Patents Represented by Attorney F. Lindsey Scott
  • Patent number: 6039507
    Abstract: A method for assembling a cluster platform in a body of water, by embedding a plurality of conductors in soil underlying the body of water; wet welding in the body of water at least one bracing element between the plurality of conductors, wherein the bracing element is wet welded to at least a first conductor of the plurality of conductors at a first elevation and wet welded to at least a second conductor of the plurality of conductors at a second elevation different from the first elevation; securing a deck atop the plurality of conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Kevin Kennelly, Ian Gardiner, David Noble, Achmad R. Muliadiredja
  • Patent number: 6035934
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and a selected injection zone, by driving a turbine in the oil well with the mixture of oil and gas; separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas in the oil well to produce a separated gas and an oil-enriched mixture; driving a compressor with the turbine to compress at least a portion of the separated gas in the oil well to a pressure greater than a pressure in the selected injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the selected injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Stevenson, Jerry L. Brady, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 6032737
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas at an elevated pressure through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and an injection zone, by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas to produce a separated gas and an oil-enriched mixture; utilizing energy from at least a portion of the mixture of oil and gas to compress at a surface at least a portion of the separated gas to produce a compressed gas having sufficient pressure to be injected into the injection zone; injecting the compressed gas into the injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey, David D. Hearn
  • Patent number: 6026901
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil, water, gas, and/or solids through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and a selected injection zone, by separating from the mixture of oil, water, gas, and/or solids in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a first separated gas and a first portion of an oil-enriched mixture; directing the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture through a bypass passageway having an outlet in fluid communication with a surface so that the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture bypasses a turbine in the oil well; driving the turbine with the first separated gas; driving a compressor in the oil well with the turbine; separating from the first separated gas in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a second separated gas and a second portion of an oil-enriched mixture; compressing with the compressor the second separated gas to a pressure greater than a pres
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 6024171
    Abstract: A method for stimulating a wellbore penetrating a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation by positioning a hydrajet in an uncased portion of the wellbore penetrating the formation; perforating the formation with the hydrajet; and producing carbonaceous fluids and particulates from the formation through the wellbore and, thereby, forming a cavity in the formation surrounding the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignees: Vastar Resources, Inc., Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Carl T. Montgomery, Walter C. Riese
  • Patent number: 6000412
    Abstract: A method for removing deposits of heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials and finely divided inorganic particulate matter from a tank using a composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, a caustic and an alkyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Albert F. Chan, William Mark Bohon, David J. Blumer, Kieu T. Ly, William G. McLelland
  • Patent number: 5996692
    Abstract: A method and composition for removing deposits of heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials and finely divided inorganic particulate matter from wellbore and flowline surfaces using a composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, a caustic and an alkyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Albert F. Chan, William Mark Bohon, David J. Blumer, Kieu T. Ly
  • Patent number: 5992521
    Abstract: A method for enriching a mixture of a first fluid and a second fluid in the second fluid by separating at least a portion of the first fluid from the mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid; directing the separated first fluid into a jet pump; injecting a power fluid into the jet pump to form a mixture of the power fluid and the separated first fluid; discharging the mixture of power fluid and separated first fluid; and recovering the enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Frank E. Bergren, Jean S. Weingarten
  • Patent number: 5988275
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil, water, and gas through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone, an aqueous zone, and a gas zone by separating from the mixture of oil, water, and gas in the oil well at least a portion of the water to produce a separated water-enriched portion and a separated oil/gas-enriched portion; driving a turbine with the separated oil/gas enriched portion; driving a water pump and a compressor in the oil well with the turbine; injecting the separated water-enriched portion into a water injection zone; separating from the separated oil/gas-enriched portion in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a separated gas and an the oil-enriched mixture; compressing the separated gas to a pressure greater than a pressure in a gas injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the gas injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-en
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, James L. Cawvey, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein
  • Patent number: 5988278
    Abstract: A method for increasing the recovery of oil from a subterranean formation having at least one producer wellbore drilled therein, whereby a generally horizontal and generally circular wellbore is drilled so that oil is located between the generally horizontal and generally circular wellbore and the at least one producer wellbore. Fluid is injected through the generally horizontal and generally circular wellbore into the formation so that oil is swept to the at least one producer wellbore for recovery through the at least one producer wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Mark O. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5988950
    Abstract: A system for preventing upward migration of contaminants in soil having capillary pores defined therein, the system comprising the soil and a hydrophobic substance applied to the soil, the substance being attracted to enter the capillary pores so that a barrier is formed which, under unsaturated soil conditions, prevents the upward migration of contaminants carried by water through the capillary pores in the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Terry J. Moore, Charles T. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5977032
