Patents by Inventor Halvor Kjørholt
Halvor Kjørholt 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: 11680454Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method comprises conveying a plug placement and verification tool (PPVT) through the well, to a plug formation location, the PPVT comprising a stinger for delivering a plugging material into the well, an expandable packer disposed at one end of the stinger and a pressure sensor disposed below the expandable packer, and operating the expandable packer to form a seal in the well above the pressure sensor. The method further comprises delivering a plugging material from the stinger into a region of the well above the expandable packer, thereby forming a plug in the well, and thereafter creating a pressure change above the plug and verifying the integrity of the plug using the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY ASInventors: Gjermund Grimsbo, Pål Viggo Hemmingsen, Halvor Kjørholt, Gisle Stjern
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Publication number: 20220098949Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method comprises conveying a plug placement and verification tool (PPVT) through the well, to a plug formation location, the PPVT comprising a stinger for delivering a plugging material into the well, an expandable packer disposed at one end of the stinger and a pressure sensor disposed below the expandable packer, and operating the expandable packer to form a seal in the well above the pressure sensor. The method further comprises delivering a plugging material from the stinger into a region of the well above the expandable packer, thereby forming a plug in the well, and thereafter creating a pressure change above the plug and verifying the integrity of the plug using the pressure sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2021Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: EQUINOR ENERGY ASInventors: Gjermund GRIMSBO, Pål Viggo HEMMINGSEN, Halvor KJØRHOLT, Gisle STJERN
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Patent number: 11274515Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes conveying a plug placement and verification tool (PPVT) through the well, to a plug formation location, the PPVT including a stinger for delivering a plugging material into the well, an expandable packer disposed at one end of the stinger and a pressure sensor disposed below the expandable packer, and operating the expandable packer to form a seal in the well above the pressure sensor. The method further includes delivering a plugging material from the stinger into a region of the well above the expandable packer, thereby forming a plug in the well, and thereafter creating a pressure change above the plug and verifying the integrity of the plug using the pressure sensor.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY ASInventors: Gjermund Grimsbo, Pål Viggo Hemmingsen, Halvor Kjørholt, Gisle Stjern
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Patent number: 10392885Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method comprises conveying in one trip, a plug assembly and one or more explosive charges through the well together with a structure for providing wet sealant. The plug assembly comprises a foundation plug for supporting the wet sealant. The plug assembly is set beneath a plug formation location, prior to providing the wet sealant. The method also comprises providing the wet sealant to the plug formation location via the structure, so as to submerge the one or more explosive charges in the wet sealant, and then detonating the one or more explosive charges in the wet sealant at the plug formation location to cut through a tubular or tubulars of the well and into the formation.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Gisle Stjern, Gjermund Grimsbo, Halvor Kjørholt, Pål Viggo Hemmingsen
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Publication number: 20190257169Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes conveying a plug placement and verification tool (PPVT) through the well, to a plug formation location, the PPVT including a stinger for delivering a plugging material into the well, an expandable packer disposed at one end of the stinger and a pressure sensor disposed below the expandable packer, and operating the expandable packer to form a seal in the well above the pressure sensor. The method further includes delivering a plugging material from the stinger into a region of the well above the expandable packer, thereby forming a plug in the well, and thereafter creating a pressure change above the plug and verifying the integrity of the plug using the pressure sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2017Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: EQUINOR ENERGY ASInventors: Gjermund GRIMSBO, Pål Viggo HEMMINGSEN, Halvor KJØRHOLT, Gisle STJERN
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Patent number: 10208547Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a low permeability reservoir formation. A wellbore with a plurality of fractures designated as one of a first or a second set of fractures is provided. A first fluid conduit is formed by an annulus between an outer casing of a tubular and an inner tubular member, and is arranged to transport produced hydrocarbons. An interior of the inner tubular member forms a second fluid conduit which is arranged to transport an injection fluid. A set of first openings is provided in fluid connection with the first fluid conduit, each first opening being located to substantially align with one of a first set of fractures. A set of second openings is provided in fluid connection with the second fluid conduit, each second opening being located to substantially align with one of a second set of fractures.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Halvor Kjørholt, Jan Håvard Jøranson, Fredrik Varpe
