Patents Examined by Anuradha Ahuja
  • Patent number: 10174568
    Abstract: A treatment fluid that comprises a carrier fluid and a degradable material in the form of particles, fibers or both is provided or prepared. The treatment fluid is placed in a borehole such that the treatment fluid contacts a liner, a downhole filter, perforations, natural fractures, induced fractures, or a subterranean formation or combinations thereof. The treatment fluid is allowed to flow into the liner, downhole filter, perforation, natural or induced fracture or subterranean formation such that the degradable material forms at least one plug or filter cake (or both), preventing or reducing further fluid movement between the wellbore and the subterranean formation. The degradable material is then allowed to dissolve after a period of time, causing the plug or filter cake (or both) to weaken, thereby allowing removal of the plug or filter cake (or both) and reestablishing fluid movement between formation and the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nikita Yurievich Silko, Anatoly Vladimirovich Medvedev, Daniel Anatolievitch Kalinin, Ashley Watling
  • Patent number: 10161222
    Abstract: Fluids containing surfactants and hydrophobic particles are effective media for cleaning non-aqueous fluids (NAFs) out of a subterranean wellbore. The fibers and surfactants are preferably added to a drilling fluid, a spacer fluid, a chemical wash, a cement slurry or combinations thereof. NAFs, such as an oil-base mud or a water-in-oil emulsion mud, are attracted to the fibers as the treatment fluid circulates in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Diankui Fu, Soo Hui Goh
  • Patent number: 10151170
    Abstract: Systems and methods that produce bremsstrahlung radiation may facilitate the setting of a settable composition. For example, a method may include providing a settable composition in a portion of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, a portion of the subterranean formation, or both; conveying an electron accelerator tool along the wellbore proximal to the settable composition; producing an electron beam in the electron accelerator tool with a trajectory that impinges a converter material, thereby converting the electron beam to bremsstrahlung photons; manipulating the trajectory of the electron beam in a radial direction, an axial direction, or both of the wellbore with a rastoring device of the electron accelerator tool; and irradiating the settable composition with the bremsstrahlung photons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel J. Lewis
  • Patent number: 10151187
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include an RF source, and an RF antenna assembly coupled to the RF source and extending laterally within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly may include first and second tubular conductors, and a dielectric isolator coupled between the first and second tubular conductors to define a dipole antenna. The hydrocarbon resource recovery system may include solvent injectors within respective laterally extending wellbores extending transverse and above the RF antenna assembly and configured to selectively inject solvent into the subterranean formation adjacent the RF antenna assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: EAGLE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Brian N. Wright, Warren MacPhail, Alan Watt
  • Patent number: 10145226
    Abstract: A system and method of production of hydrocarbons, such as heavy oil or bitumen, by injection of steam, solvent and NCG is provided, which combines the benefits of SAGD, VAPEX, and the use of an additional producer, with specific timing specifications for the initiation of solvent injection prior to inter-chamber fluid communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: MEG ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: Chi-Tak Yee, Subramanyam Bharatha, William J. McCaffrey
  • Patent number: 10125595
    Abstract: Proppant particles may be coated with some particles coated with a diene and other proppant particles coated with a dienophile that would bind the particles through a Diels-Alder reaction. In some other embodiments, proppant particles may be coated with alternating layers of diene and dienophile that would react through a Diels-Alder reaction. The invention may be advantageous for forming underground structures useful in the extraction of hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Joel D. Elhard, Phillip N. Denen, Robert S. Whitmore
  • Patent number: 10113389
    Abstract: A cement composition for use in a well that penetrates a subterranean formation comprising: cement; water; and an additive comprising zirconium dioxide, wherein at least a portion of the zirconium dioxide is in a metastable tetragonal phase, and wherein some or all of the zirconium dioxide that is in the metastable tetragonal phase transforms to a stable monoclinic phase after a stress is applied to the cement composition. The additive also reduces the dimensions of a crack located within the set cement composition. A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising: introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Vandana Neeraj Pandey, Dibyadarshani Senapati, Abhimanyu P. Deshpande, Rahul Chandrakant Patil
  • Patent number: 10113405
    Abstract: A non-aqueous slurry contains a non-aqueous liquid immiscible in water (such as a hydrocarbon based oil) having dispersed therein a crosslinking agent (such as a borate crosslinking agent) and an oil-wetting surface active material. The non-aqueous slurry further contains an organophilic clay. The non-aqueous slurry, when used in an aqueous fracturing fluid, provides crosslinking delay between the crosslinking agent and a hydratable polymer, such as guar or guar derivatives. The aqueous fracturing fluid provides an enhanced fracture network after being pumped into a well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Independence Oilfield Chemicals, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Dawson, Xiyuan Chen
  • Patent number: 10107087
    Abstract: A system and method for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The system includes a production well, at least part of the production well located in a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. A heating well is also provided, at least part of the heating well located in a portion of the hydrocarbon-bearing formation; wherein the heating well includes a main well and a plurality of smaller bore lateral wells extending into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation. The smaller bore lateral wells improve heat distribution within the formation, and so fewer heating wells are required to achieve the same effect as using heating wells without smaller bore lateral wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Margrete Hånes Wesenberg, Håkon Høgstøl
  • Patent number: 10100602
