Patents by Inventor Jerrald L. Saulsberry

Jerrald L. Saulsberry 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: 5974874
    Abstract: The "Tank Test" method for determining well tests in low pressured reservoirs or aquifers utilizes gravity drainage from a water storage tank to inject water into the reservoir. The Tank Test eliminates the need for expensive pumping equipment and the required manual pump rate adjustments. The low costs associated with the Tank Test allows the test to run for a longer duration so that a greater portion of the reservoir can be investigated. The duration of the test and thus the radius investigation can be extended by repeatedly refilling the tank as necessary. The Tank Test also reduces the possibility of fracturing the reservoir during injection tests in low permeability reservoirs. The primary criteria for performing a tank test is that the hydrostatic head from the tank to the formation be significantly different than the reservoir pressure. In addition, the Tank Test minimizes stress effects on stress sensitive formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Jerrald L. Saulsberry
  • Patent number: 5621170
    Abstract: The "Tank Test" method for determining well tests in low pressured reservoirs utilizes gravity drainage from a water storage tank to inject water into the reservoir. The Tank Test eliminates the need for expensive pumping equipment and the required manual pump rate adjustments. The low costs associated with the Tank Test allows the test to be run for a longer duration so that a greater portion of the reservoir can be investigated. The duration of the test and thus the radius investigation can be extended by repeatedly refilling the tank as necessary. The Tank Test also reduces the possibility of fracturing the reservoir during injection tests in low permeability reservoirs. The primary criteria for performing a tank test is that the hydrostatic head from the tank to the formation be greater than the reservoir pressure. In addition, the Tank Test minimize stress effects on stress sensitive formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Jerrald L. Saulsberry
  • Patent number: 5226485
    Abstract: A pass-through zone isolation packer and process for isolating zones in a multiple-zone well. The pass-through zone isolation packer has an upper packer sub with an upper sub through hole and a lower packer sub with a lower sub through hole. A packer mandrel having a through bore is positioned through the upper sub through hole and the lower sub through hole. The upper packer sub and the lower packer sub are secured to the packer mandrel. A packer element is positioned between and is secured to the upper packer sub and the lower packer sub. Likewise, a packer bladder is positioned between the upper packer sub and the lower packer sub. The packer bladder is hermetically sealed to both the upper packer sub and the lower packer sub, so as to form a gas-tight annular gas chamber between the packer mandrel and the packer bladder. An inlet tube is used to introduce a pressurized gas through the upper packer sub and into the annular gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Francis X. Dobscha, Stephen W. Lambert, Jerrald L. Saulsberry