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Publication number: 20180142527Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a formation to facilitate temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method comprises conveying in one trip, a plug assembly and one or more explosive charges through the well together with a structure for providing wet sealant. The plug assembly comprises a foundation plug for supporting the wet sealant. The plug assembly is set beneath a plug formation location, prior to providing the wet sealant. The method also comprises providing the wet sealant to the plug formation location via the structure, so as to submerge the one or more explosive charges in the wet sealant, and then detonating the one or more explosive charges in the wet sealant at the plug formation location to cut through a tubular or tubulars of the well and into the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2017Publication date: May 24, 2018Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Gisle Stjern, Gjermund GRIMSBO, Halvor KJØRHOLT, Pål Viggo HEMMINGSEN
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Publication number: 20180023351Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a low permeability reservoir formation. A wellbore with a plurality of fractures designated as one of a first or a second set of fractures is provided. A first fluid conduit is formed by an annulus between an outer casing of a tubular and an inner tubular member, and is arranged to transport produced hydrocarbons. An interior of the inner tubular member forms a second fluid conduit which is arranged to transport an injection fluid. A set of first openings is provided in fluid connection with the first fluid conduit, each first opening being located to substantially align with one of a first set of fractures. A set of second openings is provided in fluid connection with the second fluid conduit, each second opening being located to substantially align with one of a second set of fractures.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2017Publication date: January 25, 2018Applicant: Statoil Petroleum ASInventors: Halvor KJØRHOLT, Jan Håvard JØRANSON, Fredrik VARPE
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Patent number: 9822632Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a hydrocarbon bearing formation facilitates temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes forming two or more plugs within the well, the plugs being formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations whilst providing a fluid communication path from a region above the topmost plug to the or each space between adjacent plugs. This configuration facilitates pressure testing of one or more of the plugs by conducting fluid through said path.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Halvor Kjørholt, Gisle Stjern
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Patent number: 9816358Abstract: Reducing the diameter of a well bore has many advantages. To achieve this a subsurface well bore is provided comprising one or more expandable sleeve components, preferably expandable liners, each expandable sleeve component being fully overlapped by one or more non expandable sleeve component, preferably conventional liners, such that the interior of the well bore is cased entirely by non expandable sleeve components. In addition the through holes for downhole lines can be provided within the well head rather than the tubing hanger. As the tubing hanger does not need to provide space for through holes and associated mounting couplings, its diameter can be reduced, thus reducing the internal diameter of the well bore by several inches.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Audun Faanes, Halvor Kjørholt, Torstein Vinge
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Patent number: 9714555Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a hydrocarbon bearing formation fascilitates temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes detonating one or more explosive charges within a tubular or tubulars extending through the well in order to remove, fragment and or cut one or more sections of the tubulars around the entire circumference of the well to expose the surrounding formation or cement. The well is then filled in the region of the exposed surrounding formation or cement with a sealing material so as to form one or more plugs within the well to seal the well.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Halvor Kjørholt, Gisle Stjern
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Patent number: 9540915Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improved gravity drainage in a hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising: drilling a production well along a substantially horizontal production layer of a reservoir; drilling a perforation well above the production well, either in the production layer or in a layer separated from the production layer by a fluid barrier; perforating the formation adjacent the perforation well to provide a fluid flow path to or within the production layer; inducing gravity drainage through the fluid flow path; and producing fluids collected in the production well.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: STATOIL CANADA LIMITEDInventors: Scott Thompson, Halvor Kjørholt, Jan Håvard Jøranson
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Publication number: 20160305225Abstract: Reducing the diameter of a well bore has many advantages. To achieve this a subsurface well bore is provided comprising one or more expandable sleeve components, preferably expandable liners, each expandable sleeve component being fully overlapped by one or more non expandable sleeve component, preferably conventional liners, such that the interior of the well bore is cased entirely by non expandable sleeve components. In addition the through holes for downhole lines can be provided within the well head rather than the tubing hanger. As the tubing hanger does not need to provide space for through holes and associated mounting couplings, its diameter can be reduced, thus reducing the internal diameter of the well bore by several inches.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: October 20, 2016Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Audun FAANES, Halvor KJØRHOLT, Torstein VINGE
