Abstract: A treatment fluid comprises: a liquid fluorinated compound; and at least one additive, wherein the additive: (A) comprises carbon and at least one fluorine functional group; and (B) is soluble or dispersible in the liquid fluorinated compound. A method of treating a portion of a well comprises: forming the treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into the well.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 31, 2012
Date of Patent:
October 31, 2017
Assignee:
HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
Inventors:
Kay A. Morris, Jay P. Deville, Greg P. Perez
Abstract: A hydrated inorganic oxide material capable of elongating from a planar shape to a fiber shape along a thickness direction of the planar shape, wherein the fiber shape is at least about 25 times greater in the thickness direction than the planar shape, and wherein during elongating a radial dimension of the hydrated inorganic oxide material changes by less than about 10% may be useful in a plurality of wellbore operations. For example, a method may include introducing a wellbore fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a hydrated inorganic oxide material into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and swelling the hydrated inorganic oxide material by contacting the hydrated inorganic oxide material with a polar amine compound such that the hydrated inorganic oxide material elongates from a planar shape to a fiber shape along a thickness direction of the planar shape.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 22, 2013
Date of Patent:
October 24, 2017
Assignee:
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
Inventors:
Matthew L. Miller, Robert J. Murphy, Kay Ann Galindo
Abstract: Methods and compositions (e.g., comprising an emulsion or a microemulsion) for use in various aspects of the life cycle of an oil and/or gas well are provided. In some embodiments, an emulsion or the microemulsion comprises water, a solvent, and a surfactant, and optionally, one or more additives. In some embodiments, a concentrate is provided which may be used to form an emulsion or microemulsion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 23, 2016
Date of Patent:
October 17, 2017
Assignee:
Flotek Chemistry, LLC
Inventors:
Lakia M. Champagne, Derek Vaughn, James Silas
Abstract: A method for heating oil shale underground in situ. Shale oil and fuel gas can be obtained from an underground oil shale seam in situ, and the fuel gas can also be obtained from an underground coal seam in situ. Wells are drilled downwardly reaching an operation region of an underground oil shale ore bed. Electricity for partial discharge of the ore bed is conducted into electrodes, and a plasma channel is formed in the ore bed and subjected to breakdown by the electricity; after the resistance of each of two electrode regions is lowered, the two electrodes are used for conducting currents into the plasma channel in the oil shale ore bed; the oil shale ore bed is heated under the resistance heating function of the plasma channel; and released heat is used for realizing thermal cracking and gasification of fixed organic carbon in the oil shale ore bed.
Abstract: A method may comprise reacting components comprising functionalized silica nanoparticles and a crosslinkable component in a subterranean formation to create a barrier in the subterranean formation, wherein the functionalized silica nanoparticles comprise at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of amino groups, thiol groups, and combinations thereof.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 29, 2015
Date of Patent:
October 10, 2017
Assignee:
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
Inventors:
Rajender Salla, Vilas Ramtenki, Shoy George Chittattukara, Neelam Deepak Raysoni
Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying rheology of a cement slurry are described. Methods may include forming a cement slurry composition and placing the cement slurry composition in a subterranean formation. The cement slurry composition contains water, diutan, and a magnesium oxychloride-based Sorel cement and can have specified properties for a ratio of diutan to water, a thixotropic index value, and a yield point.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 12, 2014
Date of Patent:
September 26, 2017
Assignee:
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
Inventors:
B. Raghava Reddy, Natalie Lynn Pascarella, Antonio Recio, III, Larry Steven Eoff
Abstract: Methods may comprise providing a cement dry blend comprising a plurality of cement particles and a plurality of inert microparticles, wherein the inert microparticles have an average diameter at least about 3 times smaller than that of the average diameter of the cement particles; mixing water, a set retarding additive, and the cement dry blend to yield a cement slurry; storing the cement slurry; mixing a cement set accelerator into the cement slurry; introducing the cement slurry into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and allowing the cement slurry to set at a location within the wellbore, the subterranean formation, or both.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 20, 2013
Date of Patent:
September 26, 2017
Assignee:
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
Inventors:
Lance E. Brothers, Ronnie Glen Morgan, Pauline Akinyi Otieno, Peter James Boul, Kyriacos Agapiou, Thomas J. Pisklak
Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 20, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
HARRIS CORPORATION
Inventors:
Mark Trautman, Derik Ehresman, Neil Edmunds, George Taylor, Mauro Cimolai
Abstract: The invention concerns a method for stimulating a treatment zone near a wellbore area in fluid connection with at least one porous zone of a subterranean formation, said method comprising the steps of generating (S1a) at least one electrical discharge in said wellbore at a distance from the at least one porous zone in order to propagate at least one shock wave adapted to fracture said treatment zone and introducing (S2a) a chemical agent within said treatment zone for increasing the permeability of said treatment zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 11, 2017
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
Blue Spark Energy Inc.
