Patents by Inventor Caleb J. DeValve

Caleb J. DeValve 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: 10443359
    Abstract: Provided are methodologies and systems employing an array of independently operated flow control valves at an uphole location in each of a plurality of legs of a multilateral well to facilitate resolution and effective execution of efficient production plan and to improve performance. Along each leg of the multilateral well, a flow-control valve may be located downhole of a confluence between the respective leg and another leg and uphole of the well completion portion (production and/or injection component) of the respective leg. Each valve is operable independently of each other and of any valving in the completion component. Data regarding the nature and rate of production from each leg may be acquired from downhole sensors located at or about each flow control valve. The acquired data may be processed through a reservoir-well computerized model to resolve optimal valve settings across the valve array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Caleb J. DeValve, Scott R. Buechler, Steven D. Dornic
  • Publication number: 20180030816
    Abstract: Provided are methodologies and systems employing an array of independently operated flow control valves at an uphole location in each of a plurality of legs of a multilateral well to facilitate resolution and effective execution of efficient production plan and to improve performance. Along each leg of the multilateral well, a flow-control valve may be located downhole of a confluence between the respective leg and another leg and uphole of the well completion portion (production and/or injection component) of the respective leg. Each valve is operable independently of each other and of any valving in the completion component. Data regarding the nature and rate of production from each leg may be acquired from downhole sensors located at or about each flow control valve. The acquired data may be processed through a reservoir-well computerized model to resolve optimal valve settings across the valve array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Caleb J. DeValve, Scott R. Buechler, Steven D. Dornic