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for sealing subterranean spaces such as natural or induced fractures, vugs or annular spaces. The composition is composed of a base fluid consisting of a soluble alkali silicate, a gas generating additive, water, solids, and a setting agent. The gas generating additive may be coated or uncoated. The gas generating additive may also be in the form of a slurry. In the case of coated additives, the coating may act as a retarder or an accelerator to the expansion and setting agent of the soluble alkali silica. Similarly, the choice of carrier fluid in a slurry may retard or accelerate the expansion and setting of the alkali silicate-based plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignees: BYK USA Inc., PQ Corporation
    Inventors: Michael James McDonald, Xianglian Li, Brett Howard Cramer, Kelly Paul Short
  • Patent number: 10094181
    Abstract: A wellbore treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid; and a fluid loss additive package, the fluid loss additive package comprising: a water-swellable, superabsorbent polymer; a derivatized cellulose; and non-swellable particles that are insoluble in the base fluid. A method of drilling a wellbore into a subterranean formation comprising: providing the drilling fluid; and forming the wellbore using a drill bit and the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Preston Andrew May, Ryan Patrick Collins
  • Patent number: 10094207
    Abstract: A process for recovering oil from an oil-bearing formation is disclosed comprising providing a first oil recovery formulation comprising a first surfactant able to create low interfacial tension with reservoir crude oil; injecting the first oil recovery formulation into the oil-bearing formation via an injection well (201); providing a second oil recovery formulation having a second surfactant with a higher solubility in water than the first formulation; injecting the second oil recovery formulation into the oil-bearing formation via the injection well; and producing oil to a production well (203).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Jeffrey George Southwick
  • Patent number: 10087709
    Abstract: A well cementing method includes combining a spacer polymer with a liquid in a first mixer and producing a spacer polymer blend yielding a spacer pumped into a well using a product pump. The method includes combining a cement additive with the liquid in the first mixer and producing a cement additive blend yielding a wellbore cement pumped into the well following the spacer using the product pump. Another well cementing method includes combining a cement additive with a liquid in a first mixer and producing a cement additive blend. The method combines bulk cement materials and the cement additive blend in a second mixer and produces a wellbore cement pumped into a well. A well cementing system includes a liquid pump, a first mixer, an additive feeder, a second mixer separate from the first mixer, a cement feeder, and a product pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Felipe Padilla, Shailesh S. Dighe, Jeremy L. Weinstein, Toby J. Harkless
  • Patent number: 10082001
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are cement compositions and methods of using cement compositions in subterranean formations. An embodiment comprises a method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprising: providing a cement composition comprising water, a pozzolan, hydrated lime, and a zeolite activator; introducing the cement composition into a subterranean formation; and allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation, wherein the zeolite activator accelerates compressive strength development of the cement composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Jason Pisklak, Lance Everett Brothers
  • Patent number: 10082009
    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: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Trautman, Derik Ehresman, Neil Edmunds, George Taylor, Mauro Cimolai
  • Patent number: 10077645
    Abstract: Methods of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery by contacting unconsolidated resin-coated proppant particulates residing in a propped fracture with a reactive crosslinker in order to form a consolidated proppant pack. Methods for using proppant surface chemistry in water injection wells to consolidate the resin-coated proppant particulates in a gravel packed or frac packed region of a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Chad Cannan, Thu Lieng, Daryl Erwin Johnson, Mark Conner
  • Patent number: 10060244
    Abstract: A method for controlling fluid loss into the pores of an underground formation during fracturing operations is provided. Nanoparticles are added to the fracturing fluid to plug the pore throats of pores in the underground formation. As a result, the fracturing fluid is inhibited from entering the pores. By minimizing fluid loss, higher fracturing fluid pressures are maintained, thereby resulting in more extensive fracture networks. Additionally, nanoparticles minimize the interaction between the fracturing fluid and the formation, especially in water sensitive formations. As a result, the nanoparticles help maintain the integrity and conductivity of the generated, propped fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D Nguyen, Jesse Clay Hampton
  • Patent number: 10060239
    Abstract: A method for stimulating heavy oil recovery from CHOPS wells at or nearing the end of productive life but not experiencing water-out, wherein produced water is heated to below boiling point and injected back downhole to reduce heavy oil viscosity in the near-wellbore region and surrounding the wormhole network, enabling existing reservoir pressure to drive the reduced-viscosity heavy oil toward the well for production to surface. The injection-soak-production cycle can be repeated as desired so long as adequate reservoir pressure exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Husky Oil Operations Limited
    Inventor: Kevin Kar Wan To
  • Patent number: 10047588
    Abstract: A method for reducing permeability in a first region of a formation, including injecting a first composition in the first region from a first location near and/or adjacent the first region; and injecting a second composition in the first region from a second location near and/or adjacent the first region, wherein the first composition and the second composition are configured to react so as to form a reaction product capable of reducing the permeability in at least a portion of the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Maersk Olie OG Gas A/S
    Inventors: Martin Bennetzen, Kristian Mogensen
  • Patent number: 10047587
    Abstract: Embodiments including methods comprising providing a wellbore in a subterranean formation having a wellbore length; providing a proposed cement slurry formulation; calculating a normalized pressure at a point along the wellbore length based on properties of the proposed cement slurry formulation and properties of the wellbore in the subterranean formation; manipulating the proposed cement slurry formulation based on the normalized pressure so as to produce a fluid invasion resistant cement slurry; introducing the fluid invasion resistant cement slurry into the wellbore; and cementing the fluid invasion resistant cement slurry in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Flavio H. Marchesini, Rafael Menezes De Oliveira, Merouane Khammar, Ashok K. Santra, Maria das Dores M. Paiva