Patents by Inventor Donald Lee Whitfill

Donald Lee 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).

  • Patent number: 11359131
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations with fluids containing lost circulation materials are provided. In one embodiment, the methods introducing a treatment fluid that includes a base fluid and a lost circulation material into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the lost circulation material includes a plurality of particles having a multi-modal particle size distribution comprising a d10 value ranging from about 20 to about 50 microns, a d50 value ranging from about 55 to about 90 microns, and d90 value ranging from about 240 to about 340 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Lee Whitfill, Ifueko Akpata, V. Ramireddy Devarapalli, Mohamed Abdel Salam
  • Publication number: 20210363405
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations with fluids containing lost circulation materials are provided. In one embodiment, the methods introducing a treatment fluid that includes a base fluid and a lost circulation material into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the lost circulation material includes a plurality of particles having a multi-modal particle size distribution comprising a d10 value ranging from about 20 to about 50 microns, a d50 value ranging from about 55 to about 90 microns, and d90 value ranging from about 240 to about 340 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Donald Lee Whitfill, Ifueko Akpata, V. Ramireddy Devarapalli, Mohamed Abdel Salam
  • Patent number: 11091964
    Abstract: A method of sealing a lost circulation zone (LCZ) during a drilling operation by: positioning a bottom hole assembly (BHA) at an initial position proximate a LCZ in a wellbore, wherein the BHA includes a drill bit fluidly connected with a surface of the wellbore via a drill string; and pumping first and second reactant pills and a spacer into the LCZ via the drill string and the drill bit, wherein the first reactant pill includes one or more first reactants, wherein the second reactant pill includes one or more second reactants, wherein the first reactant pill is pumped into the LCZ prior to the second reactant pill due to introducing of the spacer into the drill string between the first and second reactant pills, and wherein, after a reaction time, reactants comprising the one or more first and second reactants react within and provide a seal of the LCZ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Lee Whitfill, Dale E. Jamison, Vitor Lopes Pereira
  • Patent number: 10442974
    Abstract: In some instances, a fluid loss control enhancement additive may synergistically work with lost circulation materials (“LCM”) to arrest lost circulation in wellbores where LCMs alone have been ineffective. For example, a method may involve treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a pill comprising an aqueous base fluid and a lost circulation material; observing fluid loss from the wellbore to the subterranean formation while treating the wellbore with the pill; and adding salt, a swellable polymer, and fibers to the pill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Lee Whitfill, Sharath Savari, Matthew L. Miller, Dale E. Jamison, Robert J. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20160312102
    Abstract: In some instances, a fluid loss control enhancement additive may synergistically work with lost circulation materials (“LCM”) to arrest lost circulation in wellbores where LCMs alone have been ineffective. For example, a method may involve treating a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a pill comprising an aqueous base fluid and a lost circulation material; observing fluid loss from the wellbore to the subterranean formation while treating the wellbore with the pill; and adding salt, a swellable polymer, and fibers to the pill.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Lee Whitfill, Sharath Savari, Matthew L. Miller, Dale E. Jamison, Robert J. Murphy