Patents by Inventor Kevin Albert Maher

Kevin Albert Maher 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: 7004251
    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. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selection of the formation. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. A recovery fluid may be provided to the formation to recover one or more components remaining in the portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Ward, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ajay Madhav Madgavkar, Kevin Albert Maher, Bruce Donald Palfreyman, Robert Charles Ryan, George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 6997518
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to the treatment area. Fluids may be injected into the formation to remove a component within the formation. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. In some embodiments, fluids may be injected prior to production of formation fluids. Alternatively, fluids may be injected after production of formation fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Kevin Albert Maher, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 6994169
    Abstract: An oil shale 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 desired temperature. In some embodiments, the formation to be treated may be selected based on formation characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Etuan Zhang, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, Kevin Albert Maher, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 6994168
    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. A formation to be treated may produce a relatively large amount of condensable hydrocarbons and/or a relatively large amount of non-condensable hydrocarbons. The formation to be treated may be chosen based on initial hydrocarbon to carbon ratio of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 6994161
    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 formation to be treated may be selected based on initial moisture content of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Inventors: Kevin Albert Maher, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 6991031
    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. Heating may be controlled such that at least a selected amount of a total organic carbon content of the hydrocarbon material in the formation may be converted into formation fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    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
  • Patent number: 6981548
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from a first set of heat sources to a first section of the formation. The heat provided to the first section may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the first section. Heat may also be provided from a second set of heat sources to a second section of the formation. The heat provided to the second section may mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the second section. A portion of the hydrocarbons from the second section may be induced to flow into the first section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation. The produced mixture may include at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Steven Dexter Crane, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Harold J. Vinegar
  • Patent number: 6969123
    Abstract: A method for treating a coal formation to alter properties of coal in the formation is provided. In one embodiment, heat from one or more heaters may be provided to at least a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation. In certain embodiments, the heat from the one or more heaters may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the part of the formation. The method may include producing a fluid from the formation. In some embodiments, the produced fluid may include at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the formation. In an embodiment, after at least some coal has been treated at least a portion of such coal may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Kevin Albert Maher, Scott Lee Wellington
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6948563
    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. A formation to be treated may 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6902003
    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. A formation to be treated may produce a relatively large amount of condensable hydrocarbons and/or a relatively large amount of non-condensable hydrocarbons. The formation to be treated may be chosen based on a initial total organic carbon content of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Kevin Albert Maher, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 6889769
    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. The formation to be treated may be selected based on initial moisture content of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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