Patents by Inventor Katherine Leigh Hull

Katherine Leigh Hull 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: 11499090
    Abstract: A method for treating kerogen in a subterranean zone which includes the use of supercritical carbon dioxide or emulsions of liquid carbon dioxide and an aqueous fluid. The carbon dioxide or emulsions can further include oxidizers. The oxidizers can include inorganic oxidizers or organic oxidizers, for example an oxidizer including an organic cation and an oxidizing anion. Additional additives such as polymers, crosslinkers, clay inhibitors, scale inhibitors and corrosion inhibitors can further enhance the efficiency of the kerogen-treating carbon dioxide or emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Patent number: 11492541
    Abstract: This document relates to energetic salts that contain an organic cation and an oxidizing anion and methods of using the energetic salt compositions, including methods of hydraulic fracturing, pressure pulse fracturing, formation damage removal, and lowering the viscosity of heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull
  • Patent number: 11473009
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating kerogen in a subterranean formation by generating bromine and other halogens in situ in a subterranean formation. In some implementations, the generation of the bromine or halogen is delayed. This can occur, for example, by the decomposition of precursors, a chemical reaction, the encapsulation of precursors or reactants, or a combination of these approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Patent number: 11473001
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating kerogen in a subterranean formation by generating bromine and other halogens in situ in a subterranean formation. In some implementations, the generation of the bromine or halogen is delayed. This can occur, for example, by the decomposition of precursors, a chemical reaction, the encapsulation of precursors or reactants, or a combination of these approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Publication number: 20220290039
    Abstract: A method and hydraulic fracturing fluid that is a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluid having a surfactant and an inorganic oxidizer salt for hydraulic fracturing of a geological formation. The VES fracturing fluid is provided through a wellbore into the geological formation to hydraulically fracture the geological formation to form hydraulic fractures in the geological formation. The method includes oxidizing organic material in the hydraulic fractures with the VES fracturing fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Desmond Schipper, Brady Kevin Crane
  • Publication number: 20220243117
    Abstract: A method and reactive treatment fluid for treating a wellbore for filter cake removal, including providing the reactive treatment fluid having a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) into a wellbore in a subterranean formation and attacking the filter cake via the reactive treatment fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Brady Kevin Crane, Amy J. Cairns
  • Publication number: 20220228997
    Abstract: A pyrolysis system for evaluating a source rock sample from a subterranean reservoir and methods are described. The pyrolysis system includes a reactor vessel including a body with an open end, a cover attachable to the body, a heating system, a collector assembly. The body and the cover define a sealable chamber; a source rock sample holder sized to be received inside the sealable chamber; and a sensor system. The sensor system includes a direct sensor assembly associated with the source rock sample holder, sized to be received inside the sealable chamber, and operable to measure properties of the source rock sample in the source rock sample holder; and a pyrolysis products sensor assembly in fluid communication with the collector assembly of the reactor vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventors: Constantin Sandu, Shannon L. Eichmann, David Jacobi, Katherine Leigh Hull
  • Patent number: 11390796
    Abstract: A method and hydraulic fracturing fluid that is a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fracturing fluid having a surfactant and an inorganic oxidizer salt for hydraulic fracturing of a geological formation. The VES fracturing fluid is provided through a wellbore into the geological formation to hydraulically fracture the geological formation to form hydraulic fractures in the geological formation. The method includes oxidizing organic material in the hydraulic fractures with the VES fracturing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Desmond Schipper, Brady Kevin Crane
  • Publication number: 20220220366
    Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing fluids and methods to hydraulically fracture a subterranean formation and oxidize organic material in the subterranean formation. The hydraulic fracturing fluid includes water, another fluid, and a surfactant. An inorganic oxidizer is included in the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman, Desmond Schipper
  • Publication number: 20220220365
    Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing fluids and methods to hydraulically fracture a subterranean formation and oxidize organic material in the subterranean formation. The hydraulic fracturing fluid includes water, another fluid, and a surfactant. An inorganic oxidizer is included in the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman, Desmond Schipper
