Patents by Inventor Dean Michael Willberg

Dean Michael Willberg 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).

  • Publication number: 20240151129
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Patent number: 11939248
    Abstract: A system and method using a subterranean biological reactor can include a pre-reactor storage unit configured to receive a feedstock including a slurry of biologically derived material and at least one pump configured to pump the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. The system may include at least one wellbore containing a subterranean biological reactor configured to receive the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. At least a portion of the subterranean biological reactor may be configured to perform anaerobic digestion upon the effluent to generate a biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Andrew Pomerantz, Thorarinn Kristjansson
  • Publication number: 20230374366
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and slurries for treating a well following a water-based wellbore operation are provided and comprise cement comprising at least one of cement particles and cementitious material, water, and water swellable particulates that are embedded in the cement, derived from an elastomeric material, and present at a concentration of at least about 2% by weight of the cement but no more than about 30% by weight of the cement. Methods for treating a well drilled with a water-based drilling mud are provided and comprise pumping the composite cement compositions and slurries into the well and treating the well by allowing the composite cement compositions and slurries to set or cure after being pumped into the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Patent number: 11808128
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20230265001
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system and method using a subterranean biological reactor. Embodiments may include a pre-reactor storage unit configured to receive a feedstock including a slurry of biologically derived material and at least one pump configured to pump the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. The system may include at least one wellbore containing a subterranean biological reactor configured to receive the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. At least a portion of the subterranean biological reactor may be configured to perform anaerobic digestion upon the effluent to generate a biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Andrew Pomerantz, Thorarinn Kristjansson
  • Patent number: 11623886
    Abstract: A system and method using a subterranean biological reactor can include a pre-reactor storage unit configured to receive a feedstock including a slurry of biologically derived material and at least one pump configured to pump the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. The system may include at least one wellbore containing a subterranean biological reactor configured to receive the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. At least a portion of the subterranean biological reactor may be configured to perform anaerobic digestion upon the effluent to generate a biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Andrew Pomerantz, Thorarinn Kristjansson
  • Patent number: 11111784
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that determines at least one bottomhole condition during flowback operations in a well that traverses a hydraulically fractured reservoir. The system and method measure fluid properties of fluids produced at a surface-location of the well during the flowback operations. A transient fluid flow simulator determines composition and properties of fluids in the well between the surface-location of the well and at least one bottomhole-location of the well based on the measured fluid properties. At least one bottomhole condition in the well is determined based on the composition and properties of fluids in the well between the surface-location and at least one bottomhole-location of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Ryan Donald Williams, Katharine Moncada, Jean Desroches, Philippe Enkababian, Pavel Spesivtsev
  • Publication number: 20210207466
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20210122656
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system and method using a subterranean biological reactor. Embodiments may include a pre-reactor storage unit configured to receive a feedstock including a slurry of biologically derived material and at least one pump configured to pump the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. The system may include at least one wellbore containing a subterranean biological reactor configured to receive the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. At least a portion of the subterranean biological reactor may be configured to perform anaerobic digestion upon the effluent to generate a biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Dean Michael WILLBERG, Andrew POMERANTZ, Thorarinn KRISTJANSSON
  • Patent number: 10954771
    Abstract: Methods of delivering reactive components to a geological formation disclosed herein include generating a plurality of microholes along a wellbore, the plurality of microholes comprising one or more openings, and the plurality of microholes are configured to connect the wellbore to the geological formation. Methods further include delivering the one or more reactive components to the plurality of microholes via a carrier fluid, wherein the one or more reactive components are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur, and wherein the carrier fluid is configured to expand, and controlling a flow rate of the one or more reactive components based on whether a volume of the one or more reactive components delivered to the plurality of microholes is greater than a threshold volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20190153844
    Abstract: Methods of delivering reactive components to a geological formation disclosed herein include generating a plurality of microholes along a wellbore, the plurality of microholes comprising one or more openings, and the plurality of microholes are configured to connect the wellbore to the geological formation. Methods further include delivering the one or more reactive components to the plurality of microholes via a carrier fluid, wherein the one or more reactive components are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur, and wherein the carrier fluid is configured to expand, and controlling a flow rate of the one or more reactive components based on whether a volume of the one or more reactive components delivered to the plurality of microholes is greater than a threshold volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20180106139
