Patents by Inventor Dean Michael Willberg

Dean Michael Willberg 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: 12680012
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and slurries for treating a well following a water-based wellbore operation are provided and comprise cement comprising at least one of cement particles and cementitious material, water, and water swellable particulates that are embedded in the cement, derived from an elastomeric material, and present at a concentration of at least about 2% by weight of the cement but no more than about 30% by weight of the cement. Methods for treating a well drilled with a water-based drilling mud are provided and comprise pumping the composite cement compositions and slurries into the well and treating the well by allowing the composite cement compositions and slurries to set or cure after being pumped into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20260176947
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein are configured to facilitate effective fracture initiation. For example, a method includes deploying a tool string into a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation, wherein the tool string comprises a perforating tool and a mechanical reactant delivery assembly; releasing a plurality of chemical reactants from the mechanical reactant delivery assembly while the tool string is deployed within the wellbore to enable the plurality of chemical reactants to mix to form a breakdown fluid; and firing one or more explosive charges of the perforating tool to inject the breakdown fluid into the subterranean formation to initiate one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2026
    Publication date: June 25, 2026
    Inventor: Dean Michael Willberg
  • Publication number: 20260110049
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for obtaining a lithium product. The method includes obtaining a raw lithium-bearing material. The method also includes obtaining one or more additives. The method further includes providing the raw lithium-bearing material and the one or more additives to a mill, wherein the mill is configured to mechanically impact the raw lithium-bearing material. The method also includes obtaining a lithium-bearing material intermediate based on the mechanical impact to the raw lithium-bearing material and the one or more additives. The method includes providing the lithium-bearing material intermediate to a separator. Further, the method includes obtaining the lithium product via the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2025
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Inventors: Pavani Cherukupally, Dean Michael Willberg, Dominic Vincent Perroni, Shawn David Taylor
  • Publication number: 20260085227
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and pumpable slurries for cementing well or at least one zone of the wells are provided and comprise cementitious material that forms calcium silicate hydrates upon exposure to water, inert filler material, nano-sized calcium carbonate particles, and water, wherein the cementitious material has a mean particle size of at least about 0.5 micron and no more than about 20 microns, the inert filler material has particle sizes of at least about 25 microns and no more than about 2 millimeters (mm), and the compositions and slurries have densities of at least about 9.5 pounds per gallon (ppg) and no more than about 12.5 ppg and solid volume fractions of at least about 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2025
    Publication date: March 26, 2026
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Patent number: 12560066
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2025
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Patent number: 12553326
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein are configured to facilitate effective fracture initiation. For example, a method includes deploying a tool string into a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation, wherein the tool string comprises a perforating tool and a mechanical reactant delivery assembly; releasing a plurality of chemical reactants from the mechanical reactant delivery assembly while the tool string is deployed within the wellbore to enable the plurality of chemical reactants to mix to form a breakdown fluid; and firing one or more explosive charges of the perforating tool to inject the breakdown fluid into the subterranean formation to initiate one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Dean Michael Willberg
  • Publication number: 20260036030
    Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein are configured to facilitate effective fracture initiation. For example, a method includes deploying a tool string into a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation, wherein the tool string comprises a perforating tool and a mechanical reactant delivery assembly; releasing a plurality of chemical reactants from the mechanical reactant delivery assembly while the tool string is deployed within the wellbore to enable the plurality of chemical reactants to mix to form a breakdown fluid; and firing one or more explosive charges of the perforating tool to inject the breakdown fluid into the subterranean formation to initiate one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2024
    Publication date: February 5, 2026
    Inventor: Dean Michael Willberg
  • Publication number: 20260014493
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of recovering metal ions from thermally treated earth materials and/or making polymers from the thermally treated earth materials. A thermally treated earth material is obtained, for example by treating an earth material using plasma, microwaves, flash calcination, or any combination thereof. A metal is removed from the thermally treated earth material, for example by mixing with an organic solvent or aqueous solution having pH less than about 9. The remaining earth material is alkali reactive and can be formed into an aluminosilicate polymer by exposure to a high pH aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Dominic Vincent Perroni, Pavani Cherukupally, Shawn David Taylor
  • Publication number: 20260015288
    Abstract: Described herein are methods of making polysialate systems using earth materials treated by plasma or microwave to make the earth materials alkali reactive. A treated earth material is obtained, for example by treating an earth material using plasma, microwaves, or both. A metal is removed from the treated earth material, for example by mixing with an organic solvent or aqueous solution having pH less than about 9. The remaining earth material is alkali reactive and can be formed into a polysialate system by exposure to a high pH aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: January 15, 2026
