Patents by Inventor Philip D. Nguyen

Philip D. Nguyen 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: 20210215847
    Abstract: A system includes a neutron source positionable within a wellbore to emit one or more neutrons toward a formation surrounding the wellbore. The system also includes a gamma ray detector positionable within the wellbore to detect gamma rays. Further, the system includes a gamma ray analyzer that can perform operations. The operations can include receiving data indicating detected gamma rays from the gamma ray detector. Additionally, the operations include determining, from the data indicating the detected gamma rays, an amount of activated tracer material present within the wellbore originating from non-radioactive tracer material of drill-in fluid. The operations also include determining, from the amount of activated tracer material, an amount of filtercake buildup in a wellbore, a depth of fluid-loss filtrate into the formation surrounding the wellbore, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Weijun Guo, Jay Paul Deville
  • Publication number: 20210207467
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method comprising of determining an injection flow rate for each one of a plurality of wells, determining a total injection flow rate for the plurality of wells, introducing sequentially a series of treatment fluids into a well bore of each one of the plurality of wells, wherein each of the well bores penetrates at least a portion of a subterranean formation, the series of treatment fluids comprising: a first treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a reactive agent; and a second treatment fluid that comprises a microproppant slurry, allowing the first treatment fluid to form one or more fractures in the subterranean formation, and depositing at least a portion of a microproppant in the microproppant slurry in at least a portion of the one or more fractures in the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Stanley V. Stephenson
  • Publication number: 20210207021
    Abstract: Foamed treatment fluids for use in subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a foamed treatment fluid comprises: introducing a foamed treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance one or more fractures in the subterranean formation, wherein the foamed treatment fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, one or more surfactants, a natural gas, and a plurality of nanoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Tatyana V. Khamatnurova, Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Jun Su An
  • Publication number: 20210207465
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating subterranean formations for treating subterranean formations using propellant fracturing and hydraulic fracturing to detonate and inject in sequential stages. A method comprises disposing a propellant fracturing tool downhole into a well bore; introducing a fracturing fluid into a work string coupled to the fluid conduit to pressurize and set an upper packer and a lower packer against the well bore; detonating sequentially a plurality of propellant band stages to produce one or more fractures; introducing sequentially a series of treatment fluids into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the sequential introduction of the series of treatment fluids occurs between the sequential detonation of the plurality of propellant band stages; and depositing at least a portion of the treatment fluids in at least a portion of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Paul M. Ashcraft
  • Patent number: 11053786
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating subterranean formations for treating subterranean formations using propellant fracturing and hydraulic fracturing to detonate and inject in sequential stages. A method comprises disposing a propellant fracturing tool downhole into a well bore; introducing a fracturing fluid into a work string coupled to the fluid conduit to pressurize and set an upper packer and a lower packer against the well bore; detonating sequentially a plurality of propellant band stages to produce one or more fractures; introducing sequentially a series of treatment fluids into a well bore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the sequential introduction of the series of treatment fluids occurs between the sequential detonation of the plurality of propellant band stages; and depositing at least a portion of the treatment fluids in at least a portion of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Paul M. Ashcraft
  • Patent number: 11053431
    Abstract: Treatment fluids including a base fluid; and fly ash microspheres, wherein the fly ash microspheres are of a material selected from the group consisting of Class C fly ash, Class F fly ash, and any combination thereof, wherein the fly ash microspheres have a diameter in the range of from about 0.1??? to about 150???, and wherein the fly ash microspheres are present in the treatment fluid in an amount in the range of from about 0.001 ppg to about 1 ppg of the treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Jessica Lynn Heeter, James William Ogle
  • Patent number: 11046881
    Abstract: Mapping propped fractures in a well can be performed using a mixture including a proppant and an encapsulated salt. The proppant can be positioned in a fracture in the well for propping open the fracture to form a propped fracture. The encapsulated salt can be positioned in the propped fracture proximate to the proppant and include a salt and a non-permeable coating. The salt can be dissolved in response to fracture closure, encapsulant degradation, or encapsulant dissolution to form an electrically conductive solution usable for mapping the propped fracture. The non-permeable coating can prevent a fluid from contacting the salt during pumping and placement operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug W. Walser, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Philip D. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20210189224
