Patents by Inventor Laine E. Summers

Laine E. Summers 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: 5090478
    Abstract: A water-producing zone in a reservoir penetrated by a gravel-packed well is isolated by placing a bridge plug in the well tubing adjacent to the top of the water-producing zone, then placing a first coarse sand on the bridge plug, followed by a fine sand on top of the coarse sand, and finally by placing a flowable resin on top of the fine sand where it spreads out through the gravel pack to provide a flow barrier to water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Laine E. Summers
  • Patent number: 4921047
    Abstract: A mixture of an epoxy material and two hardeners is placed in a subsurface zone in which it is desired to form an impermeable zone, and the epoxy is thereafter allowed to harden. The epoxy material and hardeners are characterized inthat: (1) each hardener has a different activation temperature; (2) the amount of each hardener in the mixture is less than that required to totally react the epoxy material; (3) the epoxy material has a low viscosity at subsurface conditions of temperature and pressure; (4) the epoxy material is substantially immiscible with any fluids which are present in the subsurface area; and (5) the hardening time of the epoxy material is of short duration at subsurface conditions of temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Laine E. Summers, Jeff J. Jurinak
  • Patent number: 4901797
    Abstract: A high pH solution containing a silica material and an inorganic fluoride salt which hydrolyzes to form hydrofluoric acid are introduced into a subterranean zone where the pH is reduced by the acid whereby the silica material forms a gel and plugs the subterranean zone. The pH at which gelling occurs can be increased by adding a soluble inorganic salt to the solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Laine E. Summers, Joe D. Allison