Patents Examined by Silvana Runyan
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Patent number: 9896919Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for fracturing geological formations in a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes forming a borehole in a hydrocarbon reservoir from a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir extending downward into the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave through the borehole: directing at least a portion of the EM wave to rocks at a location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir; and fracturing the rocks at the location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir by irradiating the rocks around the borehole using at least the portion of the EM wave, wherein irradiating the rocks elevates pore-water pressure in the rocks causing fracturing of the rocks.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Jinhong Chen, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu, Lorne Arthur Davis, Jr.
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Patent number: 9884988Abstract: Methods and compositions 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, the emulsion or the microemulsion comprises water, a solvent, and a surfactant, and optionally, one or more additives.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignee: Flotek Chemistry, LLCInventors: Keith Ingram Dismuke, Randal M. Hill, Andrei Zelenev, James Silas, David Germack, Lakia M. Champagne, Charles Earl Hammond, John T. Pursley, Glenn S. Penny, Michael A. Bryan, Maria Elizabeth Green, Monica Smith-Gonzalez, Melinda Soeung, Hasnain Saboowala, Angus Fursdon-Welsh, Nathan L. Lett, Nicole Mast, Joby Hughes
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Patent number: 9879175Abstract: A capsule for carrying a proppant for emplaced in a formation containing formation fluid by a hydraulic fracture operation using a fracturing fluid. The capsule includes a capsule body. The capsule body includes a proppant. There is a surface layer on the capsule body that is permeable to the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or is permeable to both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid. The proppant material is dry cement that interacts with the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid that migrate through the surface layer and is taken up by the dry cement causing the dry cement to harden.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Roger D. Aines, William L. Bourcier, Eric B. Duoss, Jeffery James Roberts, Christopher M. Spadaccini, Joshuah K. Stolaroff
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Patent number: 9869168Abstract: A method for thermal-displacement-type strengthened extraction in a drill hole, suitable for efficient gas extraction in a coal mine, the method comprising the following steps: arranging an extraction drill hole and a thermal displacement drill hole at intervals in a coal seam; continuously heating coal in the drill hole to form a stable temperature field by using a heat pipe; and significantly reducing gas adsorption potential by utilizing a heat effect, prompting gas desorption, and strengthening gas extraction. The method enlarges a range of effective pressure relief influence of a single hole, increases an extraction efficiency of gas in a coal seam by more than 40%, is safe, reliable and low-cost, and is easy to operate, saving both time and labor.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2015Date of Patent: January 16, 2018Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Baiquan Lin, Yidou Hong, Chuanjie Zhu, Hao Yao
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Patent number: 9863230Abstract: A method of injecting well treatment fluid including proppant and proppant-spacing filler material through a wellbore into the fracture, heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands spaced apart by the material, and removing the filler material to form open channels around the pillars for fluid flow from the formation through the fracture toward the wellbore. The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The filler material can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars. The well treatment fluid can include extrametrical materials to provide reinforcement and consolidation of the proppant and/or to inhibit settling of the proppant.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2012Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Fedor Nikolaevich Litvinets, Andrey Vladimirovich Bogdan, Sergey Mikhailovich Makarychev-Mikhaliov, Oleg Medvedev, Alejandro Pena, Konstantin Mikhailovich Lyapunov, Alexander Vuacheslavovich Mikhaylov, Timothy M. Lesko, J. Ernest Brown, Dean M. Willberg, Ivan Vitalievich Kosarev, Anatoly Vladimirovich Medvedev, Jonathan Abbott, Alexander Alexandrovich Burukhin
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Patent number: 9862880Abstract: A capsule for carrying a proppant for emplaced in a formation containing formation fluid by a hydraulic fracture operation using a fracturing fluid. The capsule includes a capsule body. The capsule body includes a proppant. There is a surface layer on the capsule body that is permeable to the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or is permeable to both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid. The proppant material is dry cement that interacts with the formation fluid or the fracturing fluid or both the formation fluid and the fracturing fluid that migrate through the surface layer and is taken up by the dry cement causing the dry cement to harden.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Roger D. Aines, William L. Bourcier, Eric B. Duoss, Jeffery James Roberts, Christopher M. Spadaccini, Joshuah K Stolaroff
