Patents Examined by Zakiya W. Bates
  • Determining effect of oxidative hydraulic fracturing
    Patent number: 11542815
    Abstract: Estimating permeability enhancement of a subterranean formation due to presence of an oxidizer in a fracturing fluid, including determining kerogen volume percent in the subterranean formation and estimating fractured kerogen porosity, wherein the fractured kerogen porosity is associated with presence of the oxidizer. The technique includes determining an increase in connected porosity in the subterranean formation correlative with the kerogen vol % and the fractured kerogen porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, Dung Phan, Khalid AlRuwaili
  • Viscoelastic surfactant-based treatment fluids for use with lost circulation materials
    Patent number: 11535794
    Abstract: Compositions of lost circulation materials and methods for using the same in subterranean formations can include introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation including a loss zone, the treatment fluid including an aqueous base fluid, at least one viscoelastic surfactant, at least one component selected from the group consisting of: a divalent salt, a metal salt, a metal oxide, and any combination thereof, and a lost circulation material; and allowing the treatment fluid to at least partially plug the loss zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Waseem Abdulrazzaq, Jay Paul Deville, Siham Kamal Fatani, Ayoub Ibrahim Awaji, Azhar Ahmed Alhasawi, Rawan Jawad ALameer
  • Method of mitigating frac hit production interference from adjacent oil wells using treatment fluids with nanoparticles
    Patent number: 11518931
    Abstract: A method for minimizing the creation and existence of frac hits in an oil field comprising the step of pumping treatment fluids into the Parent well before performing the frac on the Child well wherein the treatment fluids contain brine resistant silica nanoparticles is described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Nissan Chemical America Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Edward Duncan, Juergen M. Lukas, James Christian Dale Rankin, John Edmond Southwell, Edwin Ray Templeton
  • Systems and methods for manufacturing and delivering fracturing fluid to multiple wells for conducting fracturing operations
    Patent number: 11519252
    Abstract: A method of conducting fracturing operations at multiple wellsites in a field. The method may include manufacturing a first fracturing fluid concentrate at a fluid manufacturing plant located at a sand mine of the field using sand produced from the sand mine. The method may also include pumping the first fracturing fluid concentrate from the fluid manufacturing plant to a first well and a second well of the multiple wellsites. The method may further include injecting the first fracturing fluid concentrate into a first well at the first wellsite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Michael Kramer, Wesley John Warren, Chad Adam Fisher, Austin Carl Schaffner
  • Using synthetic acid compositions as alternatives to conventional acids in the oil and gas industry
    Patent number: 11512244
    Abstract: An aqueous synthetic acid composition for use in oil industry activities comprises lysine and hydrogen chloride in a molar ratio ranging from 1:3 to 1:12.5, preferably from more than 1:5 to 1:8.5. The composition can also further comprise a metal iodide or iodate; an alcohol or derivative thereof. The composition demonstrates advantageous properties over known synthetic acids at temperatures above 90° C. The composition is useful in various oil and gas industry operations. Preferred embodiments of the composition provide substantial advantages in matrix acidizing by increasing the effectiveness of wormholing as compared to conventional mineral acids such as HC1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Fluid Energy Group Ltd
    Inventors: Clay Purdy, Alexander Jamieson, Markus Weissenberger
  • Thermally responsive lost circulation materials
    Patent number: 11499087
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for the use of thermally responsive lost circulation materials in subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include introducing a treatment fluid including a base fluid and a thermally responsive lost circulation material including a thermally responsive hydrogel that includes at least one thermoresponsive polymer into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation including a loss zone; allowing the thermally responsive lost circulation material to reach a thickening transition temperature; and allowing the treatment fluid to at least partially set in the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, William Walter Shumway, Preston Andrew May
  • Composition and method for improving the production of petroleum hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 11499091
    Abstract: A novel surfactant composition that comprises of two surfactant components, a solvent, and water. The surfactant composition is added to a fracturing fluid, which is then pumped downhole into a subterranean formation where the novel characteristics of the fracturing fluid lend to improved oil production over the fracturing fluid without the surfactant composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignees: CNPC USA CORPORATION, BEIJING HUAMEI INC.
