Patents Examined by Doug Hutton
  • Patent number: 9896921
    Abstract: Providing high energy materials that can be placed in previously created fractures and activating them in place to extend or change an existing fracture system. Also detecting the location of fractures or permeable pathways and a means to assess the extent and efficiency of proppant emplacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffery James Roberts, Roger D. Aines, Eric B. Duoss, Christopher M. Spadaccini, Kevin S. Vandersall
  • Patent number: 9896923
    Abstract: A technique facilitates a fracturing operation by maintaining the heterogeneity of proppant fluid as it is injected into reservoir fractures. The technique comprises using a blender to deliver proppant material in a pulsating manner to create pulses of proppant. The pulses of proppant are mixed with a fluid to create a proppant slurry having the pulses of proppant material separated by a second fluid. The proppant slurry is then split between a plurality of pumps which are operated to pump the slurry to a well. To maintain heterogeneity, the pump rates of the pumps are individually adjusted to control dispersion of the pulses of proppant downstream of the pumps and to substantially maintain the separated pulses of proppant material in the slurry. A wide variety of other system adjustments also may be made for enhancing the ability of the overall fracturing system to maintain separated pulses of concentrated proppant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aleksandr Lakhtychkin, Mikhail Shestakov, Chad Kraemer, Herbe Gomez Conzatti y Martinez
  • Patent number: 9896917
    Abstract: The oil production intensification method includes injecting the reagent into the reservoir and treating the bottom zone of the well with high voltage pulse discharges with an electric discharge device continuously traveling from bottom to top in the atmosphere of such reagent. The number of pulses of such high voltage pulse discharges is set subject to the real porosity of the reservoir and the empirical dependence of the number of pulses of high voltage pulse discharges per meter of the reservoir and porosity of rocks pre-estimated with the core material. After the electric discharge device stops traveling up, the treatment with high voltage pulse discharges also stops, and the well is pressurized until the pressure stabilizes in it. Then, the bottom hole area of the well is further treated with high voltage pulses as the electric discharge device travels from top to bottom. Whereby an intensified oil production is realized, from 2 to 20 times more oil may be extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventors: Olga Nikolaevna Sizonenko, Alexander Ivanovich Vovchenko, Igor Semenovich Alexandrov
  • Patent number: 9879511
    Abstract: A method of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation comprises forming a flooding suspension comprising degradable particles and a carrier fluid. The flooding suspension is introduced into a subterranean formation containing a hydrocarbon material to form an emulsion stabilized by the degradable particles and remove the emulsion from the subterranean formation. At least a portion of the degradable particles are degraded to destabilize the emulsion. An additional method of obtaining a hydrocarbon material from a subterranean formation, and a stabilized emulsion are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Oleg A. Mazyar, Oleksandr V. Kuznetsov, Gaurav Agrawal, Michael H. Johnson, Valery N. Khabashesku
  • Patent number: 9879503
    Abstract: Methods of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, including providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a treating agent, a foaming agent, a gas source, and a self-degradable diverting agent; placing the treatment fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation; and degrading the self-degradable diverting agent within the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9874080
    Abstract: Fluids produced from a fractured subterranean formation may be monitored by pumping into the well a fracturing fluid which contains a tracer. The method may be used to monitor produced hydrocarbons as well as produced water. The tracer may also be used in a sand control, frac pack or acid fracturing operation. The tracer is a component of a composite where it may be immobilized within a matrix (such as an emulsion) or porous particulate, onto a support or compressed with a binder into a solid particulate. The tracer may be slowly released from the composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC
    Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Harold Dean Brannon
  • Patent number: 9850424
    Abstract: Methods including providing a silane composition selected from the group consisting of a dipodal silane, a long-chain silane, and any combination thereof, wherein the dipodal silane includes at least two carbon chains having between about 2 and about 36 carbon atoms, and wherein the long-chain silane includes at least one carbon chain having between about 2 and about 36 carbon atoms; coating proppant particulates with the silane composition, thereby forming silane composition coated proppant particulates; and introducing the silane composition coated proppant particulates into at least one fracture in a subterranean formation, thereby stabilizing loose particulates therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Corneliu Stanciu, James Ogle
  • Patent number: 9850422
    Abstract: Systems, compositions, and methods usable to stimulate a formation include a first supply subsystem adapted to provide a first medium to the formation and a pressure subsystem that includes a pump in communication with the first medium to pressurize the first medium to a pressure sufficient to stimulate the formation. Usable media can include non-gelled liquid alkanes, halogenated hydrocarbons, foamed hydrocarbons, a fluidized solid proppant material that behaves as a liquid under threshold conditions, or a liquid material adapted to solidify under threshold conditions. A proppant can be supplied in addition to the first medium when performing fracturing operations. Usable proppant can include materials having a size or density adapted to facilitate buoyancy, hollow materials, composite materials, porous materials, or crystalline materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Prostim Labs, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Lestz, John F. Thrash, Audis C. Byrd, James H. Junkins
  • Patent number: 9850167
    Abstract: The invention provides a carbon dioxide-resistant hydraulic cement composition. The inventive composition comprises a Portland cement, Class C fly ash and water. The Class C fly ash is present in the composition in an amount in the range of from about 5% to less than about 30% by weight based on the total weight of the cementitious components in the composition. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of cementing in a carbon dioxide environment. In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of enhancing the recovery of a hydrocarbon fluid from a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok K. Santra, David Kulakofsky
  • Patent number: 9850416
    Abstract: A drilling fluid and method for drilling in a coal containing formation with a mixed metal-viscosified drilling fluid including at least 0.05% calcium sulfate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CANADIAN ENERGY SERVICES L.P.
