Patents by Inventor Dean Willberg
Dean 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).
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Patent number: 11933155Abstract: A method of receiving a plurality of oilfield brine feedstocks from one or more producing wells producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes detecting, using one or more sensors, one or more properties of the plurality of oilfield brine feedstocks, selecting two or more oilfield brine feedstocks from the plurality based at least in part on the one or more properties of the plurality of oilfield brine feedstocks, blending the two or more oilfield brine feedstocks into a blended oilfield brine prior to desalinating and crystallizing a portion of the blended oilfield brine, desalinating and crystallizing the portion of the blended oilfield brine to produce desalinated water and a salt slurry suspension, selecting one or more candidate wells for reinjection of the salt slurry suspension into the one or more candidate wells, and reinjecting the salt slurry suspension into the one or more candidate wells.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2021Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Dean Willberg
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Patent number: 11767745Abstract: A method includes placing a fluid in a treatment zone of a wellbore, the fluid in fluid communication with a near wellbore region of a subterranean formation. At least one energetic event generating material is placed in the wellbore, and positioned adjacent and up hole from the fluid. An energetic event is generated from the at least one energetic event generating material, and at least one fracture is formed in the near wellbore region from the at least one energetic event applying a pressure pulse onto the fluid. In some aspects, the fluid is a viscous pill.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Jeffrey Burghardt, Maxim Chertov
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Publication number: 20230279764Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein relate to processing produced oilfield brine by deconstructing it into two useful components: (1) desalinated water and (2) a suspension of solid state salt (e.g., crystallized salt) slurried in a salt saturated brine, which may be formulated and injected into hydrocarbon producing for mations above hydraulic fracturing pressure to intentionally create regions of localized high stress within the respective formations. In addition, systems and methods presented herein relate to processing oilfield brine received from hydrocarbon producing wells by : (1) coupling high pressure desalination technologies with saltwater disposal (SWD) operations, (2) active management of SWD water composition at the rock face through dual stream (e.g., split stream) injection, and /or (3) coupled SWD injection, flow assurance, and stimulation to minimize SWD formation damage and injection pressures.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2021Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventor: Dean WILLBERG
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Patent number: 10415382Abstract: A method and system is provided that analyzes flow characteristics of return fluid that flows to a surface-located facility during well operations (such as plug mill-out or cleanout/workover operations) in order to characterize local formation properties of the formation. The method and system can be used to characterize a hydraulically-fractured hydrocarbon-bearing formation that is traversed by a well having a number of intervals that are hydraulically isolated from one another by corresponding plugs.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Philippe Enkababian, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Willberg
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Publication number: 20180306016Abstract: A method can include receiving stimulation treatment scenario definitions for stimulation treatment of a reservoir that includes hydrocarbons; receiving reservoir data; receiving imagery data of a proppant pack; generating a model of the proppant pack based at least in part on the imagery data; simulating physical phenomena associated with a plurality of the stimulation treatment scenarios based at least in part on the model to generate simulation results; and, based at least in part on the simulation results, selecting parameter values for a stimulation treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2016Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Sergey Safonov, Dean Willberg, Marina Bulova, Oleg Dinariev
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Publication number: 20180087363Abstract: A method includes placing a fluid in a treatment zone of a wellbore, the fluid in fluid communication with a near wellbore region of a subterranean formation. At least one energetic event generating material is placed in the wellbore, and positioned adjacent and up hole from the fluid. An energetic event is generated from the at least one energetic event generating material, and at least one fracture is formed in the near wellbore region from the at least one energetic event applying a pressure pulse onto the fluid. In some aspects, the fluid is a viscous pill.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2016Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Dean Willberg, Jeffrey Burghardt, Maxim Chertov
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Publication number: 20170321547Abstract: A method and system is provided that analyzes flow characteristics of return fluid that flows to a surface-located facility during well operations (such as plug mill-out or cleanout/workover operations) in order to characterize local formation properties of the formation. The method and system can be used to characterize a hydraulically-fractured hydrocarbon-bearing formation that is traversed by a well having a number of intervals that are hydraulically isolated from one another by corresponding plugs.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Philippe Enkababian, Dmitriy Potapenko, Dean Willberg
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Patent number: 9353307Abstract: Methods useful in oil and gas production include producing a degradable (hydrolysable) polymer emulsion for downhole operations by mixing a degradable (hydrolysable) polymer solution with a treatment fluid using intense stirring to produce a stable emulsion at surface conditions, and allowing the degradable (hydrolysable) polymer emulsion to controllably decompose in downhole conditions to produce droplets of sticky polymerType: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Vadim Kamilievich Khlestkin, Denis Olegovich Menshikov
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Patent number: 9309743Abstract: This invention relates to geophysical research techniques, more particularly, to geophysical well logging methods, and may be used to seal near-wellbore formation during logging activities.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Dean Willberg
