Patents by Inventor Charles A. Christopher

Charles A. Christopher 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: 7775274
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a carbon dioxide leak from a plugged well extending from a surface of the earth to penetrate a subterranean formation which contains carbon dioxide by logging a collection chamber positioned in the plugged well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Wydrinski, Charles A. Christopher
  • Publication number: 20080236816
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a carbon dioxide leak from a plugged well extending from a surface of the earth to penetrate a subterranean formation which contains carbon dioxide by logging a collection chamber positioned in the plugged well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Ray Wydrinski, Charles A. Christopher
  • Patent number: 7380598
    Abstract: A method for the detection of a fluid leak from a plugged well extending from a surface of the earth to penetrate a subterranean formation which contains fluid by logging a collection chamber positioned in the plugged well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Ray Wydrinski, Charles A. Christopher
  • Patent number: 6270350
    Abstract: A reconfigurable hardware interface for driving simulators that uses a field programmable gate array for interfacing with driving controls and instruments. The field programmable gate array is interposed between the input/output of the computer system of the driving simulator and the vehicle cab of the driving simulator. This provides convenience in quickly adapting a driving simulator to a particular type of cab and controls, as well as other functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: I-Sim Corporation
    Inventor: Charles A. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4457372
    Abstract: A method is disclosed in which the production of petroleum is improved or reinstated in formations that have been partially depleted by primary recovery techniques or where the communication between the injection well and the production well has been restricted by the swelling of water sensitive clays in the formation. In this method an aqueous fluid comprising polysaccharide in sufficient concentration to increase the viscosity of the aqueous fluid, a water soluble quanidine compound and a naturally occurring salt is injected into the formation through an injection well and petroleum and aqueous fluids are produced through a production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Martha S. Doster, Alton J. Nute, Charles A. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4454773
    Abstract: An automatic multi-phase well fluid sampler comprises an inlet solenoid valve means on each of a plurality of sample containers for receiving multi-phase well fluid such as a produced oil-water fluid from one of a plurality of wells, and each of the inlet valve means being responsive to a timing and stepping switch means for precisely filling its sample container periodically, in consecutive order, from the same well for providing an improved well sampler system that is more accurate, more precise, more readily adjustable, less complex, discharges less waste oil that damages the environment from the single well, and that indicates the arrival of the multi-phase well fluid at the production well from an injection well and/or the arrival of various chemical concentrations thereof thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Brunner, Charles A. Christopher, Robert G. Pindell
  • Patent number: 4454772
    Abstract: A method for sampling a fluid, as a multi-phase chemical product as liquid chemical tracers from a well in a field of wells comprising basically (1) injecting a sample of the liquid from the well through a plurality of valves, as solenoid valves on a plurality of liquid containers, and (2) controlling the well liquids responsive to a timing switch, as a stepping switch, through the valves into the liquid sample containers to be filled one after another, periodically, and consecutively from the well in a prearranged order for providing an improved method that is more accurate and more precise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1984
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Brunner, Charles A. Christopher, Robert G. Pindell
  • Patent number: 4428429
    Abstract: Highly conductive zones of subterranean formations are treated with aqueous fluids containing gel-forming amounts of water-soluble basic lignins. Suitable treating fluids contain about 2 to about 8 wt. % sodium hydroxide solution. The lignin solutions gel within the formation due to reactivity with oil-water and/or the rock matrix. Alternately, following the injection of the gel-forming fluids, acidic gas is injected to cause gel formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company
    Inventors: Betty J. Felber, Charles A. Christopher
  • Patent number: 4214475
    Abstract: An adapter for a sensitive viscometer. It provides increased drag at low shear rates to increase the accuracy. There is an inverted cup shaped rotor that cooperates with an annular shaped stationary container for the fluid to be measured. The annular shape of the container provides reaction surfaces with the fluid on both the inner and outer surfaces of the rotor. And, there is a reservoir in the stationary container with an overflow edge, so that the quantity of fluid to be measured is accurately metered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignees: Texaco Inc., Deutsche Texaco Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter H. Carter, Charles A. Christopher, Karl-Heinz Grodde
  • Patent number: 4104193
    Abstract: Method for imparting superior viscosity to an aqueous polysaccharide solution comprises prehydrating polysaccharide in fresh and deionized water. The viscosity imparted to the final aqueous solution by this method is greater than the viscosity of an aqueous polysaccharide solution initially hydrated in hard water. Alternatively, the polysaccharide solution in fresh water may be used alone or diluted with water containing inorganic ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Walter H. Carter, Charles A. Christopher, Thomas Jefferson
  • Patent number: 4078607
    Abstract: The specification discloses a process for recovering oil from a subterranean reservoir which process utilizes a thickened flooding liquid containing polysaccharide B-1459. In the process the polysaccharide B-1459 is imparted with superior viscosity by first prehydrating it with fresh or deionized water before mixing with another aqueous component, for example brine water containing large amounts or inorganic ions, that is, hard water. The invention comprises the polysaccharide B-1459 which has been prehydrated in the fresh or deionized aqueous medium and then mixed with hard water. The process for imparting viscosity to polysaccharide B-1459 is an improvement over the prior art in that a higher viscosity is obtained while using the same amount of polysaccharide that has been obtained by hydrating the polysaccharide in hard or brine water initially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Walter H. Carter, Charles A. Christopher, Thomas Jefferson
  • Patent number: 3965986
    Abstract: In a subterranean reservoir, a strata or zone of high permeability as compared to other stratas of the reservoir may be plugged by forming a solid gel in situ within the highly permeable strata. The gel plug is formed by injecting a colloidal silica suspension into the strata which is in a liquid state and contacting the suspension in situ with a surfactant. Upon mixing with the surfactant, the colloidal silica suspension forms a gel which effectively plugs the highly permeable zone blocking further fluid flow through the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1976
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Christopher