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).
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Patent number: 10428626Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 17, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Javaid Durrani, Alpay Erkal, Helena Gamero-Diaz, Xicai Liu, Marc Jean Thiercelin, Gisele Thiercelin, Ian C. Walton, Wenyue Xu, Ruhao Zhao
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Patent number: 8726809Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ian C. Walton, Brenden M. Grove
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Patent number: 8347963Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 18, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ashley B. Johnson, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Wenbo Yang, Fokko Harm Cornelis Doornbosch, Ian C. Walton
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Publication number: 20120239363Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Javaid Durrani, Alpay Erkal, Helena Gamero-Diaz, Xicai Liu, Marc-Jean Thiercelin, Ian C. Walton, Wenyue Xu, Ruhao Zhao, Gisele Thiercelin
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Patent number: 8126646Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Brenden M. Grove, Ian C. Walton
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Patent number: 7984761Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
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Publication number: 20110042089Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
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Patent number: 7845410Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 15, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
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Publication number: 20100252253Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ian C. Walton, John W. Still, Alfredo Fayard, Charles Woodburn
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Patent number: 7748457Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ian C. Walton, John W. Still, Alfredo Fayard, Charles Woodburn
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Patent number: 7712532Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Ian C. Walton
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Publication number: 20100044044Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ashley B. Johnson, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Wenbo Yang, Fokko Harm Cornelis Doornbosch, Ian C. Walton
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Publication number: 20090151952Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventor: Ian C. Walton
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Publication number: 20090032258Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
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Patent number: 7451819Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Frank F. Chang, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Keng Seng Chan
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Publication number: 20070295235Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ian C. Walton, Brenden M. Grove
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Patent number: 7121340Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 23, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Brenden M. Grove, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Ian C. Walton, Philip Kneisl, Andrew T. Werner
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Patent number: 6966377Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 11, 2004Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Ashley B. Johnson, Lawrence A. Behrmann, Wenbo Yang, Fokko Harm Cornelis Doornbosch, Ian C. Walton
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Patent number: 6896059Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 6, 2003Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.Inventors: James E. Brooks, Wenbo Yang, Brenden M. Grove, Ian C. Walton, Lawrence A. Behrmann
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Publication number: 20030150646Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2003Publication date: August 14, 2003Inventors: James E. Brooks, Wenbo Yang, Brenden M. Grove, Ian C. Walton, Lawrence A. Behrmann