Patents by Inventor Mark S. Beckman

Mark S. Beckman 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).

  • Hydrate control in a cyclic solvent-dominated hydrocarbon recovery process
    Patent number: 8602098
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to in situ hydrate control during hydrocarbon production when applying a recovery method utilizing cyclic injection of light hydrocarbon solvents. Hydrate formation is limited by creating an energy reserve within a hydrocarbon reservoir adjacent to the wellbore. A heated solvent is injected during an injection phase of a cyclic solvent dominated recovery process to form a heated region adjacent to the wellbore at the end of an injection cycle. The energy reserve is used to act against the evaporative cooling effect caused by subsequent production and associated depressurization to maintain reservoir conditions outside of hydrate formation conditions. In situ conditions are estimated and injected energy amounts are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mori Y. Kwan, Rahman Khaledi, Robert D. Kaminsky, Mark S. Beckman, Robert Chick Wattenbarger, J. Pierre Lebel
  • Hydrate Control In A Cyclic Solvent-Dominated Hydrocarbon Recovery Process
    Publication number: 20110198086
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to in situ hydrate control during hydrocarbon production when applying a recovery method utilizing cyclic injection of light hydrocarbon solvents. Hydrate formation is limited by creating an energy reserve within a hydrocarbon reservoir adjacent to the wellbore. A heated solvent is injected during an injection phase of a cyclic solvent dominated recovery process to form a heated region adjacent to the wellbore at the end of an injection cycle. The energy reserve is used to act against the evaporative cooling effect caused by subsequent production and associated depressurization to maintain reservoir conditions outside of hydrate formation conditions. In situ conditions are estimated and injected energy amounts are controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Mori Y. Kwan, Rahman Khaledi, Robert D. Kaminsky, Mark S. Beckman, Robert Chick Wattenbarger, J. Pierre Lebel