Patents by Inventor Balkrishna Gadiyar

Balkrishna Gadiyar 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: 8030254
    Abstract: A method includes providing a wellbore treatment fluid having a divalent brine and an amount of polymer and lowering a pH value of the treatment fluid. The method further includes retaining the treatment fluid at the lower pH value until the polymer achieves a primary hydration value. The method further includes adding a cross-linking agent and a cross-linking delay agent to the treatment fluid. The cross-linking agent includes zirconium and/or titanium, and the cross-linking delay agent is a polyol. The method further includes performing a wellbore treatment with the treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Yenny Christanti, Carlos Abad, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Patent number: 8016040
    Abstract: A fluid loss control method uses a fluid loss control pill in a well in advance of a completion operation. An embodiment of the fluid loss control pill comprises polyester solids that are hydrolysable and can exhibit plastic deformation at formation conditions. An embodiment of the method comprises spotting the fluid loss control pill in the well adjacent to a formation to form a filtercake to inhibit fluid entry from the well into the formation, performing a completion operation comprising contacting the filtercake with overbalanced wellbore fluid, and degrading the filtercake wherein the polyester particles are hydrolyzed to remove formation damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Syed Ali, Mohan K. R. Panga, John W. Still, Gary John Tustin, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Patent number: 8008234
    Abstract: A gravel packing system, method and slurry. The system comprises a blending device to prepare a slurry comprising a carrier fluid suspending first, second and third particulates, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a brine and less than about 2.4 g/L (20 lb per 1000 gallons) of a viscosifier, and wherein the sum of the mass of the particulates is greater than about 2.4 kg/L (20 pounds per gallon), wherein the first average particle volume is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the second average particle volume, which in turn is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the third average particle volume. The system can also include tubing to position a screen in the wellbore and a slurry pump to circulate the slurry from the blending device in the wellbore in any order such that the particulates are deposited in the screen annulus to form a gravel pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mohan K. R. Panga, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Ryan Hartman, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still, Bryan Stamm
  • Patent number: 7981845
    Abstract: This relates to a method and composition for forming and utilizing a fluid in the oilfield services industry including exposing a polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a preparation method, introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a fluid to form a treatment fluid, and treating a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore with the treatment fluid, wherein the viscosity of the treatment fluid is not observably reduced by introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a treatment fluid. This also relates to a method and composition for use in the oil field services industry including a prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative, a fluid, and a viscosity control agent, wherein the viscosity of the composition is not observably lower than if the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative were not present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mathew M. Samuel, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Sai Aung Zaw Min
  • Publication number: 20110155371
    Abstract: A slurry and method are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The slurry comprises a solids mixture comprising a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75; a carrier fluid in an amount to provide a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF of the solids mixture; and a stability additive to inhibit settling of the solids mixture. The method comprises circulating the slurry into a wellbore to deposit the slurry downhole; terminating the slurry circulation for a period of time, wherein the stability additive inhibits settling of the solids mixture; and thereafter circulating the deposited slurry in contact with a surface of a screen. Stability additives disclosed include colloidal particles, hydratable polymer particles, and particles having an aspect ratio above 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohan K.R. Panga, Philip F. Sullivan, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Ryan Hartman, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still, Bryan Stamm
  • Publication number: 20110155372
    Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The method comprises: combining a carrier fluid and a solids mixture into a slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of particle size distribution modes such that a packed volume fraction exceeds 0.75; contacting a screen with leak-off control agent to form a bridge; positioning the screen and circulating the slurry through the wellbore in any order such that the solids mixture is deposited between the screen and the wellbore; degrading the degradable material to increase porosity and permeability of the pack; removing the bridge; and producing a reservoir fluid from the formation. The system comprises the slurry, a tubing string and slurry pump to position the screen and circulate the slurry to form the bridge on the screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohan K.R. Panga, Peter J. Photos, John W. Still, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Bruno Drochon, Bryan Stamm
  • Patent number: 7935662