Inventors:
Todd Parker, Shawn Carroll, Dan Skibinski
Abstract: A method is provided for producing upgraded heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir by producing a steam chamber within the reservoir by the action of steam and flowing a liquid phase additive into a near wellbore region of the steam chamber to control asphaltenes mobility within the near wellbore region. Build-up of asphaltenes, which derive from the heavy oil, in the near wellbore region has the potential of affecting heavy oil production rates from the reservoir. The additive is formulated to mobilize the asphaltenes within this region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2015
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
Inventors:
Ian Phillip Benson, Cesar Francisco Ovalles
Abstract: A process includes: (a) injecting a steam composition into a subterranean location containing bitumen, the steam composition containing an alkylene glycol ether and steam, wherein the alkylene glycol ether is other than a glycol ether amine; and (b) recovering bitumen from the subterranean location to above the ground.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
Dow Global Technologies LLC
Inventors:
Naoko Akiya, Paul A. Gillis, Harpreet Singh, Abu Mokhtarul Hassan, Zubin B. Kuvadia
Abstract: A method for recovering petroleum from a formation, wherein at least two injection wells and at least one production well are in fluid communication with said formation, comprising: introducing a gaseous mixture into a first and a second injection well at a temperature and a pressure, wherein said gaseous mixture comprises steam and non-condens able gas (NCG); and recovering a fluid comprising petroleum from said production well, wherein said injection wells and a production well are horizontal wells, and wherein said first injection well is disposed 1-10 meters above said production well, and said second injection well is disposed at least 5 meters above said first injection well.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 2012
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
Inventors:
Thomas J. Wheeler, David A. Brown, Tawfik N. Nasr
Abstract: A well treatment fluid includes an aqueous-based fluid, a crosslinked CMHEC polymer, and a crosslinker. The CMHEC polymer exhibits a DS of 0.2 to 0.6 and a MS of 2.0 to 2.5. The well treatment fluid exhibits a viscosity of at least about 100 cP. A well treatment method includes crosslinking a CMHEC polymer in an aqueous-based fluid at a pH of at least about 6. The crosslinking increases a viscosity of the well treatment fluid to at least about 100 cP. A well is treated with the well treatment fluid at a temperature of at least about 200° F. Another well treatment method includes forming a well treatment fluid from produced water that has a TDS content of at least about 150,000 ppm. The crosslinking increases a viscosity of the well treatment fluid to at least about 100 cP.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 7, 2013
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Inventors:
Jia Zhou, Magnus U. Legemah, Hong Sun, Brian B. Beall, Qi Qu
Abstract: The invention is a method of increasing hydrocarbon recovery through the biomineralization sealing of fractured geological formations followed by refracturing, including preparing a composition with biochemical components that is delivered into a geological subsurface through a cased well bore. Nutrient solutions are delivered into the geological subsurface through the well bore, thereby metabolizing the nutrient solutions with the biochemical components to create a mineralizing byproduct. Mineralizing solutions are delivered into the geological subsurface, delivering the composition, nutrient solutions and mineralizing solutions to targeted geological formations having existing formation fractures, through casing openings. Mineralizing solutions react with the mineralizing byproduct to produce minerals, which crystallize in the existing formation fractures, sealing and strengthening the existing formation fractures and resulting in sealed fractures.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 21, 2015
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignees:
Montana Emergent Technologies, Inc., Montana State University
Inventors:
Alfred B. Cunningham, Dwight Randall Hiebert
Abstract: A flowback water concentrating system, and method, include a liquid evaporator assembly that concentrates flowback water, a gas-liquid separator that separates entrained liquid from a gas exiting the liquid evaporator assembly, an exhaust assembly that vents exhaust gases, and a flowback water concentrating system that separates the concentrated flowback water into a supernatant liquid and a concentrated slurry. The flowback water concentrating system includes a settling tank fluidly connected to the gas-liquid separator and a supernatant liquid concentration sensor for measuring a concentration of dissolved solids in the supernatant liquid in the settling tank.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 5, 2014
