Patents by Inventor Philip F. Sullivan

Philip F. Sullivan 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: 9950952
    Abstract: Pumpable process-fluid compositions and methods for establishing hydraulic isolation in cemented subterranean wells comprise more than 1 wt % polyacrylamide and a non-metallic crosslinker. Upon entering voids and cracks in or adjacent to a cement sheath, and contacting the set-cement surfaces, the compositions react and form a seal that prevents further leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Philip F. Sullivan, Gary John Tustin
  • Patent number: 9834719
    Abstract: Pumpable process-fluid compositions comprise polyacrylamide, a non-metallic crosslinker and a pH-adjustment material. Such compositions have utility in the context of controlling lost circulation in subterranean wells. Upon entering at least one lost circulation zone, the compositions crosslink, thereby forming a barrier that minimizes or stops fluid flow from the wellbore into the lost circulation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Quanxin Guo, Brent Busby, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20170158939
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for treating subterranean formations, in particular, oilfield stimulation compositions and methods using water-in-water polymer emulsions to uniformly dissolve a rheologically active polymer, such as a thickener or friction reducer, in the treatment fluid. The emulsions have a low viscosity and are easily pumped for mixing into a treatment fluid, where upon dilution with an aqueous medium, the polymer is easily hydrated without forming fish-eyes. The partitioning agent in the water-in-water emulsion does not generally affect the rheology of the treatment fluid. The invention also relates to further processing of the emulsion by wet grinding, high shear mixing and/or heating to enhance the hydration rate in the preparation of the well treatment fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Yiyan Chen, Lijun Lin, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9574128
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for treating subterranean formations, in particular, oilfield stimulation compositions and methods using water-in-water polymer emulsions to uniformly dissolve a rheologically active polymer, such as a thickener or friction reducer, in the treatment fluid. The emulsions have a low viscosity and are easily pumped for mixing into a treatment fluid, where upon dilution with an aqueous medium, the polymer is easily hydrated without forming fish-eyes. The partitioning agent in the water-in-water emulsion does not generally affect the rheology of the treatment fluid. The invention also relates to further processing of the emulsion by wet grinding, high shear mixing and/or heating to enhance the hydration rate in the preparation of the well treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yiyan Chen, Lijun Lin, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20170009127
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods of treating a surface in contact with a wellbore and/or a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising forming a treatment composition comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, and a liquid medium; and injecting the treatment fluid into the well bore, wherein the treatment composition forms a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase, and wherein the stability of the heterogeneous mixture is controlled by introducing a stability control agent. This invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a water in water emulsion, comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, a liquid medium; and a stability control agent, wherein the emulsion is a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Philip F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9475974
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods of treating a surface in contact with a wellbore and/or a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore, comprising forming a treatment composition comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, and a liquid medium; and injecting the treatment fluid into the well bore, wherein the treatment composition forms a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase, and wherein the stability of the heterogeneous mixture is controlled by introducing a stability control agent. This invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a water in water emulsion, comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, a liquid medium; and a stability control agent, wherein the emulsion is a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Philip F. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 9453404
    Abstract: The current application discloses methods and systems for generating mechanical tube waves in fluid filled boreholes penetrating subterranean formations. In one embodiment, the system of the current application comprises an energy storage chamber; a fast operating valve connected to the energy storage chamber; a pipe connected to the valve and extending to the liquid-filled borehole; wherein the energy storage chamber contains a first pressure that is substantially different from a second pressure in the pipe so that a fast operation of the valve generates a tube wave in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rod Shampine, Philip F. Sullivan, Douglas E. Miller, Dominque Guillot, Francois M. Auzerais, Richard T. Coates
  • Publication number: 20160230071
    Abstract: Compositions comprise polyacrylamide, a non-metallic crosslinker and a pH-adjustment material. Such compositions have utility in the context of remedial cementing, plug cementing in particular. The compositions may be pumped into a subterranean well, where they polymerize and form a support on which a cement plug may sit. The support may maintain the position of the cement plug in the wellbore and minimize cement-plug contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Philip F. Sullivan, Dominique Guillot, Bruno Drochon
  • Patent number: 9334438
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods for treating subterranean formations, in particular, oilfield stimulation compositions and methods using water-in-water polymer emulsions to uniformly dissolve a rheologically active polymer, such as a thickener or friction reducer, in the treatment fluid. The emulsions have a low viscosity and are easily pumped for mixing into a treatment fluid, where upon dilution with an aqueous medium, the polymer is easily hydrated without forming fish-eyes. The partitioning agent in the water-in-water emulsion does not generally affect the rheology of the treatment fluid. The invention also relates to further processing of the emulsion by wet grinding, high shear mixing and/or heating to enhance the hydration rate in the preparation of the well treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Philip F. Sullivan, Gary John Tustin, Yenny Christanti, Gregory Kubala, Bruno Drochon, Yiyan Chen, Marie Noelle Dessinges, Paul R. Howard
