Patents by Inventor Kenneth G. Nolte
Kenneth G. Nolte 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).
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Patent number: 8731890Abstract: A method for determining a maximum volume of drilling cuttings disposal in a formation, the method including inputting formation parameters into a simulator, simulating a formation during waste injection based on the formation parameters, determining a net pressure based on the simulating, determining a closure pressure increase based on the simulating, calculating a disposal volume based on the net pressure and the closure pressure, calculating a time interval of waste injection based on the calculated injection volume, and outputting at least one of the disposal volume and the time interval is disclosed. A method of optimizing a waste injection process, the method including simulating a formation based on input parameters, determining a closure pressure increase per unit slurry volume based on the simulation, calculating a disposal capacity of the selected formation, and outputting the disposal capacity is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2009Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: M-I L.L.C.Inventors: Francisco Fragachan, Adriana P. Ovalle, Talgat A. Shokanov, Vyacheslav Anokhin, Andrea Alba, Kenneth G. Nolte
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Publication number: 20100332204Abstract: A method for determining a maximum volume of drilling cuttings disposal in a formation, the method including inputting formation parameters into a simulator, simulating a formation during waste injection based on the formation parameters, determining a net pressure based on the simulating, determining a closure pressure increase based on the simulating, calculating a disposal volume based on the net pressure and the closure pressure, calculating a time interval of waste injection based on the calculated injection volume, and outputting at least one of the disposal volume and the time interval is disclosed. A method of optimizing a waste injection process, the method including simulating a formation based on input parameters, determining a closure pressure increase per unit slurry volume based on the simulation, calculating a disposal capacity of the selected formation, and outputting the disposal capacity is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: M-I L.L.C.Inventors: Francisco Fragachan, Adriana P. Ovalle, Talgat A. Shokanov, Vyacheslav Anokhin, Andrea Alba, Kenneth G. Nolte
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Publication number: 20100314104Abstract: A method of designing a response to a fracture behavior of a formation during re-injection of cuttings into a formation, the method including obtaining a pressure signature for a time period, interpreting the pressure signature for the time period to determine a fracture behavior of the formation, determining a solution based on the fracture behavior of the formation, and implementing the solution is disclosed. A method of assessing a subsurface risk of a cuttings re-injection operation, the method including obtaining a pressure signature for a time period, interpreting the pressure signature to determine a fracture behavior of the formation, characterizing a risk associated with the determined fracture behavior of the formation, and implementing a solution based on the characterized risk is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2008Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventors: Talgat A. Shokanov, Kenneth G. Nolte, Francisco Fragachan, Adriana P. Ovalle
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Patent number: 6076046Abstract: Methods and processes are claimed for optimal design of hydraulic fracturing jobs, and in particular, methods and processes for selecting the optimal amount of proppant-carrying fluid to be pumped into the fracture (which is a crucial parameter in hydraulic fracturing) wherein these design parameters are obtained, ultimately from a priori formation/rock parameters, from pressure-decline data obtained during both linear and radial flow regimes, and by analogy with a related problem in heat transfer, in addition the claimed methods and processes also include redundant verification means.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 1998Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Sriram Vasudevan, Kenneth G. Nolte, Jerome Maniere
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Patent number: 4506734Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and related methods of use for reducing the viscosity of a fluid introduced into a subterranean formation. The compositions are introduced into the subterranean formation and are non-reactive to the fluid until activated by the closing of any fractures in the subterranean formation upon the compositions. The compositions are comprised of a viscosity reducing chemical, such as an enzyme, oxidizing agent, acid, catalyst, or mixtures thereof, encapsulated in dry or liquid form within hollow or porous, crushable beads. The beads can be formed from glass, ceramics, plastics, gels, or mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1983Date of Patent: March 26, 1985Assignee: The Standard Oil CompanyInventor: Kenneth G. Nolte
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Patent number: 4478282Abstract: To control adverse vertical height growth of the fracture created during hydraulic fracturing treatments of subterranean formations, a nonproppant fluid stage is injected during the treatment. The nonproppant stage comprises a transport fluid and a flow block material. The flow block material can be any particulate used as a fracture proppant, and has a particle size distribution which is sufficient to form a substantially impermeable barrier to fluid flow into the vertical extremities of the fracture. The particle size distribution preferably comprises at least two different particles sizes.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1982Date of Patent: October 23, 1984Assignee: The Standard Oil CompanyInventors: Kenneth G. Nolte, Michael B. Smith
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Patent number: 4432669Abstract: An ice island is constructed in a marine area having a sheet of natural ice whereby, in a basic embodiment, a lower layer of fresh water ice is made by continually adding fresh water to the ice sheet and letting it freeze until the sheet is on bottom. An impervious insulating layer is put on top of the fresh ice and an upper layer is constructed thereon from sea water or mined ice blocks.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1981Date of Patent: February 21, 1984Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)Inventors: Gordon F. N. Cox, Kenneth G. Nolte
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Patent number: 4398416Abstract: The fluid loss during the extension of a fracture into a subterranean formation is determined from pressure decline measurements of a calibration fracture extending from a wellbore into subterranean formation. During the decline of the calibration fracturing treatment pressure, the period of time while the pressure decline is primarily controlled by fluid loss is selected. The fluid loss coefficient for fracturing fluids having similar characteristics is determined from the pressure decline during the selected period of time.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1981Date of Patent: August 16, 1983Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)Inventor: Kenneth G. Nolte
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Patent number: 4393933Abstract: During injection of fracture fluid into a subterranean formation, the bottomhole treating pressure at which the change in pressure is essentially zero is determined. This pressure is the maximum which should be attained for that formation during fracture and is useful for designing subsequent fracture treatments within the same subterranean formation.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1981Date of Patent: July 19, 1983Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)Inventors: Kenneth G. Nolte, Michael B. Smith
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Patent number: 4372380Abstract: A method of determining the minimum in-situ stress of an underground formation penetrated by a well. The method includes injecting a fluid at a certain rate into the formation to produce fractures in the formation, backflowing the injected fluid from the well at a rate less than the injection rate, and measuring the well fluid pressure decrease during the backflow to establish the pressure at which the fractures close.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 1981Date of Patent: February 8, 1983Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)Inventors: Michael B. Smith, Kenneth G. Nolte