Patents by Inventor Christopher N. Fredd
Christopher N. Fredd 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).
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Publication number: 20130032349Abstract: A method of fracturing multiple zones within a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation is carried out by forming flow-through passages in two or more zones within the wellbore that are spaced apart from each other along the wellbore. The flow-through passages are arranged into clusters, where the directions of all flow-through passages, which belong to the same cluster, are aligned within a single plane (cluster plane). At least one cluster of flow-through passages is formed in each zone. The clusters within each zone have characteristics different from those of other zones provided by orienting the cluster planes at different angles relative to principal in-situ stresses and by placing them into different locations along the wellbore in each of the two or more zones. A propellant pre-fracturing treatment is then performed in the two or more zones to create initial fractures (pre-fractures) in each of the two or more zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Olga Petrovna Alekseenko, Alexander F. Zazovsky, Dmitry Ivanovich Potapenko, Christopher N. Fredd
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Publication number: 20130014946Abstract: A method is given for fracturing a formation, in particular far-field in a tight formation, in which at least a portion of the proppant is crushable in situ at some point during pumping, during fracture closure, or at higher Fluid flow stresses experienced later during fracture closure. The closure stress or hydrostatic stress is estimated, then a proppant is selected that is at least partially crushable at that closure stress, and then the fracturing treatment is performed with at least a portion of the total proppant being the selected crushable proppant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2009Publication date: January 17, 2013Inventors: Sergey Mikhailovich Makarychev-Mikhailov, Richard D. Hutchins, Christopher N. Fredd
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Publication number: 20120267103Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova
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Patent number: 8230925Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova
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Patent number: 8220543Abstract: A method well treatment includes establishing fluid connectivity between a wellbore and at least one target zone for treatment within a subterranean formation, which is intersected by a wellbore. The method includes deploying coiled tubing into the wellbore and introducing a treatment composition into the wellbore. The method includes contacting a target zone within the subterranean formation with the treatment composition, introducing a diversion agent through the coiled tubing to an interval within a wellbore and repeating the introduction of the treatment, the contacting of the target zone and the introduction of the diversion agent for more than one target zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: William Ernest Clark, Doug Bentley, John Daniels, Christopher N. Fredd, Charles Miller, John Lassek
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Patent number: 8167043Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2008Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20120061086Abstract: This invention relates to oil and gas production, more specifically, to the methods of producing polymer emulsion for downhole operations and mixing degradable (hydrolysable) polymer emulsion with the treatment fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Vadim Kamilievich Khlestkin, Denis Olegovich Menshikov
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Publication number: 20120048549Abstract: Some embodiments relate to oil and gas production, more specifically, to methods of controlling the condition of suspensions and fluids, small particle delivery and formation rock quality through controlled changes in the physical properties of a hydrolysable polymer contained in a treatment fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2009Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Vadim Kamilievich Khlestkin, Denis Olegovich Menshikov
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Patent number: 8042614Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous oilfield treatment fluids containing a gas component and fibers, wherein the fluids may further include a viscosifying agent and/or proppant. The fluids have good proppant suspension and transport properties as well as excellent gas phase stability. Use of fluids comprising an aqueous medium, a gas component, viscosifying agent, and fibers for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation, cleanup operations, and gravel packing a wellbore, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Philip F. Sullivan, Christopher N. Fredd
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Publication number: 20110186298Abstract: A method well treatment includes establishing fluid connectivity between a wellbore and at least one target zone for treatment within a subterranean formation, which is intersected by a wellbore. The method includes deploying coiled tubing into the wellbore and introducing a treatment composition into the wellbore. The method includes contacting a target zone within the subterranean formation with the treatment composition, introducing a diversion agent through the coiled tubing to an interval within a wellbore and repeating the introduction of the treatment, the contacting of the target zone and the introduction of the diversion agent for more than one target zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: W. E. Clark, Doug Bentley, John Daniels, Christopher N. Fredd, Charles Miller, John Lassek
