Patents by Inventor Richard Pollard

Richard Pollard 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: 20220186039
    Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor has a film-forming portion. In one embodiment, the corrosion inhibitor further includes a surfactant, a coupling solvent and a carrier solvent. In another embodiment, the corrosion inhibitor has a film-forming portion that includes at least two multi-dentate compounds and a compound having a single active group. Each of the multi-dentate compounds and the compound having a single active group are selected from the group consisting of compounds having nitrogen-containing polar groups, compounds having acid groups and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Richard POLLARD, Neil PARK, Ali NARAGHI
  • Patent number: 10451604
    Abstract: A chemical probe composition comprising a base fluid and a chemical probe, wherein the chemical probe is capable of reacting with hydrogen sulfide to form a fluorophore and associated methods and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Sunil Ashtekar, Richard Pollard
  • Publication number: 20180045705
    Abstract: A chemical probe composition comprising a base fluid and a chemical probe, wherein the chemical probe is capable of reacting with hydrogen sulfide to form a fluorophore and associated methods and systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Sunil ASHTEKAR, Richard POLLARD
  • Patent number: 9033042
    Abstract: Systems and methods used in treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some embodiments also generally relate to barriers and/or methods to seal barriers. A method used to treat a subsurface formation may include heating a portion of a formation adjacent to a plurality of wellbores to raise a temperature of the formation adjacent to the wellbores above a mobilization temperature of bitumen and below a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the formation; and allowing the bitumen to move outwards from the wellbores towards a portion of the formation comprising water cooler than the mobilization temperature of the bitumen so that the bitumen solidifies in the formation to form a barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Gary Lee Beer, Marian Marino, Robert Irving McNeil, III, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Robert Charles Ryan, Richard Pollard
  • Patent number: 8701768
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some method include providing heat to a section of the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation, allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to heat a portion of the section to a selected temperature to generate an in situ deasphalting fluid in the section, contacting at least a portion of the in situ deasphalting fluid with hydrocarbons in the section to remove at least some asphaltenes from the hydrocarbons in the section, and producing at least a portion of the deasphalted hydrocarbons from the formation. The in situ deasphalting fluid may include hydrocarbons having a boiling range distribution between 35° C. and 260° C. at 0.101 MPa. A majority of the hydrocarbons in the section may have a boiling point greater than 260° C. at 0.101 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Marian Marino, Gary Lee Beer, Richard Pollard, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes
  • Patent number: 8327932
    Abstract: A method of recovering energy from a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes introducing an oxidizing fluid in a wellbore positioned in at least a first portion of the formation. At least a portion of the first portion of the formation has been subjected to an in situ heat treatment process. The portion includes a treatment area having elevated levels of coke substantially adjacent the wellbore. The pressure in the wellbore is increased by introducing the oxidizing fluid under pressure such that the oxidizing fluid substantially permeates a majority of the treatment area and initiates a combustion process. Heat from the combustion process is allowed to transfer to fluids in the treatment area. Pressure decreases in the wellbore such that heated fluids from the portion of the formation are conveyed into the wellbore. The heated fluids are transferred to a heat exchanger configured to collect thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Robert Irving McNeil, III, Richard Pollard
  • Publication number: 20110247814
    Abstract: Systems and methods used in treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some embodiments also generally relate to barriers and/or methods to seal barriers. A method used to treat a subsurface formation may include heating a portion of a formation adjacent to a plurality of wellbores to raise a temperature of the formation adjacent to the wellbores above a mobilization temperature of bitumen and below a pyrolysis temperature of hydrocarbons in the formation; and allowing the bitumen to move outwards from the wellbores towards a portion of the formation comprising water cooler than the mobilization temperature of the bitumen so that the bitumen solidifies in the formation to form a barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Gary Lee Beer, Marian Marino, Robert Irving McNeil, III, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Robert Charles Ryan, Richard Pollard
  • Publication number: 20110247820
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some method include providing heat to a section of the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation, allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to heat a portion of the section to a selected temperature to generate an in situ deasphalting fluid in the section, contacting at least a portion of the in situ deasphalting fluid with hydrocarbons in the section to remove at least some asphaltenes from the hydrocarbons in the section, and producing at least a portion of the deasphalted hydrocarbons from the formation. The in situ deasphalting fluid may include hydrocarbons having a boiling range distribution between 35° C. and 260° C. at 0.101 MPa. A majority of the hydrocarbons in the section may have a boiling point greater than 260° C. at 0.101 MPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Marian Marino, Gary Lee Beer, Richard Pollard, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes
  • Publication number: 20100258265
    Abstract: A method of recovering energy from a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes introducing an oxidizing fluid in a wellbore positioned in at least a first portion of the formation. At least a portion of the first portion of the formation has been subjected to an in situ heat treatment process. The portion includes a treatment area having elevated levels of coke substantially adjacent the wellbore. The pressure in the wellbore is increased by introducing the oxidizing fluid under pressure such that the oxidizing fluid substantially permeates a majority of the treatment area and initiates a combustion process. Heat from the combustion process is allowed to transfer to fluids in the treatment area. Pressure decreases in the wellbore such that heated fluids from the portion of the formation are conveyed into the wellbore. The heated fluids are transferred to a heat exchanger configured to collect thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Robert Irving McNeil, III, Richard Pollard