    Abstract: A method for removing drilling damage from a formation in a wellbore that has not been produced includes injecting a chemical-acting cleanup fluid and contacting it with a filtercake on a face of a formation of interest for a period of time sufficient to loosen some of the solids embedded in the filtercake. The method further includes circulating a solids removal fluid at a high rate through the wellbore across the face of the formation of interest, the solids removal fluid including a viscosifier, and positioning a second treatment fluid having a fluid loss control pill in the wellbore at the formation of interest. The method further includes degrading particles of the fluid loss control pill and degrading remaining bridging agent from the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mehmet Parlar, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Publication number: 20100300688
    Abstract: A composition and method are disclosed. The composition includes a carrier fluid and a solids mixture combined to form a slurry, wherein the solids mixture comprises a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75, and wherein the solids mixture comprises a degradable material and includes a reactive solid. The method includes circulating the slurry through a wellbore to form a pack in a fracture and/or a screen-wellbore annulus; degrading the degradable material to increase porosity and permeability of the pack; and producing a reservoir fluid through the permeable pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Mohan K.R. Panga, Peter J. Photos, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Ryan Hartman, Bryan Stamm
  • Patent number: 7823642
    Abstract: A treatment fluid that can be used for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is prepared from a primary treatment fluid component and an emulsion component mixed with the primary treatment fluid component. The emulsion component has an oil phase and an aqueous phase. The emulsion component comprising a source of insoluble silica particles and a source of calcium hydroxide, wherein the source of calcium hydroxide is present in the oil phase, and the source of insoluble silica particles are contained in the aqueous phase. The method is carried out by contacting at least a portion of the formation with the treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Balkrishna Gadiyar, Erik B. Nelson, Juan-Carlos Santamaria, Brent Busby, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20100243250
    Abstract: A gravel packing system, method and slurry. The system comprises a blending device to prepare a slurry comprising a carrier fluid suspending first, second and third particulates, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a brine and less than about 2.4 g/L (20 lb per 1000 gallons) of a viscosifier, and wherein the sum of the mass of the particulates is greater than about 2.4 kg/L (20 pounds per gallon), wherein the first average particle volume is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the second average particle volume, which in turn is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the third average particle volume. The system can also include tubing to position a screen in the wellbore and a slurry pump to circulate the slurry from the blending device in the wellbore in any order such that the particulates are deposited in the screen annulus to form a gravel pack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mohan K.R. Panga, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Ryan Hartman, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still, Bryan Stamm
  • Patent number: 7789146
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The method includes combining a carrier fluid, a first amount of particulates, and a second amount of particulates into a slurry. The first amount of particulates have a first average size distribution and the second amount of particulates have a second average size distribution, and the first average size distribution is at least three times larger than the second average size distribution. The slurry includes particles which are at least partially degradable material, and with reactive solid constituents. The reactive solid reacts with the degradable material and/or a hydrolysis product of the degradable material. The method further includes positioning a screen in a wellbore, and circulating the slurry through the wellbore such that the first amount of particulates and the second amount of particulates are deposited on an outer surface of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mohan K. R. Panga, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Ryan Hartman, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still, Bryan Stamm
  • Publication number: 20100163233
    Abstract: A method includes providing a treatment fluid that is a viscous fluid. The viscous fluid may be greater than 0.01 Pa-s, greater than 0.1 Pa-s, and/or a cross-linked polymer based fluid. The method further includes determining a fines migration composition soluble in an aqueous phase of the treatment fluid that is compatible with the treatment fluid, and that interacts to secure fines in an earth formation intersecting a wellbore within a fines reaction time. The method further includes adding an amount of the fines migration composition to the treatment fluid, and treating the earth formation with the treatment fluid. The method includes leaking off a portion of the treatment fluid into the earth formation, and providing a residence time of the leaked off portion of the treatment fluid in the earth formation, where the residence time meets or exceeds the fines reaction time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Carlos Abad, Yenny Christanti, Syed Ali, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Brent Busby
  • Publication number: 20100126723
    Abstract: A fluid loss control method uses a fluid loss control pill in a well in advance of a completion operation. An embodiment of the fluid loss control pill comprises polyester solids that are hydrolysable and can exhibit plastic deformation at formation conditions. An embodiment of the method comprises spotting the fluid loss control pill in the well adjacent to a formation to form a filtercake to inhibit fluid entry from the well into the formation, performing a completion operation comprising contacting the filtercake with overbalanced wellbore fluid, and degrading the filtercake wherein the polyester particles are hydrolyzed to remove formation damage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Syed Ali, Mohan K.R. Panga, John W. Still, Gary John Tustin, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Publication number: 20100096130
