Patents by Inventor Ann M. W. Hoefer

Ann M. W. Hoefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9139759
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is accomplished by introducing a fluid into the wellbore containing a combined fluid loss additive and breaker. The combined fluid loss additive and breaker is formed from particles of an organic peroxide provided on a substrate. The particles are sized to facilitate fluid loss control. A treatment operation is carried out wherein a treatment fluid viscosified with a polymer is introduced into the formation through the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Joseph A. Ayoub, Andrey Mirakyan, Michael D. Parris, Stephen D. Mason, Ann M. W. Hoefer
  • Patent number: 8207094
    Abstract: This invention relates to fluid compositions used in treating a subterranean formation. In particular, the invention is aqueous wellbore treatment compositions which are foams containing a viscosifying agent, a foam extender, a gas component, and a surfactant, as well as methods of forming such fluids, and uses thereof. The viscosifying agent may be a hydratable polymer, viscoelastic surfactant, or heteropolysaccharide. The foam extender may be a material such as a polyoxyalkyleneamines, ethylenepolyamines, tertiary polyamines, bicarbonate, carbonate, phosphate, or sesquicarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Stanley B. McConnell, Alejandro Pena
  • Patent number: 8167043
    Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7947627
    Abstract: A fluid loss control pill or solution includes a polymer having a functional group that can be hydrolyzed by a base or a nucleophile. A method for fluid loss control in a subterranean formation includes placing a fluid loss control pill or solution in a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, wherein the fluid loss control pill or solution comprises a polymer having a functional group that can be hydrolyzed by a base or a nucleophile; and converting the polymer into a soluble form by hydrolyzing the functional group with a base or a nucleophile, when fluid loss control is no longer needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ann M. W. Hoefer, Laura Schafer
  • Publication number: 20100252264
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is accomplished by introducing a fluid into the wellbore containing a combined fluid loss additive and breaker. The combined fluid loss additive and breaker is formed from particles of an organic peroxide provided on a substrate. The particles are sized to facilitate fluid loss control. A treatment operation is carried out wherein a treatment fluid viscosified with a polymer is introduced into the formation through the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Joseph A. Ayoub, Andrey Mirakyan, Micheal D. Parris, Stephen D. Mason, Ann M.W. Hoefer
  • Patent number: 7775278
    Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20080289823
    Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M.W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20080269080
    Abstract: This invention relates to fluid compositions used in treating a subterranean formation. In particular, the invention is aqueous wellbore treatment compositions which are foams containing a viscosifying agent, a foam extender, a gas component, and a surfactant, as well as methods of forming such fluids, and uses thereof. The viscosifying agent may be a hydratable polymer, viscoelastic surfactant, or heteropolysaccharide. The foam extender may be a material such as a polyoxyalkyleneamines, ethylenepolyamines, tertiary polyamines, bicarbonate, carbonate, phosphate, or sesquicarbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Stanley B. McConnell, Alejandro Pena
  • Publication number: 20080200352
    Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M.W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 7398826
    Abstract: Well treatment is disclosed that includes injecting a well treatment fluid with insoluble polyol polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) dispersed therein, depositing the insoluble polymer in the wellbore or an adjacent formation, and thereafter dissolving the polymer by reducing salinity and/or increasing temperature conditions in the environment of the polymer deposit. The method is disclosed for filter cake formation, fluid loss control, drilling, hydraulic fracturing and fiber assisted transport, where removal of the polyol at the end of treatment or after treatment is desired. The method is also disclosed for providing dissolved polyol as a delayed breaker in crosslinked polymer viscosified systems and viscoelastic surfactant systems. Also disclosed are well treatment fluids containing insoluble amorphous or at least partially crystalline polyol, and a PVOH fiber composition wherein the fibers are stabilized from dissolution by salinity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ann M. W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan, Golchehreh Salamat, Curtis L. Boney, Jesse C. Lee, Yiyan Chen, Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Belgin Baser, Timothy L. Pope
  • Publication number: 20080142220
    Abstract: A fluid loss control pill or solution includes a polymer having a functional group that can be hydrolyzed by a base or a nucleophile. A method for fluid loss control in a subterranean formation includes placing a fluid loss control pill or solution in a wellbore penetrating the subterranean formation, wherein the fluid loss control pill or solution comprises a polymer having a functional group that can be hydrolyzed by a base or a nucleophile; and converting the polymer into a soluble form by hydrolyzing the functional group with a base or a nucleophile, when fluid loss control is no longer needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Ann M.W. Hoefer, Laura Schafer
  • Patent number: 7380600
    Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan