Patents by Inventor Robert Charles Ryan

Robert Charles Ryan 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: 20160084051
    Abstract: Methods of treating a tar sands formation is described herein. The methods may include providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature. At least a portion of residual heat from the first section transfers from the first section to a second section of the formation. At least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section are mobilized by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan
  • 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: 8789586
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140027119
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, llya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, JR., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8485252
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130008660
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, JR., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 8261832
    Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon formation includes providing heat to the hydrocarbon formation from a plurality of heaters. The heat transfers from the heaters so that at least a section the formation reaches a selected temperature. The section includes hydrocarbons having an API gravity below 10°. A solution including water is provided to the section. A temperature of the solution is at least 250° C. A pressure of the formation is maintained such that the water remains a liquid at 250° C. At least a some of the hydrocarbons in the section having an API gravity below 10° are contacted to produce hydrocarbon fluids. The hydrocarbon fluids in the section are mobilized. The hydrocarbon fluids include hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 10°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 8225866
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • 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: 20110088904
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Thomas David Fowler, Gordon Thomas Shahin, JR., Robert Charles Ryan, George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 7849922
    Abstract: Methods of treating a tar sands formation is described herein. The methods may include providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature. At least a portion of residual heat from the first section transfers from the first section to a second section of the formation. At least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section are mobilized by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 7798221
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, James Louis Menotti, John Matthew Coles, Thomas David Fowler, Charles Robert Keedy, Ajay Madhav Madgavkar, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld, Robert Charles Ryan, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Frederick Gordon Carl
  • Publication number: 20100155070
    Abstract: A method for treating subsurface formation includes providing a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream produced from an in situ heat treatment process. At least a portion of the hydrocarbon-containing feed stream is treated with one or more aqueous acid compounds to produce an aqueous stream including organonitrogen compounds. At least a portion of the aqueous stream including organonitrogen compounds is provided to at least a portion of a formation that has been at least partially treated by an in situ-heat treatment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Vijay Nair, Robert Charles Ryan, Michel Serge Marie Muylle
  • Publication number: 20100101794
    Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon formation includes providing heat to the hydrocarbon formation from a plurality of heaters. The heat transfers from the heaters so that at least a section the formation reaches a selected temperature. The section includes hydrocarbons having an API gravity below 10°. A solution including water is provided to the section. A temperature of the solution is at least 250° C. A pressure of the formation is maintained such that the water remains a liquid at 250° C. At least a some of the hydrocarbons in the section having an API gravity below 10° are contacted to produce hydrocarbon fluids. The hydrocarbon fluids in the section are mobilized. The hydrocarbon fluids include hydrocarbons having an API gravity of at least 10°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Charles Ryan
  • Patent number: 7635024
    Abstract: Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200° C. and 240° C., which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Tulio Rafael Colmenares, Etuan Zhang, Marian Marino, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Robert Charles Ryan, Gary Lee Beer, Robert James Dombrowski, Namit Jaiswal
  • Patent number: 7591310
    Abstract: A method includes producing formation fluid from a subsurface in situ heat treatment process. The formation fluid is separated to produce a liquid stream and a gas stream. At least a portion of the liquid stream is provided to a hydrotreating unit. At least a portion of selected in situ heat treatment clogging compositions in the liquid stream are removed to produce a hydrotreated liquid stream by hydrotreating at least a portion of the liquid stream at conditions sufficient to remove the selected in situ heat treatment clogging compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes Kornelis Minderhoud, Richard Gene Nelson, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Robert Charles Ryan, Vijay Nair
  • Publication number: 20090101346
    Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat input into the formation may be controlled to raise the temperature of portion at a selected rate during pyrolysis of hydrocarbons within the formation. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. The mixture may be separated into condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The condensable hydrocarbons removed from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a relatively low olefin content and a relatively high API gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, IIya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, James Louis Menotti, John Matthew Coles, Thomas David Fowler, Charles Robert Keedy, Ajay Madhav Madgavkar, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld, Robert Charles Ryan, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Frederick Gordon Carl
  • Publication number: 20090090509
    Abstract: Methods of treating a tar sands formation is described herein. The methods may include providing heat to a first section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the first section of the formation. Heat is transferred from the heaters so that at least a first section of the formation reaches a selected temperature. At least a portion of residual heat from the first section transfers from the first section to a second section of the formation. At least a portion of hydrocarbons in the second section are mobilized by providing a solvation fluid and/or a pressurizing fluid to the second section of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Publication number: 20080283246
    Abstract: Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an average temperature of between 200° C. and 240° C., which results in visbreaking of at least some hydrocarbons in the section. At least some visbroken hydrocarbon fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Tulio Rafael Colmenares, Etuan Zhang, Marian Marino, Augustinus Wilhelmus Maria Roes, Robert Charles Ryan, Gary Lee Beer, Robert James Dombrowski
  • Patent number: 7225866
    Abstract: A oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources may be used to heat the formation. The heat sources may be positioned within the formation in a selected pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ilya Emil Berchenko, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Thomas David Fowler, John Michael Karanikas, Robert Charles Ryan, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., George Leo Stegemeier, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Etuan Zhang