Patents by Inventor John Dale Williams

John Dale Williams 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: 12043557
    Abstract: A method of operating a filtration unit of a filtration system includes feeding, during filtration, feed water containing suspended particulate material to an inside of each of a plurality of hollow fibres through a first inlet and a second inlet of each hollow fibre while simultaneously removing a filtrate from an outside of each of the hollow fibres through an outlet of a filtration elements. In addition, the method includes feeding, during back-washing, back-wash water to the outside of the hollow fibres through the outlet of the filtration element. Further the method includes discharging, in a first back-wash cycle, back-wash water containing entrained particulate material from the inside of the hollow fibres from one end thereof. Still further, the method includes discharging, in a second back-wash cycle, back-wash water containing entrained particulate material from the inside of the hollow fibres from the other end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: John Henry Crouch, James Lomax, John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 12036511
    Abstract: A desalination system includes a desalination platform, a first skid disposed on a first deck of the desalination platform, the first skid including at least one of a first filtration unit configured to produce a first filtrate stream, and a first permeate unit configured to produce a first permeate stream, a first interconnecting pipework coupled to the first skid, and a first pipework support disposed on the first deck, wherein the first interconnecting pipework is disposed on the first pipework support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20230331592
    Abstract: An integrated system comprising a desalination plant comprising a reverse osmosis (RO) array configured to produce an RO permeate blending stream, a blending system comprising a flow line for a fines stabilizing additive blending stream and configured to blend the RO permeate blending stream with the fines stabilizing additive blending stream to produce a blended low salinity water stream having a salinity of less than or equal to 5,000, 4,000, 3,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 400, or 300 ppm and a molar ratio of divalent cations to monovalent cations of greater than about 0.2, 0.3, or 0.4, a control unit configured to control operation of the blending system, and an injection system for one or more injection wells, wherein the one or more injection wells penetrate an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. A method is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: John William COUVES, Stuart William DAY, Chris GIBSON, Bilal RASHID, John Dale WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 11648511
    Abstract: A method includes producing a first blended low salinity injection water for injection into at least one injection well that penetrates a first region of an oil-bearing reservoir and producing a second blended low salinity injection water for injection into at least one injection well that penetrates a second region of an oil-bearing reservoir. The reservoir rock of the first and second regions has first and second rock compositions, respectively, that present different risks of formation damage. The first and second blended low salinity injection waters comprise variable amounts of nanofiltration permeate and reverse osmosis permeate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 11407654
    Abstract: An integrated system includes a desalination plant including a reverse osmosis (RO) array to produce an RO permeate blending stream and a nanofiltration (NF) array to produce an NF permeate blending stream. The integrated system also includes a blending system. Further, the integrated system includes a control unit. Still further, the integrated system includes an injection system for one or more injection wells that penetrate an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. Moreover, the integrated system includes a production facility to separate fluids produced from one or more production wells that penetrate the oil-bearing layer of the reservoir and to deliver a produced water (PW) stream to the blending system. The blending system is configured to blend the RO permeate and NF permeate blending streams with the PW stream to produce a blended low salinity water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20220008868
    Abstract: A desalination system includes a desalination platform, a first skid disposed on a first deck of the desalination platform, the first skid including at least one of a first filtration unit configured to produce a first filtrate stream, and a first permeate unit configured to produce a first permeate stream, a first interconnecting pipework coupled to the first skid, and a first pipework support disposed on the first deck, wherein the first interconnecting pipework is disposed on the first pipework support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 11162311
    Abstract: An integrated system includes a desalination plant including a reverse osmosis (RO) array to produce an RO permeate blending stream and a nanofiltration (NF) array to produce an NF permeate blending stream. The integrated system also includes a blending system. a control unit, and an injection system for an injection well that penetrates an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. The blending system is to blend the RO permeate blending stream and the NF permeate blending stream to produce a blended injection water stream. The control unit is to dynamically alter operation of the blending system to adjust amounts of at least one of the RO permeate blending stream and the NF permeate blending stream to alter the composition of the blended injection water stream from an initial composition to a target composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20210130193
    Abstract: An integrated system includes a desalination plant including a reverse osmosis (RO) array to produce an RO permeate blending stream and a nanofiltration (NF) array to produce an NF permeate blending stream. The integrated system also includes a blending system. Further, the integrated system includes a control unit. Still further, the integrated system includes an injection system for one or more injection wells that penetrate an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. Moreover, the integrated system includes a production facility to separate fluids produced from one or more production wells that penetrate the oil-bearing layer of the reservoir and to deliver a produced water (PW) stream to the blending system. The blending system is configured to blend the RO permeate and NF permeate blending streams with the PW stream to produce a blended low salinity water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20200248514
    Abstract: An integrated system includes a desalination plant including a reverse osmosis (RO) array to produce an RO permeate blending stream and a nanofiltration (NF) array to produce an NF permeate blending stream. The integrated system also includes a blending system, a control unit, and an injection system for an injection well that penetrates an oil-bearing layer of a reservoir. The blending system is to blend the RO permeate blending stream and the NF permeate blending stream to produce a blended injection water stream. The control unit is to dynamically alter operation of the blending system to adjust amounts of at least one of the RO permeate blending stream and the NF permeate blending stream to alter the composition of the blended injection water stream from an initial composition to a target composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20200230554
