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).

  • Publication number: 20030173082
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a diatomite formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, George Leo Stegemeier, Gordon Thomas Shahin,, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 6609570
    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 synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas generating fluid may be introduced into the portion. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation Synthesis gas may be used as a feed stream in an ammonia synthesis process. Ammonia may be used as a feed stream in a urea synthesis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Kevin Albert Maher, John Michael Ward, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • Publication number: 20030155111
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a tar sands formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Steven Dexter Crane, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts
  • Publication number: 20030141065
    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 first portion of the formation to mobilize hydrocarbons within the formation. Heat may be applied to a second portion of the formation to raise a temperature of the second portion to a pyrolysis temperature. Vaporized hydrocarbons and pyrolysis fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott L. Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk
  • Publication number: 20030131993
    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 characterisitics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Etuan Zhang, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, Kevin Albert Maher, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20030131994
    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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Kevin Albert Maher, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 6591907
    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 chosen so that the mixture produced from the formation will have a desired amount of condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The formation to be treated may be chosen based on an initial vitrinite reflectance of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Etuan Zhang, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 6591906
    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 low initial elemental oxygen weight percentage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    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
  • Publication number: 20030116315
    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 a lower portion of the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from an upper portion of the formation. The mixture of hydrocarbons may include at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons from the lower portion of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    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
  • Publication number: 20030111223
    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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20030100451
    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 portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A temperature proximate a selected portion of a heater well may be selectively limited to inhibit coke formation at or near the selected portion. A mixture of at least some hydrocarbons may be produced through the selected portion of the heater well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Margaret Ann Messier, Steven Dexter Crane, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20030098149
    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 portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may reduce the viscosity of at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A gas may be produced to the selected section of the formation. The gas may produce a flow of hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    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
  • Publication number: 20030080604
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Fluid migration into and/or out of a treatments area in the formation may be inhibited. In some embodiments, a barrier may be used to inhibit migration of fluids into and/or out of the treatment area. Heat may be provided to the treatment area and subsequently, hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Dannie Antoine Aymond, Kevin Albert Maher, Billy John McKinzie, Bruce Donald Palfreyman, George Leo Stegemeier, John Michael Ward, Ronnie Wade Watkins, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20030051872
    Abstract: A coal 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 within a relatively thin layer of coal may be positioned in a staggered pattern near to edges of the layer so that superposition of heat from the heat sources allows a large percentage of the layer to reach a desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Publication number: 20030019626
    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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott L. 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
  • Publication number: 20030006039
    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 chosen so that the mixture produced from the formation will have a desired amount of condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The formation to be treated may be chosen based on an initial vitrinite reflectance of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Etuan Zhang, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Publication number: 20020132862
    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 synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the formation to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    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, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • Publication number: 20020117303
    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 synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the formation to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Lany Gene Schoeling, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • Publication number: 20020104654
    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: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: 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
  • Publication number: 20020062959
    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 elemental oxygen to carbon ratio of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    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, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan