Patents by Inventor Ernest Brown

Ernest Brown 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: 7644761
    Abstract: A method of creating multiple fractures in a well traversing a formation is described using pressurized fluids in a highly deviated or horizontal section of the well at a pressure above the fracturing pressure of the formation, wherein for creating a fracture the pressurized fluid is alternated between an acid fracturing fluid and a proppant loaded fluid, such that the proppant blocks the flow of pressurized fluid into a fracture created during a previous step of the method and the subsequently pressurized acid fracturing fluid creates a new fracture at a location along the highly deviated or horizontal section different from the location of the previously created fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hongren Gu, J. Ernest Brown, Fakuen F. Chang
  • Publication number: 20090286700
    Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventors: Timothy Lesko, J. Ernest Brown, Dean M. Willberg, Ivan Kosarev, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20090281047
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel immunotherapeutic compositions and methods useful for treating or preventing microbial infections, weakened immune systems, diseases in which cells have become obligately anerobic and cellular proliferative disorders including cancer. The immunotherapeutics herein use benzaldehyde derivatives, precursors and intermediaries alone or in combination with additional therapeutic agents to stimulate the immune system and inhibit cellular proliferation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Joe Ernest BROWN
  • Patent number: 7581590
    Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Lesko, J. Ernest Brown, Dean M. Willberg, Ivan Kosarev, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20090151938
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Don Conkle, Ashley Johnson, J. Ernest Brown, Trevor McLeod, Matthew Miller, Philip Sullivan, Dean Willberg
  • Publication number: 20090145660
    Abstract: A method for fracturing a wellbore while drilling a wellbore includes inserting a drill string into a wellbore. A fluid is pumped into at least one of an interior passage in the drill string and an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the drill string. At least one of a pressure and a temperature of the fluid proximate a lower end of the drill string is measured and the measurements are transmitted to the surface substantially contemporaneously with the measuring. At least one of a flow rate and a pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the measurements to selectively create fractures in formations adjacent to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: ASHLEY JOHNSON, Benjamin P. Jeffryes, J. Ernest Brown
  • Patent number: 7540328
    Abstract: A dry solid composition is disclosed that, when added to an aqueous liquid, provides a slurry that can be used in sandstone acid fracturing. The slurry generates hydrofluoric acid downhole to etch the sandstone fracture faces created. The chemical and physical properties of the composition result in very uneven etching of the fracture faces, enhancing the fluid conductivity of the final fracture. Optionally, inert masking materials may be included in the dry composition, or added to the slurry, to increase the inhomogeneity of the etching and further increase the fluid conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: J. Ernest Brown, John W. Still, Diankui Fu, Zhijun Xiao, Wayne Frenier
  • Publication number: 20090114386
    Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and system for monitoring a conduit, a wellbore or a reservoir associated with hydrocarbon production or transportation and/or carbon dioxide sequestration. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for using an optical fiber as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor the conduit, wellbore or reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Arthur H. Hartog, J. Ernest Brown, John Mervyn Cook, Jonathan Elphick, Paul S. Hammond, Ashley Bernard Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090087912
    Abstract: A tagged object includes a main body and a plurality of coded particles. Each coded particle may have a miniature body and be configured to provide a resolvable optical emission pattern when illuminate. The plurality of coded particles may be immobilized to the main body. A method for performing oilfield monitoring may include disposing of different types of tagged objects at different locations, wherein the different types of tagged objects each comprise a plurality of coded particles. Each of the coded particles may have a miniature body containing rare earth elements configured to produce a unique optical emission pattern when illuminated. The method may include allowing an event to trigger the release of one of the different types of tagged objects from one of the different locations. In addition, the method may include identifying the released tagged objects by unique optical emission patterns, in some cases in order to determining an occurrence location of the event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: SHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rogerio T. Ramos, Iain Cooper, J. Ernest Brown
  • Publication number: 20090000786
    Abstract: Methods of making and using wellbore casing are described, one method comprising providing a plurality of flow-through passages in a portion of a casing while the casing is out of hole; temporarily plugging the flow-through passages with a composition while out of hole; running the casing in hole in a wellbore intersecting a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and exposing the composition to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages while in hole. Methods of using the casing may include pumping a stimulation treatment fluid through the casing string and into a formation through the flow-through passages in the first casing joint; plugging the flow-through passages in the first casing section; and exposing a second casing joint of the casing string to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages in the second casing joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: John Daniels, George Waters, Mark Norris, J. Ernest Brown, Ian D. Bryant, Kevin Mauth, Jason Swaren
  • Publication number: 20080210422
