Patents by Inventor Frances Lai

Frances Lai 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).

  • Methods of improving heavy oil production
    Patent number: 7717175
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for extracting heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The invention involves directing the formation of a solvent fluid chamber through the combination of directed solvent fluid injection and production at combinations of horizontal and/or vertical injection wells so as to increase the recovery of heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The wells are preferably provided with flow control devices to achieve uniform production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Nexen Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Compton Chung, Mintu Bose, Stewart Allan Morton, Kenneth James Elkow, Ed Erlendson, Frances Lai, David Peter Meeks, Kenneth Myron Oberg, Louis Chiu-Hung Leung, James Nelson Ireland
  • Methods of Improving Heavy Oil Production
    Publication number: 20070181299
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method for extracting heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The invention involves directing the formation of a solvent fluid chamber through the combination of directed solvent fluid injection and production at combinations of horizontal and/or vertical injection wells so as to increase the recovery of heavy oil or bitumen contained in a reservoir. The wells are preferably provided with flow control devices to achieve uniform production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Nexen Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard Chung, Mintu Bose, Stewart Morton, Kenneth Elkow, Ed Erlendson, Frances Lai, David Meeks, Kenneth Oberg, Louis Leung, James Ireland