Patents by Inventor Ian McCutcheon Head

Ian McCutcheon Head 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).

  • Methods for increasing methanogenesis in subsurface reservoirs
    Patent number: 9187687
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: PROFERO ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Ian McCutcheon Head, Stephen Richard Larter, Ian Donald Gates
  • Process for stimulating production of methane from petroleum in subterranean formations
    Patent number: 9068107
    Abstract: A process for stimulating microbial methane production in a petroleum-bearing subterranean formation, comprising: (a) analyzing one or more components of the formation to determine characteristics of the formation environment; (b) detecting the presence of a microbial consortium, comprising at least one methanogenic microorganism, within the formation; (c) assessing whether the formation microorganisms are currently active; (d) determining whether the microbial consortium comprises one or more methanotrophic microorganism; (e) characterization of one or more microorganisms of the consortium, at least one of the members of the consortium being a methanogenic microorganism, and comparing the members of the consortium with at least one known microorganism having one or more known physiological and ecological characteristics; (f) characterization of one or more methanotrophic microorganisms of the consortium (if present), and comparing the members of the consortium with at least one known microorganism having one
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Stephen Richard Larter, Ian McCutcheon Head, David Martin Jones, Michael Erdmann, Arnd Wilhelms
  • METHODS FOR INCREASING METHANOGENESIS IN SUBSURFACE RESERVOIRS
    Publication number: 20140008058
    Abstract: Methods for increasing the increasing the rate of methane production in a subsurface reservoir are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Ian McCutcheon Head, Johnny Mark Cordiner
  • METHODS FOR INCREASING METHANOGENESIS IN SUBSURFACE RESERVOIRS
    Publication number: 20130020073
    Abstract: Methods for increasing the rate of methane production in a subsurface reservoir are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Ian McCutcheon Head, Stephen Richard Larter, Ian Donald Gates