    Abstract: An omniphobic emulsion comprising an aqueous continuous phase having dispersed therein a plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets; wherein the non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets are characterized by a droplet size of less than about 100 micrometers (?m); wherein each of the plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets comprises a plurality of surfactant molecules and an omniphobic agent, wherein each surfactant molecule has a hydrophilic head portion and a hydrophobic tail portion; wherein each of the plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets comprises the plurality surfactant molecules having the hydrophilic head portions disposed into a droplet outer layer with the hydrophobic tail portions extending inward from the droplet outer layer toward the omniphobic agent; and wherein the droplet outer layer encloses the omniphobic agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. NGUYEN, Tatyana V. KHAMATNUROVA
  • Patent number: 11041111
    Abstract: A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method, a method may comprise providing a proppant-free fracturing fluid; providing a proppant composition, wherein the proppant composition comprises proppant particulates and degradable thermoplastic particulates; introducing the proppant-free fracturing fluid into a subterranean formation at an injection rate above a fracture gradient to create or enhance at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; introducing the proppant composition into the at least one fracture; and allowing the proppant composition to form a proppant pack in the fracture, wherein the degradable thermoplastic particulates are degradable to generate voids in the proppant pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D Nguyen, Loan K Vo, Matthew Lewis Lahman
  • Publication number: 20210172308
    Abstract: Provided are methods and system for propping a fracture. An example method includes introducing a first fracturing fluid into the fracture; wherein the first fracturing fluid comprises a first amount of high crush strength proppant and a first aqueous base fluid; wherein the high crush strength proppant has a crush strength equal to or exceeding 4000 psi. The method further includes introducing a second fracturing fluid into the fracture; wherein the second fracturing fluid comprises a first amount of low crush strength proppant and a second aqueous base fluid; wherein the low crush strength proppant has a crush strength less than 4000 psi. The method also includes introducing a third fracturing fluid into the fracture; wherein the third fracturing fluid comprises a second amount of high crush strength proppant and a third aqueous base fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. NGUYEN, Ronald Glen DUSTERHOFT, Larry Steven EOFF
  • Publication number: 20210148210
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing the conductivity of fractures in a subterranean formation using electrically controlled propellants are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: introducing an electrically controlled propellant into one or more secondary boreholes in a subterranean formation near a main well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation; igniting the electrically controlled propellant in the secondary boreholes, whereby at least a portion of the region of the subterranean formation near the secondary borehole is at least partially ruptured by the ignition of the electrically controlled propellant in the secondary boreholes; and introducing a fracturing fluid into the main wellbore at or above a pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one primary fracture in the subterranean formation that extends into at least a portion of the ruptured region of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Golchehreh Salamat
  • Patent number: 11008506
    Abstract: Fracturing fluids and liquid concentrate proppant slurry compositions comprising high-density micro-proppants and low-density particulates in a single treatment fluid. The low-density particulates enhance the suspension of the high-density particulates resulting in improved vertical distribution and longitudinal transport and coverage in the complex fracture network. Methods of hydraulic fracturing using the disclosed fracturing fluids and liquid concentrate proppant slurries as well as methods of preparing liquid concentrate proppant slurries with improved storage properties, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Janette Cortez
  • Patent number: 11008845
    Abstract: Provided are example methods and systems for treating a subterranean formation. An example method comprises alternately pumping a volume of proppant-laden fluid and a volume of spacer fluid into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The proppant-laden fluid comprises an aqueous fluid and proppant. The spacer fluid comprises an aqueous fluid. At least one of the proppant-laden fluid or the spacer fluid comprises a synthetic clay. The volume of proppant-laden fluid and the volume of spacer fluid may be pumped in any order. The method further comprises repeating the alternately pumping a volume of proppant-laden fluid and a volume of spacer fluid at least once.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Dipti Singh, Ubong Inyang, Philip D. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20210140296
    Abstract: Energy created by a propellant can form a fracture in a subterranean formation. For example, a treatment fluid can be introduced into a subterranean formation. A propellant can be positioned in the subterranean formation. The propellant can be detonated to generate a fracture in the subterranean formation for receiving at least part of the treatment fluid. The treatment fluid may include an acid, a hydrolysable in-situ acid generator, a chelating agent, a hydrolysable in-situ chelating agent generator, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Antonio Recio, III, Golchehreh Salamat