    Inventors: Pavani Cherukupally, Dean Michael Willberg, Shawn Taylor, Dominic Vincent Perroni
  • Publication number: 20250368883
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and slurries for treating a well following a water-based wellbore operation are provided and comprise cement comprising at least one of cement particles and cementitious material, water, and water swellable particulates that are embedded in the cement, derived from an elastomeric material, and present at a concentration of at least about 2% by weight of the cement but no more than about 30% by weight of the cement. Methods for treating a well drilled with a water-based drilling mud are provided and comprise pumping the composite cement compositions and slurries into the well and treating the well by allowing the composite cement compositions and slurries to set or cure after being pumped into the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2025
    Publication date: December 4, 2025
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Patent number: 12486445
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and pumpable slurries for cementing well or at least one zone of the wells are provided and comprise cementitious material that forms calcium silicate hydrates upon exposure to water, inert filler material, nano-sized calcium carbonate particles, and water, wherein the cementitious material has a mean particle size of at least about 0.5 micron and no more than about 20 microns, the inert filler material has particle sizes of at least about 25 microns and no more than about 2 millimeters (mm), and the compositions and slurries have densities of at least about 9.5 pounds per gallon (ppg) and no more than about 12.5 ppg and solid volume fractions of at least about 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Patent number: 12384952
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and slurries for treating a well following a water-based wellbore operation are provided and comprise cement comprising at least one of cement particles and cementitious material, water, and water swellable particulates that are embedded in the cement, derived from an elastomeric material, and present at a concentration of at least about 2% by weight of the cement but no more than about 30% by weight of the cement. Methods for treating a well drilled with a water-based drilling mud are provided and comprise pumping the composite cement compositions and slurries into the well and treating the well by allowing the composite cement compositions and slurries to set or cure after being pumped into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20250243739
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Patent number: 12281559
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20250075115
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and pumpable slurries for cementing well or at least one zone of the wells are provided and comprise cementitious material that forms calcium silicate hydrates upon exposure to water, inert filler material, nano-sized calcium carbonate particles, and water, wherein the cementitious material has a mean particle size of at least about 0.5 micron and no more than about 20 microns, the inert filler material has particle sizes of at least about 25 microns and no more than about 2 millimeters (mm), and the compositions and slurries have densities of at least about 9.5 pounds per gallon (ppg) and no more than about 12.5 ppg and solid volume fractions of at least about 50%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20240151129
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Patent number: 11939248
    Abstract: A system and method using a subterranean biological reactor can include a pre-reactor storage unit configured to receive a feedstock including a slurry of biologically derived material and at least one pump configured to pump the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. The system may include at least one wellbore containing a subterranean biological reactor configured to receive the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. At least a portion of the subterranean biological reactor may be configured to perform anaerobic digestion upon the effluent to generate a biogas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Andrew Pomerantz, Thorarinn Kristjansson
  • Publication number: 20230374366
    Abstract: Composite cement compositions and slurries for treating a well following a water-based wellbore operation are provided and comprise cement comprising at least one of cement particles and cementitious material, water, and water swellable particulates that are embedded in the cement, derived from an elastomeric material, and present at a concentration of at least about 2% by weight of the cement but no more than about 30% by weight of the cement. Methods for treating a well drilled with a water-based drilling mud are provided and comprise pumping the composite cement compositions and slurries into the well and treating the well by allowing the composite cement compositions and slurries to set or cure after being pumped into the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Valerie Gisele Helene Lafitte, Dean Michael Willberg, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Patent number: 11808128
    Abstract: Methods for initiating chemical reactions in a wellbore include delivering one or more reactive components via a carrier fluid to the wellbore. The one or more reactive components delivered to the wellbore are configured to enable one or more chemical reactions to occur. The one or more chemical reactions are carried out until a threshold volume of the one or more reactive components is delivered to the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Garud Bindiganavale Sridhar, Douglas Pipchuk, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Michael Willberg, James Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20230265001
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a system and method using a subterranean biological reactor. Embodiments may include a pre-reactor storage unit configured to receive a feedstock including a slurry of biologically derived material and at least one pump configured to pump the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. The system may include at least one wellbore containing a subterranean biological reactor configured to receive the effluent from the pre-reactor storage unit. At least a portion of the subterranean biological reactor may be configured to perform anaerobic digestion upon the effluent to generate a biogas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Dean Michael Willberg, Andrew Pomerantz, Thorarinn Kristjansson