Patents by Inventor Robert Duenckel

Robert Duenckel 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: 20230399562
    Abstract: Proppant compositions and methods for using same are disclosed herein. In particular, a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing is disclosed herein. The proppant composition can contain a plurality of particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates containing a chemical treatment agent. The at least one particulate having a long term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D. The at least one chemical treatment agent can separate from the at least one particulate when located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Robert DUENCKEL, Mark CONNER, Chad CANNAN, Todd ROPER, Joshua LEASURE, Thu LIENG, Daniel CADY, Peter A. READ
  • Patent number: 11739260
    Abstract: Proppant compositions and methods for using same are disclosed herein. In particular, a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing is disclosed herein. The proppant composition can contain a plurality of particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates containing a chemical treatment agent. The at least one particulate having a long term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D. The at least one chemical treatment agent can separate from the at least one particulate when located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Duenckel, Mark Conner, Chad Cannan, Todd Roper, Joshua Leasure, Thu Lieng, Daniel Cady, Peter A. Read
  • Publication number: 20230071272
    Abstract: Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Benjamin T. ELDRED, Brett A. WILSON, Clayton F. GARDINIER, Robert DUENCKEL
  • Patent number: 11512025
    Abstract: Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Eldred, Brett A. Wilson, Clayton F. Gardinier, Robert Duenckel
  • Publication number: 20220213378
    Abstract: A composition and method for hydraulically fracturing an oil or gas well to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery using a porous ceramic proppant infused with a chemical treatment agent is provided. The chemical treatment agent may be a tracer material that provides diagnostic information about the production performance of a hydraulic fracture stimulation by the use of distinguishable both water soluble and hydrocarbon soluble tracers. The tracer can be a biological marker, such as DNA. The porous ceramic proppant can be coated with a polymer which provides for controlled release of the chemical treatment agent into a fracture or well bore area over a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Robert DUENCKEL, Mark CONNER, Chad CANNAN, Daniel CADY, Joshua LEASURE, Thu LIENG, Todd ROPER, Peter A. READ
  • Patent number: 11286418
    Abstract: A composition and method for hydraulically fracturing an oil or gas well to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery using a porous ceramic proppant infused with a chemical treatment agent is provided. The chemical treatment agent may be a tracer material that provides diagnostic information about the production performance of a hydraulic fracture stimulation by the use of distinguishable both water soluble and hydrocarbon soluble tracers. The tracer can be a biological marker, such as DNA. The porous ceramic proppant can be coated with a polymer which provides for controlled release of the chemical treatment agent into a fracture or well bore area over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Duenckel, Mark Conner, Chad Cannan, Daniel Cady, Joshua Leasure, Thu Lieng, Todd Roper, Peter A. Read
  • Publication number: 20220073813
    Abstract: Proppant compositions and methods for using same are disclosed herein. In particular, a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing is disclosed herein. The proppant composition can contain a plurality of particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates containing a chemical treatment agent. The at least one particulate having a long term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D. The at least one chemical treatment agent can separate from the at least one particulate when located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Robert DUENCKEL, Mark CONNER, Chad CANNAN, Todd ROPER, Joshua LEASURE, Thu LIENG, Daniel CADY, Peter A. READ
  • Patent number: 11124697
    Abstract: Proppant compositions and methods for using same are disclosed herein. In particular, a proppant composition for use in hydraulic fracturing is disclosed herein. The proppant composition can contain a plurality of particulates and at least one particulate of the plurality of particulates containing a chemical treatment agent. The at least one particulate having a long term permeability measured in accordance with ISO 13503-5 at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D. The at least one chemical treatment agent can separate from the at least one particulate when located inside a fracture of a subterranean formation after a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Robert Duenckel, Mark Conner, Chad Cannan, Todd Roper, Joshua Leasure, Thu Lieng, Daniel Cady, Peter A. Read
  • Patent number: 11078771
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the location and height of cement in a subterranean borehole region using pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logging tools. The methods include obtaining a pre-cementing data set, placing in the borehole region a cement slurry that includes a liquid a thermal neutron absorbing material, obtaining a post-cementing data set, comparing the pre-cementing data set and the post-cementing data set to determine the location of the cement, and correlating the location of the cement to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location and height of the cement placed in the borehole region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaogang Han, Harry D. Smith, Jr., Robert Duenckel, Jeremy Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200114415
    Abstract: A foundry media pellet includes a sintered ceramic material having a size from about 10 AFS GFN to about 110 AFS GFN, and a surface roughness of less than about 4 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Brett A. WILSON, Claude KRAUSE, Steve CANOVA, Keith LEW, Benjamin T. ELDRED, Clayton F. GARDINIER, Robert DUENCKEL
  • Patent number: 10513654
    Abstract: A method for making proppant particles is provided. The method can include providing a slurry of ceramic raw material, the slurry containing a reactant including a polycarboxylic acid, and flowing the slurry through a nozzle in a gas while vibrating the slurry to form droplets. The method can also include receiving the droplets in a vessel containing a liquid having an upper surface in direct contact with the gas, the liquid containing a coagulation agent. The method can further include reacting the reactant with the coagulation agent to cause coagulation of the reactant in the droplets. The droplets can then be transferred from the liquid and dried to form green pellets. The method can include sintering the green pellets in a selected temperature range to form the proppant particles. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the reactant can be or include a PMA:PAA copolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin T. Eldred, Brett A. Wilson, Clayton F. Gardinier, Robert Duenckel, Todd Roper
  • Patent number: 10507517
    Abstract: A foundry media pellet includes a sintered ceramic material having a size from about 10 AFS GFN to about 110 AFS GFN, and a surface roughness of less than about 4 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: CARBO CERAMICS INC.
