Patents by Inventor Ian C. Walton

Ian C. Walton 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: 10428626
    Abstract: A system has a tool capable of obtaining data that characterizes a stimulated reservoir or from which the stimulated reservoir can be characterized. The system also includes a processor capable of predicting the production of the stimulated reservoir using the characterizing data and outputting the predicted production. A reservoir may be stimulated using a stimulation process and data may be obtained that characterizes the stimulated reservoir or from which the stimulated reservoir can be characterized. The production of the stimulated reservoir may be predicted using the data. Alternatively, a reservoir may be stimulated using a stimulation process and data that characterizes the stimulated reservoir or from which the stimulated reservoir can be characterized may be obtained. One or more 3-D volumes may be produced based on the characterizing data, and inferences about the stimulated reservoir may be made using the one or more 3-D volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Javaid Durrani, Alpay Erkal, Helena Gamero-Diaz, Xicai Liu, Marc Jean Thiercelin, Gisele Thiercelin, Ian C. Walton, Wenyue Xu, Ruhao Zhao
  • Patent number: 8726809
    Abstract: A perforating system is disclosed having a perforating gun containing a plurality of radially-oriented shaped charges disposed along the longitudinal axis of the gun. Each charge, when detonated, produce a jet whose penetration velocity exceeds the acoustic velocity of the formation (i.e., target) material to be perforated. A method of operating such a perforating system is also provided, as is a shaped charge having the described characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ian C. Walton, Brenden M. Grove
  • Patent number: 8347963
    Abstract: A method of perforating a well includes selecting a desired transient underbalanced condition, configuring a perforating gun string to achieve the transient underbalanced condition, deploying the perforating gun is a wellbore, and firing the perforating to achieve the transient underbalanced condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ashley B. Johnson, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Wenbo Yang, Fokko Harm Cornelis Doornbosch, Ian C. Walton
  • Publication number: 20120239363
    Abstract: A system has a tool capable of obtaining data that characterizes a stimulated reservoir or from which the stimulated reservoir can be characterized. The system also includes a processor capable of predicting the production of the stimulated reservoir using the characterizing data and outputting the predicted production. A reservoir may be stimulated using a stimulation process and data may be obtained that characterizes the stimulated reservoir or from which the stimulated reservoir can be characterized. The production of the stimulated reservoir may be predicted using the data. Alternatively, a reservoir may be stimulated using a stimulation process and data that characterizes the stimulated reservoir or from which the stimulated reservoir can be characterized may be obtained. One or more 3-D volumes may be produced based on the characterizing data, and inferences about the stimulated reservoir may be made using the one or more 3-D volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Javaid Durrani, Alpay Erkal, Helena Gamero-Diaz, Xicai Liu, Marc-Jean Thiercelin, Ian C. Walton, Wenyue Xu, Ruhao Zhao, Gisele Thiercelin
  • Patent number: 8126646
    Abstract: A technique includes determining a stress tensor in a formation that surrounds a wellbore. The stress tensor varies with respect to the wellbore. The technique includes running a perforating charge into the wellbore to perforate the formation and performing at least one of selecting the perforating charge and orienting the perforating charge in the wellbore based at least in part on the determination of the stress tensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Brenden M. Grove, Ian C. Walton
  • Patent number: 7984761
    Abstract: An underbalanced perforating system is disclosed for use in openhole completions to maximize the wellbore and matrix cleanup efficiency, to connect natural fracture patterns, and/or to enable application of new drilling fluid technology in difficult subsurface environments. The perforating system can be used for any hydrocarbon bearing formations with any lithology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
  • Publication number: 20110042089
    Abstract: An underbalanced perforating system is disclosed for use in openhole completions to maximize the wellbore and matrix cleanup efficiency, to connect natural fracture patterns, and/or to enable application of new drilling fluid technology in difficult subsurface environments. The perforating system can be used for any hydrocarbon bearing formations with any lithology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
  • Patent number: 7845410
    Abstract: An underbalanced perforating system is disclosed for use in openhole completions to maximize the wellbore and matrix cleanup efficiency, to connect natural fracture patterns, and/or to enable application of new drilling fluid technology in difficult subsurface environments. The perforating system can be used for any hydrocarbon bearing formations with any lithology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
  • Publication number: 20100252253
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating fractures in a geological formation surrounding a well bore. In one implementation, a treatment material may be disposed at the bottom of the well bore. One or more propellant apparatuses may be immersed in the treatment material and a propellant may then be burned inside a first propellant apparatus to create fractures in the geological formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian C. Walton, John W. Still, Alfredo Fayard, Charles Woodburn
  • Patent number: 7748457
