Patents by Inventor Christopher John Stephenson

Christopher John Stephenson 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: 9168565
    Abstract: Well treatment particulates are coated with polyionic material and a composite is formed comprising multiple layers of polyelectrolyte, each layer composed of polyionic material counter to the polyionic material of the polyelectrolyte layer to which it is adjacent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark Alan Vorderbruggen, Christopher John Stephenson, Naima Bestaoui-Spurr, Qi Qu
  • Patent number: 8127850
    Abstract: An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Randall Edgeman, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson, Doug Walser, Mark Malone
  • Patent number: 8122957
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Patent number: 7998907
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Publication number: 20110180260
    Abstract: An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Randall Edgeman, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson, Doug Walser, Mark Malone
  • Patent number: 7971643
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that utilize relatively lightweight and/or substantially neutrally buoyant particulates. Particles that may be employed include particulates of naturally occurring materials that may be optionally strengthened or hardened by exposure to a modifying agent; porous materials including selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials; and well treating aggregates composed of an organic lightweight material and a weight modifying agent. The relatively lightweight particulate may be suspended as a substantially neutral buoyant particulate and stored with a carrier fluid as a pumpable slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20110094740
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D.V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Patent number: 7918277
    Abstract: An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Randall Edgeman, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson, Doug Walser, Mark Malone
  • Publication number: 20110000667
    Abstract: A method of fracturing using deformable proppants minimizes proppant pack damage, without compromising the fracturing fluid's proppant transport properties during pumping, by use of deformable proppants. Selection of proppant is dependent upon the mechanical properties of the formation rock. The strength of the deformable proppant is dependent upon the modulus of the formation rock being treated such that the proppant is capable of providing, at the very least, a minimum level of conductivity in in-situ stress environments. The maximum elastic modulus of the deformable proppant is less than the minimum modulus of the formation rock which is being treated. The method is particularly applicable in fracturing operations of subterranean reservoirs such as those comprised primarily of coal, chalk, limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, diatomite, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson, Russell L. Maharidge
  • Patent number: 7861780
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Patent number: 7789147
    Abstract: A method of fracturing using deformable proppants minimizes proppant pack damage, without compromising the fracturing fluid's proppant transport properties during pumping, by use of deformable proppants. Selection of proppant is dependent upon the mechanical properties of the formation rock. The strength of the deformable proppant is dependent upon the modulus of the formation rock being treated such that the proppant is capable of providing, at the very least, a minimum level of conductivity in in-situ stress environments. The maximum elastic modulus of the deformable proppant is less than the minimum modulus of the formation rock which is being treated. The method is particularly applicable in fracturing operations of subterranean reservoirs such as those comprised primarily of coal, chalk, limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, diatomite, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company LLC
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson, Russell L. Maharidge
  • Publication number: 20100222243
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D.V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Patent number: 7772163
    Abstract: Well treating composites are composed of an organic lightweight material and a weight modifying agent. The organic lightweight material preferably forms the continuous phase and the weight modifying agent forms the discontinuous phase. The apparent specific gravity (ASG) of the organic lightweight material is less than the ASG of the well treating composite. The composite of the invention is particularly useful in hydraulic fracturing fluids as lightweight proppants as well as in sand control methods, such as gravel packing and frac packing A subterranean formation may be treated by injecting the well treating composite into the formation in order to increase fracture conductivity, reduce the generation of fines, reduced unwanted water production and/or reduce particulate production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company LLC
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7726399
    Abstract: A subterranean formation having natural fractures, which is to be subjected to hydraulic fracturing, is first pre-treated with an ultra lightweight (ULW) proppant having an average particle size between from about 12/20 to about 40/70. The small ULW proppant flows into the natural fractures and packs the fractures. The formation is then subjected to hydraulic fracturing. The pre-treatment serves to enhance the effective propped fracture length of the formation during the hydraulic fracturing by reducing the loss of fluid from the subsequently pumped fracturing fluid. The method is applicable to hydrocarbon bearing formations as well as non-hydrocarbon bearing formations and has particular applicability to coal beds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7713918
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Publication number: 20090107674
    Abstract: An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Randall Edgeman, Allan Ray Richards, Christopher John Stephenson, Doug Walser, Mark Malone
  • Publication number: 20090008094
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D.V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Patent number: 7472751
    Abstract: An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Harold Dean Brannon, William Dale Wood, Randall Edgeman, Allan Ray Rickards, Christopher John Stephenson, Doug Walser, Mark Malone
  • Patent number: 7426961
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Allan Ray Rickards, Harold Dean Brannon, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta
  • Publication number: 20080182761
    Abstract: The productivity of sandstone or carbonate formations is enhanced by contacting the formation with a deformable particulate and a HF-containing acidizing solution. The deformable particulates create a partial monolayer in the formation while the HF-containing acidizing solution differentially etches the rock around the deformable particulate. The surface of the formation is partially blocked from reaction with the acidizing solution by the creation of the partial monolayer. Conductive channels are therefore created on the surface of the formation. The deformable particulates deform on closure. As the closure stress increases, the formation faces compress the non-dissolved, sandwiched formation points. These points function as pillars of un-reacted formation and act similar to a partial monolayer of proppant, providing the highly conductive channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher John Stephenson, Jeffrey C. Dawson, Leonard J. Kalfayan, Qi Qu, Sergey Stolyarov