Patents by Inventor Pavlin B. Entchev

Pavlin B. Entchev 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: 11878723
    Abstract: A transport system for carrying a proppant, the system comprising a loading tower, a first transfer tower, a second transfer tower and an unloading tower. The loading tower is located proximate a loading area while the unloading tower is located proximate an unloading area. The system also includes a first transfer tower and a second transfer tower. A first aerial cable conveys a transfer container from the loading tower to the first transfer tower, while a second aerial cable conveys the transfer container from the second transfer tower to the unloading tower. The transfer container is configured to be suspended from the first and second aerial cables en route from the loading tower to the unloading area. Sand or supplies from the transfer container is received at the unloading area for use in a wellbore operation. Methods of transporting sand for use in wellbore fracturing operations are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Charles A. Hope, Jose Alberto Ortega Andrade, Michael W. Clark
  • Patent number: 11459501
    Abstract: Chelating acid blends for stimulation of a subterranean formation, methods of utilizing the chelating acid blends, and hydrocarbon wells that include the chelating acid blends are disclosed herein. The chelating acid blends include an acid mixture and a chelating agent or set of chelating agents. The acid mixture includes hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid. The methods include providing the chelating acid blends to a wellbore of a hydrocarbon well, flowing the chelating acid blends into a subterranean formation, dissolving a fraction of a formation mineralogy of the subterranean formation with the acid mixture, and chelating poly-valent metal ions with the chelating agent. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation, a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore, a fracture that extends into the subterranean formation, and a chelating acid blend positioned within the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mauro Lo Cascio, Pavlin B. Entchev, Timothy J. Hall, P. Matthew Spiecker
  • Patent number: 11414974
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as a proppant, methods of forming the hydrocarbon wells, and methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore and defines a tubular conduit. The hydrocarbon wells also include a plurality of perforations formed within the downhole tubular and a plurality of fractures formed within the subsurface region. The hydrocarbon wells further include the proppant positioned within the plurality of fractures. The proppant includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and each crosslinked polymer granule has a characteristic dimension of at least 100 micrometers and at most 2 millimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Robert M. Shirley, Alan A. Galuska, William Handy, Dragan Stojkovic
  • Patent number: 11345842
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as lost circulation material and methods of drilling the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region, a drilling rig, a drilling mud supply system, a lost circulation detection structure, and a lost circulation material supply system that includes a lost circulation material. The lost circulation material includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and a characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule is at least 20 micrometers and at most 1 millimeter. Each crosslinked polymer granule contains a highly crosslinked polymeric material that includes a plurality of polyethylene polymer chains. The methods include rotating a drill string to extend a length of a wellbore and, during the rotating, flowing a drilling mud stream. The methods also include detecting a lost circulation event and, responsive to the detecting, providing a lost circulation material to the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Robert M. Shirley, Pavlin B. Entchev, Alan A. Galuska, William Handy
  • Patent number: 11319417
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The methods include positioning a granular polymeric material within a crosslinking apparatus and crosslinking the granular polymeric material with the crosslinking apparatus to form a highly crosslinked polymeric material. The methods also include forming a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules from the highly crosslinked polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Alan A. Galuska, Pavlin B. Entchev, William Handy, Robert M. Shirley
  • Patent number: 11286755
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules in sand control structures and/or methods of completing the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore, defines a tubular conduit, and includes a fluid-permeable segment. The hydrocarbon wells also include a sand control structure that is positioned within an annular space that extends between the wellbore and the fluid-permeable segment of the downhole tubular. The sand control structure is configured to restrict migration of formation sands from the subsurface region and into the tubular conduit via the fluid-permeable segment and includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. The methods include positioning a downhole tubular within a wellbore and providing a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules to an annular space that extends between the wellbore and a fluid-permeable segment of the downhole tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Charles S. Yeh, Robert M. Shirley, Pavlin B. Entchev
  • Publication number: 20210324260
