Patents by Inventor Dianne TOMPKINS

Dianne TOMPKINS 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).

  • Method and apparatus for filling an annulus between casing and rock in an oil or gas well
    Patent number: 10975657
    Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Rick D. Watts, Dianne Tompkins, Helen Haneferd, Lars Hovda, Edvard Omdal, Hardy Hartmann Nielsen, Lars Vedvik, Tove Husby
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AN ANNULUS BETWEEN CASING AND ROCK IN AN OIL OR GAS WELL
    Publication number: 20200063527
    Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Rick D. WATTS, Dianne TOMPKINS, Helen HANEFERD, Lars HOVDA, Edvard OMDAL, Hardy Hartmann NIELSEN, Lars VEDVIK
  • Method and apparatus for filling an annulus between casing and rock in an oil or gas well
    Patent number: 10508515
    Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Rick D. Watts, Dianne Tompkins, Helen Haneferd, Lars Hovda, Edvard Omdal, Hardy Hartmann Nielsen, Lars Vedvik
  • Method and apparatus for filling an annulus between casing and rock in an oil or gas well
    Patent number: 10087716
    Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Tove Husby, Rick D. Watts, Dianne Tompkins, Helen Haneferd, Lars Hovda
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AN ANNULUS BETWEEN CASING AND ROCK IN AN OIL OR GAS WELL
    Publication number: 20180171754
    Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Tove HUSBY, Rick D. WATTS, Dianne TOMPKINS, Helen HANEFERD, Lars HOVDA
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING AN ANNULUS BETWEEN CASING AND ROCK IN AN OIL OR GAS WELL
    Publication number: 20160237779
    Abstract: The invention relates to the decommissioning of hydrocarbon wells. It concerns the artificial promoting or inducing of creep in the overburden formation 3 surrounding an oil well 1, so that the formation rock 3 encroaches against the casing 5 to form a seal. This avoids the need to plug the annulus between the casing 5 and formation 3 with cement. The overburden may be caused to creep by reducing the pressure in the annulus, by applying heat to the overburden rock or by stressing the rock repeatedly to cause fatigue in the rock 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Tove HUSBY, Rick D. WATTS, Dianne TOMPKINS, Helen HANEFERD, Lars HOVDA