    Abstract: Methods and systems for creating fractures in a geological formation surrounding a well bore. In one implementation, a treatment material may be disposed at the bottom of the well bore. One or more propellant apparatuses may be immersed in the treatment material and a propellant may then be burned inside a first propellant apparatus to create fractures in the geological formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ian C. Walton, John W. Still, Alfredo Fayard, Charles Woodburn
  • Patent number: 7712532
    Abstract: Method and system for use in a subsurface formation traversed by a wellbore. An energized fluid, which when subjected to a low pressure environment liberates or releases gas from solution, is disposed in the formation. Reduced pressure in a region of the wellbore below pressure in the surrounding formation liberates a gas in the energized fluid near a tunnel created in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ian C. Walton
  • Publication number: 20100044044
    Abstract: A method of perforating a well includes selecting a desired transient underbalanced condition, configuring a perforating gun string to achieve the transient underbalanced condition, deploying the perforating gun is a wellbore, and firing the perforating to achieve the transient underbalanced condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashley B. Johnson, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Wenbo Yang, Fokko Harm Cornelis Doornbosch, Ian C. Walton
  • Publication number: 20090151952
    Abstract: Method and system for use in a subsurface formation traversed by a wellbore. An energized fluid, which when subjected to a low pressure environment liberates or releases gas from solution, is disposed in the formation. Reduced pressure in a region of the wellbore below pressure in the surrounding formation liberates a gas in the energized fluid near a tunnel created in the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Ian C. Walton
  • Publication number: 20090032258
    Abstract: An underbalanced perforating system is disclosed for use in openhole completions to maximize the wellbore and matrix cleanup efficiency, to connect natural fracture patterns, and/or to enable application of new drilling fluid technology in difficult subsurface environments. The perforating system can be used for any hydrocarbon bearing formations with any lithology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
  • Patent number: 7451819
    Abstract: An underbalanced perforating system is disclosed for use in openhole completions to maximize the wellbore and matrix cleanup efficiency, to connect natural fracture patterns, and/or to enable application of new drilling fluid technology in difficult subsurface environments. The perforating system can be used for any hydrocarbon bearing formations with any lithology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
  • Publication number: 20070295235
    Abstract: A perforating system is disclosed having a perforating gun containing a plurality of radially-oriented shaped charges disposed along the longitudinal axis of the gun. Each charge, when detonated, produce a jet whose penetration velocity exceeds the acoustic velocity of the formation (i.e., target) material to be perforated. A method of operating such a perforating system is also provided, as is a shaped charge having the described characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian C. Walton, Brenden M. Grove
  • Patent number: 7121340
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the post-detonation pressure of a perforating gun, the apparatus including a perforating gun carrying at least one explosive charge, wherein when the explosive charge is detonated the explosive charge produces a pressurized detonation gas, and a mechanism for reducing the pressure of the detonation gas proximate the perforating gun. The detonation gas pressure is desirably reduced in a time frame sufficient to create a dynamic underbalance condition to facilitate a surge flow of fluid from a reservoir into a wellbore. The pressure reduction mechanism may include singularly or in combination a heat sink to reduce the temperature of the detonation gas, a reactant to recombine with the reactant gas and reduce the molar density of the detonation gas, and a physical compression mechanism to utilize the waste energy of the detonation gas to create work, simultaneously reducing the temperature of the gas and the molar density of the detonation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Brenden M. Grove, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Philip Kneisl, Andrew T. Werner
  • Patent number: 6966377
    Abstract: An apparatus and method includes positioning a string in a wellbore, the string having a surge chamber. A closure member is provided below the well surface, with the surge chamber defined at least in part by the closure member. At least one port to the chamber is opened to create a fluid surge into the surge chamber and a local low pressure condition in a wellbore region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ashley B. Johnson, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Wenbo Yang, Fokko Harm Cornelis Doornbosch, Ian C. Walton
  • Patent number: 6896059
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided to reduce interference resulting from activation of explosive devices. To reduce interference, one or more shock impeding elements are placed proximal one or more explosives to impede propagation of shock caused by detonation of the explosives. The shock impeding elements include a porous material, such as a porous liquid or solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventors: James E. Brooks, Wenbo Yang, Brenden M. Grove, Ian C. Walton, Lawrence A. Behrmann
  • Publication number: 20030150646
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided to reduce interference resulting from activation of explosive devices. To reduce interference, one or more shock impeding elements are placed proximal one or more explosives to impede propagation of shock caused by detonation of the explosives. The shock impeding elements include a porous material, such as a porous liquid or solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Brooks, Wenbo Yang, Brenden M. Grove, Ian C. Walton, Lawrence A. Behrmann