Patents by Inventor Ian Donald Gates
Ian Donald Gates 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: 11851619Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a source oil phase consisting of heavy oil, bitumen, a mixture of heavy oil and bitumen, a mixture of solvent and heavy oil or bitumen or both. The method comprises: introducing the source oil phase to a heated lower section of a device to provide an interior source oil phase; heating the interior source oil phase so as to thermally separate a light oil phase component therefrom and provide a vaporized light oil; and condensing the vaporized light oil phase on one or more internal cooling fins housed within the upper section of the device, to provide a condensed light oil phase liquid, wherein the internal cooling fins are angled so as to direct the condensed light oil phase liquid downwardly to a light end collection system.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Inventors: Ian Donald Gates, Jingyi Wang
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Publication number: 20230311020Abstract: A heavy oil or bitumen or mixtures of heavy oil and bitumen or mixtures of a dilutant and heavy oil or bitumen is treated to separate components of the feed oil and induce reactions that crack the heavy oil or bitumen into light components. A heated inclined dual tube unit arrangement where feed oil enters the arrangement through the inner tube and which opens partway up the outer tube. Vaporized oil continues to flow up within the outer tube whereas the liquid oil product flows down the annular space between the inner and outer tubes. The vaporized oil is condensed beyond the dual tube arrangement to yield liquid oil products. Heat exchange can be done between the products and the inlet feed oil to improve the energy efficiency of the unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2021Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Ian Donald GATES, Jingyi WANG
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Patent number: 11753593Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a source oil phase consisting of heavy oil, bitumen, a mixture of heavy oil and bitumen, a mixture of solvent and heavy oil or bitumen or both. The method comprises: introducing the source oil phase to a lower reservoir section of a device, flowing the source oil phase through an array of vertically extending heated pipes with an inert gas so as to thermally separate a vaporized light oil phase component from a heated liquid source oil phase, and segregating fluid flows by density in an upper fluid separating manifold to provide a light product fluid and a heavy product fluid.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventors: Ian Donald Gates, Jingyi Wang
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Publication number: 20220340823Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a source oil phase consisting of heavy oil, bitumen, a mixture of heavy oil and bitumen, a mixture of solvent and heavy oil or bitumen or both. The method comprises: introducing the source oil phase to a heated lower section of a device to provide an interior source oil phase; heating the interior source oil phase so as to thermally separate a light oil phase component therefrom and provide a vaporized light oil; and condensing the vaporized light oil phase on one or more internal cooling fins housed within the upper section of the device, to provide a condensed light oil phase liquid, wherein the internal cooling fins are angled so as to direct the condensed light oil phase liquid downwardly to a light end collection system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2020Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: Ian Donald GATES, Jingyi WANG
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Publication number: 20220298427Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating a source oil phase consisting of heavy oil, bitumen, a mixture of heavy oil and bitumen, a mixture of solvent and heavy oil or bitumen or both. The method comprises: introducing the source oil phase to a lower reservoir section of a device, flowing the source oil phase through an array of vertically extending heated pipes with an inert gas so as to thermally separate a vaporized light oil phase component from a heated liquid source oil phase, and segregating fluid flows by density in an upper fluid separating manifold to provide a light product fluid and a heavy product fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2020Publication date: September 22, 2022Inventors: Ian Donald GATES, Jingyi WANG
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Patent number: 11214740Abstract: The invention provides methods for pelletizing bituminous liquids by inducing endogenous asphaltenes in the liquid to form a resilient external membrane on an aliquot of the bituminous liquid, optionally with simultaneous collection of light components that result from the process of inducing endogenous asphaltene formation.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Inventors: Ian Donald Gates, Jingyi Wang
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Publication number: 20210139785Abstract: The invention provides methods for pelletizing bituminous liquids by inducing endogenous asphaltenes in the liquid to form a resilient external membrane on an aliquot of the bituminous liquid, optionally with simultaneous collection of light components that result from the process of inducing endogenous asphaltene formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2018Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Ian Donald Gates, Jingyi Wang
