Patents Examined by George A. Suchfield
  • Multifunctional boronic crosslinkers and associated methods
    Patent number: 8424603
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation comprises providing a treatment fluid comprising: an aqueous fluid; a gelling agent, and a multifunctional boronic crosslinker comprising two or more boronic functional groups; and introducing the viscosified fluid into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Loveless, Rajesh K. Saini, Jimmie D. Weaver
  • Methods and systems for treating subterranean wells
    Patent number: 8424600
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for treating a well having a wellbore extending from a ground surface or subsea surface downhole to an oil producing formation. Oil producing formations are capable of generating formation fluids into a wellbore. Formation fluids are comprised of at least an oil fraction and an aqueous fraction. Emulsions may form during oil production, and such emulsions may be comprised of oil and water. Inhibitor compositions may be employed to break such emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell L. Gallup
  • Stimuli-responsive high viscosity pill
    Patent number: 8418761
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a treatment fluid having a first viscosity comprising an aqueous base fluid; a viscoelastic surfactant; and a stimuli-responsive water-soluble polymer; introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the treatment fluid viscosity to change to a second viscosity in response to a stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan van Zanten, Ryan G. Ezell
  • Fluorinated polymer compositions and methods for treating hydrocarbon-bearing formations using the same
    Patent number: 8418759
    Abstract: Fluorinated polymers having first divalent units represented by formula, and a plurality of groups of formula —CH2—CH2—O—. Compositions containing the fluorinated polymer and solvent, and methods of treating hydrocarbon-bearing formations using these compositions are disclosed. A method of making a composition containing the fluorinated polymer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: George G. I. Moore, Rudolf J. Dams, Jimmie R. Baran, Jr.
  • Oil recovery by sequential waterflooding with oil reinjection and oil relocation
    Patent number: 8413718
    Abstract: A method for enhancing oil recovery from reservoirs is described. The method includes partially recharging zones of pore space in a reservoir that has been previously waterflooded to extract oil, in order to obtain increased ultimate oil recovery by re-waterflooding the recharged zones. The recharging may be achieved by either reinjection of oil or by change in injection scheme, such as changing an oil producing well to a water injection well. This procedure of recharging with oil followed by waterflooding may be repeated. Application of the present method to increase recovery from reservoirs producing dry (water-free) oil to mature reservoirs which produce at high water-to-oil ratios is anticipated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: University of Wyoming
    Inventors: Norman R. Morrow, Sheena Xina Xie, Nina Loahardjo
  • Water-based mud lubricant using fatty acid polyamine salts and fatty acid esters
    Patent number: 8413745
    Abstract: Water-based drilling mud lubricants using a blend of fatty acid polyamine salts and fatty acid esters give synergistically better lubricity results than either component used separately. For example, the blends with different ratios of fatty acid diethylenetriamine salt and fatty acid methyl ester demonstrate much better lubricity in water-based drilling fluids than those where only fatty acid diethylenetriamine salt or fatty acid methyl ester are separately used. The amines in fatty acid amine salt might also include other polyamines, such as butanediamine pentamethylenediamine, spermidine, spermine, propylene diamine and propylene polyamines. The fatty acid esters might also include fatty acid ethyl ester, fatty acid glycerol ester and fatty acid trimethylolpropane ester. The carbon numbers of the fatty acids used to make the components in the lubricant blend may range from C4 to C28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Tao Xiang, Remy Azrai Mohd Amin
  • Viscous oil recovery using emulsions
    Patent number: 8408299
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of generating a basic water-in-oil emulsion for use in recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The emulsion may be used to displace hydrocarbons from the formation. The emulsions used are ‘basic’ in the sense that they do not have added surfactants and are not solid-stabilized. The emulsions are made using a hydrocarbon having at least one of the following properties: (i) greater than five weight percent (wt %) asphaltene content, (ii) greater than two wt % sulfur content, and (iii) less than 22 dyne/cm interfacial tension between the hydrocarbon liquid and the aqueous liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Kaminsky, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Settable compositions comprising unexpanded perlite and methods of cementing in subterranean formations
    Patent number: 8403045
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising unexpanded perlite, cement kiln dust, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising ground unexpanded perlite, Portland cement interground with pumicite, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Yet another embodiment of the present invention comprises a settable composition comprising: ground unexpanded perlite; cement kiln dust; and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Brenneis, Jeffery Karcher, Craig W. Roddy
  • Microwave-promoted desulfurization of crude oil
    Patent number: 8403043
    Abstract: Heavy crude oils having high sulfur content and viscosities are upgraded by a hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process that includes microwave irradiation of a mixture of the sour heavy crude oil with at least one catalyst and optionally, one or more sensitizers, and irradiation in the presence of hydrogen. The process is also adapted to microwave treatment of hard to break emulsions, either above ground or below ground where water-in-oil emulsions are initially formed, followed by the catalytic hydrodesulfurization promoted by application of further microwave energy to the demulsified crude oil stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Rashid M. Khan, Emad Naji Al-Shafei
  • System, method and apparatus for enhancing wellbore treatment fluid flexibility
    Patent number: 8397816
    Abstract: A method includes performing a chemical process to create a chemical product and an amount of heat, and transferring the heat to a first fluid. The method further includes hydrating a polymer in the first fluid, and adding the chemical product from the chemical process to the first fluid to create a treatment fluid. The method further includes diluting the treatment fluid with respect to at least one constituent of the treatment fluid. The method includes treating a formation of interest in a wellbore with the treatment fluid. The method includes changing a formulation of the treatment fluid during the treating. The method also includes extending the treating beyond a design amount, or ending the treatment before the design amount and preserving some reagents of the chemical process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Carlos Abad, Hemant K. Ladva, Lijun Lin, Yiyan Chen
  • Method for controlling loss of drilling fluid
    Patent number: 8393411
    Abstract: Methods for drilling and treating for lost returns continuously while drilling are provided. High fluid loss drilling fluid is used, along with particulate material that forms an immobile mass in hydraulic fractures to prevent their growth. The particulate material may be selected based on the predicted size of a hydraulic fracture, based on particle size to minimize fines, based on specific gravity to attain high solids content for a selected fluid density, and/or based on permeability of the particles to attain a high spurt loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Fred E. Dupriest, Martin V. Smith, Sabine C. Zeilinger, Chinar R. Aphale
  • Polymer hydration method
    Patent number: 8393390
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of rapidly hydrating a hydratable polymer, which method involves irradiating with radio frequency electromagnetic radiation, a mixture of at least the polymer and an aqueous hydrotreating medium to form a viscosified mixture of at least aqueous hydrotreating medium and hydrated polymer. Related methods of treating a subterranean formation and continuously hydrotreating a subterranean formation are also revealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Harold L. Becker, James Michael Brown, Rupa Venugopal
  • Method of forming subterranean barriers with molten wax
    Patent number: 8387688
    Abstract: A method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole and pumping molten wax into the formation, wherein the molten wax flows into and fills voids the formation without disrupting the formation is described. Also, a method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole, pumping molten wax into the borehole, heating and circulating the molten wax vertically within the borehole for an extended period using a heater and pump attached to a circulation pipe extended to the bottom of a zone of the borehole to be heated, and recovering molten wax from the borehole by displacing it back to the surface with another material of different density is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: Ernest E. Carter, Jr.
