Patents by Inventor Etuan Zhang

Etuan Zhang 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).

  • Thermal processes for subsurface formations
    Publication number: 20070131411
    Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Inventors: Harold Vinegar, Peter Veenstra, Steven Giles, Chester Sandberg, Frederick Rambow, Christopher Harris, Lanny Schoeling, Mark Picha, Etuan Zhang, Gary Beer, Fredrick Carl, Taixu Bai, Dong Kim, Michael Fairbanks, Guillermo Sanz
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
    Patent number: 7225866
    Abstract: A oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a selected pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Thermal processes for subsurface formations
    Patent number: 7121342
    Abstract: A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Peter Veenstra, Steven Paul Giles, Chester L. Sandberg, Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Mark Gregory Picha, Etuan Zhang, Gary Beer, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr., Taixu Bai, Dong Sub Kim, Michael David Fairbanks, Guillermo Pastor Sanz
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a pattern of heat sources
    Publication number: 20060213657
    Abstract: A oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a selected pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Inventors: Ilya Berchenko, Eric Rouffignac, Thomas Fowler, John Karanikas, Robert Ryan, Gordon Shahin, George Stegemeier, Harold Vinegar, Scott Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation while controlling pressure
    Patent number: 7096942
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section. In some embodiments, pressure may be controlled to produce a desired property in the produced mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a movable heating element
    Patent number: 7096953
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may be applied to the formation from heating elements positioned within wellbores. Portions of the heater elements may be free to move within the wellbores to inhibit failure of the heater elements due to thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with heat sources located at an edge of a coal layer
    Patent number: 7096941
    Abstract: A coal containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources within a relatively thin layer of coal may be positioned in a staggered pattern near to edges of the layer so that superposition of heat from the heat sources allows a large percentage of the layer to reach a desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores
    Patent number: 7086468
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be positioned within open wellbores in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Charles Robert Keedy, Robert Charles Ryan, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil reservoir formation
    Patent number: 7077199
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating an oil containing formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric P. de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing through an open wellbore in an oil shale formation
    Patent number: 7051811
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to the treatment area from one or more heat sources. A heat source may be positioned in an uncased wellbore. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat source to a section of the formation. Subsequently, hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, John Michael Karanikas, Charles Robert Keedy, Robert Charles Ryan, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of a relatively impermeable formation using an open wellbore
    Patent number: 7040400
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively low permeability formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section. In certain embodiments, one or more heat sources may be placed in an uncased wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, John Michael Karanikas, Charles Robert Keedy, Robert Charles Ryan, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Thermal processing of an oil shale formation to increase permeability of the formation
    Patent number: 7040397
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may also be applied to the formation to increase a permeability of the formation. In some embodiments, the permeability of a portion of the formation may increase to a relatively high permeability as compared to the initial permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using a controlled heating rate
    Patent number: 7040399
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. A heating rate for a selected volume of the formation may be controlled by altering an amount of heating energy per day that is provided to the selected volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of a relatively permeable formation in a reducing environment
    Patent number: 7040398
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section. In some embodiments, a reducing environment may be maintained in a portion of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to increase a porosity of the formation
    Patent number: 7036583
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may also uniformly increase a porosity of a treated portion of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Production of synthesis gas from a coal formation
    Patent number: 7017661
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the formation to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • In situ recovery from a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation
    Patent number: 7011154
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of treating a kerogen and liquid hydrocarbon containing formation in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heat sources to a part of the formation. In some embodiments, at least a portion of liquid hydrocarbons in the part may be mobilized. At least a portion of kerogen in the part may be pyrolyzed. In certain embodiments, a pressure within at least a part of the formation may be controlled. The pressure may be controlled to be at least about 2.0 bars absolute. A mixture may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Kevin Albert Maher, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation in a reducing environment
    Patent number: 6997255
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. A reducing environment may be maintained within a portion of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, IIya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected hydrogen to carbon ratio
    Patent number: 6994168
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. A formation to be treated may produce a relatively large amount of condensable hydrocarbons and/or a relatively large amount of non-condensable hydrocarbons. The formation to be treated may be chosen based on initial hydrocarbon to carbon ratio of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
    Patent number: 6994160
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. An average temperature and/or pressure within the formation may be controlled to inhibit production of hydrocarbons that have carbon numbers greater than a selected carbon number. In some embodiments, the selected carbon number is 25. A small number of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers greater than the selected carbon number may be entrained in vapor produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan