Patents by Inventor Sam W. McDonald

Sam W. McDonald 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).

  • Methods for passing a swelling agent into a reservoir to block undesirable flow paths during oil production
    Patent number: 6889766
    Abstract: A method for recovering oil from a reservoir is provided. This method comprises passing a swelling agent into a permeable zone of the reservoir that allows fluid to flow between an injection well and a producing well. An aqueous solution is passed into the reservoir to contact the swelling agent, thereby causing the swelling agent to swell and substantially block the permeable zone. One or more injectants are passed into the reservoir to remove oil therefrom. The swelling agent inhibits the injectants from passing through the permeable zone, ensuring that the injectants pass through the areas of the reservoir containing oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Prentice G. Creel, Charles L. Boatman, Sam W. McDonald, Richard H. Tate, Eldon Dwyann Dalrymple
  • Methods for passing a swelling agent into a reservoir to block undesirable flow paths during oil production
    Publication number: 20040168798
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method for recovering oil from a reservoir. This method comprises passing a swelling agent into a permeable zone of the reservoir that allows fluid to flow between an injection well and a producing well. An aqueous solution is passed into the reservoir to contact the swelling agent, thereby causing the swelling agent to swell and substantially block the permeable zone. One or more injectants are passed into the reservoir to remove oil therefrom. The swelling agent inhibits the injectants from passing through the permeable zone, ensuring that the injectants pass through the areas of the reservoir containing oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: Prentice G. Creel, Charles L. Boatman, Sam W. McDonald, Richard H. Tate, Eldon Dwyann Dalrymple