    Abstract: A method includes producing a first blended low salinity injection water for injection into at least one injection well that penetrates a first region of an oil-bearing reservoir and producing a second blended low salinity injection water for injection into at least one injection well that penetrates a second region of an oil-bearing reservoir. The reservoir rock of the first and second regions has first and second rock compositions, respectively, that present different risks of formation damage. The first and second blended low salinity injection waters comprise variable amounts of nanofiltration permeate and reverse osmosis permeate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Applicant: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, John William Couves, John Henry Crouch, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20190169050
    Abstract: A method of operating a filtration unit of a filtration system includes feeding, during filtration, feed water containing suspended particulate material to an inside of each of a plurality of hollow fibres through a first inlet and a second inlet of each hollow fibre while simultaneously removing a filtrate from an outside of each of the hollow fibres through an outlet of a filtration elements. In addition, the method includes feeding, during back-washing, back-wash water to the outside of the hollow fibres through the outlet of the filtration element. Further the method includes discharging, in a first back-wash cycle, back-wash water containing entrained particulate material from the inside of the hollow fibres from one end thereof. Still further, the method includes discharging, in a second back-wash cycle, back-wash water containing entrained particulate material from the inside of the hollow fibres from the other end thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: John Henry Crouch, James Lomax, John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 9555373
    Abstract: Desalination plant containing a plurality of membrane trains each having a plurality of RO membrane units and a plurality of NF membrane units. The ratio of RO membrane units to NF membrane units in each membrane train is in the range of 2:1 to 40:1, and each membrane train is provided with (a) a feed line for a source water that divides to provide a feed line for the RO membrane units and a feed line for the NF membrane units, (b) a permeate line for the RO membrane units and a permeate line for the NF membrane units that combine to provide an injection water line; (c) a retentate line for the RO membrane units and a retentate line for the NF membrane units; and (d) a flow controller and pressure let-down valve on the NF feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 9492790
    Abstract: Process for producing an injection water for an oil reservoir by pressurizing water having a total dissolved solids content of 20,000 to 45,000 ppm and a sulfate concentration of 1,000 to 4,000 ppm to 350 to 1250 psi absolute; and dividing the water into first and second feeds for reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) units respectively. The units are operated in single-pass, single-stage mode or single-pass, two-stage mode, the NF permeate has a pressure at least 5 psi higher than the RO permeate, and the recoveries of the RO and NF permeates are 35 to 75% and 35 to 60% by volume respectively. RO permeate and NF permeate are mixed in a ratio of 2:1 to 40:1 to provide injection water having a TDS content of 500 to 5,000 ppm, and a sulfate concentration of less than 7.5 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20150083656
    Abstract: A process of producing an injection water stream of controlled salinity and controlled sulfate anion content that is suitable for injection into an oil bearing formation of an oil reservoir, the process comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a source water having a total dissolved solids content in the range of 20,000 to 45,000 ppm and a sulfate anion concentration in the range of 1,000 to 4,000 ppm, preferably, 1,500 ppm to 4,000 ppm to a desalination plant that comprises a plurality of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane units and a plurality of nanofiltration (NF) membrane units wherein the source water is pressurised to a pressure in the range of 350 to 1250 psi absolute, and dividing the source water to provide a feed water for the RO membrane units (hereinafter “RO feed water”) and a feed water for the NF membrane units (hereinafter “NF feed water”); (b) if necessary, increasing the pressure of the RO feed water to a value in the range of 900 to 1250 psi absolute before introducing the RO feed water to the RO m
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20120261340
    Abstract: A process of producing an injection water stream of controlled salinity and controlled sulfate anion content that is suitable for injection into an oil bearing formation of an oil reservoir, the process comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a source water having a total dissolved solids content in the range of 20,000 to 45,000 ppm and a sulfate anion concentration in the range of 1,000 to 4,000 ppm, preferably, 1,500 ppm to 4,000 ppm to a desalination plant that comprises a plurality of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane units and a plurality of nanofiltration (NF) membrane units wherein the source water is pressurised to a pressure in the range of 350 to 1250 psi absolute, and dividing the source water to provide a feed water for the RO membrane units (hereinafter “RO feed water”) and a feed water for the NF membrane units (hereinafter “NF feed water”); (b) if necessary, increasing the pressure of the RO feed water to a value in the range of 900 to 1250 psi absolute before introducing the RO feed water to the RO m
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 7726398
    Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a porous subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by: (a) reducing the salinity of a saline source water by reverse osmosis using a membrane having a first surface and a second surface by (i) feeding the saline source water to the first surface of the membrane, and (ii) removing treated water of reduced salinity from the second surface of the membrane; and (b) injecting the treated water into the formation; wherein the membrane is selectively permeable to water over dissolved solids such that when (i) the saline source water has a total dissolved solids content of at least 17,500 ppm, and (ii) the applied pressure across the membrane is greater than the osmotic pressure across the membrane and lies within the range 45 to 90 bar (4.5 to 9.0 M Pa), the total dissolved solids content of the treated water is in the range 500 to 5000 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, Kang Li, Andrew Guy Livingston, John Dale Williams
  • Publication number: 20090050320
    Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a porous subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by: (a) reducing the salinity of a saline source water by reverse osmosis using a membrane having a first surface and a second surface by (i) feeding the saline source water to the first surface of the membrane, and (ii) removing treated water of reduced salinity from the second surface of the membrane; and (b) injecting the treated water into the formation; wherein the membrane is selectively permeable to water over dissolved solids such that when (i) the saline source water has a total dissolved solids content of at least 17,500 ppm, and (ii) the applied pressure across the membrane is greater than the osmotic pressure across the membrane and lies within the range 45 to 90 bar (4.5 to 9.0 MPa), the total dissolved solids content of the treated water is in the range 500 to 5000 ppm. Increased oil recovery can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Ian Ralph Collins, Kang Li, Andrew Guy Livingston, John Dale Williams