Patents by Inventor C. Mitch Means
C. Mitch Means 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: 8682589Abstract: A system and method for supplying an additive into a well is disclosed that includes estimating injection rates for the additives and setting of one or more fluid flow control devices in the well based on a computer model. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2007Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Brian L. Thigpen, C. Mitch Means, Guy P. Vachon, Garabed Yeriazarian, Jaedong Lee, Chee M. Chok, Clark Sann, Xin Liu
-
Patent number: 7389787Abstract: A system is provided that monitors at the wellsite injection of additives into formation fluids recovered through wellbores and controls the supply of such additives from remote locations. The selected additive is supplied from a source at the wellsite into the wellbore via a suitable supply line. A flow meter in the supply line measures the flow rate of the additive through the supply line and generates signals representative of the flow rate. A controller at the wellsite determines the flow rate from the flow meter signals and in response thereto controls the flow rate of the additive to the well. The wellsite controller interfaces with a suitable two-way communication link and transmits signals and data representative of the flow rate and other parameters to a second remote controller. The remote controller transmits command signals to the wellsite controller representative of any change desired for the flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2005Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: C. Mitch Means, David H. Green
-
Patent number: 7287540Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing drag in a fluid stream. The method includes admixing the components of a drag reducer to form an incipient drag reducer and injecting the incipient drag reducer into the fluid stream wherein the drag reducer components are admixed at the site of the fluid stream.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic, C. Mitch Means, David Green
-
Patent number: 7037724Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transporting blended crude oils comprising the steps of; (a) admixing a first crude oil with a second, different crude oil to form a crude oil admixture; (b) determining a first value representing the content of unprecipitated asphaltenes in the admixture; (c) holding the admixture for a period of time at standard conditions; (d) determining a second value representing the content of unprecipitated asphaltenes in the admixture; and (e) either: (i) transporting the admixture if the second value is the same as or within a predetermined range of the first value; or (ii) taking remedial action to prevent asphaltene precipitation prior to transporting if the second value is outside a predetermined range from the first value. Also disclosed is a method for estimating the storage stability of stored crude oils and crude oil admixtures.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Joseph L. Stark, C. Mitch Means
-
Patent number: 6927846Abstract: Real time determination of the presence of emulsion in a formation fluid is accomplished using an optical probe, preferably an attenuated total reflectance probe. The determination can then be used to appropriately increase, decrease or leave unchanged the use of demulsification additives or other means to control emulsion formation. The method is particularly useful for free water knock-out separations, where a plurality of probes can be used to distinguish the location and/or volume of emulsion, or “rag”, layer and thereby to facilitate decantation of relatively pure oil and water fractions. It can also be effectively used in pipelines, and can optionally determine the degree of emulsification and trends toward emulsification or demulsification.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: James Kevyn Smith, Thomas H. Lopez, C. Mitch Means
-
Patent number: 6893874Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transporting blended crude oils comprising the steps of; (a) admixing a first crude oil with a second, different crude oil to form a crude oil admixture; (b) determining a first value representing the content of unprecipitated asphaltenes in the admixture; (c) holding the admixture for a period of time at standard conditions; (d) determining a second value representing the content of unprecipitated asphaltenes in the admixture; and (e) either: (i) transporting the admixture if the second value is the same as or within a predetermined range of the first value; or (ii) taking remedial action to prevent asphaltene precipitation prior to transporting if the second value is outside a predetermined range from the first value. Also disclosed is a method for estimating the storage stability of stored crude oils and crude oil admixtures.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2001Date of Patent: May 17, 2005Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Joseph L. Stark, C. Mitch Means
-
Patent number: 6891606Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for controlling mineral scale deposition from a formation fluid. The rate at which scaling is occurring is measured in real time using an attenuated total reflectance probe and a photometer. The results are then used to determine whether to increase, decrease or leave unchanged addition of anti-scaling additives.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: J. Kevyn Smith, C. Mitch Means, Mingdong Yuan, John L. Przybylinski, Thomas H. Lopez, Michael James Ponstingl
-
Patent number: 6851444Abstract: A system is provided that monitors at the wellsite injection of additives into formation fluids recovered through wellbores and controls the supply of such additives from remote locations. A pump supplies the selected additive from a source at the wellsite into the wellbore via a suitable supply line. A flow meter in the supply line measures the flow rate of the additive through the supply line and generates signals representative of the flow rate. A controller at the wellsite determines the flow rate from the flow meter signals and in response thereto controls the pump to control the flow rate of the additive to the well. The wellsite controller interfaces with a suitable two-way communication link and transmits signals and data representative of the flow rate, and other parameters to a second remote controller. The remote controller transmits command signals to the wellsite controller representative of any change desired for the flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2000Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Kristopher T. Kohl, C. Mitch Means
