Patents by Inventor Donald L. Whitfill
Donald L. Whitfill 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: 10982125Abstract: Methods for using cement compositions in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise introducing a first treatment fluid comprising a first base fluid and a metal oxide into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation; introducing a spacer fluid into the wellbore that separates the first treatment fluid from at least a second treatment fluid; introducing the second treatment fluid into the wellbore, wherein the second treatment fluid comprises a second base fluid and a soluble salt; allowing the first treatment fluid to contact the second treatment fluid to form a cement mixture; and allowing the cement mixture to at least partially set.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donald L. Whitfill, Sharath Savari, Reem Alburaikan, Waseem Abdulrazzaq, Dale E. Jamison
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Publication number: 20200010751Abstract: Methods for using cement compositions in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise introducing a first treatment fluid comprising a first base fluid and a metal oxide into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation; introducing a spacer fluid into the wellbore that separates the first treatment fluid from at least a second treatment fluid; introducing the second treatment fluid into the wellbore, wherein the second treatment fluid comprises a second base fluid and a soluble salt; allowing the first treatment fluid to contact the second treatment fluid to form a cement mixture; and allowing the cement mixture to at least partially set.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2017Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Donald L. Whitfill, Sharath Savari, Reem Alburaikan, Waseem Abdulrazzaq, Dale E. Jamison
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Patent number: 10066143Abstract: Highly resilient carbon-based materials having a resiliency greater than about 120% at 10,000 psi may be useful as lost circulation materials (LCMs) for wellbore strengthening and lost circulation mitigation in downhole operations in subterranean formations with depleted zones. For example, a downhole method may include drilling at least a portion of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with at least one depleted zone having a plurality of fractures extending from the wellbore into the at least one depleted zone; circulating a treatment fluid through the wellbore, the treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a resilient carbon-based material having a resiliency greater than about 120% at 10,000 psi; contacting the at least one depleted zone with the resilient carbon-based material; and plugging at least some of the plurality of fractures in the at least one depleted zone with the resilient carbon-based material.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donald L. Whitfill, Jonathan Paul Walker, Sharath Savari
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Patent number: 10035941Abstract: Compositions for lost circulation materials (LCM) and methods for using same in drilling and/or completing wellbores that help solve lost circulation problems in a wide range of fracture sizes, thereby advantageously eliminating the need for a variety of products for lost circulation in a field at any one time. The compositions provide specific LCM components in specific ratios that are analogs to lost circulation fractures and that yield superior performance in preventing or alleviating lost circulation in drilling and cementing boreholes. The compositions have a multi-modal particle size distribution (PSD) which provides a higher concentration of component materials in the same range of two or more fracture widths or median pore size diameters, thus allowing plugging to occur over a wider range than a single mode or narrow PSD.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Donald L. Whitfill, Matthew Lynn Miller
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Patent number: 9932510Abstract: A treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid; a plurality of a first type of fiber, wherein the first type of fiber is degradable; a plurality of a second type of fiber; and a third lost-circulation material, wherein the first type of fibers, the second type of fibers, and the third lost-circulation material inhibit or prevent some or all of the treatment fluid from penetrating into a subterranean formation from a wellbore, wherein the wellbore penetrates the subterranean formation.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Jonathan P. Walker, Donald L. Whitfill, Sharath Savari
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Publication number: 20170321102Abstract: Highly resilient carbon-based materials having a resiliency greater than about 120% at 10,000 psi may be useful as lost circulation materials (LCMs) for wellbore strengthening and lost circulation mitigation in downhole operations in subterranean formations with depleted zones. For example, a downhole method may include drilling at least a portion of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with at least one depleted zone having a plurality of fractures extending from the wellbore into the at least one depleted zone; circulating a treatment fluid through the wellbore, the treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a resilient carbon-based material having a resiliency greater than about 120% at 10,000 psi; contacting the at least one depleted zone with the resilient carbon-based material; and plugging at least some of the plurality of fractures in the at least one depleted zone with the resilient carbon-based material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2014Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventors: Donald L. WHITFILL, Jonathan Paul WALKER, Sharath SAVARI
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Patent number: 9725975Abstract: A method of wellbore strengthening may include providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber; introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Arunesh Kumar, Sharath Savari, Donald L. Whitfill, Dale E. Jamison
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Publication number: 20170166795Abstract: A treatment fluid comprising: a base fluid; a plurality of a first type of fiber, wherein the first type of fiber is degradable; a plurality of a second type of fiber; and a third lost-circulation material, wherein the first type of fibers, the second type of fibers, and the third lost-circulation material inhibit or prevent some or all of the treatment fluid from penetrating into a subterranean formation from a wellbore, wherein the wellbore penetrates the subterranean formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2014Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Jonathan P. Walker, Donald L. Whitfill, Sharath Savari
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Publication number: 20160333247Abstract: Compositions for lost circulation materials (LCM) and methods for using same in drilling and/or completing wellbores that help solve lost circulation problems in a wide range of fracture sizes, thereby advantageously eliminating the need for a variety of products for lost circulation in a field at any one time. The compositions provide specific LCM components in specific ratios that are analogs to lost circulation fractures and that yield superior performance in preventing or alleviating lost circulation in drilling and cementing boreholes. The compositions have a multi-modal particle size distribution (PSD) which provides a higher concentration of component materials in the same range of two or more fracture widths or median pore size diameters, thus allowing plugging to occur over a wider range than a single mode or narrow PSD.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Donald L. Whitfill, Matthew Lynn Miller
