Patents Examined by Anuradha Ahuja
  • Patent number: 11578581
    Abstract: A method for enhanced depth penetration of energy into a formation may include mechanically stimulating proppant in proppant-containing fractures in the formation at a first frequency to induce mechanical stress in the proppant and directing electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency into the proppant-containing fractures of the formation while mechanically stimulating the proppant, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are the same or different and wherein the proppant includes silica.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Inventor: John Dean
  • Patent number: 11566163
    Abstract: A polymerizable chemical system for consolidating particulates in a subterranean formation including a liquid resin, a curing agent, and a permeability enhancing additive. The chemical system is a homogenous composition that polymerizes to forms a solid upon heating at a temperature greater than 60° C. Consolidating particulates in a subterranean formation includes providing a polymerizable chemical system comprising a liquid resin, a curing agent, and a permeability enhancing additive to a subterranean formation, and polymerizing the polymerizable chemical system to consolidate particulates in the formation to yield a porous consolidated particulates pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Fakuen Frank Chang, Xiaoyu Tan
  • Patent number: 11560507
    Abstract: A method and drilling fluid additive for reducing severe fluid losses in a well, comprising a combination of granular scrap tire particles and polymer adhesive molded into a cone shape. Once in the severe loss zone, a plurality of LCMs wedge into the formation fractures and seal off the severe loss zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Md Amanullah, Raed A. Alouhali, Mohammed K. Arfaj
  • Patent number: 11555391
    Abstract: A mixture of at least two shapes of a dissolvable diverter material. The shapes range from a flake having a high surface area to mass ratio to beads having a low surface area to mass ratio. The density of the various shapes may be manipulated by including voids or low-density materials within the shape. The density manipulation allows matching the transport properties of the at least two shapes to the transport fluid so that both shapes may arrive at the desired location at the desired time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: DPIP, LLC
    Inventors: John A. Moisson, Jr., Nicholas Koster
  • Patent number: 11530349
    Abstract: A method is described for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore including injecting into the formation a treatment fluid including a rheological modifier; at least one viscoelastic surfactant (VES) at a concentration of between about 0.1 and about 10 percent by weight; and a formation-dissolving agent selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, sulfamic acid, malic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, maleic acid, methylsulfamic acid, chloroacetic acid, aminopolycarboxylic acids, 3-hydroxypropionic acid, polyaminopolycarboxylic acids, salts thereof and mixtures of said acids and salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mohan Kanaka Raju Panga, Philippe Enkababian, Christopher Daeffler, Tausif Khizar Ahmed, Kong Teng Ling
  • Patent number: 11506037
    Abstract: A method and system for pressurizing and stimulating a formation with a parent well therethrough, the method including storing and de-liquefying liquefied natural gas (LNG) at an on-site location near the parent well, injecting a first stream of de-liquefied LNG into the parent well to pressurize the formation, and injecting a second stream of de-liquefied LNG into the parent well at a fracturing pressure sufficient to fracture the pressurized formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Neil A. Stegent, Enrique A. Reyes, Doug W. Walser
  • Patent number: 11505737
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions and methods for the controlled delivery of acid to a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammed Sayed, Amy J. Cairns, Bashayer S. Aldakkan, Ahmed M. Gomaa, Khalid R. Al-Noaimi
  • Patent number: 11485901
    Abstract: Polymeric systems useful for maintaining particle dispersions for extended periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: RHODIA OPERATIONS
    Inventors: Lingjuan Shen, Qi Qu, Jian Zhou, Arnaud Cadix, Ruela Pabalan, Subramanian Kesavan, David James Wilson
  • Patent number: 11472998
    Abstract: A cement composition is disclosed that includes a cement slurry and an epoxy resin system that includes at least one epoxy resin and a curing agent. The cement slurry has a density in a range of from 65 pcf to 180 pcf and includes a cement precursor material, silica sand, silica flour, a weighting agent, and manganese tetraoxide. The epoxy resin system includes at least one of 2,3-epoxypropyl o-tolyl ether, alkyl glycidyl ethers having from 12 to 14 carbon atoms, bisphenol-A-epichlorohydrin epoxy resin, or a compound having formula (I): (OC2H3)—CH2—O—R1—O—CH2—(C2H3O) where R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 4 to 24 carbon atoms; and a curing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Vikrant Wagle, Zainab Alsaihati, Tushar Mukherjee, Ali BinAli, Ali Alqahtani
  • Patent number: 11414960
    Abstract: A water processing system (10) comprises a reactor (12) configured to receive a feed water input (FW). The reactor (12) is configured to convert the feed water input (FW) into a steam output (S) for use in a downstream operation. The processing system (10) is configured to utilise the thermal and/or mechanical energy of the feed water input (FW) to partially power the conversion of the feed water input (FW) to the steam output (S). The system (10) further comprises a heat generator arrangement operatively associated with the reactor (12), the heat generator arrangement supplying the remaining thermal energy required to convert the feed water input (FW) into the steam output (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventor: Hank James Sowers
  • Patent number: 11407933
    Abstract: A method of controlling the fracture location, orientation, and reduce the breakdown pressure in multistage fracturing, particularly of unconventional reservoirs. Acid etching can be used to initiate small channels (wormholes) around the horizontal well, followed by the hydraulic fracturing fluid to create the fractures. The fracture orientation can follow the same direction of the etched part of the well and in the same location of the wormholes. The breakdown pressure can be reduced by 5, 10, 15%, or more, e.g., from 2200 to 1800 psi after acid etching which can minimize the pumping requirements at the surface and break the formation with very high breakdown pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mohamed Mahmoud, Abdelwahab Ali Zaki