  • Patent number: 10988683
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating proppant to mitigate erosion of equipment used in certain subterranean fracturing operations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: conveying a plurality of coated proppant particulates into a blender, wherein the coated proppant particulates comprise at least a partial coating of DFR and/or a hydratable polymer; blending the plurality of coated proppant particulates with an aqueous base fluid in the blender to form a treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid from the blender into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Sendees, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Janette Cortez Montalvo, Jun Su An
  • Patent number: 10988674
    Abstract: Methods including introducing a first treatment fluid comprising a first aqueous base fluid and a chelating etching agent into a low-permeability subterranean formation comprising carbonate material having a first fracture network at a first treatment interval therein, wherein the first fracture network comprises a first main fracture and a first microfracture. The method further comprises placing the chelating etching agent in the first fracture network and reacting it with the carbonate material in the first fracture network. In certain embodiments, the reacting removes the carbonate material, thereby creating at least one conductive channel on a face of the first fracture network. The method further comprises introducing a second treatment fluid comprising a second aqueous base fluid and micro-sized proppant particulates into the low-permeability subterranean formation and placing the micro-sized proppant particulates into the first fracture network to form a partial monolayer in the first microfracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Jessica Lynn Heeter, Aaron M. Beuterbaugh, Enrique A. Reyes, Christopher R. Parton, Loan K. Vo
  • Patent number: 10988677
    Abstract: Methods and systems employing a flocculation polymer and microparticulates. The flocculation polymer flocculates the microparticulates to form micro-aggregates for use in forming complex fracture networks. Additionally, the flocculation causes the flocculation polymer to be removed from a treatment fluid due to its interaction with the microparticulates, thereby effectively cleaning the flocculation polymer from a subterranean formation. Individual microparticulates are synergistically used alone or in the presence of a de-aggregating agent to enhance complex fracture networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Janette Cortez Montalvo, Philip D. Nguyen, Loan K. Vo, Travis Hope Larsen, Dipti Singh, Ronald Dusterhoft
  • Patent number: 10975292
    Abstract: An omniphobic emulsion comprising an aqueous continuous phase having dispersed therein a plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets; wherein the non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets are characterized by a droplet size of less than about 100 micrometers (?m); wherein each of the plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets comprises a plurality of surfactant molecules and an omniphobic agent, wherein each surfactant molecule has a hydrophilic head portion and a hydrophobic tail portion; wherein each of the plurality of non-aqueous discontinuous phase droplets comprises the plurality surfactant molecules having the hydrophilic head portions disposed into a droplet outer layer with the hydrophobic tail portions extending inward from the droplet outer layer toward the omniphobic agent; and wherein the droplet outer layer encloses the omniphobic agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Sendees, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Tatyana V. Khamatnurova
  • Patent number: 10954763
    Abstract: A method for directing a proppant in a subterranean formation including providing a first wellbore and a second wellbore, wherein the first wellbore and the second wellbore are disposed about a target area of the subterranean formation; creating a pressure differential between the first wellbore and the second wellbore, such that the pressure of one of the first wellbore or the second wellbore is at a higher pressure and the other of the first wellbore or second wellbore is at a lower pressure; and initiating a fracturing pressure in the higher pressure wellbore by pumping a fracturing fluid in the wellbore, the fracturing pressure sufficient to create a fracture at a predetermined location; whereby the fracturing fluid is drawn from the fractured wellbore toward the lower pressurized wellbore as a result of the pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nikolayevich Martysevich, Philip D. Nguyen, Mehdi A. Shahri, James W. Ogle, Ronald Glen Dusterhoft, Jesse Clay Hampton
  • Publication number: 20210079766
    Abstract: Well production enhancement systems and methods to enhance well production are disclosed. The method includes deploying an outer conveyance into a wellbore, where a plurality of propellants are deployed along a section of the outer conveyance. The method also includes deploying one or more isolation devices to form one or more isolation zones along the outer conveyance. The method further includes deploying an inner conveyance within the outer conveyance, where the inner conveyance is initially deployed along the section of the outer conveyance. The method further includes detonating the plurality of propellants to generate one or more fractures in a formation proximate to the section of the outer conveyance. The method further includes injecting fracture enhancement fluids into the one or more fractures to enhance well production through the one or more fractures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Philip D. NGUYEN, Michael W. SANDERS, Stanley V. STEPHENSON