  • Publication number: 20220213376
    Abstract: Unconventional hydrocarbon source rock reservoirs can contain the organic material kerogen, intertwined with the rock matrix. The kerogen can alter the tensile strength of the rock and contribute to higher fracture energy needs. To degrade kerogen and other organic materials, oxidizing gasses are dissolved in carbon dioxide (CO2) which is then used as part of a fracturing fluid. The oxidizing gasses can be dissolved directly in the CO2 or generated in situ using precursors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Publication number: 20220213387
    Abstract: A synthetic source rock including roasted tea powder and inorganic material. A technique for preparing the synthetic source rock, including grinding tea leaves to give tea powder, roasting the tea powder at a roasting temperature to give a roasted tea powder, and determining composition and porosity of the roasted tea powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: David Jacobi, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, Poorna Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11365344
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating kerogen in a subterranean formation by generating bromine and other halogens in situ in a subterranean formation. In some implementations, the generation of the bromine or halogen is delayed. This can occur, for example, by the decomposition of precursors, a chemical reaction, the encapsulation of precursors or reactants, or a combination of these approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Patent number: 11352548
    Abstract: A method and reactive treatment fluid for treating a wellbore for filter cake removal, including providing the reactive treatment fluid having a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) into a wellbore in a subterranean formation and attacking the filter cake via the reactive treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Brady Kevin Crane, Amy J. Cairns
  • Publication number: 20220170365
    Abstract: Estimating permeability enhancement of a subterranean formation due to presence of an oxidizer in a fracturing fluid, including determining kerogen volume percent in the subterranean formation and estimating fractured kerogen porosity, wherein the fractured kerogen porosity is associated with presence of the oxidizer. The technique includes determining an increase in connected porosity in the subterranean formation correlative with the kerogen vol % and the fractured kerogen porosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, Dung Phan, Khalid AlRuwaili
  • Patent number: 11339321
    Abstract: Hydraulic fracturing fluids and methods to hydraulically fracture a subterranean formation and oxidize organic material in the subterranean formation. The hydraulic fracturing fluid includes water, another fluid, and a surfactant. An inorganic oxidizer is included in the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman, Desmond Schipper
  • Patent number: 11319478
    Abstract: Unconventional hydrocarbon source rock reservoirs can contain the organic material kerogen, intertwined with the rock matrix. The kerogen can alter the tensile strength of the rock and contribute to higher fracture energy needs. To degrade kerogen and other organic materials, oxidizing gasses are dissolved in carbon dioxide (CO2) which is then used as part of a fracturing fluid. The oxidizing gasses can be dissolved directly in the CO2 or generated in situ using precursors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Rajesh Kumar Saini, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Patent number: 11268919
    Abstract: A system and method for evaluating a geological formation including subjecting a source-rock sample from the geological formation to atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine a thermal property or material property of the source-rock sample. The properties determined may include thermal conductivity or material transition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Shannon L. Eichmann, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, David Jacobi
  • Patent number: 11236020
    Abstract: Methods and systems for fabricating synthetic source rocks with organic materials, for example, using high energy resonant acoustic mixing technology, are provided. An example method includes preparing one or more organic components including kerogen, mixing, by utilizing resonant acoustic waves, the one or more organic components with one or more inorganic components to obtain a mixture, and processing the mixture to fabricate a synthetic source rock. Another example method includes mixing one or more organic components and one or more inorganic components with a kerogen precursor as an organic binder to obtain a mixture including artificial kerogen and processing the mixture to fabricate a synthetic source rock. One or more mechanical or chemo-mechanical properties of the synthetic source rock can be characterized as one or more functions of the one or more organic components and the one or more inorganic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mohammad Hamidul Haque, Younane N. Abousleiman, Katherine Leigh Hull, David Jacobi, Yanhui Han
  • Patent number: 11186806
    Abstract: Treating a sulfide scale includes contacting the sulfide scale with an oxidizing composition that includes a first oxidizer and a second oxidizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Brent Cooper