Patents by Inventor Paul McElfresh
Paul McElfresh 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: 8048348Abstract: Filtration devices may include a shape-memory material having a compressed run-in position or shape and an original expanded position or shape. The shape-memory material may include an open cell porous rigid polyurethane foam material held in the compressed run-in position at the temperature below glass transition temperature (Tg). The foam material in its compressed run-in position may be covered with a fluid-dissolvable polymeric film and/or a layer of fluid-degradable plastic. Once filtration devices are in place in downhole and are contacted by the fluid for a given amount of time at temperature, the devices may expand and totally conform to the borehole to prevent the production of undesirable solids from the formation.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Ping Duan, Paul McElfresh
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Publication number: 20110162780Abstract: Filtration devices may include a shape-memory material having a compressed run-in position or shape and an original expanded position or shape. The shape-memory material may include an open cell porous rigid polyurethane foam material held in the compressed run-in position at the temperature below glass transition temperature (Tg). The foam material in its compressed run-in position may be covered with a fluid-dissolvable polymeric film and/or a layer of fluid-degradable plastic. Once filtration devices are in place in downhole and are contacted by the fluid for a given amount of time at temperature, the devices may expand and totally conform to the borehole to prevent the production of undesirable solids from the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Ping Duan, Paul McElfresh
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Patent number: 7762342Abstract: A flow conduit may have at least one orifice is in the vicinity of a flow source. The source is at least partially covered (and flow blocked by) an optional temporary coating or barrier. The flow pathway between the orifice and the source is temporarily blocked with a degradable material or barrier. The material disintegrates (e.g. under the influence of time or temperature) to optionally produce a product that removes the temporary coating in the area adjacent the barrier. The method is useful in one non-limiting context of recovering hydrocarbons where the flow conduit is the casing or liner of the well and the flow source is a subterranean reservoir where the temporary coating is a filter cake.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2008Date of Patent: July 27, 2010Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Bennett M. Richard, Paul McElfresh, Chad Williams
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Publication number: 20100089565Abstract: Filtration devices may include a shape-memory material having a compressed run-in position or shape and an original expanded position or shape. The shape-memory material may include an open cell porous rigid polyurethane foam material held in the compressed run-in position at the temperature below glass transition temperature (Tg). The foam material in its compressed run-in position may be covered with a fluid-dissolvable polymeric film and/or a layer of fluid-degradable plastic. Once filtration devices are in place in downhole and are contacted by the fluid for a given amount of time at temperature, the devices may expand and totally conform to the borehole to prevent the production of undesirable solids from the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2008Publication date: April 15, 2010Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Ping Duan, Paul McElfresh
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Publication number: 20090078408Abstract: A flow conduit may have at least one orifice is in the vicinity of a flow source. The source is at least partially covered (and flow blocked by) an optional temporary coating or barrier. The flow pathway between the orifice and the source is temporarily blocked with a degradable material or barrier. The material disintegrates (e.g. under the influence of time or temperature) to optionally produce a product that removes the temporary coating in the area adjacent the barrier. The method is useful in one non-limiting context of recovering hydrocarbons where the flow conduit is the casing or liner of the well and the flow source is a subterranean reservoir where the temporary coating is a filter cake.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: March 26, 2009Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Bennett M. Richard, Paul McElfresh, Chad Williams
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Patent number: 7461699Abstract: A flow conduit may have at least one orifice is in the vicinity of a flow source. The source is at least partially covered (and flow blocked by) an optional temporary coating or barrier. The flow pathway between the orifice and the source is temporarily blocked with a degradable material or barrier. The material disintegrates (e.g. under the influence of time or temperature) to optionally produce a product that removes the temporary coating in the area adjacent the barrier. The method is useful in one non-limiting context of recovering hydrocarbons where the flow conduit is the casing or liner of the well and the flow source is a subterranean reservoir where the temporary coating is a filter cake.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Bennett M. Richard, Paul McElfresh, Chad Williams
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Publication number: 20060272805Abstract: Gas hydrates, particularly natural gas hydrates e.g. methane hydrates, may be formed and controlled within conduits and vessels by imparting energy to gas and water, for instance using agitation or vibration. The systems and methods allow for improved flow characteristics for fluids containing the gases, e.g. hydrocarbon fluids being transported, and for improved overall efficiencies. The gas and water within a gas flow path may be perturbed or agitated to initiate formation of relatively small hydrate particles. The hydrate particles continue to form as long as energy is imparted and water and hydrate guest molecules are available. High amplitude agitation of the gas and water will repeatedly break up agglomerated hydrate particles that form and encourage the formation of more and smaller particles. As more hydrate forms in this manner, less and less free water may be available proximate the gas and water contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2006Publication date: December 7, 2006Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Edward O'Malley, Bennett Richard, Paul McElfresh, Aftab Khokhar, Daniel Crosby, Vu Thieu, Roger Fincher, Larry Watkins
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Publication number: 20060254766Abstract: Devices and methods for inhibiting the deposition of methane or natural gas hydrates, as well as scales, paraffins and other undesirable deposits within a wellbore using acoustic energy. An acoustic inhibitor is associated with a wellbore proximate the wellhead and is used to generate a low frequency acoustic energy signal that is propagated axially through the wellbore. The acoustic inhibitor preferably comprises a magneto-restrictive element that is pulsed in accordance with a predetermined frequency to generate acoustic waves in fluid that is located within the flowbore of wellbore production tubing or in a pipeline. The tubing string or pipeline is used as a waveguide to propagate the acoustic energy axially.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2005Publication date: November 16, 2006Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Bennett Richard, Edward O'Malley, Paul McElfresh
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Publication number: 20060027369Abstract: An aqueous, viscoelastic fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) is inhibited against hydrate formation with an effective amount of an additive that could be one or more halide salts of alkali metals and alkali earth metals, formate salts, alcohols, glycols, glycol amines, sugars, sugar alcohols, amidoamine oxides, polymers such as polyamines, polyvinylpyrrolidones and derivatives thereof, polyvinyl alcohols and derivatives thereof, polycaprolactams and derivatives thereof, hydroxyethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof. These fluids are inhibited against hydrate formation and may have increased viscosity as well. The additives may increase viscosity to the point where less VES is required to maintain a given viscosity. These inhibited, aqueous, viscoelastic fluids may be used as treatment fluids for subterranean hydrocarbon formations, such as in stimulation treatments, e.g. hydraulic fracturing fluids.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Inventors: Perry Baycroft, Allen Gabrysch, James Crews, Paul McElfresh
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Publication number: 20050126778Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method for treating a subterranean formation with an aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid that an aqueous base fluid and one or more non-ionic amido amine oxide surfactant gelling agents. The treatment method comprises injecting the aqueous viscoelastic surfactant treating fluid through a wellbore and into the subterranean formation under conditions effective to control fluid loss, and breaking the gel of the aqueous viscoelastic treating fluid subsequent to treating said formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2004Publication date: June 16, 2005Inventors: Paul McElfresh, Chad Williams
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Publication number: 20050092363Abstract: A flow conduit may have at least one orifice is in the vicinity of a flow source. The source is at least partially covered (and flow blocked by) an optional temporary coating or barrier. The flow pathway between the orifice and the source is temporarily blocked with a degradable material or barrier. The material disintegrates (e.g. under the influence of time or temperature) to optionally produce a product that removes the temporary coating in the area adjacent the barrier. The method is useful in one non-limiting context of recovering hydrocarbons where the flow conduit is the casing or liner of the well and the flow source is a subterranean reservoir where the temporary coating is a filter cake.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Inventors: Bennett Richard, Paul McElfresh, Chad Williams