Patents by Inventor John L. Stalder

John L. Stalder 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: 10731449
    Abstract: Methods and systems related to SAGD injection and/or production wells that utilize flow distribution control devices. Additionally, methods and systems using limited vertical spacing separating the wells are described. These methods and systems improve steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership, Total E&P Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: John L. Stalder
  • Patent number: 10436000
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with SAGD, effectively expanding steam coverage. Preferably, an array of overlapping fishbone wells cover the pay, reducing water use and allowing more complete production of the pay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership, Total E&P Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: John L. Stalder, Son V. Pham
  • Patent number: 10202831
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to SAGD injection and/or production wells that utilize flow distribution control devices. Additionally, methods and systems using limited vertical spacing separating the wells are described. These methods and systems improve steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp, Total E&P Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: John L. Stalder
  • Publication number: 20180195374
    Abstract: Methods and systems related to SAGD injection and/or production wells that utilize flow distribution control devices. Additionally, methods and systems using limited vertical spacing separating the wells are described. These methods and systems improve steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventor: John L. STALDER
  • Patent number: 9845668
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons with an injection well placed at a bottom of a reservoir some horizontal distance from a producer, such that the injection well and producer may both be in a common horizontal plane. For some embodiments, the process includes co-injection of steam with a non-condensable gas, such as methane, ethane, propane, carbon dioxide, combustion products and combinations thereof. The non-condensable gas provides additional solution gas drive while the location of the injection well beside, instead of above, the producer increases production time before a steam chamber reaches a top of the reservoir, increasing thermal and recovery efficiency of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Kate M. Ryan, Thomas J. Wheeler, John L. Stalder
  • Patent number: 9567842
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. A central wellpad originates injector and/or producer wells, arranged in a radial pattern, and either or both provided with multilateral wells, thus effectively expanding the coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Total E&P Canada Ltd, ConocoPhillips Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin A. Wilfing, John L. Stalder
  • Patent number: 9033039
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) utilizing well pairs that are at least initially in fluid communication through drilled bores toward their toe ends. At least one of a horizontal injection well and horizontal production well of such a well pair includes a hooked length toward toe ends of each other connecting said injection well and said production well. The methods and systems improve SAGD oil production, reduce SAGD start-up time and costs, and improve overall SAGD performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership, Total E&P Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: John L. Stalder
  • Patent number: 8905127
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Maxine Jones Madison, Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140345855
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. A central wellpad originates injector and/or producer wells, arranged in a radial pattern, and either or both provided with multilateral wells, thus effectively expanding the coverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: Total E&P Canada, Ltd., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin A. WILFING, John L. STALDER
  • Publication number: 20140345861
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with SAGD, effectively expanding steam coverage. Preferably, an array of overlapping fishbone wells cover the pay, reducing water use and allowing more complete production of the pay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicants: Total E&P Canada, Ltd., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership, ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.
    Inventors: John L. STALDER, Son V. PHAM
  • Patent number: 8720549
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Daniel R. Sultenfuss, Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr., Thomas J. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8720550
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Maxine Jones Madison
  • Patent number: 8720548
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O and sulfur hexafluoride within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O and sulfur hexafluoride contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Tawfik N. Nasr, Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8720547
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat solvent within a subterranean region wherein the heated solvent, vapor, contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Daniel R. Sultenfuss, Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr., Thomas J. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8689865
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Daniel R. Sultenfuss, Wendell P. Menard, Wayne R. Dreher, Jr., Curtis G. Blount
  • Publication number: 20130333884
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons with an injection well placed at a bottom of a reservoir some horizontal distance from a producer, such that the injection well and producer may both be in a common horizontal plane. For some embodiments, the process includes co-injection of steam with a non-condensable gas, such as methane, ethane, propane, carbon dioxide, combustion products and combinations thereof. The non-condensable gas provides additional solution gas drive while the location of the injection well beside, instead of above, the producer increases production time before a steam chamber reaches a top of the reservoir, increasing thermal and recovery efficiency of the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Kate M. RYAN, Thomas J. WHEELER, John L. STALDER
  • Patent number: 8464789
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Thomas J. Wheeler, Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8240381
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons from within formations in which hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs are separated from one another by a fluid flow obstructing natural stratum. Relative to the reservoirs, the stratum inhibits or blocks vertical fluid flow within the formation. Drilled bores arranged to intersect the stratum provide an array of fluid flow paths through the stratum. Fluid communication established by the drilled bores enables production utilizing a producer borehole deviated from vertical and processes that rely on techniques such as gravity drainage through the fluid flow paths and/or injection through the fluid flow paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Wendell Peter Menard, Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr., John L. Stalder
  • Publication number: 20110259585
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Daniel R. Sultenfuss, Wendell P. Menard, Wayne R. Dreher, JR., Curtis G. Blount
  • Publication number: 20110253367
    Abstract: A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H2O within a subterranean region wherein the heated H2O contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Dwijen K. Banerjee, John L. Stalder, Thomas J. Wheeler, Wayne Reid Dreher, JR.