Patents by Inventor Pedro Vaca
Pedro Vaca 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).
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Patent number: 11920448Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Acceleware Ltd.Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoffrey Clark
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Publication number: 20240018857Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing a producer well, which defines a longitudinal axis, between at least a first and second transmission line conductor. At a reference location along the length of the longitudinal axis, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a first and second reference distance, respectively. At a second location, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a third and fourth distance, respectively. At least one of the third and fourth distances are greater than the first and second reference distances, respectively. Excitation of the transmission line conductors generates an electromagnetic field having a reference shape and a reference position at the reference location and at least one of a more elongated shape and a different position at the second location.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca
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Patent number: 11867040Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Acceleware Ltd.Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoffrey Clark
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Publication number: 20230403768Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The apparatus includes an electrical power source; at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating alternating current; at least two transmission line conductors positioned in the hydrocarbon formation; at least one waveguide for carrying the alternating current from the at least one electromagnetic wave generator to the at least two transmission line conductors; and a producer well to receive heated hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation. The transmission line conductors are excitable by the alternating current to propagate a travelling wave within the hydrocarbon formation. At least one of the transmission line conductors include a primary arm and at least one secondary arm extending laterally from the primary arm. The at least one secondary arm includes at least one electrically isolatable connection for electrically isolating at least a portion of the secondary arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca
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Patent number: 11773706Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing a producer well, which defines a longitudinal axis, between at least a first and second transmission line conductor. At a reference location along the length of the longitudinal axis, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a first and second reference distance, respectively. At a second location, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a third and fourth distance, respectively. At least one of the third and fourth distances are greater than the first and second reference distances, respectively. Excitation of the transmission line conductors generates an electromagnetic field having a reference shape and a reference position at the reference location and at least one of a more elongated shape and a different position at the second location.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: Acceleware Ltd.Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca
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Patent number: 11729870Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The apparatus includes an electrical power source; at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating alternating current; at least two transmission line conductors positioned in the hydrocarbon formation; at least one waveguide for carrying the alternating current from the at least one electromagnetic wave generator to the at least two transmission line conductors; and a producer well to receive heated hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation. The transmission line conductors are excitable by the alternating current to propagate a travelling wave within the hydrocarbon formation. At least one of the transmission line conductors include a primary arm and at least one secondary arm extending laterally from the primary arm. The at least one secondary arm includes at least one electrically isolatable connection for electrically isolating at least a portion of the secondary arm.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Acceleware Ltd.Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca
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Publication number: 20220333470Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2022Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoffrey Clark
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Patent number: 11359473Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Acceleware Ltd.Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoffrey Clark
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Publication number: 20220117048Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The apparatus includes an electrical power source; at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating alternating current; at least two transmission line conductors positioned in the hydrocarbon formation; at least one waveguide for carrying the alternating current from the at least one electromagnetic wave generator to the at least two transmission line conductors; and a producer well to receive heated hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon formation. The transmission line conductors are excitable by the alternating current to propagate a travelling wave within the hydrocarbon formation. At least one of the transmission line conductors include a primary arm and at least one secondary arm extending laterally from the primary arm. The at least one secondary arm includes at least one electrically isolatable connection for electrically isolating at least a portion of the secondary arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: April 14, 2022Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca
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Publication number: 20200347709Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoff Clark
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Patent number: 10760392Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Acceleware Ltd.Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoff Clark
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Patent number: 10704371Abstract: Embodiments include drilling a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and the wellbore includes a radio frequency antenna destination portion that is configured to receive a radio frequency antenna; forming a low dielectric zone in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation proximate to the radio frequency antenna destination portion with a cavity based process or a squeezing based process; positioning the radio frequency antenna into the radio frequency antenna destination portion such that the radio frequency antenna is proximate to the low dielectric zone; dielectric heating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the radio frequency antenna such that the low dielectric zone increases dissipation of energy from the radio frequency antenna into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and extracting hydrocarbons from the heated hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The material has a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 20, a loss tangent of less than or equal to 0.4, and a porosity of less than or equal to 5%.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Gunther H. Dieckmann, Michal Mieczyslaw Okoniewski, Cesar Ovalles, Pedro Vaca, James Dunlavey, Donald Kuehne
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Publication number: 20200173265Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing a producer well, which defines a longitudinal axis, between at least a first and second transmission line conductor. At a reference location along the length of the longitudinal axis, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a first and second reference distance, respectively. At a second location, the first and second transmission line conductors are laterally spaced from the producer well by a third and fourth distance, respectively. At least one of the third and fourth distances are greater than the first and second reference distances, respectively. Excitation of the transmission line conductors generates an electromagnetic field having a reference shape and a reference position at the reference location and at least one of a more elongated shape and a different position at the second location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2019Publication date: June 4, 2020Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca
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Publication number: 20190145235Abstract: An apparatus and method for electromagnetic heating of a hydrocarbon formation. The method involves providing electrical power to at least one electromagnetic wave generator for generating high frequency alternating current; using the electromagnetic wave generator to generate high frequency alternating current; using at least one pipe to define at least one of at least two transmission line conductors; coupling the transmission line conductors to the electromagnetic wave generator; and applying the high frequency alternating current to excite the transmission line conductors. The excitation of the transmission line conductors can propagate an electromagnetic wave within the hydrocarbon formation. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining that a hydrocarbon formation between the transmission line conductors is at least substantially desiccated; and applying a radiofrequency electromagnetic current to excite the transmission line conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2017Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Michal M. Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Geoff Clark
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Publication number: 20190112906Abstract: Embodiments include drilling a wellbore in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, and the wellbore includes a radio frequency antenna destination portion that is configured to receive a radio frequency antenna; forming a low dielectric zone in the hydrocarbon-bearing formation proximate to the radio frequency antenna destination portion with a cavity based process or a squeezing based process; positioning the radio frequency antenna into the radio frequency antenna destination portion such that the radio frequency antenna is proximate to the low dielectric zone; dielectric heating the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with the radio frequency antenna such that the low dielectric zone increases dissipation of energy from the radio frequency antenna into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and extracting hydrocarbons from the heated hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The material has a dielectric constant of less than or equal to 20, a loss tangent of less than or equal to 0.4, and a porosity of less than or equal to 5%.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: April 18, 2019Inventors: Gunther H. Dieckmann, Michal Mieczyslaw Okoniewski, Cesar Ovalles, Pedro Vaca, James Dunlavey, Donald Kuehne
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Patent number: 9598945Abstract: A system for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for the extraction of hydrocarbons in underground deposits is disclosed. The system is configured to heat the underground deposit of hydrocarbons to facilitate fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery from the underground deposit. The system has an antenna formed from a coaxial transmission line having an annular space between the transmission line outer conductor and the inner conductor and having one or more periodic aperture arrangements along the axial length of the outer conductor. A method for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for recovering hydrocarbons contained therein is also disclosed. The method comprises: providing an antenna in the subsurface formation; providing electromagnetic RF power to the antenna for heating at least a portion of the subsurface formation.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Michal Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Gunther Hans Dieckmann, Donald Leroy Kuehne, Miguel Vigil, Stein J. Storslett
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Publication number: 20150322759Abstract: A system for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for the extraction of hydrocarbons in underground deposits is disclosed. The system is configured to heat the underground deposit of hydrocarbons to facilitate fluid flow and hydrocarbon recovery from the underground deposit. The system has an antenna formed from a coaxial transmission line having an annular space between the transmission line outer conductor and the inner conductor and having one or more periodic aperture arrangements along the axial length of the outer conductor. A method for in-situ heating of a subsurface formation for recovering hydrocarbons contained therein is also disclosed. The method comprises: providing an antenna in the subsurface formation; providing electromagnetic RF power to the antenna for heating at least a portion of the subsurface formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2015Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Michal Okoniewski, Damir Pasalic, Pedro Vaca, Gunther Hans Dieckmann, Donald Leroy Kuehne, Miguel Vigil, Stein J. Storslett
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Patent number: 8972277Abstract: A method of manufacturing a layered image assembly and a marketing method are provided including a passive consumer behavior tracking method without requiring an “opt-in” process. The layered image assembly includes a base layer and a top layer with an inner area formed between. An opening is provided within a perimeter of the base layer to provide access to the inner layer. The inner layer is provided with a media that may comprise coupons, offers, advertisements, collapsible springs, animated collapsible springs having an image, etc. The media may include one or more symbols for conveying information. The layered image assembly may be attached to an item, such as a substrate, envelope, package, magazine, etc. The customer information relating to the item may be associated, or merged, with the information from the one or more symbols from the media. This merging of information may be used to track customer purchases, customer information, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Action Wobble, Inc.Inventors: John C. Sullivan, Jeffrey S. Samson, Cory Price, Pedro Vaca, Basil Luck
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Publication number: 20100324920Abstract: A method of manufacturing a layered image assembly and a marketing method are provided including a passive consumer behavior tracking method without requiring an “opt-in” process. The layered image assembly includes a base layer and a top layer with an inner area formed between. An opening is provided within a perimeter of the base layer to provide access to the inner layer. The inner layer is provided with a media that may comprise coupons, offers, advertisements, collapsible springs, animated collapsible springs having an image, etc. The media may include one or more symbols for conveying information. The layered image assembly may be attached to an item, such as a substrate, envelope, package, magazine, etc. The customer information relating to the item may be associated, or merged, with the information from the one or more symbols from the media. This merging of information may be used to track customer purchases, customer information, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: ACTION WOBBLE, INC.Inventors: John C. Sullivan, Jeffrey S. Samson, Cory Price, Pedro Vaca, Basil Luck
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Publication number: 20100293821Abstract: A layered assembly is provided including a base layer and a top layer. A pouch area is located between the base layer and the top layer and is created by affixing the base layer to the top layer. An opening is provided within a perimeter of the base layer to provide access to the pouch area through the base layer. An item can be loaded into the pouch area. Once the layered assembly is affixed to a substrate, the opening of the base layer is sealed off from access. A peel-away portion is located within a perimeter of the top layer such that removal of a portion of the top layer along the peel-away portion provides access to the pouch area through the top layer. Removal of the peel-away portion reveals the item that is secured within the layered assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: Action Wobble, Inc.Inventors: John C. Sullivan, Jeffrey S. Samson, Pedro Vaca, Cory Price