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
HEARTLAND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS LLC
Inventors:
Bernard F. Duesel, Jr., Michael J. Rutsch, Craig Clerkin
Abstract: Systems and methods for mitigating the effects of subsurface shunts during bulk heating of a subsurface formation are disclosed. The methods may include electrically connecting, and concurrently applying, first, second, and third alternating voltages to respective first, second, and third electrode assemblies within the subsurface formation. The first, second, and third alternating voltages may have the same frequency and respective first, second, and third phase angles. The second phase angle may be different than the first phase angle, and the third phase angle may be different than the second phase angle. The methods may include, upon determining a presence of a subsurface shunt between the first electrode assembly and the second electrode assembly, electrically connecting the first electrode assembly to the second alternating voltage and applying the second alternating voltage to the first and second electrode assemblies while applying the third alternating voltage to the third electrode assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 2015
Date of Patent:
August 22, 2017
Assignee:
ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
Inventors:
William A. Symington, Robert D. Kaminsky
Abstract: A system for treating produced water, for example from a SAGD bitumen production operation, has a treatment unit using chemical oxidation (CO) or electromagnetic treatment (ET) to destroy or degrade organics in the produced water. The treatment module may use CO or ET in combination with biological treatment or sorption processes or both. When the treatment module is used upstream of a steam generator, it reduces fouling in the steam generator and in any blowdown water treatment device. A brine concentrator or a crystallizer may be used to treat the blowdown water. The treatment module may be used in combination with a nanofiltration (NF) or reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filter. Optionally, the produced water may be treated with an ET process such as microwaves directly upstream of a steam generator or upstream of a concentrator or crystallizer in a blowdown water stream.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 17, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 15, 2017
Assignee:
General Electric Company
Inventors:
David M. Polizzotti, Brian Christopher Moore, Vasile Bogdan Neculaes, Abdul Rafi Khwaja, Matthew Alan Petersen
Abstract: A method of treating a carbonate hydrocarbon-bearing formation is disclosed. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon-bearing formation with a composition comprising solvent and a fluorinated amine oxide. Carbonate hydrocarbon-bearing formations treated according to the method are also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2011
Date of Patent:
April 18, 2017
Assignee:
3M Innovative Properties Company
Inventors:
Rudolf J. Dams, Yong K. Wu, Steven J. Martin
Abstract: A method for forming extended wormholes in a subsurface formation comprising locating producer wells, injection wells, and guard wells in a field; determining a flux rate for a formation-dissolving fluid such as an acid, the flux rate being dependent upon different variables including the composition of the rock matrix making up the subsurface formation and the type of acid selected; injecting a guard fluid into the subsurface formation, through at least one guard well to form designed pressure boundaries and injecting the acid into the formation at a rate to reach the determined flux rate and thereby forming an extended network of wormholes through the subsurface formation in a defined direction or plane, with or without guard wells.
Abstract: Suspensions comprising an organic base and at least one carrier fluid. The organic base comprises an amine group and at least one hydrophobic group attached to the amine group. The at least one hydrophobic group may be functionalized with one or more functional groups. Methods of extracting and obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation or bitumen using the suspension are disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 29, 2014
Date of Patent:
April 4, 2017
Assignee:
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Inventors:
Radhika Suresh, Valery N. Khabashesku, Oleksandr V. Kuznetsov