-
Publication number: 20040216780Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing drag in a fluid stream. The method includes admixing the components of a drag reducer to form an incipient drag reducer and injecting the incipient drag reducer into the fluid stream wherein the drag reducer components are admixed at the site of the fluid stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2004Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Paul Hammonds, Vladimir Jovancicevic, C. Mitch Means, David Green
-
Patent number: 6790256Abstract: A system for monitoring gas carry-under of a formation fluid exiting a gas separator by measuring a parameter of interest of the formation fluid exiting the gas separator is disclosed. The parameter of interest that can be correlated with the extent of gas entrained in the formation fluid exiting the separator can be the density of the formation fluid, or an absorbance spectrum of the formation fluid. A correlation of the measurement of the parameter of interest with a level of gas carry-under is made and a signal is transmitted to a device to control the supply of at least one additive to control the gas carry-under.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: C. Mitch Means
-
Publication number: 20040043501Abstract: The present invention provides systems utilizing fiber optics for monitoring downhole parameters and the operation of systems for injection of treatment chemicals. In one system, fiber optics sensors are placed in the wellbore to make distributed measurements for determining the fluid parameters including temperature, pressure, fluid flow, fluid constituents and chemical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2003Publication date: March 4, 2004Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: C. Mitch Means, Alan Clemmit, Benn Voll
-
Publication number: 20030071988Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for controlling mineral scale deposition from a formation fluid. The rate at which scaling is occurring is measured in real time using an attenuated total reflectance probe and a photometer. The results are then used to determine whether to increase, decrease or leave unchanged addition of anti-scaling additives.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2001Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: J. Kevyn Smith, C. Mitch Means, Mingdong Yuan, John L. Przybylinski, Thomas H. Lopez
-
Publication number: 20030051602Abstract: A system for monitoring gas carry-under of a formation fluid exiting a gas separator by measuring a parameter of interest of the formation fluid exiting the gas separator is disclosed. The parameter of interest that can be correlated with the extent of gas entrained in the formation fluid exiting the separator can be the density of the formation fluid, or an absorbance spectrum of the formation fluid. A correlation of the measurement of the parameter of interest with a level of gas carry-under is made and a signal is transmitted to a device to control the supply of at least one additive to control the gas carry-under.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventor: C. Mitch Means
-
Patent number: 6467340Abstract: The present invention provides a system that monitors and controls the precipitation of asphaltenes in a formation fluid recovered from a subsurface formation or reservoir by using a sensor to make a direct real-time on-site measurement of the relative concentration asphaltenes from at least one location at a wellsite or in a pipeline. In a system including a fiber optic attenuated total reflectance probe for sensing asphaltenes and using a processor to compare sequential measurements, the system of the present invention can trigger the addition of additives in response to a change in asphaltene concentration in the formation fluid, preventing precipitation.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2000Date of Patent: October 22, 2002Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Christopher Gallagher, C. Mitch Means
-
Patent number: 6461414Abstract: A system for monitoring foaming or carry over, at a well site, of a formation fluid by taking a sample of the gas exiting from a high-pressure separator and either measuring the density of the sample or measuring the amount of oil particles present. A correlation of the density or optical density with a level of foaming is made and a signal is transmitted to a device to control the supply of at least one additive to control the foaming.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: October 8, 2002Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Kristopher T. Kohl, Christopher Gallagher, C. Mitch Means
-
Publication number: 20020062860Abstract: Disclosed is a method for transporting blended crude oils comprising the steps of; (a) admixing a first crude oil with a second, different crude oil to form a crude oil admixture; (b) determining a first value representing the content of unprecipitated asphaltenes in the admixture; (c) holding the admixture for a period of time at standard conditions; (d) determining a second value representing the content of unprecipitated asphaltenes in the admixture; and (e) either: (i) transporting the admixture if the second value is the same as or within a predetermined range of the first value; or (ii) taking remedial action to prevent asphaltene precipitation prior to transporting if the second value is outside a predetermined range from the first value. Also disclosed is a method for estimating the storage stability of stored crude oils and crude oil admixtures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2001Publication date: May 30, 2002Inventors: Joseph L. Stark, C. Mitch Means