    Abstract: A fracturing fluid is injected under a high pressure into a well drilled in a formation to create a hydraulic fracture. Then a suspension of the hydraulic fracturing fluid mixed with proppant particles is injected into the well and the created hydraulic fracture, the suspension having a consistency coefficient greater than 0.1 Pa sn at any flow index n and a yield stress higher than 5 Pa. Then, an overflush fluid having a consistency coefficient lower than 0.01 Pa·sn is injected into the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Andrei Alexandrovich Osiptsov, Dean Michael Willberg, Natalia Anatolievna Lebedeva, Jean Desroches, Sergei Andreevich Boronin
  • Publication number: 20180023350
    Abstract: A method for preventing formation of a slug flow regime of a gas-liquid mixture in a non-linear wellbore or a pipeline comprises determining at least one most probable place of fluid slugs development in the wellbore or the pipeline by mathematical simulation based on expected values of the gas-liquid mixture flow and known geometry of the wellbore or the pipeline and mounting a device, in the determined place of fluid slug development, that converts the stratified gas-liquid mixture flow into a dispersed flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Natalia Anatolievna Lebedeva, Andrei Alexandrovich Osiptsov, Dean Michael Willberg
  • Publication number: 20180016897
    Abstract: A system and method is provided that determines at least one bottomhole condition during flowback operations in a well that traverses a hydraulically fractured reservoir. The system and method measure fluid properties of fluids produced at a surface-location of the well during the flowback operations. A transient fluid flow simulator determines composition and properties of fluids in the well between the surface-location of the well and at least one bottomhole-location of the well based on the measured fluid properties. At least one bottomhole condition in the well is determined based on the composition and properties of fluids in the well between the surface-location and at least one bottomhole-location of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Dean Michael WILLBERG, Ryan Donald WILLIAMS, Katharine MONCADA, Jean DESROCHES, Philippe ENKABABIAN, Pavel SPESIVTSEV
  • Publication number: 20180010429
    Abstract: A flowback system and method employ a flowback model that characterizes fluid properties and rock mechanical properties of the reservoir during flowback in conjunction with measurement and analysis of chemistry and solids production with respect to the flowback fluid in order to maximize efficiency during the flowback operations, while mitigating formation damage and hydraulic fracture conductivity degradation. The methodology can define a safe drawdown operating zone for conducting flowback operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dean Michael WILLBERG, Ryan Donald WILLIAMS, Katharine MONCADA, Jean DESROCHES, Philippe ENKABABIAN, Pavel SPESIVTSEV
  • Publication number: 20150053402
    Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation are disclosed that include contacting a paste including a liquid chemical and a lightweight fiber having a high aspect ratio with a treatment fluid, and placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. Also disclosed is an additive for treating a subterranean formation comprising a paste including a liquid chemical and a lightweight fiber having a high aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: William Troy Huey, Avinash Ramesh, Zinaida Usova, Dean Michael Willberg, Philip F. Sullivan, Richard Donald Hutchins
  • Patent number: 8596361
    Abstract: Compositions comprising a proppant core having an outer surface and polymeric microspheres attached to at least a portion of the outer surface are described. The compositions are useful, for example, to increase the productivity of a hydrocarbon oil or gas bearing well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, James G. Carlson, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Yong K. Wu, Michael D. Crandall
  • Patent number: 8281857
    Abstract: Fluid compositions and methods of making and using same are described, one composition comprising a well treatment fluid and an additive combined with the well treatment fluid, wherein the additive is selected from solids, liquids and combinations thereof, the additive having a surface shape, at least one property of the surface shape enabling it to change under influence of a controllable parameter after the composition is deployed into a hydraulic fracture or gravel pack. In methods of the disclosure, the additive exists initially in a first state, and then is changed to a second state. The first state may increase proppant flowback efficiency, while the second state may increase hydraulic conductivity. In certain embodiments, the additive may change back to its first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignees: 3M Innovative Properties Company, Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, James G. Carlson, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Yong K. Wu, Michael D. Crandall
  • Publication number: 20100288495
    Abstract: Fluid compositions and methods of making and using same are described, one composition comprising a well treatment fluid and an additive combined with the well treatment fluid, wherein the additive is selected from solids, liquids and combinations thereof, the additive having a surface shape, at least one property of the surface shape enabling it to change under influence of a controllable parameter after the composition is deployed into a hydraulic fracture or gravel pack. In methods of the disclosure, the additive exists initially in a first state, and then is changed to a second state. The first state may increase proppant flowback efficiency, while the second state may increase hydraulic conductivity. In certain embodiments, the additive may change back to its first state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicants: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY, SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, James G. Carlson, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Yong K. Wu, Michael D. Crandall
  • Publication number: 20100282468
    Abstract: Fluid compositions and methods of making and using same are described, the fluid compositions comprising at least one solid epoxy particle, at least one epoxy resin curing agent, and at least one type of proppant particles. The methods comprise deploying a fluid composition into a wellbore extending to a subterranean geological formation using pressure sufficient to form a fracture in the subterranean geological formation, and immobilizing at least a portion of the solid epoxy particles and proppant particles in the fracture. Embodiments of the fluid compositions are useful for increasing hydrocarbon production from subterranean geologic formations, and/or controlling solids migration in such formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, James G. Carlson, Ignatius A. Kadoma, Yong K. Wu, Michael D. Crandall