    Inventors: Jiangshui Huang, Nancy Zhou, Lijun Lin, Fuchen Liu, Guodong Wu, Bo Huang
  • Hydraulic fracturing systems and methods
    Patent number: 11492885
    Abstract: A method for stimulating a well extending through a subterranean formation includes (a) introducing a first fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation, and (b) introducing a second fracturing fluid into the subterranean formation that is different in composition from the first fracturing fluid, wherein the second fracturing fluid comprises a temporary diverting agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Ryan Montgomery, Chris Hines, Aaron Reyna
  • Estimating three dimensional networks of plugs for drilling fluid additives
    Patent number: 11492858
    Abstract: The effect of drilling fluids on particular subterranean environments can be analyzed to improve the formation of drilling fluids and additives such as lost circulation materials. A plug can be generated by a particle plugging apparatus by injecting lost circulation material into the particle plugging apparatus. A set of tests to be performed on the plug can be identified. The set of tests can include at least one physical test and at least one electronic test. A test schedule indicating the order in which each test of the set of tests is to be performed can be defined. The set of tests can be executed to generate a testing output. The testing output can be used to generate a three-dimensional network model of the plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Waseem Abdulrazzaq, Reem Alburaikan, Hussain Al Qatari
  • Scale inhibition using star polymers
    Patent number: 11492538
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting scale comprises adding to a fluid that causes scale formation a polycarboxylic acid or a salt thereof which has a star structure and at least 5 arms. A star polymer comprising a core based on 2,2?-[Oxybis(methylene)]bis[2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol] and 6 arms comprising linear polycarboxylic acids of degree of polymerization (DP) of the arm of at least 2 and in some embodiments up to 15 or more is useful in inhibiting scale formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC, ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY, THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Puspendu Deo, Antony K. Van Dyk, Paul Clark, David Lunn, Craig Hawker, Maria Simon, Sungbaek Seo, Alaina McGrath
  • Production method for methane hydrate using reservoir grouting
    Patent number: 11492884
    Abstract: A methane hydrate production method comprising a step of performing a reservoir grouting process. The reservoir grouting process comprises: injecting a grouting agent into a frozen soil reservoir on the land or a seabed reservoir for targeting methane hydrate existing within sand particles of the target reservoirs; or injecting a filling material into cavities naturally or artificially occurred in a frozen soil reservoir on the land or a seabed reservoir for targeting methane hydrate existing within sand particles of the target reservoirs, and enabling a grouting body being constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: Japan E&P International Corporation, Waseda University
    Inventors: Yuchen Liu, Masanori Kurihara
  • Vegetable oil invert emulsion hydrogen sulfide mitigating drilling fluid and method of drilling subterranean geological formation
    Patent number: 11492534
    Abstract: A method of drilling a subterranean geological formation is described. The method includes driving a drill bit to form a wellbore into the subterranean geological formation thereby producing a formation fluid including hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The method includes injecting a drilling fluid into the subterranean geological formation through the wellbore. The drilling fluid composition includes 0.25 to 2 wt. % of a primary H2S scavenger, which is potassium permanganate, and an invert emulsion, which includes a continuous phase including a vegetable oil which is at least one selected from the group consisting of corn oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, and cottonseed oil and a dispersive phase including water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: Sagheer A. Onaizi
  • Mitigation of condensate and water banking using functionalized nanoparticles
    Patent number: 11485900
    Abstract: The present application relates to methods and systems for mitigating condensate banking. In some embodiments, the methods and systems involve altering the wettability of a rock formation in the vicinity of a wellbore for a gas condensate reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Rajesh Kumar Saini, Mohammed Sayed, Hooisweng Ow, Mohammad Haque, Amy J. Cairns
  • Nano-thermite well plug
    Patent number: 11480026