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Patent number: 9862882Abstract: A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate is provided for use in methods of removing a fluid from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Fenfen Huang, Duy T. Nguyen
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Drill-in fluids comprising nanoparticulates for consolidating subterranean formations while drilling
Patent number: 9862875Abstract: Embodiments herein include methods comprising providing a drill-in fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and nanoparticulates; providing a drilling apparatus comprising a drill string and a drill bit; circulating the drill-in fluid while drilling a reservoir interval in a subterranean formation with the drilling apparatus such that the nanoparticles penetrate into the subterranean formation; and consolidating unconsolidated particles within the subterranean formation with the nanoparticles.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Loan K Vo, Lee J. Hall, Dale E. Jamison -
Patent number: 9845425Abstract: Energy recovery medium for insertion into a ground hole in a ground comprising a recoverable energy carrying medium, wherein the energy recovery medium comprises a base liquid, a carbohydrate-based thickener mixed in the base liquid, a salt dissolved in the base liquid and configured for increasing a density of the base liquid, and proppant particles dispersed within the mixture of the base liquid, the thickener and the salt.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2014Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Montanuniversaität LeobenInventor: Herbert Hofstätter
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Patent number: 9845423Abstract: A method of forming a set grout includes steps of preparing a grout additive fluid comprising a fresh water base fluid and a grout additive control package comprising a primary additive selected from the group consisting of an inhibitor, a dispersant, a thermally conductive material, and any combination thereof; introducing an aqueous swellable clay into the grout additive fluid, thereby forming a final grout fluid; and introducing the final grout fluid into an annulus in a subterranean formation, the annulus formed between an exterior of a geothermal well loop tubular and the subterranean formation. The ordering of additives in the method results in enhanced effectiveness of the additives, which may reduce the amount of additive loading required.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2015Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Eric Benjamin Frantz, Rebecca Marie Henry
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Patent number: 9840657Abstract: A method, system, and composition for producing oil from a formation utilizing an oil recovery formulation comprising a surfactant, an ammonia liquid, an alkali metal carbonate or bicarbonate, a polymer, and water are provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Inventors: Jeffrey George Southwick, Yi Svec, Gordon Thomas Shahin
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Patent number: 9834718Abstract: Some examples of producing water-based drilling fluids including ecofriendly lubricating additives are described. A raw material oil including fatty acids with a short chain alcohol is esterified in the presence of a catalyst to produce alkyl ester products and triglycerides. The alkyl ester products are washed and heated to remove any residual water or the short chain alcohol. A first quantity of the alkyl ester products is mixed with a second quantity of a water-based wellbore drilling fluid.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Md Amanullah, Abdulaziz S. Bubshait, Omar A. Fuwaires
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Patent number: 9828841Abstract: There is provided a process to recover bitumen from a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. The process includes injecting steam and oxygen separately into the bitumen reservoir. When mixed in the reservoir, the mix is in the range of 5 to 50% O2. The process also includes producing hot bitumen and water using a horizontal production well, and producing/removing non-condensable combustion gases to control reservoir pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: NEXEN ENERGY ULCInventor: Richard Kelso Kerr
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Patent number: 9822621Abstract: A well treatment fluid contains a surface modifying treatment agent having an anchor and a hydrophobic tail. The surface modifying treatment agent is an organophosphorus acid derivative. After the well treatment fluid is pumped into a well penetrating the subterranean formation, the anchor binds to the surface of the formation. The subterranean formation is a siliceous formation or a metal oxide-containing subterranean formation. The anchor bonds to a Si atom when the formation is a siliceous formation and to the metal of the metal oxide when the formation is a metal oxide-containing formation. After being bound to the surface of the formation, frictional drag within the well is reduced. This allows for faster recovery of formation fluids. The bonding of the surface modifying treatment agent onto the formation may further be enhanced by first pre-treating the formation with a non-aqueous fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLCInventors: Kimberly Lant, Naima Bestaoui-Spurr, Sumit Bhaduri, James B. Crews, Hoang Le, Terry D. Monroe, Qi Qu
