Patents by Inventor James L. Cawvey

James L. Cawvey 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: 6564865
    Abstract: A system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream which contains solid particulates wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. The stream is passed through an upstream separator to separate out the particulates which pass through a first and second set of slots into first and second passages, both of which empty into a bypass through the turbine whereby the separated particulates do not contact the rotary vanes of the turbine thereby alleviating the erosive effects of the solids in the produced stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Conocophillips Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, James L. Cawvey, John M. Klein, Mark D. Stevenson, Steven J. Svedeman, Steven P. Petullo, Kerry N. Oliphant
  • Patent number: 6283204
    Abstract: A system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream which contains solid particulates wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. The stream is passed through a first separator to separate out the particulates which are then passed through a bypass in the turbine without contacting the rotary vanes of the turbine thereby alleviating the erosive effects of the solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 6260619
    Abstract: A method and system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream through a tubing wherein at least a portion of the gas is separated from the stream and flowed through a restriction in the tubing to cool the separated gas and reduce its pressure to thereby retain larger amounts of liquid (i.e. condensate) in the gas-oil stream which is to be produced to the surface. The separated gas is compressed downhole before it is injected into a downhole formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Svedeman, Steven P. Petullo, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey, Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 6189614
    Abstract: A method and system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream through a wellbore wherein at least a portion of the gas is separated from the stream downhole and is compressed (e.g. using a SPARC) before both the compressed gas and the remainder of the stream is brought to the surface through separate flowpaths. The system includes a string of tubing which provides the flowpath for the remainder of the stream while the annulus, formed between the tubing string and the wellbore provides the flowpath for the compressed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 6056054
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing the production of hydrocarbons from a production well producing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water through a wellbore penetrating a formation having a production zone producing a mixture of hydrocarbons and water, and a selected injection zone, by separating, in the wellbore, at least a portion of the water from the mixture of hydrocarbons and water, to produce separated water and a hydrocarbon enriched mixture; injecting, by the use of a pump drivingly connected to a turbine, at least a major portion of the separated water into the selected injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the hydrocarbon enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 6035934
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and a selected injection zone, by driving a turbine in the oil well with the mixture of oil and gas; separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas in the oil well to produce a separated gas and an oil-enriched mixture; driving a compressor with the turbine to compress at least a portion of the separated gas in the oil well to a pressure greater than a pressure in the selected injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the selected injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Mark D. Stevenson, Jerry L. Brady, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 6032737
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas at an elevated pressure through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and an injection zone, by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas to produce a separated gas and an oil-enriched mixture; utilizing energy from at least a portion of the mixture of oil and gas to compress at a surface at least a portion of the separated gas to produce a compressed gas having sufficient pressure to be injected into the injection zone; injecting the compressed gas into the injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey, David D. Hearn
  • Patent number: 6026901
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil, water, gas, and/or solids through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone and a selected injection zone, by separating from the mixture of oil, water, gas, and/or solids in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a first separated gas and a first portion of an oil-enriched mixture; directing the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture through a bypass passageway having an outlet in fluid communication with a surface so that the first portion of the oil-enriched mixture bypasses a turbine in the oil well; driving the turbine with the first separated gas; driving a compressor in the oil well with the turbine; separating from the first separated gas in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a second separated gas and a second portion of an oil-enriched mixture; compressing with the compressor the second separated gas to a pressure greater than a pres
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein, James L. Cawvey
  • Patent number: 5988275
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing oil production from an oil well producing a mixture of oil, water, and gas through a wellbore penetrating an oil-bearing formation containing an oil-bearing zone, an aqueous zone, and a gas zone by separating from the mixture of oil, water, and gas in the oil well at least a portion of the water to produce a separated water-enriched portion and a separated oil/gas-enriched portion; driving a turbine with the separated oil/gas enriched portion; driving a water pump and a compressor in the oil well with the turbine; injecting the separated water-enriched portion into a water injection zone; separating from the separated oil/gas-enriched portion in the oil well at least a portion of the gas to produce a separated gas and an the oil-enriched mixture; compressing the separated gas to a pressure greater than a pressure in a gas injection zone to produce a compressed gas; injecting the compressed gas into the gas injection zone; and recovering at least a major portion of the oil-en
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jerry L. Brady, James L. Cawvey, Mark D. Stevenson, John M. Klein
  • Patent number: 5794697
    Abstract: A system and a method for producing increased quantities of oil from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a well bore penetrating an oil bearing formation containing a gas cap zone and an oil bearing zone by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas downhole in an auger separator to produce a separated gas and an oil enriched mixture; compressing at least a portion of the separated gas downhole to a pressure greater than the pressure in the gas cap zone to produce a compressed gas; and, injecting the compressed gas into the gas cap and, recovering at least a major portion of the oil enriched mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: John R. Wolflick, James L. Cawvey, Jerry L. Brady, John R. Whitworth, David D. Hearn