  • Publication number: 20160096988
    Abstract: Pumpable process-fluid compositions comprise polyacrylamide, a non-metallic crosslinker and a pH-adjustment material. Such compositions have utility in the context of controlling lost circulation in subterranean wells. Upon entering at least one lost circulation zone, the compositions crosslink, thereby forming a barrier that minimizes or stops fluid flow from the wellbore into the lost circulation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Quanxin Guo, Brent Busby, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20160060985
    Abstract: Pumpable process-fluid compositions comprise polyacrylamide, a non-metallic crosslinker and a pH-adjustment material. Such compositions have utility in the context of controlling lost circulation in subterranean wells. Upon entering at least one lost circulation zone, the compositions crosslink, thereby forming a barrier that minimizes or stops fluid flow from the wellbore into the lost circulation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Quanxin Guo, Brent Busby, Philip F. Sullivan
  • Publication number: 20150144346
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a gel comprising, polyacrylamide crosslinked with a non-metallic crosslinker, the non-metallic crosslinker comprising a polyamine. A method of making the gel and a method of using the gel are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Andrey Mirakyan, Philip F. Sullivan, Richard D. Hutchins, Lijun Lin, Gary Tustin, Bruno J. Drochon
  • Patent number: 9034803
    Abstract: The current application discloses fluids and methods for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. In one aspect, there is provided a fluid comprising chitosan and titanate, where the fluid has an increased viscosity compared with a solution containing chitosan without titanate. In another aspect, there is provided a method of using such fluid to treat a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore. The method may comprise mixing chitosan and titanate in a carrying medium, forming a gel comprising chitosan and titanate, introducing the gel into a subterranean formation, and treating the subterranean formation with the gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jack Li, Philip F. Sullivan, Robert Seth Hartshorne
  • Publication number: 20150060072
    Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation are disclosed that include placing a treatment fluid into a subterranean formation, the treatment fluid containing a solid agent and one or more polymers capable of consolidating to form a composite polymeric structure at a downhole location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Brent Busby, Sergey Makarychev-Mikhailov, Jazmin Godoy-Vargas, Philip F. Sullivan, Patrice Abivin, Marie Cambournac
  • Publication number: 20150053402
    Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation are disclosed that include contacting a paste including a liquid chemical and a lightweight fiber having a high aspect ratio with a treatment fluid, and placing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. Also disclosed is an additive for treating a subterranean formation comprising a paste including a liquid chemical and a lightweight fiber having a high aspect ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: William Troy Huey, Avinash Ramesh, Zinaida Usova, Dean Michael Willberg, Philip F. Sullivan, Richard Donald Hutchins
  • Patent number: 8765646
    Abstract: A slurry and method are disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The slurry comprises a solids mixture comprising a plurality of volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) exceeds 0.75; a carrier fluid in an amount to provide a solids volume fraction (SVF) less than the PVF of the solids mixture; and a stability additive to inhibit settling of the solids mixture. The method comprises circulating the slurry into a wellbore to deposit the slurry downhole; terminating the slurry circulation for a period of time, wherein the stability additive inhibits settling of the solids mixture; and thereafter circulating the deposited slurry in contact with a surface of a screen. Stability additives disclosed include colloidal particles, hydratable polymer particles, and particles having an aspect ratio above 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mohan K. R. Panga, Philip F. Sullivan, Balkrishna Gadiyar, Ryan Hartman, Bruno Drochon, John W. Still, Bryan Stamm
  • Publication number: 20140155305
    Abstract: An aqueous solution comprising a thickening polymer with diol groups distributed along it, such as guar or other polysaccharide, is cross linked with a cross-linker which contains a plurality of boroxole groups of the partial formula wherein R1 is hydrogen or a substituent group or an attachment to the remainder of the cross-linker molecule, R2 is hydrogen or a substituent group, R3 is hydrogen or an aliphatic or aromatic group and the carbon atoms joined by a double bond are part of an aromatic ring. The thickened fluid may be a wellbore fluid and may be a hydraulic fracturing fluid in which a particulate proppant is suspended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Seth HARTSHORNE, Karene Guilaine URGIN, Lynne Patricia CRAWFORD, Philip F. SULLIVAN, Paul Richard HOWARD, Trevor Lloyd HUGHES, Timothy G. J. JONES
  • Publication number: 20140076563
    Abstract: Compositions comprise polyacrylamide, a non-metallic crosslinker and a pH-adjustment material. Such compositions have utility in the context of remedial cementing, plug cementing in particular. The compositions may be pumped into a subterranean well, where they polymerize and form a support on which a cement plug may sit. The support may maintain the position of the cement plug in the wellbore and minimize cement-plug contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Philip F. Sullivan, Dominique Guillot, Bruno Drochon
  • Patent number: 8627889
    Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation while drilling a well includes the steps of preparing a fluid useful for drilling a wellbore into the formation; drilling the wellbore into the formation with the fluid; acidizing the fluid such that the acid soluble additive is degraded; and fracturing the formation with the fluid in the wellbore to create a channel in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Don Williamson, Philip F. Sullivan, Marie Noelle Dessinges
  • Publication number: 20130319670
    Abstract: Process fluids comprising more than 1 wt % polyacrylamide and a non-metallic crosslinker may be used to control lost circulation in subterranean wells. The process fluid is placed into a subterranean lost-circulation zone and allowed to crosslink, thereby forming a gel barrier that limits further flow of process fluid into the zone. The non-metallic crosslinker may preferably comprise one or more polylactams. A pH-adjusting agent may also be incorporated into the process fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Lijun Lin, Simon Gareth James, Philip F. Sullivan, Gary John Tustin, Richard D. Hutchins, Andrey Mirakyan