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Patent number: 9816026Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into the subterranean formation. The silicon-containing compound may comprise a terminal group comprising one of an alkanoate group, a fluoroalkanoate group, and a perfluoroalkanoate group, and one or more of an alkoxy group and a chlorine atom bonded to a silicon atom. The method comprises attaching the silicon-containing compound to one or more of formation surfaces of the subterranean formation to form an oleophilic surface on the one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of proppant particles.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Baker Hughes, LLCInventors: Oleg A. Mazyar, Valery N. Khabashesku, Oleksandr V. Kuznetsov, Michael H. Johnson
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Patent number: 9816365Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprising placing in the wellbore and/or subterranean formation a pad fluid and forming a fracture in the subterranean formation. Next, a first slurry fluid may be placed into the fracture in the subterranean formation. The first slurry fluid may comprise a reducible material and a first particulate material. Next, a second slurry fluid and a spacer fluid may be placed into the fracture in the subterranean formation in an alternating sequence. The second slurry fluid may comprise a second particulate material. Then, the fracture is allowed to close and the fluids are allowed to break. Finally, the reducible materials degrade, to form a particulate-laden proppant pack (PLPP).Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Jason E. Bryant
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Patent number: 9810040Abstract: Methods for inhibiting scale formation in a hydrocarbon well that includes a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation and a selective-release scale inhibitor located within a portion of the subterranean formation. The methods include locating a selective-release scale inhibitor within a portion of the subterranean formation and producing a reservoir fluid from the subterranean formation via the hydrocarbon well, including facilitating a change in environmental conditions present within the portion of the subterranean formation from initial environmental conditions to subsequent environmental conditions. Under the initial environmental conditions, the selective-release scale inhibitor is insoluble both in hydrocarbons and in water. Under the subsequent environmental conditions, the selective-release scale inhibitor is soluble in water.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Timothy I. Morrow, Geetha Mahadevan
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Patent number: 9790419Abstract: A composition for treating a subterranean formation is formed from water, a water-soluble polymer and a crosslinking system. The crosslinking system utilizes 1) primary crosslinking agent of at least one of a dialdehyde benzene source, a dioxane, and a trioxane, 2) a secondary low temperature organic crosslinking agent that generates aldehyde, and 3) a phenol source. The crosslinking system provides the composition a delayed gel time of about 2 to about 20 hours at temperatures of about 250° F. (121° C.) or higher. A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is also accomplished by forming a treatment fluid from the composition and introducing the treatment fluid into the formation through the wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2011Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Syed A. Ali, Maria Sarita Simon
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Patent number: 9790777Abstract: A low-polymer-load fracturing fluid may include an aqueous carrier fluid, proppant, and polymer-treated degradable fibers. The polymer-treated degradable fibers may include degradable fibers that have been at least partially treated with a crosslinkable, hydratable polymer. In some instances, a method may involve placing a low-polymer-load fracturing fluid having an initial viscosity into a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore at a rate to generate pressure above fracture gradient to form or enhance at least one fracture in the formation matrix surrounding a designated portion of the wellbore; placing the low-polymer-load fracturing fluid into the fracture and allowing the polymer to crosslink and increase the initial viscosity to a gelled viscosity; and allowing the polymer-treated degradable fibers to degrade and reduce the gelled viscosity to a broken viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2013Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Loan K. Vo
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Patent number: 9783731Abstract: A gel composition for use in treating subterranean formations is provided. The gel composition is a non-aqueous based oil gel system that can include a hydrocarbon liquid capable of gelation, a phosphate ester, and a cross-linking agent. The gel composition can include the oil gel which results from adding a phosphate ester, a crosslinking agent and a delay additive to the hydrocarbon liquid.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLCInventors: Paul Carman, John Mayor