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Publication number: 20150204178Abstract: 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: March 30, 2015Publication date: July 23, 2015Inventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Dina Goloshchapova, Sergey Mikhailovich Makarychev-Mikhailov
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Patent number: 8991494Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 21, 2008Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N Fredd, Dina Andreevna Goloshchapova, Sergey Mikhailovich MakaryChev-Mikhailov
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Publication number: 20150060066Abstract: 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: August 4, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Inventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N. Fredd, Vadim Kamilievich Khlestkin, Denis Olegovich Menshikov
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Publication number: 20140332207Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of an underground formation with a fluid is described. The method includes providing a sample material of the underground formation; measuring the permeability and the porosity of the sample material; performing a drainage test on the sample material using the fluid; estimating the threshold pressure of the sample material from the drainage test, the permeability and the porosity measurements; and determining the receding contact angle of the fluid on the sample material from the threshold pressure. The sample material can be disaggregated material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2014Publication date: November 13, 2014Inventors: Jerald J. Hinkel, Dean Willberg, Markus Pagels
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Patent number: 8839865Abstract: A method of fluid placement in a hydraulic fracture created in a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore that comprises the use of one or more reactants that form a low friction layer between the fluids that penetrate the fracture in consecutive treatment stages. Reactants can be added to the fluid that is the carrier or other fluid to be placed in a specific region of the fracture, namely as an upper or lower boundary of the fracture, or added to both the stage that requires placement in a specific section of the fracture and in the stage preceding it, especially the pad and carrier fluids used in consecutive stages.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Kseniya Evgenievna Eliseeva
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Patent number: 8805616Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of an underground formation with a fluid is described. The method includes providing a sample material of the underground formation; measuring the permeability and the porosity of the sample material; performing a drainage test on the sample material using the fluid; estimating the threshold pressure of the sample material from the drainage test, the permeability and the porosity measurements; and determining the receding contact angle of the fluid on the sample material from the threshold pressure. The sample material can be disaggregated material.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Jerald J. Hinkel, Dean Willberg, Markus Pagels
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Patent number: 8794325Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Christopher N Fredd, Vadim Kamilievich Khlestkin, Denis Olegovich Menshikov
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Patent number: 8714244Abstract: A method for preparing a formation surrounding a wellbore to bear hydrocarbons through a borehole is disclosed. In one step, a bottomhole assembly is inserted into the borehole. The formation is drilled with the bottomhole assembly. The formation may be characterized with logging tools, probes, sensors, seismic system and/or the like to create first information. One or more fractures are placed in the formation without removal of the bottomhole assembly from the wellbore. Further, continuous drilling of the formation is performed with the bottomhole assembly after/during placing the fractures. Further characterizing of the formation with the probes, sensors/systems or the like is performed to produce second information. Another fracture is placed with feedback from the second information. Repeating the drilling, characterizing and placing of fractures as necessary during the formation preparing process.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Don Conkle, Ashley Johnson, J. Ernest Brown, Trevor McLeod, Matthew Miller, Philip Sullivan, Dean Willberg
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Publication number: 20140034320Abstract: A fluid comprising a plurality of particulates having an Apollonian particle size distribution dispersed in a carrier fluid optionally comprising a surfactant, the particulates, the carrier fluid, or both comprising a degradable oleaginous fluid. Methods to utilize the fluid are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Hemant Kumar J. Ladva, Yiyan Chen, Anthony Loiseau, Dean Willberg
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Publication number: 20120151998Abstract: A method of determining wettability of a rock sample, such as from a core sample is described. The sample is preferably crushed or comminuted to a particulate size where micro fractures have been eliminated, but where the particles are still large enough to represent the native rock matrix and texture. The comminuted core sample is exposed to a test fluid for a given period of time. The rock sample can be split into many separate aliquots, and a series of tests is performed using a series of different fluids and/or the same fluid for different exposure times. The excess test fluid residing on the surfaces of sample particles is removed. The test fluid imbibed into the interior of the particulate sample is then measured. The test fluid can be, for example, water, a non-aqueous fluid, and/or a solution of miscible solvents. The technique used to measure the imbibed fluid depends on the solvent (imbibing fluid) being studied.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Dean Willberg, Markus Pagels, Jerald J. Hinkel
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Publication number: 20120152548Abstract: A method for determining a characteristic of an underground formation with a fluid is described. The method includes providing a sample material of the underground formation; measuring the permeability and the porosity of the sample material; performing a drainage test on the sample material using the fluid; estimating the threshold pressure of the sample material from the drainage test, the permeability and the porosity measurements; and determining the receding contact angle of the fluid on the sample material from the threshold pressure. The sample material can be disaggregated material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Jerald J. Hinkel, Dean Willberg, Markus Pagels