    Abstract: A method and composition for removing deposits of heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials and finely divided inorganic particulate matter from wellbore and flowline surfaces using a composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, an acid and an alkyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Albert F. Chan
  • Patent number: 5967233
    Abstract: A method for increasing the production of methane from a subterranean carbonaceous formation by chemically stimulating the formation of additional free surface area or cleats in the organic constituents of the formation and by causing inorganically adsorbed methane to be released from contained clay-minerals to increase the rate of methane desorption from the formation by injecting an aqueous oxidizing solution containing at least one oxidant into the formation, and thereafter producing methane from the formation at an increased rate. Suitable oxidants include peroxide, ozone, oxygen, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochloride, water soluble salts of hypochlorous acid, perchlorate, chlorate, persulfate, perborate, percarbonate, permanganate, nitrate and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Vastar Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Riese, Stephen V. Bross
  • Patent number: 5970422
    Abstract: A method for generating a flow profile of a wellbore whereby a first measurement and a second measurement are collected for each point of a sequence of selected points along the wellbore. For each respective point in the sequence of points, the arithmetic difference between the first and second measurements collected for the respective point is calculated, and the summation of the arithmetic differences for the respective point and for each point which follows the respective point in the sequence of points is recorded. A flow profile of the wellbore is generated by plotting the value of the summations calculated for each point of the sequence of points, wherein the magnitude of the potential productive flow from that point in the wellbore, is substantially proportional to the magnitude of the slope of the profile corresponding to that point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, James J. Kohring, Robert J. North
  • Patent number: 5964290
    Abstract: A method for increasing the production of methane from a subterranean coal formation by chemically stimulating the formation of cleats in the formation to increase the rate of methane production from the formation by injecting an aqueous oxidant solution into the formation to stimulate the formation of cleats in the formation; and thereafter producing methane from the formation at an increased rate. Suitable oxidants include chlorine dioxide, metallic salts of perchlorate, chlorate, persulfate, perborate, percarbonate, permanganate, nitrate and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Vastar Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Riese, Stephen V. Bross
  • Patent number: 5963037
    Abstract: A method for generating a flow profile of a wellbore whereby a resistivity tool is run through the wellbore, while the wellbore is being drilled, to sequentially measure and record, at each of a sequence of selected points along the wellbore, a sequential series of resistivities measured while drilling (MWD). Fluid from the wellbore is then allowed to permeate into the formation. The resistivity tool is then run through the wellbore, after the drilling mud has permeated into the formation, to sequentially measure and record, at substantially the same points at which the MWD resistivity measurements were made, a sequential series of resistivities measured after drilling (MAD). For each point, the arithmetic difference between the MWD resistivity and the corresponding MAD resistivity recorded for the respective point is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Becky A. Watson, Robert J. North
  • Patent number: 5963508
    Abstract: Hydraulic fracture extension in earth formation zones of interest may be monitored by placing one or more monitor wells in predetermined positions on opposite sides of an azimuth aligned with the expected fracture plane extending from a fluid waste injection well. The monitor wells are provided with arrays of vertically spaced triaxial geophone units and the signals from the geophones are transmitted to a central processing unit for treatment and analysis to determine the location of micro-earthquake events which occur as the fracture propagates radially and, usually, vertically away from the injection well. Geophone signals are converted to digital format and selectively stored on magnetic tapes or in a shared memory of a central processing unit which is operable to display selected channels for geophone signals in a way so that minimum arrival time of a signal at a particular geophone will indicate the growth of the fracture in real time to control fluid waste disposal, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Withers
  • Patent number: 5958365
    Abstract: Heavy crude oil is recovered and processed at a refinery through (a) a distillation zone(s), (b) a solvent deasphalting unit (c ) a high pressure air partial oxidation gasifier to produce a CO-rich gas mixture including hydrogen, (d) a shift reactor and (e) a purification step to produce 99.9% pure hydrogen. The hydrogen is used to treat a deasphalted oil fraction and distillate hydrocarbon fractions obtained from the crude oil. The process is considered integrated in the sense that the purified hydrogen recovered from the heavy crude oil is used to treat hydrocarbons recovered from the same crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Stephen K. Liu
  • Patent number: 5951204
    Abstract: A process for removing water-soluble contaminates from soil includes laying a mat over and in contact with the contaminated soil, applying water to the soil, permitting the water to be transferred from the soil to the mat, permitting the contaminants to be carried via the water into the mat, and permitting the water to be evaporated from the mat so that the contaminants precipitate in the mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Charles T. Roberts, Terry J. Moore
  • Patent number: 5944104
    Abstract: A method for increasing the methane recovery from a subterranean carbonaceous formation by chemically stimulating the formation of cleats and increasing the surface area in the carbonaceous formation by injecting a gaseous oxidant into the carbonaceous formation to stimulate the formation of cleats in and increase the surface area of carbonaceous material in the carbonaceous formation; and thereafter producing methane from the carbonaceous formation at an increased rate. The gaseous oxidant may be ozone, oxygen or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Vastar Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Riese, Stephen V. Bross