    Abstract: Chelating acid blends for stimulation of a subterranean formation, methods of utilizing the chelating acid blends, and hydrocarbon wells that include the chelating acid blends are disclosed herein. The chelating acid blends include an acid mixture and a chelating agent or set of chelating agents. The acid mixture includes hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid. The methods include providing the chelating acid blends to a wellbore of a hydrocarbon well, flowing the chelating acid blends into a subterranean formation, dissolving a fraction of a formation mineralogy of the subterranean formation with the acid mixture, and chelating poly-valent metal ions with the chelating agent. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation, a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore, a fracture that extends into the subterranean formation, and a chelating acid blend positioned within the fracture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Mauro Lo Cascio, Pavlin B. Entchev, Timothy J. Hall, P. Matthew Spiecker
  • Publication number: 20210047483
    Abstract: Highly crosslinked polymer particulate and methods of manufacturing highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The highly crosslinked polymer particulate includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. Each crosslinked polymer granule includes a highly crosslinked polymeric material and a property-modifying filler. The highly crosslinked polymeric material includes a plurality of polyethylene polymer chains and a plurality of chemical crosslinks. The plurality of chemical crosslinks includes chemical crosslinks that covalently bond a given polyethylene polymer chain of the plurality of polyethylene polymer chains to another polyethylene polymer chain of the plurality of polyethylene polymer chains. The property-modifying filler is configured to modify at least one property of the plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. A characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule of the plurality of crosslinked polymer granules is at least 10 micrometers and at most 5 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Alan A. Galuska, Pavlin B. Entchev, William Handy, Robert M. Shirley
  • Publication number: 20210047482
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The methods include positioning a granular polymeric material within a crosslinking apparatus and crosslinking the granular polymeric material with the crosslinking apparatus to form a highly crosslinked polymeric material. The methods also include forming a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules from the highly crosslinked polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Alan A. Galuska, Pavlin B. Entchev, William Handy, Robert M. Shirley
  • Publication number: 20210047902
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules in sand control structures and/or methods of completing the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore, defines a tubular conduit, and includes a fluid-permeable segment. The hydrocarbon wells also include a sand control structure that is positioned within an annular space that extends between the wellbore and the fluid-permeable segment of the downhole tubular. The sand control structure is configured to restrict migration of formation sands from the subsurface region and into the tubular conduit via the fluid-permeable segment and includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. The methods include positioning a downhole tubular within a wellbore and providing a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules to an annular space that extends between the wellbore and a fluid-permeable segment of the downhole tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Charles S. Yeh, Robert M. Shirley, Pavlin B. Entchev
  • Publication number: 20210047551
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as lost circulation material and methods of drilling the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region, a drilling rig, a drilling mud supply system, a lost circulation detection structure, and a lost circulation material supply system that includes a lost circulation material. The lost circulation material includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and a characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule is at least 20 micrometers and at most 1 millimeter. Each crosslinked polymer granule contains a highly crosslinked polymeric material that includes a plurality of polyethylene polymer chains. The methods include rotating a drill string to extend a length of a wellbore and, during the rotating, flowing a drilling mud stream. The methods also include detecting a lost circulation event and, responsive to the detecting, providing a lost circulation material to the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Robert M. Shirley, Pavlin B. Entchev, Alan A. Galuska, William Handy
  • Publication number: 20210047480
    Abstract: Highly crosslinked polymer particulate. The highly crosslinked polymer particulate includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules. The crosslinked polymer granules include a highly crosslinked polymeric material. A characteristic dimension of each crosslinked polymer granule of the plurality of crosslinked polymer granules is at least 10 micrometers and at most 5 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Alan A. Galuska, William Handy, Pavlin B. Entchev, Robert M. Shirley
  • Publication number: 20210047906
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including crosslinked polymer granules as a proppant, methods of forming the hydrocarbon wells, and methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore that extends within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular that extends within the wellbore and defines a tubular conduit. The hydrocarbon wells also include a plurality of perforations formed within the downhole tubular and a plurality of fractures formed within the subsurface region. The hydrocarbon wells further include the proppant positioned within the plurality of fractures. The proppant includes a plurality of crosslinked polymer granules, and each crosslinked polymer granule has a characteristic dimension of at least 100 micrometers and at most 2 millimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Robert M. Shirley, Alan A. Galuska, William Handy, Dragan Stojkovic
  • Publication number: 20200406936