    Abstract: A method for stimulating a reservoir formation while running a casing string into the wellbore includes the steps of: connecting a stimulation assembly to a casing string, the stimulation assembly including a packer actuator in operational connection with a packer and a logging sensor; running the casing string into the wellbore and positioning the logging assembly proximate to a selected reservoir formation; logging the reservoir formation; positioning the stimulation assembly proximate to the reservoir formation; actuating the packer to substantially isolate the reservoir formation from the wellbore; performing the stimulation operation; releasing the packers from sealing engagement with the wellbore; positioning the logging assembly proximate to the reservoir formation; logging the reservoir formation; and disconnecting the stimulation assembly from the casing string.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Brian Clark, J. Ernest Brown, Marc Jean Thiercelin, Arkady Segal, Ian D. Bryant, Matthew J. Miller, Valerie Jochen
  • Publication number: 20080135242
    Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy Lesko, J. Ernest Brown, Dean M. Willberg, Ivan Kosarev, Anatoly Medvedev
  • Publication number: 20080045421
    Abstract: An adaptive cementitious composite composition, comprising: a coarse particulate material such as sand or proppant; a series of other particulate or fibrous materials; and a carrier fluid; the sand and other particulate materials being present as a series of coarse, medium and fine particle sizes in ratios selected to provide an optimised packing volume fraction; wherein the sand or proppant is coated with a resin and at least one of the other particulate or fibrous materials is a material that can be modified when placed at a downhole location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Erik Nelson, Ernest Brown, Benedicte Zusatz-Ayache
  • Patent number: 7318475
    Abstract: A method for stimulating thick or multilayered heterogeneous or homogeneous formations in a single trip without packers involves perforating with tubing conveyed perforation, then injecting a self-diverting acid, then moving the tubing string and perforating at a new location, and then injecting additional self-diverting acid. The sequence may be repeated. The acid is preferably a viscoelastic diverting acid. The self-diverting acid may be alternated with conventional treatment fluid. The job is designed to treat the least permeable zone(s) first and maximizes acid efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gustavo Cavazzoli, Juan Gabriel Blanco, J. Ernest Brown, Pia-Angela Francini, Diankui Fu
  • Publication number: 20080006409
    Abstract: A dry solid composition is disclosed that, when added to an aqueous liquid, provides a slurry that can be used in sandstone acid fracturing. The slurry generates hydrofluoric acid downhole to etch the sandstone fracture faces created. The chemical and physical properties of the composition result in very uneven etching of the fracture faces, enhancing the fluid conductivity of the final fracture. Optionally, inert masking materials may be included in the dry composition, or added to the slurry, to increase the inhomogeneity of the etching and further increase the fluid conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Inventors: J. Ernest Brown, John Still, Diankui Fu, Zhijun Xiao, Wayne Frenier
  • Patent number: 7303012
    Abstract: Propped fractures in formations from which fluids are produced are described that have wormholes extending out into the formations from the faces of the fractures at locations distant from boreholes. Methods are given for creating such propped fractures having wormholes in which either a closed propped fracture is formed and then the wormholes are formed, or the entire fracture and channel system is formed before the closure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Keng S. Chan, J. Ernest Brown, Arthur William Milne, Brett Rimmer, Mark Brady
  • Publication number: 20070227732
    Abstract: A method for stimulation of gas production from coal seams is described using a permeability modifier, such as a coal swelling agent, injected into the coal seams via a wellbore to reduce the permeability of the coal seams prior to a fracturing treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Matthew Miller, Michaela Nagl, Kevin England, Ernest Brown, Raymond Tibbles, Gary Tustin
  • Patent number: 7219731
    Abstract: A method is given for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore with a viscosified fluid. The fluid contains a solid hydrolysable polyacid that upon dissolution and hydrolysis releases an acid that is a breaker for the viscosifying system. Suitable solid hydrolysable polyacids include polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid. The fluid also contains a pH control agent, present in an amount sufficient to neutralize any acid present in the solid hydrolysable polyacid before the injection and to neutralize any acid generated by the solid hydrolysable polyacid during the injection, so that the acid breaker is not available to break the fluid during the injection. In one embodiment the viscosifier is a viscoelastic surfactant fluid system and the solid hydrolysable polyacid is of a size selected to be a fluid loss additive, for example in fracturing or gravel packing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Philip F. Sullivan, J Ernest Brown, Jesse C. Lee, Golchehreh Salamat
  • Patent number: 7165613
    Abstract: Propped fractures in formations from which fluids are produced are described that have wormholes extending out into the formations from the faces of the fractures at locations distant from boreholes. Methods are given for creating such propped fractures having wormholes in which either a closed propped fracture is formed and then the wormholes are formed, or the entire fracture and channel system is formed before the closure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Keng S. Chan, J. Ernest Brown, Arthur William Milne, Brett Rimmer, Mark Brady
  • Patent number: 7114567
    Abstract: Propped fractures in formations from which fluids are produced are described that have wormholes extending out into the formations from the faces of the fractures at locations distant from boreholes. Methods are given for creating such propped fractures having wormholes in which either a closed propped fracture is formed and then the wormholes are formed, or the entire fracture and channel system is formed before the closure occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Keng S. Chan, J. Ernest Brown, Arthur William Milne, Brett Rimmer