Patents by Inventor John T. Balczewski

John T. Balczewski 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: 9777563
    Abstract: A heating system for heating a natural gas hydrate reservoir. The heating system includes a fully enclosed wellbore extending through a portion of the natural gas hydrate reservoir. A heating fluid is passed through the wellbore to heat the portion of the natural gas hydrate reservoir. Additionally, a production system includes a perforated wellbore that is used to extract the natural gas hydrate water after heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20150090455
    Abstract: A heating system for heating a natural gas hydrate reservoir. The heating system includes a fully enclosed wellbore extending through a portion of the natural gas hydrate reservoir. A heating fluid is passed through the wellbore to heat the portion of the natural gas hydrate reservoir. Additionally, a production system includes a perforated wellbore that is used to extract the natural gas hydrate water after heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: John T. BALCZEWSKI
  • Patent number: 8910712
    Abstract: Clathrate reservoirs of Class II are modified in order to improve the ability to produce hydrocarbons from them. Specifically a method for improving producibility of subsurface clathrate formation underlain by a mobile aquifer includes drilling a borehole to a depth providing access to the mobile aquifer and injecting a material into the mobile aquifer such that the material passes through pore spaces and forms a barrier underlying the clathrate formation and substantially impeding fluid flow from the mobile aquifer into contact with the clathrate formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20130105153
    Abstract: Clathrate reservoirs of Class II are modified in order to improve the ability to produce hydrocarbons from them. Specifically a method for improving producibility of subsurface clathrate formation underlain by a mobile aquifer includes drilling a borehole to a depth providing access to the mobile aquifer and injecting a material into the mobile aquifer such that the material passes through pore spaces and forms a barrier underlying the clathrate formation and substantially impeding fluid flow from the mobile aquifer into contact with the clathrate formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. c/o Chevron Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Patent number: 8297356
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing hydrate reservoir. The method includes providing at least one producer well in fluid communication with a producing facility and with a hydrocarbon containing hydrate reservoir. The hydrate reservoir is in fluid communication with a head space disposed above the hydrate formation. The head space contains disassociated hydrocarbons and water. A sweep gas is swept through the head space to remove the disassociated gas and water from the hydrate reservoir and to transport the disassociated gas and water to the at least one producer well. The additional pressure and/or heat provided by the sweep gas may help inhibit the reformation of disassociated gas and water into hydrates allowing for enhanced production rates. The additional heat will also help increase the disassociation rate of the upper part of the hydrate formation adjacent to the head space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Patent number: 8201626
    Abstract: A method and system of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing subterranean hydrate reservoir is disclosed. Waste heat is captured and transferred to a hydrocarbon bearing hydrate formation to dissociate hydrates into natural gas and water. The waste heat can be heat generated from surface facilities such as a Gas To Liquids (GTL) plant, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, an electric or power generation plant, and an onshore or offshore facility producing other conventional or unconventional hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. Alternatively, the waste heat can be obtained from subterranean reservoirs such as hydrocarbon containing producing wells and geothermal wells producing heated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Patent number: 7964150
    Abstract: A system, process, and apparatus are provided for the efficient continuous production of hydrates. Gas separated from a well fluid is fed into a hydrate reactor that is submerged under the sea at a predetermined depth. The hydrates generated in the hydrate reactor are then transferred to a marine vessel for shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Patent number: 7812203
    Abstract: A system, process, and apparatus are provided for the efficient continuous production of hydrates. Gas separated from a well fluid is fed into a hydrate reactor that is submerged under the sea at a predetermined depth. The hydrates generated in the hydrate reactor are then transferred to a marine vessel for shipping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20100163231
    Abstract: A method and system of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing subterranean hydrate reservoir is disclosed. Waste heat is captured and transferred to a hydrocarbon bearing hydrate formation to dissociate hydrates into natural gas and water. The waste heat can be heat generated from surface facilities such as a Gas To Liquids (GTL) plant, a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, an electric or power generation plant, and an onshore or offshore facility producing other conventional or unconventional hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. Alternatively, the waste heat can be obtained from subterranean reservoirs such as hydrocarbon containing producing wells and geothermal wells producing heated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20100048963
    Abstract: A method, system, and method for developing the system, for producing hydrocarbons from a plurality of hydrocarbon containing reservoirs is described. The system includes at least one conventional hydrocarbon reservoir and at least one natural gas hydrate reservoir. The system also includes a production facility, including water separation apparatus, which is in fluid communication with the at least one hydrocarbon reservoir and the at least one natural gas hydrate reservoir. The production facility can separate hydrocarbons and water concurrently received from the first conventional hydrocarbon and the second natural gas hydrate reservoirs. The at least one hydrocarbon reservoir and the at least one hydrate reservoir can be concurrently developed. Or else, the at least one hydrate reservoir can be developed later in time and then fluidly connected to the production facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Emrys Jones, John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20080102000
    Abstract: A system, process, and apparatus are provided for the efficient continuous production of hydrates. Gas separated from a well fluid is fed into a hydrate reactor that is submerged under the sea at a predetermined depth. The hydrates generated in the hydrate reactor are then transferred to a marine vessel for shipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20080101999
    Abstract: A system, process, and apparatus are provided for the efficient continuous production of hydrates. Gas separated from a well fluid is fed into a hydrate reactor that is submerged under the sea at a predetermined depth. The hydrates generated in the hydrate reactor are then transferred to a marine vessel for shipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski
  • Publication number: 20080103343
    Abstract: A system, process, and apparatus are provided for the efficient continuous production of hydrates. Gas separated from a well fluid is fed into a hydrate reactor that is submerged under the sea at a predetermined depth. The hydrates generated in the hydrate reactor are then transferred to a marine vessel for shipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: John T. Balczewski