Patents by Inventor Ayman R. Al-Nakhli

Ayman R. Al-Nakhli has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9701894
    Abstract: A method for improved hydrocarbon recovery from a formation due to cleanup of a residual viscous material is provided. The method comprising the steps of fracturing the formation with a fracturing fluid to generate fractures, the fracturing fluid comprising a viscous fluid component operable to fracture the formation leaving behind residual viscous material in the fractures, the viscous fluid having a viscosity; a proppant component comprising a proppant, the proppant operable to hold open the fractures, wherein the proppant component is carried to the fractures by the viscous fluid component; and a cleanup fluid, the cleanup fluid comprising: an acid precursor operable to trigger an exothermic reaction component, and the exothermic reaction component operable to generate heat, where the generated heat is operable to reduce a viscosity of the residual viscous material to create a reduced viscosity material operable to flow from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Hazim H. Abass, Ahmad S. Al-Otaibi
  • Publication number: 20170130568
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for triggering an exothermic reaction of an exothermic reaction component are provided. A method includes the steps of mixing the exothermic reaction component in an aqueous solution to achieve a pre-selected solution pH, where the aqueous solution operably delays triggering of the exothermic reaction upon reaching a pre-determined temperature of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; disposing the exothermic reaction component within the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; applying microwaves to the exothermic reaction component, where the microwaves are operable to trigger the exothermic reaction of the exothermic reaction component; and generating heat and gas in situ by the exothermic reaction to increase pressure and temperature of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation proximate the exothermic reaction component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli
  • Publication number: 20170130570
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spatially orienting a subterranean pressure pulse to a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. The apparatus includes an injection body with a fixed shape, where the injection body is operable to hold an exothermic reaction component prior to triggering an exothermic reaction of the exothermic reaction component, and where the injection body maintains the fixed shape during and after triggering of the exothermic reaction component. The injection body includes a chemical injection port, where the chemical injection port is operable to feed components of the exothermic reaction component to the injection body. The injection body includes a reinforced plug, where the reinforced plug is operable to direct a pressure pulse generated by the exothermic reaction component within the injection body to a perforation to generate a spatially-oriented fracture, where spatial orientation of the spatially-oriented fracture is pre-determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Sameeh Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 9488042
    Abstract: A method of increasing a stimulated reservoir volume in a wellbore in a gas-containing formation includes the steps of mixing an exothermic reaction component to achieve a pre-selected solution pH, the exothermic reaction component is operable to react at a wellbore temperature to generate a pressure pulse, mixing the exothermic reaction component with a viscous fluid component operable to fracture the gas-containing formation to create fractures, and a proppant component, the proppant component carried to the fractures by the viscous fluid, the proppant component comprises a proppant operable to hold open the fractures, to form a fracturing fluid, injecting the fracturing fluid into the wellbore in the gas-containing formation to create fractures, and generating the pressure pulse when the exothermic reaction component reaches the wellbore temperature, the pressure pulse operable to create auxiliary fractures, wherein the auxiliary fractures create a fracture network, the fracture network increases the stimu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Hazim H. Abass, Victor V. Hilab, Mirajuddin R. Khan, Ahmad S. Al-Otaibi
  • Publication number: 20160319182
    Abstract: A cleanup fluid for reducing a viscosity of a residual viscous material in fractures of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is disclosed. The cleanup fluid includes an acid precursor, the acid precursor operable to trigger an exothermic reaction component and the exothermic reaction component operable to generate heat, where the heat is operable to reduce a viscosity of the residual viscous material to create a reduced viscosity material, the reduced viscosity material operable to flow from the fractures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Hazim H. Abass, Ahmad S. Al-Otaibi
  • Publication number: 20160264859
    Abstract: A composition for improved hydrocarbon recovery from a formation due to cleanup of a residual viscous material is provided. The composition comprises an acid precursor, the acid precursor operable to trigger an exothermic reaction component; and the exothermic reaction component operable to generate heat, where the heat is operable to reduce a viscosity of the residual viscous material to create a reduced viscosity material, the reduced viscosity material operable to flow from the fractures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Hazim H. Abass, Ahmad S. Al-Otaibi
  • Publication number: 20150300143
    Abstract: A method of increasing a stimulated reservoir volume in a wellbore in a gas-containing formation includes the steps of mixing an exothermic reaction component to achieve a pre-selected solution pH, the exothermic reaction component is operable to react at a wellbore temperature to generate a pressure pulse, mixing the exothermic reaction component with a viscous fluid component operable to fracture the gas-containing formation to create fractures, and a proppant component, the proppant component carried to the fractures by the viscous fluid, the proppant component comprises a proppant operable to hold open the fractures, to form a fracturing fluid, injecting the fracturing fluid into the wellbore in the gas-containing formation to create fractures, and generating the pressure pulse when the exothermic reaction component reaches the wellbore temperature, the pressure pulse operable to create auxiliary fractures, wherein the auxiliary fractures create a fracture network, the fracture network increases the stimu
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Hazim H. Abass, Victor V. Hilab, Mirajuddin R. Khan, Ahmad S. Al-Otaibi
  • Publication number: 20150300142
    Abstract: A method for improved hydrocarbon recovery from a formation due to cleanup of a residual viscous material is provided. The method comprising the steps of fracturing the formation with a fracturing fluid to generate fractures, the fracturing fluid comprising a viscous fluid component operable to fracture the formation leaving behind residual viscous material in the fractures, the viscous fluid having a viscosity; a proppant component comprising a proppant, the proppant operable to hold open the fractures, wherein the proppant component is carried to the fractures by the viscous fluid component; and a cleanup fluid, the cleanup fluid comprising: an acid precursor operable to trigger an exothermic reaction component, and the exothermic reaction component operable to generate heat, where the generated heat is operable to reduce a viscosity of the residual viscous material to create a reduced viscosity material operable to flow from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Hazim H. Abass, Ahmad S. Al-Otaibi
  • Publication number: 20140290951
    Abstract: Removal of filtercake particles from a wellbore is achieved by injecting two (2) water-soluble nitrogen-containing salts and an organic acid resulting in the generation of nitrogen gas and elevated temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ali A. Al-Taq, Habeeb H. Haji, Jaffar Abdulla Saleem, Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Duane Bevan Ragbir, Zadson De Almeida Franco