Patents by Inventor Edmund C. Lau

Edmund C. Lau 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: 5456315
    Abstract: An in-situ combustion method is provided for the recovery of viscous oil from an oil-bearing reservoir. A linear array of vertical air injection wells is drilled into the reservoir; the wells are completed in the upper portion of the reservoir. One or more gas production wells are provided, remote from the row of injection wells, said gas production wells also being completed in the upper portion of the reservoir. A horizontal oil production well is completed in the bottom portion of the reservoir, aligned with and positioned in spaced relation beneath the vertical injection wells. The reservoir is prepared for ignition and combustion is initiated at each of the injection wells. A hot fluid-transmissive chamber is formed around each of the injection wells as combustion proceeds. Combustion gas communication is established with the gas production wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Kisman, Ben I. Nzekwu, Edmund C. Lau