  • Drilling fluid and method for drilling in coal-containing formations
    Patent number: 8387723
    Abstract: A drilling fluid and method for drilling in a coal containing formation. The method includes: providing a mixed metal-viscosified drilling fluid including at least 1% potassium salt; circulating the drilling fluid through the well; and drilling into a coal seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Tech-Star Fluid Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Alexandru Stoian, Carl Keith Smith
  • Compositions and processes for downhole cementing operations
    Patent number: 8387695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of cementing, for example, an oil or gas well. The method may involve pumping a suspension of a filler mixture and at least about 5 weight percent of a thermosetting resin based on the total weight of resin and filler mixture. Advantages may include superior properties and reliability as compared to conventional cementing operations often involving Portland cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Newbasis West LLC
    Inventor: Ruchir M. Shanbhag
  • Method of enhancing adsorption of an inhibitor onto a wellbore region
    Patent number: 8381811
    Abstract: The instant disclosure is directed to a method of enhancing adsorption of a salt inhibitor onto a wellbore region, wherein the method comprises preconditioning the wellbore region, emplacing the salt inhibitor into the wellbore region, and shutting in the wellbore region for a period of time to at least initiate adsorption of the salt inhibitor onto the wellbore region. The salt inhibitor comprises an at least partially water soluble compound comprising a Group 3 to Group 15 metal and/or an at least partially water soluble compound having any one of the formulae: wherein X is O or S; and R1, R2, R3, R4, and when present, R5 and/or R6 each independently comprise an organic or an inorganic functional group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignees: M-I SWACO Norge AS, Oilfield Mineral Solutions Limited
    Inventors: Richard Keatch, Hua Guan
  • Methods for servicing subterranean wells
    Patent number: 8381813
    Abstract: Methods for controlling lost circulation in subterranean wells, and in particular, fluid compositions and methods for operations during which the fluid compositions are pumped into a wellbore, enter voids in the subterranean-well formation through which wellbore fluids escape, and form a seal that limits further egress of wellbore fluid from the wellbore. The methods include preparing a carrier fluid containing compressed expandable foam that may be encapsulated. The carrier fluid is then placed into a lost-circulation zone, whereupon the foam expands to form a barrier that minimizes or blocks further ingress of carrier fluid. Lost-circulation control may be supplemented by introducing additional lost-circulation materials, pumping a cement slurry behind the foam-containing carrier fluid or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nelson Diaz, Jesse Lee, Stéphane Boulard
  • Engineered fibers for well treatments
    Patent number: 8371381
    Abstract: Mixtures of fibers and solid particles are effective for curing fluid losses and lost circulation in a subterranean well. Stiff fibers are more effective than flexible ones; however, mixtures of stiff and flexible fibers have a synergistic effect. The quantity and particle-size distribution of the solids are optimized according to the stiffness, dimensions and concentrations of fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Nikhil Shindgikar, Jesse Lee, Slaheddine Kefi, Chrystel Cambus-Brunet, Michel Ermel
  • Method of fracturing subterranean formations with crosslinked fluid
    Patent number: 8371383
    Abstract: Subterranean formations, such as tight gas formations, may be subjected to hydraulic fracturing by introducing into the formation a fracturing fluid of an aqueous fluid, a hydratable polymer, a crosslinking agent and proppant. The fracturing fluid is prepared in a blender and then pumped from the blender into the wellbore which penetrates the formation. The fluid enters the reservoir through an entrance site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles Elmer Bell, Harold Dean Brannon
  • Selective placement of conformance treatments in multi-zone well completions
    Patent number: 8360145
    Abstract: Selective placement of conformance treatments in multi-zone well completions. A method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into a zone and optimizing a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid produced from the zone, including adjusting at least one flow control device between fully open and fully closed configurations. Another method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into multiple zones, one at a time, via respective flow control devices, and then producing fluid from each of the zones. Another method includes identifying which of the zones to treat by, for each of the zones: a) closing flow control devices corresponding to the other zones, and b) evaluating fluid produced from the zone; and injecting a conformance treatment into the zones identified as the zones to treat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Kalman, Eldon D. Dalrymple, Larry Eoff