Patents by Inventor James Treadway

James Treadway 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: 20080060812
    Abstract: Alkaline earth metal compounds may be fluid loss control agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for well completion or stimulation in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The VES fluid may further include proppant or gravel, if it is intended for use as a fracturing fluid or a gravel packing fluid, although such uses do not require that the fluid contain proppant or gravel. The fluid loss control agents may include, but not be limited to, oxides and hydroxides of alkaline earth metal, and in one case magnesium oxide where the particle size of the magnesium oxide is between 1 nanometer to 0.4 millimeter. The fluid loss agent appears to associate with the VES micelles and together form a novel pseudo-filter cake crosslinked-like viscous fluid layer that limits further VES fluid flow into the porous media. The fluid loss control agent solid particles may be added along with VES fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Tianping Huang, James Crews, James Treadway
  • Publication number: 20050252658
    Abstract: An aqueous, viscoelastic fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) is stabilized and improved with an effective amount of an alkali earth metal oxide and/or alkali earth metal hydroxide. These fluids are more stable and have reduced or no tendency to precipitate, particularly at elevated temperatures. The additives may also increase viscosity to the point where less VES is required to maintain a given viscosity. These stabilized, enhanced, aqueous viscoelastic fluids may be used as treatment fluids for subterranean hydrocarbon formations, such as in hydraulic fracturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 17, 2005
    Inventors: John Willingham, Allen Gabrysch, Patrick Kelly, James Crews, James Treadway