Patents by Inventor George Alan WATERS

George Alan WATERS 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: 11840909
    Abstract: A technique for providing a fluid conduit between a main bore and a substantially non-producing region of a fracture at a horizontal section of the bore. The technique includes forming a micro-tunnel from a location of the bore adjacent the fracture. The micro-tunnel may be directed at the non-producing region with a angled deflector or in a steerable manner. Additionally, the well may be configured with micro-tunneling at the outset or retrofitted with micro-tunnels as a manner of restoring production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitriy Ivanovich Potapenko, William Batzer, Robert Utter, Donald W. Lee, George Alan Waters, Douglas Pipchuk, Ryan Rodgers
  • Patent number: 11466549
    Abstract: A technique facilitates hydrocarbon fluid production. A well is formed in a subterranean region by drilling a borehole, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. At least one tunnel is formed and oriented to extend outwardly from the borehole at least 10 feet into a formation surrounding the borehole. The orientation of the at least one tunnel is selected such that it extends at a desired angle with respect to a direction of horizontal stress in the formation. A fracture stimulation of the at least one tunnel is performed to create a network of fractures. The orientation of the at least one tunnel ensures that the network of fractures extends through a target zone in a hydrocarbon bearing region of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Lee, George Alan Waters, Richard E. Lewis, Dmitriy Ivanovich Potapenko
  • Publication number: 20210131242
    Abstract: A technique facilitates hydrocarbon fluid production. A well is formed in a subterranean region by drilling a borehole, e.g. a generally vertical wellbore. At least one tunnel is formed and oriented to extend outwardly from the borehole at least 10 feet into a formation surrounding the borehole. The orientation of the at least one tunnel is selected such that it extends at a desired angle with respect to a direction of horizontal stress in the formation. A fracture stimulation of the at least one tunnel is performed to create a network of fractures. The orientation of the at least one tunnel ensures that the network of fractures extends through a target zone in a hydrocarbon bearing region of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Donald W. Lee, George Alan Waters, Richard E. Lewis, Dmitriy Ivanovich POTAPENKO
  • Publication number: 20210102452
    Abstract: A technique for providing a fluid conduit between a main bore and a substantially non-producing region of a fracture at a horizontal section of the bore. The technique includes forming a micro-tunnel from a location of the bore adjacent the fracture. The micro-tunnel may be directed at the non-producing region with a angled deflector or in a steerable manner. Additionally, the well may be configured with micro-tunneling at the outset or retrofitted with micro-tunnels as a manner of restoring production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Inventors: Dmitriy Ivanovich Potapenko, William Batzer, Robert Utter, Donald W. Lee, George Alan Waters, Douglas Pipchuk, Ryan Rodgers
  • Patent number: 10809405
    Abstract: Methods utilizing ultrasonic acoustic logging tools are provided for detecting thin formation layers that present markedly higher compliance than that of the surrounding rock in, for example, a laminated tight hydrocarbon-bearing formation. These layers may be interpreted as presenting potential interfacial and planes of weakness that may have bearing on the extent of a hydraulic fracture propagating across them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Smaine Zeroug, Bikash Kumar Sinha, Peter Tilke, George Alan Waters
  • Patent number: 10794154
    Abstract: A method of performing a fracture operation at a wellsite is disclosed for a wellsite positioned about a subterranean formation having a wellbore therethrough and a fracture network therein. The fracture network includes natural fractures. The method involves generating wellsite parameters of the wellsite comprising seismic measurements, generating smooth fracture parameters of a smooth fracture by solving governing equations based on the wellsite parameters, and generating ledged fracture parameters of a ledged fracture by identifying ledge locations and generating ledged fracture parameters of a ledged fracture at the ledge locations by solving the governing equations based on the wellsite parameters for the ledge locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaowei Weng, Charles-Edouard Cohen, George Alan Waters
  • Publication number: 20180230783
    Abstract: A method of performing a fracture operation at a wellsite is disclosed for a wellsite positioned about a subterranean formation having a wellbore therethrough and a fracture network therein. The fracture network includes natural fractures. The method involves generating wellsite parameters of the wellsite comprising seismic measurements, generating smooth fracture parameters of a smooth fracture by solving governing equations based on the wellsite parameters, and generating ledged fracture parameters of a ledged fracture by identifying ledge locations and generating ledged fracture parameters of a ledged fracture at the ledge locations by solving the governing equations based on the wellsite parameters for the ledge locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Inventors: Xiaowei WENG, Charles-Edouard COHEN, George Alan Waters
  • Publication number: 20180196157
    Abstract: Methods utilizing ultrasonic acoustic logging tools are provided for detecting thin formation layers that present markedly higher compliance than that of the surrounding rock in, for example, a laminated tight hydrocarbon-bearing formation. These layers may be interpreted as presenting potential interfacial and planes of weakness that may have bearing on the extent of a hydraulic fracture propagating across them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Smaine ZEROUG, Bikash Kumar SINHA, Peter TILKE, George Alan WATERS