Patents by Inventor John Michael Karanikas

John Michael Karanikas 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).

  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells
    Patent number: 6959761
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The mixture may be produced from the formation through a plurality of production wells. A selected number of heat sources may be positioned in the formation for each production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ilya Emil Berchenko, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation using horizontal heat sources
    Patent number: 6951247
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to a portion of the formation from one or more heat sources having a horizontal orientation in the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a section of the formation. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Production of a blending agent using an in situ thermal process in a relatively permeable formation
    Patent number: 6948562
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The heat provided to the selected section may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the selected section. A blending agent may be produced from the selected section. A portion of the blending agent may be adapted to blend with a liquid to produce a mixture with a selected property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Harold J. Vinegar
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation via backproducing through a heater well
    Patent number: 6932155
    Abstract: A process for producing hydrocarbons through a heater wellbore positioned in a hydrocarbon containing formation. The in situ treatment process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed, in some embodiments, to transfer from one or more heaters to a selected section of the formation. Heat that is allowed to transfer to the selected section may pyrolyze at least some of the hydrocarbons within the selected section. The process may include, in some embodiments, selectively limiting a temperature proximate a selected portion of a heater wellbore to inhibit coke formation at or near the selected portion. In some embodiments fluids may be produced at certain locations of a heater wellbore such that coke formation is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Scott Lee Wellington
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate
    Patent number: 6923257
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to maintain a temperature below about a maximum selected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Etuan Zhang
  • In Situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively impermeable formation
    Patent number: 6913078
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to a relatively impermeable formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Vaporized hydrocarbons and pyrolysis fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a natural distributed combustor
    Patent number: 6910536
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may be supplied to the formation by reacting an oxidant with hydrocarbons adjacent to heater wellbores to generate heat. Generated heat may be transferred to the portion substantially by conduction to pyrolyze at least a portion of hydrocarbon material within the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Kevin Albert Maher, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., James Louis Menotti, John Matthew Coles
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources
    Patent number: 6896053
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a pattern. The pattern may be a repeating pattern of triangles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ilya Emil Berchenko, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, George Leo Stegemeier, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using pressure and/or temperature control
    Patent number: 6877554
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Pressure within the formation may be controlled as a function of temperature or temperature within the formation may be controlled as a function of pressure to yield a desired mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation while inhibiting coking
    Patent number: 6877555
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from one or more heat sources to a section of the formation. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation through a production well. Conditions at the production well may be controlled to inhibit coking at or near the production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
    Patent number: 6871707
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The portion may be allowed or forced to cool after mixture production is ended. Carbon dioxide may be stored within the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Phillip Temmons Baxley
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to increase a permeability/porosity of the formation
    Patent number: 6866097
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat may increase a permeability of the formation. The permeability may increase uniformly throughout the treated formation. The permeability of the treated portion may increase to a relatively high permeability as compared to an initial permeability of the untreated coal formation. The porosity of the treated formation may also uniformly increase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of coal formation with a selected hydrogen content and/or selected H/C ratio
    Patent number: 6820688
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. A formation may be selected that will produce a relatively large amount of condensable hydrocarbons and/or a relatively large amount of non-condensable hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons within the formation may have a relatively high initial elemental hydrogen weight percentage. Hydrocarbons within the formation may have an initial hydrocarbon to carbon ratio within a desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Conductor-in-conduit heat sources for in situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation
    Publication number: 20040211557
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from one or more heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The generated heat may transfer to the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony Thomas Cole, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl, John Matthew Coles, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, John Michael Karanikas, James Louis Menotti, Christopher Arnold Pratt, Horold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas
    Patent number: 6805195
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. After pyrolysis, the portion may be heated to a synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the portion to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Ajay Madhav Madgavkar, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using conductor in conduit heat sources
    Patent number: 6769483
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The conduits may transfer heat to the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, James Louis Menotti, John Matthew Coles, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker, Lawrence James Bielamowicz, Fredrick Gordon Carl, Jr.
  • Staged and/or patterned heating during in situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation
    Publication number: 20040140095
    Abstract: A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation may include heating a first volume of the formation using a first set of heaters. A second volume of the formation may be heated using a second set of heaters. The first volume may be spaced apart from the second volume by a third volume of the formation. The first volume, second volume, and/or third volume may be sized, shaped, and/or located to inhibit deformation of subsurface equipment caused by geomechanical motion of the formation during heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Kirk Samuel Hansen
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with carbon dioxide sequestration
    Patent number: 6763886
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. The portion may be allowed or forced to cool after mixture production is ended. Carbon dioxide may be stored within the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Lanny Gene Schoeling, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Phillip Temmons Baxley
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbon fluids and synthesis gas
    Patent number: 6761216
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. After pyrolysis, the portion may be heated to a synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the portion to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Ajay Madhav Madgavkar, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores
    Patent number: 6752210
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be positioned within open wellbores in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Charles Robert Keedy, Robert Charles Ryan, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker