Patents by Inventor Jesse C. Lee, Jr.

Jesse C. Lee, Jr. 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: 6435277
    Abstract: The improved recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations by hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation is accomplished. Fracturing fluids using a viscosifying surfactant fluid containing viscosifying micelles, for example, wormlike micelles, are useful to improve recovery of hydrocarbons and limit the loss of fracturing fluid into the formation fracture face. The invention further relates to novel fracturing and acidizing methods useful for increasing hydrocarbon production, limiting water production, resisting fracturing fluid loss into the subterranean formation, and reducing the equipment requirements in mixing and pumping fracturing fluid. The action of viscosifying micelles of surfactant in aqueous zones of the subterranean formation diverts fracturing fluid or acid from the aqueous zones to the hydrocarbon-bearing zones and also facilitates the flowback of increased amounts of hydrocarbons once a fractured well is placed back on production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Qi Qu, Erik B. Nelson, Dean M. Willberg, Mathew M. Samuel, Jesse C. Lee, Jr., Frank F. Chang, Roger J. Card, Palathinkara S. Vinod, J. Ernest Brown, Ronnie L. Thomas