Patents by Inventor Daniel SULTENFUSS

Daniel SULTENFUSS 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: 9322254
    Abstract: A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation includes forming a laterally extending injector well in the subterranean formation and forming a laterally extending producer well spaced below the injector well. The method may also include radio frequency (RF) heating the subterranean formation to establish hydraulic communication between the injector well and the producer well. The method may further include injecting heated liquid water into the injector well to recover hydrocarbon resources from the producer well based upon the hydraulic communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: HARRIS CORPORATION, CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Mark Alan Trautman, Daniel Sultenfuss
  • Patent number: 9297240
    Abstract: Production of heavy oil and bitumen from a reservoir is enhanced by cyclic radio frequency (RF) radiation of the well. The invention utilizes RF radiation to introduce energy to the hydrocarbon reservoir in cycles in order to heat the reservoir directly, yet conserves energy over the prior art processes that more or less continuously apply RF or microwave energy. The advantage of cyclic RF is it uses less electricity, and thus lowers operating costs. This is achieved by the soak cycle that allows heat to conduct into the formation and assists the heat penetration that is directly radiated into the formation by the antenna. The invention can also be advantageously combined with cyclic steam stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Sultenfuss, Mark Trautman, Francis Parsche
  • Publication number: 20130098610
    Abstract: A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation includes forming a laterally extending injector well in the subterranean formation and forming a laterally extending producer well spaced below the injector well. The method may also include radio frequency (RF) heating the subterranean formation to establish hydraulic communication between the injector well and the producer well. The method may further include injecting heated liquid water into the injector well to recover hydrocarbon resources from the producer well based upon the hydraulic communication therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Alan Trautman, Daniel Sultenfuss
  • Publication number: 20130008651
    Abstract: A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation may include forming spaced apart injector/producer well pairs in the subterranean formation, with each well pair including a laterally extending producer well and a laterally extending injector well spaced thereabove. The method may also include forming laterally extending infill wells in the subterranean formation, with each infill well being located between respective adjacent injector/producer well pairs. The method may also include recovering hydrocarbon resources from the producer wells based upon Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) via the injector/producer well pairs, and recovering hydrocarbon resources from the infill wells based upon RF heating regions of the subterranean formation surrounding the respective infill wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicants: ConocoPhillips Company, Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Alan Trautman, Daniel Sultenfuss
  • Publication number: 20120305239
    Abstract: Production of heavy oil and bitumen from a reservoir is enhanced by cyclic radio frequency (RF) radiation of the well. The invention utilizes RF radiation to introduce energy to the hydrocarbon reservoir in cycles in order to heat the reservoir directly, yet conserves energy over the prior art processes that more or less continuously apply RF or microwave energy. The advantage of cyclic RF is it uses less electricity, and thus lowers operating costs. This is achieved by the soak cycle that allows heat to conduct into the formation and assists the heat penetration that is directly radiated into the formation by the antenna. The invention can also be advantageously combined with cyclic steam stimulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: HARRIS CORPORATION, CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel SULTENFUSS, Mark TRAUTMAN, Francis E. PARSCHE