  • Patent number: 11390790
    Abstract: A sag-resistant fluid, such as a drilling fluid, a completion fluid, or a spacer fluid, including a colloidal suspension that includes a continuous liquid phase and a solid phase suspended in the continuous liquid phase. The solid phase includes a plurality of particles, having an average diameter of the plurality of particles less than about 1000 nm. The sag-resistant fluid has a density of from about 7 to about 30 lbm/gal, and exhibits a density variation of less than about 0.5 lbm/gal over a time period of at least about 16 hours. A method including circulating the sag-resistant fluid through a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Cato Russell McDaniel, Dale E. Jamison, Rui Shen
  • Patent number: 11352541
    Abstract: A sealing composition for sealing an annulus of a wellbore includes from 20 weight percent to 97 weight percent epoxy resin based on the total weight of the composition. The epoxy resin comprising at least one of 2,3-epoxypropyl o-tolyl ether, alkyl glycidyl ethers having from 12 to 14 carbon atoms, or a compound having formula (OC2H3)—CH2—O—R1—O—CH2—(C2H3O), where R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 4 to 24 carbon atoms. The sealing composition also includes from 1 weight percent to 20 weight percent curing agent based on the total weight of the composition. Methods for sealing a wellbore annulus or casing-casing annulus includes introducing a spacer fluid to the wellbore, introducing the sealing composition to the wellbore, displacing the sealing composition into the annulus, and curing the sealing composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Ali Alsafran, Vikrant Wagle, Hussain Albahrani, Zainab Alsaihati
  • Patent number: 11346176
    Abstract: A plug for Plug and Abandonment (P&A) operations. The plug is a two-part plug of bismuth-based alloy and resin, allowing for sealing of an oil well using two different mechanisms with a shorter plug. The sealing can be rock-to-rock and/or cast-in-place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Randall S. Shafer
  • Patent number: 11333000
    Abstract: A method can include conveying a dispensing tool through a wellbore, the dispensing tool including an enclosure containing plugging devices, and then opening the enclosure by cutting a material of the enclosure, thereby releasing the plugging devices from the enclosure into the wellbore at a downhole location. A dispensing tool can include a container having an enclosure therein, the enclosure including a flexible material that contains the plugging devices, and an end of the enclosure being secured to a member displaceable by an actuator. The enclosure material is cut in response to displacement of the member by the actuator. A plugging device can include at least one body configured to engage an opening in the well and block fluid flow through the opening, and multiple fibers including staple fibers or filaments formed into yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Gary P. Funkhouser
  • Patent number: 11326087
    Abstract: A sealing composition for sealing an annulus of a wellbore includes from 20 weight percent to 97 weight percent epoxy resin based on the total weight of the composition. The epoxy resin comprising at least one of 2,3-epoxypropyl o-tolyl ether, alkyl glycidyl ethers having from 12 to 14 carbon atoms, or a compound having formula (OC2H3)—CH2—O—R1—O—CH2—(C2H3O), where R1 is a linear or branched hydrocarbyl having from 4 to 24 carbon atoms. The sealing composition also includes from 1 weight percent to 20 weight percent curing agent based on the total weight of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Ali Alsafran, Vikrant Wagle, Hussain Albahrani, Zainab Alsaihati
  • Patent number: 11313204
    Abstract: An insulating fluid system includes an acidic nanosilica dispersion and an alkaline activator. The acidic nanosilica dispersion includes silica nanoparticles and a stabilizer, such as a carboxylic acid. The alkaline activator includes an alkanolamine, such as a monoalkanolamine. A mixture of the acidic nanosilica dispersion and the alkaline activator forms an insulating fluid having a pH greater than 7 and less than or equal to 12, and the insulating fluid forms an insulating gel when heated to a temperature in a range between 100° F. and 300° F. The insulating gel may be formed in an annulus between an inner conduit and an outer conduit. The inner and outer conduits may be positioned in a subterranean formation. Forming an insulating gel may include combining the acidic nanosilica dispersion with the alkaline activator to yield the insulating fluid, and heating the insulating fluid to form the insulating gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Vikrant Bhavanishankar Wagle, Abdullah Saleh Hussain Al-Yami, Abdullah Awadh
  • Patent number: 11299958
    Abstract: Expansive cements for use in cementing subterranean wells comprise water, an inorganic cement and one or more particulate materials that swell upon contact with a water-immiscible fluid. The cements may further comprise a water-immiscible fluid. Such cements are designed to seal microannuli arising from the presence of water-immiscible fluids on casing surfaces, borehole wall surfaces or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Bipin Jain
  • Patent number: 11292950
    Abstract: A lost circulation material (LCM) that includes spheres having radially distributed hooks and latches to facilitate engagement (such as interlocking) of the spheres is provided. Each sphere has a plurality of hooks and a plurality of latches to engage latches and hooks respectively of adjacent spheres. Each hook may include two hook arms, and each latch may define an aperture to receive a hook arm. The spheres may form plugs in channels, fractures, and other openings in a lost circulation zone. Additionally or alternatively, the spheres may form a bridge on which other LCMs may accumulate to seal openings in a lost circulation zone. Methods of preventing lost circulation using the spheres are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Raed A. Alouhali, Eric Moellendick, Md Amanullah, Mohammed Arfaj, Mohammed Al Rashead
  • Patent number: 11268366
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating fracture faces and/or unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: providing an aqueous alkali solution; introducing the aqueous alkali solution into at least a portion of a subterranean formation that comprises one or more fractures; contacting an aluminum component and a silicate component with the aqueous alkali solution to form a geopolymer on one or more fracture faces in the fractures; and placing a plurality of proppant particulates in the fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Tatyana V. Khamatnurova