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Publication number: 20200407645Abstract: The invention provides methods for pelletizing oil liquids by inducing endogenous asphaltenes in the liquid to form a resilient external layer on an aliquot of the bituminous liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2019Publication date: December 31, 2020Applicant: SOLIDEUM INC.Inventors: Ian Donald GATES, Jingyi WANG
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Patent number: 10815763Abstract: A Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir can include generating steam and CO2 from feedwater, fuel and oxygen; transferring a steam-CO2 mixture comprising at least a portion of the steam and at least a portion of the CO2, to a proximate SAGD injection well; injecting the steam-CO2 mixture into the SAGD injection well; obtaining produced fluids from a SAGD production well underlying the SAGD injection well; transferring the produced fluids for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced fluids into a produced gas and a produced emulsion; transferring the produced emulsion for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced emulsion to obtain a produced hydrocarbon-containing component and produced water; supplying at least a portion of the produced water as at least part of the feedwater; and supplying the produced hydrocarbon-containing component to a central processing facility.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.Inventors: Andrew Donald, Todd Stewart Pugsley, Gary L. Bunio, Ian Donald Gates
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Publication number: 20190169970Abstract: A Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir can include generating steam and CO2 from feedwater, fuel and oxygen; transferring a steam-CO2 mixture comprising at least a portion of the steam and at least a portion of the CO2, to a proximate SAGD injection well; injecting the steam-CO2 mixture into the SAGD injection well; obtaining produced fluids from a SAGD production well underlying the SAGD injection well; transferring the produced fluids for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced fluids into a produced gas and a produced emulsion; transferring the produced emulsion for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced emulsion to obtain a produced hydrocarbon-containing component and produced water; supplying at least a portion of the produced water as at least part of the feedwater; and supplying the produced hydrocarbon-containing component to a central processing facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Suncor Energy Inc.Inventors: Andrew Donald, Todd Stewart Pugsley, Gary L. Bunio, Ian Donald Gates
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Patent number: 10246979Abstract: A Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir can include generating steam and CO2 from feedwater, fuel and oxygen; transferring a steam-CO2 mixture comprising at least a portion of the steam and at least a portion of the CO2, to a proximate SAGD injection well; injecting the steam-CO2 mixture into the SAGD injection well; obtaining produced fluids from a SAGD production well underlying the SAGD injection well; transferring the produced fluids for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced fluids into a produced gas and a produced emulsion; transferring the produced emulsion for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced emulsion to obtain a produced hydrocarbon-containing component and produced water; supplying at least a portion of the produced water as at least part of the feedwater; and supplying the produced hydrocarbon-containing component to a central processing facility.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.Inventors: Andrew Donald, Todd Stewart Pugsley, Gary L. Bunio, Ian Donald Gates
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Patent number: 9187687Abstract: Methods for increasing the increasing the rate of methane production in a subsurface reservoir are provided, for example by identifying the petroleum components in the reservoir; identification of microbes and nutrients contained in the formation water; selection of additional nutrients shown to be effective for the particular microbial consortium in that reservoir and then enhancing and preferably maximizing the total amount of nutrients available to the microbes in a manner such that methane generation is maximized while at the same time ensuring that the concentration of nutrients in the well is non-lethal to the microbes.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: PROFERO ENERGY INC.Inventors: Ian McCutcheon Head, Stephen Richard Larter, Ian Donald Gates
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Publication number: 20150275637Abstract: A Steam-Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir can include generating steam and CO2 from feedwater, fuel and oxygen; transferring a steam-CO2 mixture comprising at least a portion of the steam and at least a portion of the CO2, to a proximate SAGD injection well; injecting the steam-CO2 mixture into the SAGD injection well; obtaining produced fluids from a SAGD production well underlying the SAGD injection well; transferring the produced fluids for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced fluids into a produced gas and a produced emulsion; transferring the produced emulsion for separation proximate to the SAGD production well; separating the produced emulsion to obtain a produced hydrocarbon-containing component and produced water; supplying at least a portion of the produced water as at least part of the feedwater; and supplying the produced hydrocarbon-containing component to a central processing facility.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Andrew Donald, Todd Stewart Pugsley, Gary L. Bunio, Ian Donald Gates
