Patents by Inventor Ian Gates

Ian 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).

  • Publication number: 20250146154
    Abstract: A system and method for producing hydrogen wherein the system comprises at least one electrolyzer adapted to be located within a subterranean formation, at least one electrical supply cable having a length selected to extend from the at least one electrolyzer to a ground surface power supply, at least one supply tubing string having a length selected to extend from the at least one electrolyzer to a water supply at the ground surface and at least one collection tubing string having a length selected to extend from the at least one electrolyzer to a collection location at the ground surface. The method comprises providing a well from a surface to an underground formation, locating at least one electrolyzer in the well, supplying the at least one electrolyzer with supply electricity, supplying the at least one electrolyzer with supply water, producing hydrogen gas at the electrolyzer and collecting and transporting the produced hydrogen gas to the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: May 8, 2025
    Inventors: Ian Gates, Hugh Macrae, Jingyi Wang
  • Patent number: 12264564
    Abstract: Implementations relate to treatment of a petroleum reservoir to produce a hydrogen-bearing gas. Implementations may include methods and systems for processing a reservoir to generate hydrogen in-situ and produce a large fraction of the generated hydrogen to the surface. Processing the reservoir may include injecting oxygen into the reservoir to enable combustion within the reservoir to create heat and carbon monoxide in the reservoir. The heat may generate steam from both boiling of in-situ formation water and steam generated from the oxidation reactions. The generated heat may enable gasification, steam reforming, and aquathermolysis reactions and both the heat and carbon monoxide enables the water-gas shift reaction. Each such reaction may generate hydrogen within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ProtonH2 Analytics, Limited
    Inventors: Ian Gates, Jingyi Wang
  • Patent number: 8568320
    Abstract: A system and method for using orthogonally-coded active source signals for reflected signal analysis, such as in seismic exploration, sonar, and/or ultrasound applications. One method comprises inputting an orthogonally-coded active source signal to a target site, where the orthogonally-coded active source signal is sufficiently random to not interfere with a delayed version of itself. A reflected signal is received from the target site, and based at least in part on the sufficiently random orthogonal coding of the active source signal, a determination is made whether the received signal is a reflection of the input active source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: UTI Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Chris Leskiw, Ian Gates
  • Publication number: 20110213234
    Abstract: A system and method for using orthogonally-coded active source signals for reflected signal analysis, such as in seismic exploration, sonar, and/or ultrasound applications. One method comprises inputting an orthogonally-coded active source signal to a target site, where the orthogonally-coded active source signal is sufficiently random to not interfere with a delayed version of itself. A reflected signal is received from the target site, and based at least in part on the sufficiently random orthogonal coding of the active source signal, a determination is made whether the received signal is a reflection of the input active source signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: UTI LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Chris Leskiw, Ian Gates
  • Publication number: 20080017372
    Abstract: An in situ reservoir recovery process consisting of a horizontal injection well and a horizontal production well to extract bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. The process consists of a first phase operated at high-pressure in which steam, hydrocarbon solvent and non-condensable gases are injected into the reservoir and a second phase in which the injected fluids are transitioned to a high content of solvent and non-condensable gas and a reduced amount of steam to maintain a warm zone in the neighbourhood of the injection and production wells. The steam injection is sufficient to promote vapor transport of the solvent into the vapor depletion chamber and maintain the process at elevated temperatures in order to maintain low fluid viscosities in the production wellbore and to achieve preferred phase behaviour of the solvent hydrocarbon and the heavy oil or bitumen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: Paramount Resources Ltd.
    Inventors: Ian Gates, Gary Bunio
  • Publication number: 20050211434
    Abstract: A process is described for in situ recovery of bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir having a horizontal injection well and a horizontal production well. The process includes a first phase in which steam and a heavy hydrocarbon solvent are injected into the reservoir, a second phase in which the steam and heavy hydrocarbon injections are transitioned to a light hydrocarbon solvent injection, and a third phase in which a light hydrocarbon solvent is injected without further steam or heavy hydrocarbon injection. A displacement gas may be added during any of the phases, and production of hydrocarbons continues throughout all phases. The process allows maximal economic benefit by employing a high-production start-up phase, followed by lower cost phases which progress a depletion chamber within the reservoir to achieve high levels of reservoir fluid recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Gates, Anthony Gutek