Patents by Inventor Debbie Kercho

Debbie Kercho 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).

  • Apparatus and methods for detecting gases during coring operations
    Patent number: 8739898
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an acid gas in a formation fluid from a subterranean formation comprises (a) lowering a coring assembly into a wellbore. The coring assembly including an outer core barrel and an inner core barrel disposed within the outer core barrel. The inner core barrel has an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a core sample chamber extending axially from the lower end. In addition, the method comprises (b) capturing a core sample from the subterranean formation within the sample chamber. Further, the method comprises (c) raising the coring assembly to the surface after (b). Still further the method comprises (d) contacting a formation fluid in the sample chamber with at least one detector during (c). Moreover, the method comprises (e) detecting the presence of a formation acid gas in the formation fluid with the at least one detector during (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Johnston, Debbie Kercho, Kevan Sincock, Ray Wydrinski, Ross Benthien
  • APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING GASES DURING CORING OPERATIONS
    Publication number: 20110247879
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an acid gas in a formation fluid from a subterranean formation comprises (a) lowering a coring assembly into a wellbore. The coring assembly including an outer core barrel and an inner core barrel disposed within the outer core barrel. The inner core barrel has an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, and a core sample chamber extending axially from the lower end. In addition, the method comprises (b) capturing a core sample from the subterranean formation within the sample chamber. Further, the method comprises (c) raising the coring assembly to the surface after (b). Still further the method comprises (d) contacting a formation fluid in the sample chamber with at least one detector during (c). Moreover, the method comprises (e) detecting the presence of a formation acid gas in the formation fluid with the at least one detector during (c).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicants: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Johnston, Debbie Kercho, Kevan Sincock, Ray Wydrinski, Ross Benthien