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Patent number: 8925632Abstract: This invention consists of a method to enable methane recovery from hydrate reservoirs. The invention, in particular, relates to a Saltwater Hydrate Extraction Process (SHEP) in which high salinity water is injected into a hydrate reservoir into a lower horizontal well to promote and control gas production by hydrate decomposition to an upper deviated production well.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: MGM Energy Corp.Inventors: Gary Bunio, Ian Donald Gates, Jacky Wang
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Publication number: 20130312543Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method to obtain a bitumen or heavy oil sample from an oil reservoir sample, such as a core sample, to enable measurement of physical properties such as viscosity, API gravity, or chemical properties such as sulphur content of the obtained bitumen or heavy oil sample. The analyses performed on the samples obtained in accordance with the invention are effective in assisting oil field operators in making timely drilling and production decisions at the oil reservoir or for routine laboratory extraction of oils and bitumens. The invention also permits the collection of samples from simulated thermal recovery operations and also allows the collection of bitumens and oils for online analysis of live oil physical properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: GUSHOR INC.Inventors: Stephen Richard Larter, Chunqing (Dennis) Jiang, Thomas Bernhard Paul Oldenburg, Jennifer Jane Adams, Kimberley Jane Noke, Barry Bennett, Ian Donald Gates, Lloyd Ross Snowdon
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Patent number: 8495921Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method to obtain a bitumen or heavy oil sample from an oil reservoir sample, such as a core sample, to enable measurement of physical properties such as viscosity, API gravity, or chemical properties such as sulphur content of the obtained bitumen or heavy oil sample. The analysis performed on the samples obtained in accordance with the invention are effective in assisting oil field operators in making timely drilling and production decisions at the oil reservoir or for routine laboratory extraction of oils and bitumens. The invention also permits the collection of samples from simulated thermal recovery operations and also allows the collection of bitumens and oils for online analysis of live oil physical properties.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: Gushor Inc.Inventors: Stephen Richard Larter, Chunqing Jiang, Thomas Bernard Paul Oldenburg, Jennifer Jane Adams, Kimberley Jane Noke, Barry Bennett, Ian Donald Gates, Lloyd Ross Snowdon
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Publication number: 20130020073Abstract: Methods for increasing the rate of methane production in a subsurface reservoir are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2010Publication date: January 24, 2013Inventors: Ian McCutcheon Head, Stephen Richard Larter, Ian Donald Gates
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Patent number: 8336370Abstract: Techniques for determining viscosity of oil in a sample include extracting the oil from the sample using a volatile polar first solvent; using a portion of the extracted oil to determine a concentration factor of oil in the sample; determining a dry weight of the extracted oil using the concentration factor; adding a second solvent to a remaining portion of the extract, where the second solvent is less volatile than the first solvent; removing the first solvent from the remaining portion of the extract; taking a series of sub-samples from the remaining portion of the extract and sequentially removing different amounts of the second solvent from each sub-sample; measuring solvent concentrations and viscosity values of the solvent-oil mixtures of each sub-sample; and based on the measured solvent concentrations and viscosity values of each sub-sample, determining the second-solvent-free viscosity of the oil in the sample.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Gushor Inc.Inventors: Stephen Richard Larter, Barry Bennett, Lloyd Ross Snowdon, Chunqing (Dennis) Jiang, Jennifer Jane Adams, Ian Donald Gates, Kimberley Jane Noke
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Patent number: 8235110Abstract: Techniques for preconditioning an oilfield reservoir including heavy oil and/or bitumen prior to production of a petroleum product are described. A preconditioning agent can be injected into a mobile water film included in the oilfield reservoir. The preconditioning agent preconditions the reservoir prior to production of the petroleum product.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Gushor Inc.Inventors: Stephen Richard Larter, Ian Donald Gates, Jennifer Jane Adams, Chunqing Jiang, Lloyd Ross Snowdon, Barry Bennett, Haiping Huang
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Publication number: 20120160187Abstract: This invention provides a new process to generate steam directly from untreated water produced simultaneously with thermally recovered crude oil, and to inject the steam and combustion products into a hydrocarbon reservoir to recover hydrocarbons and to sequester a portion of the carbon dioxide produced during the creation of steam. The invention removes the ongoing additional water requirements for thermal oil recovery and the need for surface treating of produced water for re-use, yielding improved process efficiencies, reduced environmental impact, and improved economic value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicants: Paxton Corporation, Paramount Resources Ltd., Clean Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Bunio, Ian Donald Gates, Paul Sudlow, Roger E. Anderson, Murray E. Propp