Patents by Inventor Steven B. Hinchman

Steven B. Hinchman 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: 5058012
    Abstract: A method of determining a numerical index from a cored well that corresponds to the performance data of a portion of a reservoir and a method of extrapolating the performance of such portion of a reservoir to the entire reservoir through use of the numerical index. Selected variables which affect fluid flow in the reservoir are compared by a statistical analysis computer program to performance data of the computer simulated portion of the reservoir after both the data and variables have been normalized to dimensionless values. The resulting numerical index is computed for the cored wells both inside and outside the small reservoir area, and a contour or iso-index map is drawn. Well performance outside the simulated area can be compared to expected performance through the numerical index values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: Steven B. Hinchman, Raymond T. Brickey, Michael J. Heymans
  • Patent number: 4694904
    Abstract: Two fluids having different mobilities are sequentially injected in repeating cycles into a naturally-fractured subterranean oil-bearing formation to facilitate oil recovery therefrom. The first fluid is a mobility adjusted fluid containing a mobility control agent which imparts reduced mobility to the fluid. The mobility adjusted fluid displaces oil from the formation fractures to a production well. The second fluid has a higher mobility than the first fluid which enables it to displace oil from the formation matrix to the formation fractures. The cycle is repeated to produce the newly displaced oil in the fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventors: M. Marc Sengul, Steven B. Hinchman