Patents by Inventor Richard E. Beckham

Richard E. Beckham 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: 11131177
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and techniques for deep reservoir stimulation of a hydrocarbon-containing subsurface formation. The methods may comprise introducing or injecting a formation-dissolving fluid, such as a wet acid-forming gas, into the subsurface formation; allowing the formation-dissolving fluid, such as the wet acid-forming gas, to react with the subsurface formation for a period of time; and producing hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Mauro Lo Cascio, William L. Esch, Richard E. Beckham, Edward C. Wanat, Shawn Fullmer, Chris Eric Shuchart
  • Patent number: 10302812
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing a spatial frequency of interface regions within a subterranean formation. A first method may include drilling a wellbore with a drilling assembly and measuring a downhole parameter during the drilling. The downhole parameter may be indicative of a lithology of a portion of the subterranean formation that is proximal to the drilling assembly. The first method also may include calculating an information entropy of the downhole parameter and characterizing the spatial frequency of the interface regions based upon the information entropy. A second method may include calculating the information entropy as a function of distance within a first wellbore and characterizing the spatial frequency of the interface regions. The second method also may include drilling a second wellbore within the subterranean formation and regulating the drilling based upon the spatial frequency of the interface regions. The systems include systems that perform the methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Richard E. Beckham, Scott R. Buechler
  • Publication number: 20190010795
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and techniques for deep reservoir stimulation of a hydrocarbon-containing subsurface formation. The methods may comprise introducing or injecting a formation-dissolving fluid, such as a wet acid-forming gas, into the subsurface formation; allowing the formation-dissolving fluid, such as the wet acid-forming gas, to react with the subsurface formation for a period of time; and producing hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mauro Lo Cascio, William L. Esch, Richard E. Beckham, Edward C. Wanat, Shawn Fullmer, Chris Eric Shuchart
  • Publication number: 20170152730
    Abstract: A method for forming extended wormholes in a subsurface formation comprising locating producer wells, injection wells, and guard wells in a field; determining a flux rate for a formation-dissolving fluid such as an acid, the flux rate being dependent upon different variables including the composition of the rock matrix making up the subsurface formation and the type of acid selected; injecting a guard fluid into the subsurface formation, through at least one guard well to form designed pressure boundaries and injecting the acid into the formation at a rate to reach the determined flux rate and thereby forming an extended network of wormholes through the subsurface formation in a defined direction or plane, with or without guard wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Abdollah Modavi, Richard E. Beckham
  • Patent number: 9617839
    Abstract: A method for forming extended wormholes in a subsurface formation comprising locating producer wells, injection wells, and guard wells in a field; determining a flux rate for a formation-dissolving fluid such as an acid, the flux rate being dependent upon different variables including the composition of the rock matrix making up the subsurface formation and the type of acid selected; injecting a guard fluid into the subsurface formation, through at least one guard well to form designed pressure boundaries and injecting the acid into the formation at a rate to reach the determined flux rate and thereby forming an extended network of wormholes through the subsurface formation in a defined direction or plane, with or without guard wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Abdollah Modavi, Richard E. Beckham
  • Publication number: 20160146003
    Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing a spatial frequency of interface regions within a subterranean formation. A first method may include drilling a wellbore with a drilling assembly and measuring a downhole parameter during the drilling. The downhole parameter may be indicative of a lithology of a portion of the subterranean formation that is proximal to the drilling assembly. The first method also may include calculating an information entropy of the downhole parameter and characterizing the spatial frequency of the interface regions based upon the information entropy. A second method may include calculating the information entropy as a function of distance within a first wellbore and characterizing the spatial frequency of the interface regions. The second method also may include drilling a second wellbore within the subterranean formation and regulating the drilling based upon the spatial frequency of the interface regions. The systems include systems that perform the methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Richard E. Beckham, Scott R. Buechler
  • Publication number: 20150345267
    Abstract: A method for forming extended wormholes in a subsurface formation comprising locating producer wells, injection wells, and guard wells in a field; determining a flux rate for a formation-dissolving fluid such as an acid, the flux rate being dependent upon different variables including the composition of the rock matrix making up the subsurface formation and the type of acid selected; injecting a guard fluid into the subsurface formation, through at least one guard well to form designed pressure boundaries and injecting the acid into the formation at a rate to reach the determined flux rate and thereby forming an extended network of wormholes through the subsurface formation in a defined direction or plane, with or without guard wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Abdollah Modavi, Richard E. Beckham