    Abstract: Gravel packing of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section that contains water-based drilling fluids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the water-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. A sand control screen assembly is run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation. A gravel pack slurry containing gravel and a viscosified carrier fluid is introduced into the wellbore to facilitate gravel packing of the uncased section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Mehmet Parlar, Raymond Tibbles, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Bryan Stamm
  • Publication number: 20100093565
    Abstract: A method includes providing a wellbore treatment fluid having a divalent brine and an amount of polymer and lowering a pH value of the treatment fluid. The method further includes retaining the treatment fluid at the lower pH value until the polymer achieves a primary hydration value. The method further includes adding a cross-linking agent and a cross-linking delay agent to the treatment fluid. The cross-linking agent includes zirconium and/or titanium, and the cross-linking delay agent is a polyol. The method further includes performing a wellbore treatment with the treatment fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Yenny Christanti, Carlos Abad, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Publication number: 20100056401
    Abstract: This relates to a method and composition for forming and utilizing a fluid in the oilfield services industry including exposing a polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a preparation method, introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a fluid to form a treatment fluid, and treating a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore with the treatment fluid, wherein the viscosity of the treatment fluid is not observably reduced by introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a treatment fluid. This also relates to a method and composition for use in the oil field services industry including a prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative, a fluid, and a viscosity control agent, wherein the viscosity of the composition is not observably lower than if the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative were not present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Inventors: Mathew M. Samuel, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Sai Aung Zaw Min
  • Publication number: 20100044040
    Abstract: A method of installing a sand control screen assembly in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is carried out in a wellbore having a cased section and an uncased section. The wellbore contains synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids containing drilled solids. A first water-based displacement fluid that contains a shale inhibitor is introduced into the wellbore to displace the synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A second water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. The sand control screen assembly is then run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore to facilitate a gravel packing operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Mehmet Parlar, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Sudhir Shenoy, Shawn McCleskey Rimassa
  • Publication number: 20100018709
    Abstract: A method of gravel packing a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is provided. The wellbore has a cased section and an uncased section and contains synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids containing drilled solids. To carry out the method, fresh synthetic or oil-based displacement fluid that is free of drilled solids is introduced into the wellbore to displace the synthetic or oil-based drilling fluids from the uncased section of the wellbore. A water-based displacement fluid is introduced into the wellbore to displace fluids within the cased section of the wellbore. A sand control screen assembly is run to a selected depth within the uncased section of the wellbore. A gravel pack slurry containing gravel and a water-based carrier fluid is then introduced into the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventors: Mehmet Parlar, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Geovannys Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20090301722
    Abstract: A method for removing drilling damage from a formation in a wellbore that has not been produced includes injecting a chemical-acting cleanup fluid and contacting it with a filtercake on a face of a formation of interest for a period of time sufficient to loosen some of the solids embedded in the filtercake. The method further includes circulating a solids removal fluid at a high rate through the wellbore across the face of the formation of interest, the solids removal fluid including a viscosifier, and positioning a second treatment fluid having a fluid loss control pill in the wellbore at the formation of interest. The method further includes degrading particles of the fluid loss control pill and degrading remaining bridging agent from the drilling fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Mehmet Parlar, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Publication number: 20090111718
    Abstract: A treatment fluid that can be used for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore is prepared from a primary treatment fluid component and an emulsion component mixed with the primary treatment fluid component. The emulsion component has an oil phase and an aqueous phase. The emulsion component comprising a source of insoluble silica particles and a source of calcium hydroxide, wherein the source of calcium hydroxide is present in the oil phase, and the source of insoluble silica particles are contained in the aqueous phase. The method is carried out by contacting at least a portion of the formation with the treatment fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Balkrishna Gadiyar, Erik B. Nelson, Juan-Carlos Santamaria, Brent Busby, Philip F. Sullivan