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Publication number: 20110180259Abstract: A method is given for treating a wellbore in a subterranean formation by hydraulic fracturing, slickwater fracturing, gravel packing, and the like, by using plate-like materials as some or all of the proppant or gravel. The plate-like materials are particularly useful in complex fracture systems, for example in shales. They may be used as from about 20 to about 100% of the proppant. Relative to conventional proppants, plate-like proppants demonstrate (a) enhanced crush resistance of the proppant due to better stress distribution among proppant particles, (b) diminished proppant embedment into formation fracture faces due to the greater contact surface area of proppant particles with the formation, (c) better proppant transport due to lower proppant settling rates, (d) deeper penetration into branched and fine fracture networks, and (e) enhanced proppant flowback control. Preferred plate-like proppants are layered rocks and minerals; most preferred is mica.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2008Publication date: July 28, 2011Inventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N Fredd, Dina Andreevna Goloshchapova, Sergey Mikhailovich MakaryChev-Mikhallov
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Patent number: 7934556Abstract: A method well treatment includes establishing fluid connectivity between a wellbore and at least one target zone for treatment within a subterranean formation, which is intersected by a wellbore. The method includes deploying coiled tubing into the wellbore and introducing a treatment composition into the wellbore. The method includes contacting a target zone within the subterranean formation with the treatment composition, introducing a diversion agent through the coiled tubing to an interval within a wellbore and repeating the introduction of the treatment, the contacting of the target zone and the introduction of the diversion agent for more than one target zone.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2007Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: William Ernest Clark, Doug Bentley, John Daniels, Christopher N. Fredd, Charles Miller, John Lassek
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Publication number: 20110056684Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova
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Patent number: 7833950Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova
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Patent number: 7775278Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.Type: GrantFiled: February 29, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M. W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20100175874Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous oilfield treatment fluids containing a gas component and fibers, wherein the fluids may further include a viscosifying agent and/or proppant. The fluids have good proppant suspension and transport properties as well as excellent gas phase stability. Use of fluids comprising an aqueous medium, a gas component, viscosifying agent, and fibers for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation, cleanup operations, and gravel packing a wellbore, are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: July 15, 2010Inventors: Philip F. Sullivan, Christopher N. Fredd
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Patent number: 7665522Abstract: The present invention relates to aqueous oilfield treatment fluids containing a gas component and fibers, wherein the fluids may further include a viscosifying agent and/or proppant. The fluids have good proppant suspension and transport properties as well as excellent gas phase stability. Use of fluids comprising an aqueous medium, a gas component, viscosifying agent, and fibers for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation, cleanup operations, and gravel packing a wellbore, are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2004Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Philip F. Sullivan, Christopher N. Fredd
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Patent number: 7565929Abstract: Degradable material assisted diversion (DMAD) methods for well treatment, DMAD treatment fluids, and removable plugs for DMAD in downhole operations. A slurry of solid degradable material is injected into the well, a plug of the degradable material is formed, a downhole operation is performed around the plug diverter, and the plug is then degraded for removal. Degradation triggers can be temperature or chemical reactants, with optional accelerators or retarders to provide the desired timing for plug removal. In multilayer formation DMAD fracturing, the plug isolates a completed fracture while additional layers are sequentially fractured and plugged, and then the plugs are removed for flowback from the fractured layers. In DMAD fluids, an aqueous slurry can have a solids phase including a degradable material and a fluid phase including a viscoelastic surfactant. The solids phase can be a mixture of fibers and a particulate material.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Oscar Bustos, Christopher N. Fredd, Yiyan Chen, Carlos Abad, Goke Adeogun
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Publication number: 20080289823Abstract: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the degradable material to form a plug in a perforation, a fracture, or a wellbore in a well penetrating a formation; performing a downhole operation; and allowing the degradable material to degrade after a selected time such that the plug disappears.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Marina Bulova, Christopher N. Fredd, Alexey Vostrukhov, Curtis L. Boney, John Lassek, Ann M.W. Hoefer, Philip F. Sullivan
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Publication number: 20080236823Abstract: A method for minimizing the amount of metal crosslinked viscosifier necessary for treating a wellbore with proppant or gravel is given. The method includes using fibers to aid in transporting, suspending and placing proppant or gravel in viscous carrier fluids otherwise having insufficient viscosity to prevent particulate settling. Fibers are given that have properties optimized for proppant transport but degrade after the treatment into degradation products that do not precipitate in the presence of ions in the water such as calcium and magnesium. Crosslinked polymer carrier fluids are identified that are not damaged by contaminants present in the fibers or by degradation products released by premature degradation of the fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Dean M. Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Marina Bulova