Patents by Inventor Christopher Burcham

Christopher Burcham 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).

  • Oil recovery by enhanced imbitition in low permeability reservoirs
    Patent number: 5411086
    Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery from a low permeability diatomaceous reservoir by imbibition is described. In this method, oil is displaced from a single injection well, or series of injection wells into a single producer or series of producing wells by a combination of applied fluid pressure, plus "enhanced imbibition." Enhanced imbibition is accomplished by adding chemical additives to the injection fluid so that rock in the tight reservoir has a stronger affinity for the water present therein, thus releasing oil from the rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Burcham, Robert E. Fast, Anthony S. Murer, Paul S. Northrop