    Inventor: Carl Keith Smith
  • Patent number: 9840656
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation including providing a treatment fluid comprising a hardenable acid curable resin and a hydrolysable strong acid ester. The treatment fluid is combined with a diluent fluid and is introduced into a subterranean formation. Upon the hydrolyzing of the ester in the formation and the contacting of unconsolidated proppants, the treatment method produces consolidated proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim D. Weaver, Philip D. Nguyen, Dipti Singh
  • Patent number: 9840659
    Abstract: Methods including deactivation and activation of permeability modifiers for use in subterranean formation operations. A first treatment fluid may be introduced into a subterranean formation having a first treatment zone having a first aqueous permeability value, the first treatment fluid comprising a first aqueous base fluid and a deactivated permeability modifier. The deactivated permeability modifier may be adsorbed onto a surface of the first treatment zone. A second treatment may thereafter be introduced into the subterranean formation, the second treatment fluid comprising a second aqueous base fluid and a cyclodextrin compound. The second treatment fluid may contact the deactivated permeability modifier to activate the permeability modifier by complexing the deactivating surfactant with the cyclodextrin compound, thereby forming an activated permeability modifier adsorbed onto the surface of the first treatment zone and reducing the aqueous permeability of the first treatment zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: B. Raghava Reddy, Anindya Ghosh, Antonio Recio, III, Larry S. Eoff, Christopher A. Lewis
  • Patent number: 9840655
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation including providing a treatment fluid comprising a hardenable acid curable resin and a hydrolysable dimer acid ester. The treatment fluid is combined with a carrier fluid and is introduced into a subterranean formation. Upon the hydrolyzing of the ester in the formation and the contacting of unconsolidated proppants, the treatment method produces consolidated proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Loan K. Vo, James William Ogle
  • Patent number: 9816364
    Abstract: A well stimulation method includes using a well formation containing fractures and placing proppant in the fractures. A plurality of individual particles of the proppant includes a core containing a swellable material. The method includes swelling the core and increasing a size of the fractures using the swelling core. A proppant particle includes a core containing a swellable material and a dissolvable layer encapsulating the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BJ SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Kruspe, Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 9810051
    Abstract: A well completion method can comprise, in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore: abrasively perforating the zone with a tubing deployed perforating assembly, fracturing the perforated zone with flow from surface via a well annulus, and then plugging the fractured zone with a removable plug substance, the perforating assembly displacing in the wellbore while the fractured zone is being plugged. Another well completion method can comprise, in a single trip into a wellbore, the following steps being performed for each of multiple zones penetrated by the wellbore: perforating the zone using an abrasive perforator, then displacing the perforator in the wellbore away from the earth's surface, then fracturing the zone, and plugging the fractured zone with a flowable plug substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M. Ferguson, Stanley W. Loving, Roger L. Schultz, Mark S. Britton, Brock W. Watson
  • Patent number: 9809716
    Abstract: Inadvertent or unavoidable contact of an acid with an acid-reactive substance may preclude the acid's use in another location where its reactivity is more desired. Excessive reactivity of acids toward acid-reactive substances may lead to undesired effects such as surface erosion, matrix deconsolidation, scaling, and the like. Methods for protecting an acid-reactive surface from excessive reaction may comprise: depositing a protective coating comprising an N-(phosphonoalkyl)iminodiacetic acid or any salt thereof onto an acid-reactive surface; and contacting a mineral acid or an organic acid with the protective coating without substantially reacting the acid-reactive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Beuterbaugh, Enrique Antonio Reyes, Alyssa Lynn LaBlanc
  • Patent number: 9809736
    Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising placing a wellbore servicing fluid comprising a lost-circulation composite material into a wellbore, wherein the lost-circulation composite material comprises a swellable component and a reinforcing component. A wellbore servicing fluid comprising a reinforcing component disposed within a swellable component wherein the swellable component comprises a crosslinked polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert J. Murphy, Matthew L. Miller
  • Patent number: 9809741
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for stimulating of the production of hydrocarbons (e.g., formation crude oil and/or formation gas) from subterranean formations, and methods of selecting a composition for treating an oil or gas well. In some embodiments, the compositions are emulsions or microemulsions, which may include water, a terpene, and a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Flotek Chemistry, LLC
    Inventors: Randal M. Hill, Lakia M. Champagne, Nathan L. Lett, Maria Elizabeth Green, Hasnain Saboowala
  • Patent number: 9803442
    Abstract: A method to induce pressure transients in fluids for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations by inducing the pressure transients in a fluid by a collision process. The collision process employs a moving object (103,203,303,403) that collides outside the fluid with a body (102,202,302,402) that is in contact with the fluid inside a partly enclosed space (101,201,301,401). Furthermore, the pressure transients must be allowed to propagate in the fluid. The fluid may be one or more of the following group: primarily water, consolidation fluid, treatment fluid, cleaning fluid, drilling fluid, fracturing fluid and cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: IMPACT TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS AS
    Inventor: Jim-Viktor Paulsen
  • Patent number: 9796904
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of cementing. The method comprises providing a set-delayed cement composition comprising water, pumice, hydrated lime, a set retarder, and a micro-electrical-mechanical system; and allowing the set-delayed cement composition to set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyriacos Agapiou, Ronnie Glen Morgan, Thomas Jason Pisklak, Samuel Jason Lewis, Lance Everett Brothers