    Abstract: A composition and methods for setting a plug for well bores undergoing plugging and abandonment operations is described. Methods of setting the plug are also described include placing a blocking device below the plug location and creating a void space above the blocking device; placing a heat resistant base plate above the blocking device and introducing nano-thermite clusters and expandable bismuth alloy pellets into the void space; igniting the thermite and cooling the melted alloy to form a permanent plug in the void space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIS COMPANY
    Inventors: David D. Hearn, Casey Hirschmann, Randall S. Shafer
  • Materials and methods for reducing viscosity of oil
    Patent number: 11479711
    Abstract: The invention provides environmentally-friendly compositions and methods for reducing the viscosity of crude oil using microorganisms and/or biosurfactants produced by microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Farmer, Ken Alibek, Sharmistha Mazumder, Kent Adams, Tyler Dixon, Yajie Chen, Karthik N. Karathur, Nicholas Callow, Blake Ott, Anthony Nerris
  • Iron control as part of a well treatment using time-released agents
    Patent number: 11473003
    Abstract: In a well in a subterranean formation, treatment fluids for time-released iron control are utilized. These treatment fluids contain a time-released form of a complexing agent or reducing agent, wherein the agent forms a soluble product with iron. The time-released form prevents loss of the agent prior to delivery to the desired site and at the desired time(s). Methods for controlling iron in a well in a subterranean formation utilize these treatment fluids containing a time-released form of a complexing agent or reducing agent and these methods create soluble products when the agent interacts with the iron to control the iron from the formation and/or well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Flex-Chem Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bryce Conway, Scott Bailey
  • Fracturing fluid composition and method for in situ generation of geomimetic crystal network proppants
    Patent number: 11473008
    Abstract: A composition for fracking an unconventional reservoir including hard water and liquid carbon dioxide for in-situ generation of proppant particles. A method for fracturing a rock formation in an unconventional reservoir at high temperature and pressure conditions, including pumping the composition into the rock formation and precipitating calcite and aragonite crystals inside the rock formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: YPF TECNOLOGIA S.A.
    Inventors: Augusto Nicolás Varela, Remigio Ruiz, Paula Cecilia Dos Santos Claro
  • Upgrading oil using supercritical fluids
    Patent number: 11473021
    Abstract: A method of upgrading oil using supercritical fluids generated by a fuel cell. The process uses supercritical carbon dioxide to control the specific gravity of the oil and supercritical water, the amount of which is controlled to achieve a desired oil/water ratio in processing oils to be upgraded. The process recovers the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust to produce supercritical fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: 1304338 ALBERTA LTD., 1304342 ALBERTA LTD.
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Cementing across loss circulation zones utilizing a smart drillable cement stinger
    Patent number: 11473397
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a computer-implemented method for handling loss circulation zones in wells. A tool is deployed on a work string. The tool includes isolation packers in an un-inflated state and a stinger in a closed position. The tool is run to a target depth along the work string. The isolation packers are inflated, setting the isolation packers in place adjacent to the stinger at the target depth. Circulation ports are opened after the isolation packers are inflated, exposing a diversion flow path. A cement slurry is pumped through the diversion flow path into a loss circulation zone. The circulation ports are closed after the cement slurry is pumped. The work string is disengaged from the stinger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter Ido Egbe, Victor Jose Bustamante Rodriguez
  • Iron control as part of a well treatment using time-released agents
    Patent number: 11473002
    Abstract: In a well in a subterranean formation, treatment fluids for time-released iron control are utilized. These treatment fluids contain a time-released form of a complexing agent, wherein the complexing agent forms an insoluble complex with iron. The time-released form prevents loss of the agent prior to delivery to the desired site and at the desired time(s). Methods for controlling iron in a well in a subterranean formation utilize these treatment fluids containing a time-released form of a complexing agent and these methods create insoluble complexes of the agent with the iron to control the iron from the formation and/or well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Flex-Chem Holding Company, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Bryce Conway, Scott Bailey