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Patent number: 9347296Abstract: Reducing the diameter of a well bore has many advantages. To achieve this a subsurface well bore is provided comprising one or more expandable sleeve components, preferably expandable liners (27, 271), each expandable sleeve component being fully overlapped by one or more non expandable sleeve component, preferably conventional liners (28, 29), such that the interior of the well bore is cased entirely by non expandable sleeve components (28, 29). In addition the through holes (34a) for downhole lines can be provided within the well head (34) rather than the tubing hanger (33). As the tubing hanger does not need to provide space for through holes and associated mounting couplings, its diameter can be reduced, thus reducing the internal diameter of the well bore by several inches.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2009Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Audun Faanes, Halvor Kjørholt, Torstein Vinge
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Patent number: 9328595Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a sub-surface reservoir having present therein a wellbore in which a production conduit and an injection conduit are located includes injecting a heating fluid into the reservoir via said injection conduit where the heating fluid is released via a plurality of discrete permeable sections located along the length of the injection conduit and produced hydrocarbons are collected via a plurality of discrete permeable sections located along the length of the production conduit.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: STATOIL ASAInventor: Halvor Kjørholt
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Publication number: 20160047179Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a low permeability reservoir formation. A wellbore (3) with a plurality of fractures (7, 9) designated as one of a first (7) or a second (9) set of fractures is provided. A first fluid conduit (11) is formed by an annulus between an outer casing (10) of a tubular and an inner tubular (16) member, and is arranged to transport produced hydrocarbons. An interior of the inner tubular member forms a second fluid conduit (12) which is arranged to transport an injection fluid. A set of first openings (14) is provided in fluid connection with the first fluid conduit, each first opening being located to substantially align with one of a first set of fractures. A set of second openings (15) is provided in fluid connection with the second fluid conduit, each second opening being located to substantially align with one of a second set of fractures.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2014Publication date: February 18, 2016Applicant: Statoil Petroleum ASInventors: Halvor KJØRHOLT, Jan Håvard JØRANSON, Fredrik VARPE
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Publication number: 20150361782Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a hydrocarbon bearing formation facilitates temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes forming two or more plugs within the well, the plugs being formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations whilst providing a fluid communication path from a region above the topmost plug to the or each space between adjacent plugs. This configuration facilitates pressure testing of one or more of the plugs by conducting fluid through said path.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2013Publication date: December 17, 2015Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Halvor KJØRHOLT, Gisle STJERN
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Publication number: 20150361759Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a hydrocarbon bearing formation fascilitates temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes detonating one or more explosive charges within a tubular or tubulars extending through the well in order to remove, fragment and or cut one or more sections of the tubulars around the entire circumference of the well to expose the surrounding formation or cement. The well is then filled in the region of the exposed surrounding formation or cement with a sealing material so as to form one or more plugs within the well to seal the well.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2013Publication date: December 17, 2015Applicant: STATOIL PETROLEUM ASInventors: Halvor KJØRHOLT, Gisle STJERN
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Publication number: 20140076554Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improved gravity drainage in a hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising: drilling a production well along a substantially horizontal production layer of a reservoir; drilling a perforation well above the production well, either in the production layer or in a layer separated from the production layer by a fluid barrier; perforating the formation adjacent the perforation well to provide a fluid flow path to or within the production layer; inducing gravity drainage through the fluid flow path; and producing fluids collected in the production well.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Statoil Canada LimitedInventors: Scott THOMPSON, Halvor KJØRHOLT, Jan Håvard JØRANSON
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Publication number: 20120043081Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a sub-surface reservoir having present therein a wellbore in which a production conduit and an injection conduit are located, said method comprising injecting a heating fluid into the reservoir via said injection conduit, characterised in that said heating fluid is released via a plurality of discrete permeable sections (injection sections) located along the length of the injection conduit and produced hydrocarbons are collected via a plurality of discrete permeable sections (production sections) located along the length of the production conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2010Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: STATOIL ASAInventor: Halvor Kjørholt