Patents by Inventor Howard L. McKinzie
Howard L. McKinzie 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: 6164376Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluid, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and for multiplying a hydrostatic head of a column of the produced fluid into a magnified injection pressure for injecting, without lifting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water, subsurface, in a subterranean well.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Lon A. Stuebinger, Howard L. McKinzie
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Patent number: 6142224Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluid, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface and for multiplying a hydrostatic head of a column of the produced fluid into a magnified injection pressure for injecting, without lifting to the ground surface, the remaining produced water, subsurface, in a subterranean well.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 1999Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Lon A. Stuebinger, Howard L. McKinzie, Brock W. Watson
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Patent number: 6131660Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface while injecting the remaining produced water into an injection zone subsurface in a subterranean well. The invention preferably utilizes a rod pump/electrical submersible centrifugal pump to carry out the dual injection and lifting steps. Further, this apparatus and method make it possible to produce hydrocarbons from oil wells in a manner that poses less risk and disturbance to the environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Lon A. Stuebinger, Howard L. McKinzie, Michael R. Berry
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Patent number: 6123149Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface while injecting the remaining produced water into an injection zone subsurface in a subterranean well. The invention preferably utilizes an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump (ESPCP) in conjunction with an electrical submersible pump (ESP) in order to carry out the dual injection and lifting steps. Further, this apparatus and method make it possible to produce hydrocarbons from oil wells in a manner that poses less risk and disturbance to the environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: September 26, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Howard L. McKinzie, Lon A. Stuebinger, Kevin R. Bowlin
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Patent number: 6116341Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for multiplying the hydrostatic head of a column of liquid into a magnified injection pressure for injecting water produced in a gas well into a disposal zone, while concurrently producing the gas, with little or no water, to the ground surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: September 12, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Lon A. Stuebinger, Loren K. Barritt, Kristine H. Brindle, Howard L. McKinzie
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Patent number: 6105671Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for minimizing emulsion formation in a pumped oil well by establishing substantially core annular flow at the outlet of the system. The core annular flow regime is established at the outlet of the system through a combination of a pump outlet and a transition conduit.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Howard L. McKinzie, Michael R. Berry
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Patent number: 6092599Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole oil and water separation system having a casing which includes an interval in communication with a producing zone. The system further includes two pumps disposed in the casing for use in lifting segregated produced hydrocarbons and portion of produced water and segregated produced water to the ground surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Michael R. Berry, Howard L. McKinzie, Lon A. Stuebinger
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Patent number: 6092600Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface while injecting the remaining produced water into an injection zone subsurface in a subterranean well. The invention preferably utilizes a rod-driven progressive cavity pump (RD-PCP) in conjunction with an electrical submersible pump (ESP) in order to carry out the dual injection and lifting steps. Further, this apparatus and method make it possible to produce hydrocarbons from oil wells in a manner that poses less risk and disturbance to the environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Howard L. McKinzie, Lon A. Stuebinger, Michael R. Berry
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Patent number: 6079491Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface while injecting the remaining produced water into an injection zone subsurface in a subterranean well. The invention preferably utilizes a rod-driven progressive cavity pump (RD-PCP) in conjunction with an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump (ESPCP) in order to carry out the dual injection and lifting steps. Further, this apparatus and method make it possible to produce hydrocarbons from oil wells in a manner that poses less risk and disturbance to the environment.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Lon A. Stuebinger, Howard L. McKinzie
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Patent number: 5915477Abstract: This invention relates to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques for improving the production economies and recovery efficiency of hydrocarbons from a reservoir after primary depletion has occurred. The reservoir has at least two production strata. At least one production well capable of producing fluids from both strata is placed into the reservoir. At least one injection well capable of injecting fluid into both strata is placed in the reservoir. At least one combination production/injection well for producing well fluid from only one of the strata is placed into the reservoir. The produced well fluid is separated into a mostly hydrocarbon component and a mostly water component in place downhole and reinjecting into the other of said strata the mostly water component by use of the combination production/injection well.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1997Date of Patent: June 29, 1999Assignee: Texaco IncInventors: Lon Allan Stuebinger, Howard L. McKinzie, Kevin R. Bowlin
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Patent number: 5551513Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in a prepacked well screen assembly which includes coating the granular material in the filter medium with a resin system including an oligomer of furfuryl alcohol, a catalyst including an oil soluble, slightly water soluble organic acid, and an ester of a weak organic acid to consume water produced by the polymerization of the resin.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 1995Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Billy W. Surles, Howard L. McKinzie
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Patent number: 5447052Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting hydrocarbon gas from drilling fluid samples utilizes microwave energy as the source for heating a sample, containing water, sufficiently to cause the extraction of the hydrocarbon gases therefrom. Either a batch or a continuous operation can be realized using this method.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1993Date of Patent: September 5, 1995Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Patrick L. Delaune, Scott A. Hanson, Howard L. McKinzie, Alan C. Wright
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Patent number: 5339901Abstract: Pairs of isolation members are mounted externally on casing pipe to define isolation zones. The zones are places into communication by bypass means external to the casing and penetrating the isolation members. Consolidation material is flowed through the bypass means to successively fill the isolated zones.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 1993Date of Patent: August 23, 1994Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventor: Howard L. McKinzie
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Patent number: 5199509Abstract: An improved gas trap for mud logging is vertically mounted such that its lower end is constantly beneath the surface of mud flowing in a tank. The mud is drawn into the housing where it is agitated to release the entrained gases which are drawn off for measurement. The spent mud is returned to the tank through a mud exit port and related pipe to a point below the level of the mud and remote from the mud intake to the gas trap. This gas trap is insensitive to mud level changes and is relatively free of maintenance requirements.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 1992Date of Patent: April 6, 1993Assignee: Texaco Inc.Inventors: Alan C. Wright, Scott A. Hanson, Patrick L. DeLaune, Howard L. McKinzie, Hossein Aghazeynali
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Patent number: 4276936Abstract: A method of thermally insulating the borehole of a well in a thermal process for oil recovery by providing in the annular space between the casing and the well tubing a flowable, solid material having thermal insulating properties, such as vermiculite or perlite. Removal of the material is by fluidization thereof.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1979Date of Patent: July 7, 1981Assignee: Getty Oil Company, Inc.Inventor: Howard L. McKinzie