    Abstract: A transport system for carrying a proppant, the system comprising a loading tower, a first transfer tower, a second transfer tower and an unloading tower. The loading tower is located proximate a loading area while the unloading tower is located proximate an unloading area. The system also includes a first transfer tower and a second transfer tower. A first aerial cable conveys a transfer container from the loading tower to the first transfer tower, while a second aerial cable conveys the transfer container from the second transfer tower to the unloading tower. The transfer container is configured to be suspended from the first and second aerial cables en route from the loading tower to the unloading area. Sand or supplies from the transfer container is received at the unloading area for use in a wellbore operation. Methods of transporting sand for use in wellbore fracturing operations are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Charles A. Hope, Jose Alberto Ortega Andrade, Michael W. Clark
  • Publication number: 20190316444
    Abstract: A coiled tubing assembly includes coiled tubing conveyable into a wellbore, a rotational device operatively coupled to the coiled tubing, a rotatable tubing segment operatively coupled to the rotational device, and a bottom hole tool arranged at an end of the rotatable tubing segment opposite the rotational device. The rotational device rotates the rotatable tubing segment relative to the coiled tubing as the coiled tubing, the rotatable tubing segment, and the bottom hole tool are axially displaced along the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, David A. Howell
  • Patent number: 10352144
    Abstract: A tool assembly for performing a wellbore operation including an actuatable tool, a location device, and on-board controller are together dimensioned and arranged to be deployed in the wellbore as an autonomous unit. The actuatable tool, such as a perforating gun having associated charges, perforates a wellbore along a selected zone of interest. The location device, such as casing collar locator, senses the location of the actuatable tool based on a physical signature provided along the wellbore. The on-board controller or micro-processor is configured to send an activation signal to the actuatable tool when the location device has recognized a selected location of the tool based on the physical signature. The tool assembly further includes a multi-gate safety system. The safety system prevents premature activation of the actuatable tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Renzo M. Angeles Boza, George R. King, Robert C. Stanton, Elton Winemiller, Randy C Tolman, Peter W. Sauermilch, Jason Z. Gahr
  • Publication number: 20180245440
    Abstract: Methods for refracturing a subterranean formation via a hydrocarbon well that includes a downhole tubular extending within a wellbore formed within the subterranean formation. The methods include positioning a plurality of isolation structures within a tubular conduit defined by the downhole tubular to define a plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones. The downhole tubular includes a plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations. The methods also include stimulating an initial region of the subterranean formation, which is associated with an initial stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones, via an initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations and subsequently sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Carter T. Grooms
  • Publication number: 20180245439
    Abstract: Methods for refracturing a subterranean formation via a hydrocarbon well that includes a downhole tubular extending within a wellbore formed within the subterranean formation. The methods include positioning a plurality of isolation structures within a tubular conduit defined by the downhole tubular to define a plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones. The downhole tubular includes a plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations. The methods also include stimulating an initial region of the subterranean formation, which is associated with an initial stimulation zone of the plurality of spaced-apart stimulation zones, via an initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations and subsequently sealing the initial subset of the plurality of spaced-apart existing perforations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Pavlin B. Entchev, Carter T. Grooms
  • Patent number: 10053968
    Abstract: A completion assembly designed to perforate a section of casing along a wellbore, comprises a perforating gun, a canister, and a locator device. The canister contains ball sealers that are dimensioned to seal perforations, while the locator device is a casing collar locator that senses the location of the assembly within the wellbore based on the spacing of casing collars. The completion assembly also includes an on-board controller configured to send an actuation signal to the perforating gun to cause one or more detonators to fire when the locator has recognized a selected location of the completion assembly, thereby perforating the casing, and to release the ball sealers from the canister. Methods for seamlessly perforating and fracturing multiple zones along a wellbore are also provided, using a select-fire perforating gun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Randy C. Tolman, Pavlin B. Entchev, Timothy I. Morrow
  • Patent number: 9976399
    Abstract: Selectively actuated plungers and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The methods include flowing a wellbore fluid stream in fluid contact with a plunger and in an uphole direction within a wellbore conduit while the plunger is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit. The methods further include maintaining the plunger in a low fluid drag state while a variable associated with the wellbore fluid stream is outside a threshold range and transitioning the plunger to a high fluid drag state responsive to the variable associated with the wellbore conduit being within the threshold range. The methods further include conveying the plunger in the uphole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems include the plungers and/or hydrocarbon wells that include the plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Randy C. Tolman, Federico A. Tavarez, Pavlin B. Entchev, Krishnan Kumaran, Michael C. Romer