Patents by Inventor Harold J. Vinegar

Harold J. Vinegar 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: 11933932
    Abstract: This invention is useful for determining the permeability of a geological formation using 1H NMR diffusion measurements acquired in the laboratory and using downhole 1H NMR well logging. The current technology for obtaining formation permeability downhole using NMR is not adequate for low-permeability, unconventional source rock formations with high organic content. This new method uses laboratory 1H NMR diffusion measurements for creating continuous downhole well logs of the mobile-hydrocarbon permeability of the hydrocarbon-filled pore space of downhole geological formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: VINEGAR TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Philip M. Singer, George J. Hirasaki, Zeliang Chen, Xinglin Wang, Eva Vinegar
  • Patent number: 11680466
    Abstract: A method for operating a kerogen-rich unconventional gas reservoir characterized by there being multiple hydraulically-fractured wells drilled thereinto comprises: recovering a methane-containing gas from a first hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, steam-methane reforming the recovered methane-containing gas to yield a hydrogen gas and an inorganic carbon-containing gas, injecting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas into a second hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, and injecting at least a portion of the inorganic carbon-containing gas into a third hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: TERRAH2 LLC
    Inventors: Eva Vinegar, Harold J. Vinegar
  • Publication number: 20230167720
    Abstract: A method for operating a kerogen-rich unconventional gas reservoir characterized by there being multiple hydraulically-fractured wells drilled thereinto comprises: recovering a methane-containing gas from a first hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, steam-methane reforming the recovered methane-containing gas to yield a hydrogen gas and an inorganic carbon-containing gas, injecting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas into a second hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, and injecting at least a portion of the inorganic carbon-containing gas into a third hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Eva VINEGAR, Harold J. VINEGAR
  • Publication number: 20230167719
    Abstract: A method for operating a kerogen-rich unconventional gas reservoir characterized by there being multiple hydraulically-fractured wells drilled thereinto comprises: recovering a methane-containing gas from a first hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, steam-methane reforming the recovered methane-containing gas to yield a hydrogen gas and an inorganic carbon-containing gas, injecting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas into a second hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, and injecting at least a portion of the inorganic carbon-containing gas into a third hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Eva VINEGAR, Harold J. VINEGAR
  • Publication number: 20230160284
    Abstract: A method for operating a kerogen-rich unconventional gas reservoir characterized by there being multiple hydraulically-fractured wells drilled thereinto comprises: recovering a methane-containing gas from a first hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, steam-methane reforming the recovered methane-containing gas to yield a hydrogen gas and an inorganic carbon-containing gas, injecting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas into a second hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, and injecting at least a portion of the inorganic carbon-containing gas into a third hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Eva VINEGAR, Harold J. VINEGAR
  • Publication number: 20230077276
    Abstract: A method for operating a kerogen-rich unconventional gas reservoir characterized by there being multiple hydraulically-fractured wells drilled thereinto comprises: recovering a methane-containing gas from a first hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, steam-methane reforming the recovered methane-containing gas to yield a hydrogen gas and an inorganic carbon-containing gas, injecting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas into a second hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, and injecting at least a portion of the inorganic carbon-containing gas into a third hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Eva VINEGAR, Harold J. VINEGAR
  • Publication number: 20220251935
    Abstract: A method for operating a kerogen-rich unconventional gas reservoir characterized by there being multiple hydraulically-fractured wells drilled thereinto comprises: recovering a methane-containing gas from a first hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, steam-methane reforming the recovered methane-containing gas to yield a hydrogen gas and an inorganic carbon-containing gas, injecting at least a portion of the hydrogen gas into a second hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir, and injecting at least a portion of the inorganic carbon-containing gas into a third hydraulically-fractured well drilled into the gas reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Eva VINEGAR, Harold J. VINEGAR
  • Patent number: 11099292
    Abstract: New methods for determining the volumetric composition and saturation of methane and NGLs (natural gas liquids: ethane, propane, butane, and pentane) in a petroleum reservoir combining NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) logging and NMR core analysis and for determining the mean pore-size and tortuosity of the light hydrocarbon-filled porosity in a petroleum reservoir using NMR core analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Vinegar Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Philip M. Singer, George J. Hirasaki, Zeliang Chen, Xinglin Wang
  • Publication number: 20160084051
    Abstract: Methods of treating a tar sands formation is described herein. The methods may include providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature. At least a portion of residual heat from the first section transfers from the first section to a second section of the formation. At least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section are mobilized by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 9051829
    Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface formation includes a plurality of conduits at least partially located in a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation. At least part of two of the conduits are aligned in relation to each other such that electrical current will flow from a first conduit to a second conduit. The first and second conduits include electrically conductive material and at least one of the first and second conduits is perforated or configured to be perforated. A power supply is coupled to the first and second conduits. The power supply electrically excites at least one of the conductive sections such that current flows between the first conduit and the second conduit in the formation and heats at least a portion of the formation between the two conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Xueying Xie, Oluropo Rufus Ayodele, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, John Michael Karanikas, Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Dhruv Arora
  • Patent number: 8881806
    Abstract: A system for treating a subsurface formation includes a wellbore at least partially located in a hydrocarbon containing formation. The wellbore includes a substantially vertical portion and at least two substantially horizontal or inclined portions coupled to the vertical portion. A first conductor is at least partially positioned in a first of the two substantially horizontal or inclined portions of the wellbore. At least the first conductor includes electrically conductive material. A power supply electrically excites the electrically conductive materials of the first conductor such that current flows between the electrically conductive materials in the first conductor, through at least a portion of the formation, to a second conductor at least partially positioned in a second of the two substantially horizontal or inclined portions of the wellbore. The current resistively heats at least a portion of the formation between the two substantially horizontally oriented or inclined portions of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Xueying Xie, Oluropo Rufus Ayodele, Harold J. Vinegar, Christopher Kelvin Harris, John Michael Karanikas, Chester Ledlie Sandberg, Dhruv Arora
  • Publication number: 20140305640
    Abstract: Methods and systems of treating an oil shale formation using an in situ thermal process are described herein. A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ includes providing heat from one or more heat sources to at least a portion of the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from at least the portion to a selected section of the formation substantially by conduction of heat; pyrolyzing at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section of the formation; and producing a mixture from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Scott L. Wellington, Ilya E. Berchenko, Thomas D. Fowler, John M. Karanikas, Eric de Rouffignac, Robert C. Ryan, Gordon T. Shahin, JR., George L. Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Etuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140231070
    Abstract: Certain embodiments provide a heater. A heater device includes a skin effect component having at least one insulated electrical core conductor in electrical communication with an adjacent and substantially parallel, elongated ferromagnetic shape having a reduction and localization of the depth and width of the effective conductor path in the cross-section of the ferromagnetic wall; and, an inorganic ceramic insulation component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Harold J. VINEGAR, Taixu Bai, Frederick Henry Kriesler Rambow, Dong Sub Kim
  • Patent number: 8789586
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    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
  • Publication number: 20140190691
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat from one or more heaters to a hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the layer are mobilized; and producing at least some of the hydrocarbons through one or more production wells located in the hydrocarbon containing layer. At least one of the production wells is located at a selected depth in the hydrocarbon containing layer so that hydrocarbons of a selected quality are produced from a part of the hydrocarbon containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Kevin Albert Maher, John Michael Karanikas, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Steven Dexter Crane
  • Publication number: 20140182843
    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: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventor: Harold J. Vinegar
  • Patent number: 8662175
    Abstract: A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat to at least part of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat is allowed to transfer from the heaters to at least a portion of the formation. A viscosity of one or more zones of the hydrocarbon layer is assessed. The heating rates in the zones are varied based on the assessed viscosities. The heating rate in a first zone of the formation is greater than the heating rate in a second zone of the formation if the viscosity in the first zone is greater than the viscosity in the second zone. Fluids are produced from the formation through the production wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Harold J. Vinegar
  • Publication number: 20140027119
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, llya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, JR., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8627887
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon 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: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Kevin Albert Maher, John Michael Karanikas, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Steven Dexter Crane
  • Patent number: 8608249
    Abstract: A method of treating an oil shale formation in situ includes allowing a temperature of a portion of the formation to decrease. The portion has previously undergone an in situ heat treatment process. A first fluid is injected into a part of the portion and a second fluid is produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Kevin Albert Maher, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Scott Lee Wellington