    Inventors: Brett A. Wilson, Claude Krause, Steve Canova, Keith Lew, Benjamin T. Eldred, Clayton F. Gardinier, Robert Duenckel
  • Publication number: 20190292442
    Abstract: A composition and method for hydraulically fracturing an oil or gas well to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery using a porous ceramic proppant infused with a chemical treatment agent is provided. The chemical treatment agent may be a tracer material that provides diagnostic information about the production performance of a hydraulic fracture stimulation by the use of distinguishable both water soluble and hydrocarbon soluble tracers. The tracer can be a biological marker, such as DNA. The porous ceramic proppant can be coated with a polymer which provides for controlled release of the chemical treatment agent into a fracture or well bore area over a period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Robert DUENCKEL, Mark CONNER, Chad CANNAN, Daniel CADY, Joshua LEASURE, Thu LIENG, Todd ROPER, Peter A. READ
  • Publication number: 20190242232
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the location and height of a fracture in a subterranean formation using pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logging tools. The methods include obtaining a pre-fracture data set, hydraulically fracturing the formation with a slurry that includes a liquid and a proppant in which at least a portion of the proppant is tagged with a thermal neutron absorbing material, obtaining a post-fracture data set, comparing the pre-fracture data set and the post-fracture data set to determine the location of the proppant, and correlating the location of the proppant to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location and height of the propped fracture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Xiaogang Han, Harry D. Smith, Robert Duenckel, Jeremy Zhang
  • Publication number: 20190184450
    Abstract: A foundry media pellet includes a sintered ceramic material having a size from about 10 AFS GFN to about 110 AFS GFN, and a surface roughness of less than about 4 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Brett A. Wilson, Claude Krause, Steve Canova, Keith Lew, Benjamin T. Eldred, Clayton F. Gardinier, Robert Duenckel
  • Patent number: 10316242
    Abstract: A composition and method for hydraulically fracturing an oil or gas well to improve the production rates and ultimate recovery using a porous ceramic proppant infused with a chemical treatment agent is provided. The chemical treatment agent may be a tracer material that provides diagnostic information about the production performance of a hydraulic fracture stimulation by the use of distinguishable both water soluble and hydrocarbon soluble tracers. The tracer can be a biological marker, such as DNA. The porous ceramic proppant can be coated with a polymer which provides for controlled release of the chemical treatment agent into a fracture or well bore area over a period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Duenckel, Mark Conner, Chad Cannan, Daniel Cady, Joshua Leasure, Thu Lieng, Todd Roper, Peter A. Read
  • Publication number: 20190071366
    Abstract: Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin T. ELDRED, Brett A. WILSON, Clayton F. GARDINIER, Robert DUENCKEL
  • Publication number: 20190016949
    Abstract: A method for making proppant particles is provided. The method can include providing a slurry of ceramic raw material, the slurry containing a reactant including a polycarboxylic acid, and flowing the slurry through a nozzle in a gas while vibrating the slurry to form droplets. The method can also include receiving the droplets in a vessel containing a liquid having an upper surface in direct contact with the gas, the liquid containing a coagulation agent. The method can further include reacting the reactant with the coagulation agent to cause coagulation of the reactant in the droplets. The droplets can then be transferred from the liquid and dried to form green pellets. The method can include sintering the green pellets in a selected temperature range to form the proppant particles. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the reactant can be or include a PMA:PAA copolymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin T. ELDRED, Brett A. WILSON, Clayton F. GARDINIER, Robert DUENCKEL, Todd ROPER
  • Publication number: 20190016944
    Abstract: Proppant particles formed from slurry droplets and methods of use are disclosed herein. The proppant particles can include a sintered ceramic material and can have a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns. The methods of use can include injecting a hydraulic fluid into a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to open a fracture therein and injecting a fluid containing a proppant particle into the fracture, the proppant particle including a sintered ceramic material, a size of about 80 mesh to about 10 mesh, and an average largest pore size of less than about 20 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 17, 2019
    Inventors: Benjamin T. ELDRED, Brett A. WILSON, Clayton F. GARDINIER, Robert DUENCKEL
  • Patent number: 10161237
    Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the location and height of a fracture in a subterranean formation using pulsed neutron capture (PNC) logging tools. The methods include obtaining a pre-fracture data set, hydraulically fracturing the formation with a slurry that includes a liquid and a proppant in which at least a portion of the proppant is tagged with a thermal neutron absorbing material, obtaining a post-fracture data set, comparing the pre-fracture data set and the post-fracture data set to determine the location of the proppant, and correlating the location of the proppant to a depth measurement of the borehole to determine the location and height of the propped fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: CARBO Ceramics Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaogang Han, Harry D. Smith, Jr., Robert Duenckel, Qianmei (Jeremy) Zhang