Patents by Inventor Fredrick Gordon Carl
Fredrick Gordon Carl 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).
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Patent number: 8238730Abstract: A heater system may include an alternating current supply and an electrical conductor. An alternating current may be applied to one or more electrical conductors at a voltage above about 200 volts. The electrical conductors may be located in a formation. The electrical conductors may provide an electrically resistive heat output upon application of the alternating electrical current. At least one of the electrical conductors may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. Heat may be allowed to transfer from an electrical conductor to a part of the formation.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Patent number: 8224164Abstract: A heater may include an electrical conductor. Applying alternating current to the electrical conductor may resistively heat the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may at least partially surround a non-ferromagnetic material. The heater may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. An electrical insulator may at least partially surround the electrical conductor. A sheath may at least partially surround the electrical insulator.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Patent number: 8224163Abstract: A heater system may include an alternating current supply and an electrical conductor. Alternating current may be applied to one or more electrical conductors at a frequency between about 100 Hz and about 1000 Hz. The electrical conductors may be located in a formation. The electrical conductors may resistively heat upon application of the alternating electrical current. At least one of the electrical conductors may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The electrical conductor may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. Heat may transfer from the electrical conductor to a part of formation.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Patent number: 8200072Abstract: Systems and methods are described for heating a subsurface formation. Alternating electrical current may be applied to one or more electrical conductors. The electrical conductors may be located in a subsurface formation. The electrical conductors may provide an electrically resistive heat output upon application of the alternating electrical current. At least one of the electrical conductors may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The electrical conductor may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the electrical conductor to a part of the subsurface formation.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, James Louis Menotti, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Patent number: 7121342Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: 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
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Patent number: 7121341Abstract: A heater may include an electrical conductor. Applying alternating current to the electrical conductor may generate resistively heat the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may at least partially surround a non-ferromagnetic material. The heater may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. A conduit may at least partially surround the electrical conductor. A centralizer may maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2003Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Patent number: 7004247Abstract: An oil shale 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 from one or more heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The generated heat may transfer to the formation.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Anthony Thomas Cole, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr., John Matthew Coles, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, John Michael Karanikas, James Louis Menotti, Christopher Arnold Pratt, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
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Publication number: 20040211557Abstract: An oil shale 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 from one or more heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The generated heat may transfer to the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2002Publication date: October 28, 2004Inventors: Anthony Thomas Cole, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl, John Matthew Coles, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, John Michael Karanikas, James Louis Menotti, Christopher Arnold Pratt, Horold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
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Publication number: 20040177966Abstract: A heater may include an electrical conductor. Applying alternating current to the electrical conductor may generate resistively heat the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may at least partially surround a non-ferromagnetic material. The heater may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. A conduit may at least partially surround the electrical conductor. A centralizer may maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2003Publication date: September 16, 2004Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl
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Patent number: 6789625Abstract: 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 from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may include heater elements. The heater elements may be lengths of bare metal disposed within wellbores within the formation.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Charles Robert Keedy, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Patent number: 6769483Abstract: 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 from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The conduits may transfer heat to the formation.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2001Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, James Louis Menotti, John Matthew Coles, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
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Publication number: 20040146288Abstract: Systems and methods are described for heating a subsurface formation. Alternating electrical current may be applied to one or more electrical conductors. The electrical conductors may be located in a subsurface formation. The electrical conductors may provide an electrically resistive heat output upon application of the alternating electrical current. At least one of the electrical conductors may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The electrical conductor may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the electrical conductor to a part of the subsurface formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, James Louis Menotti, Fredrick Gordon Carl
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Publication number: 20040144540Abstract: A heater system may include an alternating current supply and an electrical conductor. An alternating current may be applied to one or more electrical conductors at a voltage above about 200 volts. The electrical conductors may be located in a formation. The electrical conductors may provide an electrically resistive heat output upon application of the alternating electrical current. At least one of the electrical conductors may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. Heat may be allowed to transfer from an electrical conductor to a part of the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl
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Publication number: 20040140096Abstract: A heater may include an electrical conductor. Applying alternating current to the electrical conductor may resistively heat the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may at least partially surround a non-ferromagnetic material. The heater may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. An electrical insulator may at least partially surround the electrical conductor. A sheath may at least partially surround the electrical insulator.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2003Publication date: July 22, 2004Inventors: Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, Jaime Santos Son, Fredrick Gordon Carl
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Publication number: 20030146002Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation from one or more heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Some or all of the sources may be removable from the formation during and/or after use.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2002Publication date: August 7, 2003Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Fredrick Gordon Carl, John Matthew Coles, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, James Louis Menotti, Scott Lee Wellington
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Publication number: 20020066565Abstract: 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 from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may include heater elements. The heater elements may be lengths of bare metal disposed within wellbores within the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2001Publication date: June 6, 2002Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Charlies Robert Keedy, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, Fredrick Gordon Carl
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Publication number: 20020033253Abstract: 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 from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be insulated conductors, such as mineral insulated cables. The insulated conductors may provide radiant heat to a portion of the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Charles Robert Keedy, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl
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Publication number: 20020029881Abstract: 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 from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The conduits may transfer heat to the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, James Louis Menotti, John Matthew Coles, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl