocarbon production. Because less time is needed for hydration, well site mixing equipment is down-sized smaller to achieve better efficiency and cost savings.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael D. Parris, Ismail El Kholy
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Patent number: 7464754Abstract: A composition and a method for treating a subterranean formation with an injection liquid containing liquid carbon dioxide, a treating liquid and optionally a foaming agent and/or methanol. The treating liquid may be an acid, a corrosion inhibitor, a solvent or a scale inhibitor.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2005Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Team CO2, Inc.Inventors: Randal L. Decker, Michael D. Hyman, John J. Ridge
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Patent number: 7461696Abstract: A method of propping at least one fracture in a subterranean formation is provided, the method comprising: forming a plurality of fly ash aggregates, each fly ash aggregate comprising an aqueous component and fly ash; introducing the plurality of fly ash aggregates into the at least one fracture; and curing at least a portion of the fly ash aggregates into at least one hardened mass. Also provided are methods of fracturing a subterranean formation and methods for the downhole formation of proppant particulates.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2004Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Thomas D. Welton
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Patent number: 7461693Abstract: The extraction of hydrocarbon fuel products such as kerogen oil and gas from a body of fixed fossil fuels such as oil shale is accomplished by applying a combination of electrical energy and critical fluids with reactants and/or catalysts down a borehole to initiate a reaction of reactants in the critical fluids with kerogen in the oil shale thereby raising the temperatures to cause kerogen oil and gas products to be extracted as a vapor, liquid or dissolved in the critical fluids. The hydrocarbon fuel products of kerogen oil or shale oil and hydrocarbon gas are removed to the ground surface by a product return line. An RF generator provides electromagnetic energy, and the critical fluids include a combination of carbon dioxide (CO2), with reactants of nitrous oxide (N2O) or oxygen (O2).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Brian C. Considine, John A. Cogliandro, Maureen P. Cogliandro, John M. Moses, John R. Hannon, John P. Markiewicz
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Patent number: 7451820Abstract: Disclosed is a method for fracture stimulating well bores using gaseous nitrogen and/or liquid carbon dioxide combined with a partially dehydrated proppant. The method includes mixing proppant with a fracturing fluid to create a proppant-laden slurry, removing the majority of the fluid from the proppant using centrifugal forces, blending the proppant with gaseous nitrogen and/or liquid carbon dioxide, and thereafter utilizing that combination to fracture-stimulate well bores. The method also includes the use of monitoring and flow control equipment to regulate and/or automate the method.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: BJ Services CompanyInventors: Blair Albers, Bradley A. Rieb, Tim Leshchyshyn, James D. Thomson, Victor E. Fordyce
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Patent number: 7416022Abstract: A method is provided for in-situ production of oil shale wherein a network of fractures is formed by injecting liquified gases into at least one substantially horizontally disposed fracturing borehole. Heat is thereafter applied to liquify the kerogen so that oil shale oil and/or gases can be recovered from the fractured formations.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: August 26, 2008Inventor: James Q. Maguire
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Patent number: 7409990Abstract: A two part encapsulated cementing system is mixed downhole in a method of plugging an abandoned well. Using this two part system, one of the components is first placed in the well at the desired plugging depth. Next, the other component is placed in the well above the first placed component. Densities of the components have been selected such that the density of the second placed component is sufficiently higher then the density of the first placed component to facilitate gravity mixing of the two components as the second placed component moves through the first placed component and in the process activation occurs.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Inventors: Boyce D Burts, Jr., Boyce Donald Burts, III, Freddie L. Sabins, Larry Waters
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Hydraulic feature initiation and propagation control in unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments
Patent number: 7404441Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating and propagating a vertical hydraulic fracture in unconsolidated and weakly cemented sediments from a single bore hole to control the fracture initiation plane and propagation of the hydraulic fracture, enabling greater yield and recovery of petroleum fluids from the formation. An injection casing with multiple fracture initiation sections is inserted and grouted into a bore hole. A fracture fluid carrying a proppant is injected into the injection casing and opens the fracture initiation sections to dilate the formation in a direction orthogonal to the required fracture azimuth plane. Propagation of the fracture is controlled by limiting the fracture fluid injection rate during fracture initiation and propagation and maintaining a minimum fracture fluid viscosity. The injection casing initiation section remains open after fracturing providing direct hydraulic connection between the production well bore, the permeable proppant filled fracture and the formation.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2007Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: Geosierra, LLCInventor: Grant Hocking -
Patent number: 7380602Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation with a retarded self-diverting fluid system. The method includes contacting the formation with a mixture of acid, chelating agent, and betaine surfactant in which the betaine surfactant is mixed with an aqueous solution of the chelating agent in which the pH has been adjusted to a pH of below about 3.0, but above the pH at which the free acid of the chelating agent precipitates, and the resulting fluid system is utilized for both acid fracturing and matrix stimulation, as well as workover procedures such as scale and filter cake removal, especially in high temperature formations.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2004Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Mark Brady, Arthur Milne
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Patent number: 7373981Abstract: Foamed cement compositions comprising density reducing additives and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of cementing is disclosed. The method of cementing comprises preparing a base cement composition comprising a cement, a water, and a density reducing additive, wherein the base cement composition comprises a base density. The method further comprises introducing a gas to the base cement composition to provide a cement composition having a density less than the base density and allowing the cement composition to set.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2005Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: David S. Kulakofsky, Pedro Pulido, Raul Bonifacio, Octavio Araujo Morales
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Patent number: 7373982Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation, comprising preparing a cement composition comprising water, a cementitious material, and a gas hydrate inhibitor, and placing the cement composition in the wellbore. A cement composition comprising water, a cementitious material, and a gas hydrate inhibitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Lance E. Brothers, Fouad Fleyfel, James F. Heathman, Shada Salih, legal representative, Ali Shinta
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Patent number: 7363976Abstract: A method of remediation of a well is provided utilizing a cement and cement activator plugging composition, in which one of the components is first placed in the well at the desired remediation depth. Next, the other component is placed in the well above the first placed component. Densities of the components have been selected such that the density of the second placed component is sufficiently higher then the density of the first placed component to facilitate gravity mixing of the two components as the second placed component moves through the first placed component and in the process activation occurs.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Bottom Line Industries, IncInventors: Boyce D Burts, Jr., Boyce Donald Burts, III, Freddie L. Sabins, Larry Waters
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Patent number: 7341105Abstract: Cementitious compositions are provided that can be use in drilling oil and gas well applications. The compositions include a source of hydraulically settable cement, calcium carbonate, free lime and alkali ions, calcium sulfate and an organic component. Methods for cementing a casing and liners and for remedial operations such as plugging back and squeeze cementing are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Holcim (US) Inc.Inventors: Arlen Earl Bingamon, Stephen C. Morrical, Francis Allison Innis, Anthony Martin Sorcic
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Patent number: 7337839Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing method is disclosed that includes designing a fracture treatment including a fluid pumping schedule to fracture a subterranean formation according to a design model that accounts for cumulative filter cake thickness, including polymer concentrated at the fracture surfaces, to provide a propped fracture width effectively greater than the cumulative filter cake thickness, and injecting fluids through a wellbore into the formation essentially according to the fluid pumping schedule of the fracture treatment design. A fracturing method is also disclosed that includes placing a high breaker loading in the filter cake. A composition is disclosed which comprises a fluid viscosified with a polymer and a fluid loss additive comprising a delayed breaker.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Joseph Ayoub, Richard Hutchins
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Patent number: 7334639Abstract: A method for sealing a subterranean zone is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing a wellbore fluid, placing the wellbore fluid into at least a portion of an annular space between the sidewalls of a wellbore and the exterior of a casing string disposed in the wellbore, and allowing the wellbore fluid to solidify therein, wherein the wellbore fluid includes an oleaginous fluid as the continuous phase of the wellbore fluid, a non-oleaginous fluid as the discontinuous phase of the wellbore fluid, and about 5 to about 50 pounds per barrel of a thermally activated hydrocarbon gellant.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: M-I LLCInventor: Charles Svoboda
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Patent number: 7334638Abstract: According to various embodiments, methods of increasing a shelf life of a gas-generating material comprise: including a C8-C18 hydrocarbon in a mixture used to coat the gas-generating material. This gas-generating material may be used in a cement composition to generate gas therein after the composition has been placed in a wellbore. The coating surrounding the gas-generating material serves to delay the reaction for producing the gas until desired. The gas may serve to inhibit gas migration from an adjacent subterranean formation into and through the cement composition before it sets into a hard mass. Coating the gas-generating material with the mixture may ensure that it can be stored for a relatively long period of time (e.g., up to 1 year or longer) without being concerned that it might experience sintering and thus react prematurely.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2005Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Ashok K. Santra, Rita J. McKinley
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Patent number: 7334636Abstract: One embodiment of the prevent invention provides a method of creating a high porosity propped fracture comprising creating a slurry comprising a treatment fluid, proppant particulates, pieces of reticulated foam having cells, and an adhesive substance such that the adhesive substance at least partially coats the proppant particulates and such that the proppant particulates become substantially embedded within the cells of the reticulated foam; and, depositing at least a portion of the reticulated foam fragments having proppant particulates embedded therein in one or more fractures within a portion of a subterranean formation so as to form a high porosity propped fracture.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventor: Philip D. Nguyen
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Patent number: 7331391Abstract: A method of preventing or treating lost circulation during the drilling of a well comprises the addition, at concentration ranging between about 0.5 and 6 pounds per barrel, of water-dispersible fibers having a length between about 10 and 25 mm, for instance glass or polymer fibers, to a pumped aqueous base-fluid including solid particles having an equivalent diameter of less than 300 ?m The base-fluid with the solid particles can be the drilling fluid or a small-volume pill specially pumped for curing lost circulation.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2004Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Roger Keese, Trevor Munk, Raafat Abbas, Erik Nelson, Benoit Vidick