Patents by Inventor John E. McElhiney

John E. McElhiney 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: 7464760
    Abstract: A process for inhibiting souring in a hydrocarbon reservoir provides a feed water including a plurality of phosphorous constituents and having an elevated phosphorous concentration. At least some of the phosphorous constituents are removed from the feed water to produce a treated injection water, which has a reduced phosphorous concentration less than the elevated phosphorous concentration. The treated injection water is injected into the reservoir via a first well and the hydrocarbon is produced from the reservoir via a second well. The process inhibits souring in the reservoir insofar as the treated injection water results in a lower level of souring in the reservoir over time than if the feed water had been injected into the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Company
    Inventor: John E. McElhiney