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Publication number: 20160264842Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed related to a composition for treating a subterranean formation, and methods and systems including the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation that can include obtaining or providing a sealant composition comprising an alkali-swellable latex and a viscosifying agent. The method also includes placing the composition in a subterranean formation downhole.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventors: Matthew Lynn Miller, Donald L. Whitfill
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Publication number: 20150376491Abstract: A lost circulation material and method for well treatment employing the material that is effective at sealing or plugging fractured zones and has utility over a wide range of temperatures, including high temperatures. The lost circulation material includes particulate material to quickly de-fluidize the fluid formulation, fibrous material to suspend particles in the slurrified form of the composition and increase the shear strength of the resultant seal, and non-Portland cement material for increasing the compressive strength.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2013Publication date: December 31, 2015Inventors: Matthew Lynn Miller, Jason Thomas SCORSONE, Donald L. WHITFILL
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Patent number: 9022147Abstract: According to an embodiment, a drilling fluid comprises: water and a set accelerator, wherein the drilling fluid has a 10 minute gel strength of less than 20 lb*ft/100 sq ft, wherein the drilling fluid has a density in the range of about 9 to about 14 pounds per gallon, wherein the drilling fluid remains pourable for at least 5 days, and wherein when at least one part of the drilling fluid mixes with three parts of a cement composition consisting of water and cement, the drilling fluid cement composition mixture develops a compressive strength of at least 1,200 psi. According to another embodiment, a method of using the drilling fluid comprises the steps of: introducing the drilling fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid is capable of mixing with a cement composition.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2011Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Krishna M. Ravi, Donald L. Whitfill, Rahul Chandrakant Patil, Abhimanyu Deshpande
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Patent number: 8969264Abstract: A treatment fluid comprises: a metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide is capable of forming a chelate complex or coordination complex with a ligand, wherein the chelate complex or coordination complex has a setting time of less than 90 minutes at a temperature of 71° F. and a pressure of 1 atmosphere. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprises: introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation; allowing or causing a chelate complex or coordination complex to form between the metal oxide and a ligand; and allowing or causing the chelate complex or coordination complex to set.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Donald L. Whitfill, Matthew L. Miller, Kay A. Morris
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Publication number: 20150027707Abstract: A method of wellbore strengthening may include providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber; introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2014Publication date: January 29, 2015Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Arunesh Kumar, Sharath Savari, Donald L. Whitfill, Dale E. Jamison
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Patent number: 8887808Abstract: A method of wellbore strengthening may include providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber; introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2011Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Arunesh Kumar, Sharath Savari, Donald L. Whitfill, Dale E. Jamison
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Publication number: 20140155300Abstract: A treatment fluid comprises: a metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide is capable of forming a chelate complex or coordination complex with a ligand, wherein the chelate complex or coordination complex has a setting time of less than 90 minutes at a temperature of 71° F. and a pressure of 1 atmosphere. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprises: introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation; allowing or causing a chelate complex or coordination complex to form between the metal oxide and a ligand; and allowing or causing the chelate complex or coordination complex to set.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Dale E. JAMISON, Donald L. WHITFILL, Matthew L. MILLER, Kay A. MORRIS
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Patent number: 8739872Abstract: A lost circulation material and method for well treatment employing the material that is effective at sealing or plugging fractured zones and has utility over a wide range of temperatures, including high temperatures. The lost circulation material includes particulate material to quickly de-fluidize the fluid formulation, fibrous material to suspend particles in the slurrified form of the composition and increase the shear strength of the resultant seal, and non-Portland cement material for increasing the compressive strength.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Matthew L. Miller, Donald L. Whitfill, Jason T. Scorsone
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Publication number: 20140038857Abstract: Compositions for lost circulation materials (LCM) and methods for using same in drilling and/or completing wellbores that help solve lost circulation problems in a wide range of fracture sizes, thereby advantageously eliminating the need for a variety of products for lost circulation in a field at any one time. An unexpected synergy and improved reduction in lost circulation is obtained. The invention provides specific LCM components in specific ratios that are analogs to lost circulation fractures and that yield superior performance in preventing or alleviating lost circulation in drilling and cementing boreholes. The invention compositions have a multi-modal particle size distribution (PSD) which provides a higher concentration of component materials in the same range of two or more fracture widths, thus allowing plugging to occur over a wider range than a single mode or narrow PSD.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Inventors: Matthew L. Miller, Donald L. Whitfill
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Patent number: 8517103Abstract: A treatment fluid comprises: a metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide is capable of forming a chelate complex or coordination complex with a ligand, wherein the chelate complex or coordination complex has a setting time of less than 90 minutes at a temperature of 71° F. and a pressure of 1 atmosphere. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprises: introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation; allowing or causing a chelate complex or coordination complex to form between the metal oxide and a ligand; and allowing or causing the chelate complex or coordination complex to set.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Donald L. Whitfill, Matthew L. Miller, Kay A. Morris
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Publication number: 20130112414Abstract: A method of wellbore strengthening may include providing a wellbore strengthening fluid comprising a drilling fluid, a particulate, and a fiber; introducing the wellbore strengthening fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and forming a plug comprising the particulate and the fiber in a void near the wellbore, the plug being capable of maintaining integrity at about 1000 psi or greater overbalance pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2011Publication date: May 9, 2013Inventors: Arunesh Kumar, Sharath Savari, Donald L. Whitfill, Dale E. Jamison