Patents by Inventor Simon D. Gittins
Simon D. Gittins 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).
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Patent number: 11965403Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs utilizing a production well having a plurality of fluid-inlet components spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. An injection fluid comprising a solvent is injected into the reservoir, resulting in a drainage fluid with a liquid phase and a gas phase occupying one or more of the production-well fluid-inflow zones. The production fluid is produced at a production-flow rate via a pump, and the gas phase:liquid phase ratio of the production fluid is modulated by orchestrating variations in the pump speed and one or more of the plurality of fluid-inlet components to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Cenovus Energy Inc.Inventors: Amos Ben-Zvi, Amin Fardi, Simon D Gittins, Michael Miller, Ryan Miller, Trenton M Schrader
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Patent number: 11821294Abstract: Methods are provided for producing hydrocarbons and recovering solvent from a subterranean reservoir that is penetrated by an injection well and a production well, in which a production phase involves injecting solvent (and optionally steam) to mobilize viscous hydrocarbons and a solvent-recovery phase involves non-condensable gas injection. The production phase and the solvent-recovery phase are each defined by an injection profile. The solvent-recovery-phase injection profile is selected: (i) based on the production-phase injection profile, and (ii) to ensure the pressure/temperature conditions in proximity to the production well favor gas-phase solvent recovery.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Cenovus Energy Inc.Inventors: Prince Azom, Amos Ben-Zvi, Simon D. Gittins, Ishan Deep Singh Kochhar, Ryan Miller
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Patent number: 11713656Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs utilize a production well having a plurality of individually-actuatable fluid-inlet components that are spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. An injection fluid including a non-condensable gas (NCG) is injected into the reservoir, such that a drainage fluid including at least a portion of the NCG occupies the production-well fluid-inlet zones. The gas phase:liquid phase ratio of a production fluid is modulated by identifying at least one of the production-well fluid-inlet zones as having a gas content above a threshold and thus being a higher-gas zone, and actuating variations in pump speed and the flow states of the plurality of fluid-inlet components adjacent and corresponding to the higher-gas zone to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones spaced apart from the higher-gas zone.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Cenovus Energy Inc.Inventors: Amos Ben-Zvi, Amin Fardi, Simon D Gittins, Michael Miller, Ryan Miller, Trenton M Schrader
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Patent number: 11603742Abstract: Processes are provided for conformance control in the production of hydrocarbons from reservoirs, involving the distribution of mobilizing injection fluids into a formation through a number of injection fluid distribution points spaced apart along an injection well. The volume and/or position of mobilizing fluid outflows at the distribution points is adjusted based on criteria that include selected reservoir parameters measured at spatially distributed measurement points in the reservoir. An operational system is provided so that these measurements provide a proxy for recovery chamber conformance.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Cenovus Energy Inc.Inventors: Simon D. Gittins, Jason R. C. Griffiths, Michael Miller
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Publication number: 20210396106Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs are disclosed herein. The methods utilize a production well that comprises a plurality of fluid-inlet components that are spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. The methods comprise injecting an injection fluid comprising a non-condensable gas (NCG) into the reservoir, such that a drainage fluid comprising at least a portion of the NCG occupies the production-well fluid-inlet zones. The method further comprises modulating the gas phase:liquid phase ratio of a production fluid by orchestrating variations in pump speed and the flow states of the plurality of fluid-inlet components to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones that are not plagued by high NCG content.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Amos Ben-Zvi, Amin Fardi, Simon D. Gittins, Michael Miller, Ryan Miller, Trenton M. Schrader
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Publication number: 20210396112Abstract: Processes are provided for conformance control in the production of hydrocarbons from reservoirs, involving the distribution of mobilizing injection fluids into a formation through a number of injection fluid distribution points spaced apart along an injection well. The volume and/or position of mobilizing fluid outflows at the distribution points is adjusted based on criteria that include selected reservoir parameters measured at spatially distributed measurement points in the reservoir. An operational system is provided so that these measurements provide a proxy for recovery chamber conformance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Simon D. GITTINS, Jason R. C. GRIFFITHS, Michael MILLER
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Publication number: 20210396111Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing hydrocarbons and recovering solvent from a subterranean reservoir that is penetrated by an injection well and a production well. The methods comprise orchestrating a production phase that involves injecting solvent (and optionally steam) to mobilize viscous hydrocarbons. The methods also comprise a solvent-recovery phase that involves non-condensable gas injection. The production phase and the solvent-recovery phase are each defined by an injection profile. The solvent-recovery-phase injection profile is selected: (i) based on the production-phase injection profile, and (ii) to ensure the pressure/temperature conditions in proximity to the production well favour gas-phase solvent recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Prince AZOM, Amos BEN-ZVI, Simon D GITTINS, Ishan Deep Singh KOCHHAR, Ryan MILLER
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Publication number: 20210396110Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs are disclosed herein. The methods utilize a production well that comprises a plurality of fluid-inlet components are spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. The methods comprise injecting an injection fluid comprising a solvent into the reservoir, such that a drainage fluid comprising a liquid phase and a gas phase occupies one or more of the production-well fluid-inflow zones. The method further comprises producing a production fluid at a production-flow rate via a pump, and modulating the gas phase:liquid phase ratio of the production fluid by orchestrating variations in the pump speed and one or more of the plurality of fluid-inlet components to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2021Publication date: December 23, 2021Inventors: Amos BEN-ZVI, Amin FARDI, Simon D GITTINS, Michael MILLER, Ryan MILLER, Trenton M SCHRADER
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Publication number: 20160061015Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for improved production of hydrocarbons along the length of a horizontal well where non-uniform fluid chambers have formed in the reservoir. The present method distributes fluid along the length of a substantially horizontal wellbore that is located within a reservoir such that different recovery processes, or distinct phases of a given recovery process, operating proximally or adjacently within that same reservoir, and in hydraulic communication with each other within that reservoir, are managed concurrently along the single wellbore.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Inventor: Simon D. GITTINS
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Patent number: 8844639Abstract: An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: FCCL PartnershipInventors: Subodh Gupta, Simon D. Gittins, Mark A. Bilozir
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Publication number: 20140251596Abstract: The present disclosure describes a single well predominantly gravity-dominated recovery process for producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil sands formation. The process operates a single vertical or inclined well within a formation, the wellbore having an injection means and a production means, the injection means being positioned in the wellbore closer to the surface than the production means. The process provides an area of high mobility adjacent the production means. A mobilizing fluid is injected through the injection means into the formation to mobilize the viscous hydrocarbons in the formation while substantially concurrently producing hydrocarbons through the production means. The gravity dominated process may be SAGD and the present process may be a single vertical or inclined well SAGD process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2013Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: CENOVUS ENERGY INC.Inventors: Simon D. GITTINS, Subodh GUPTA, Arun SOOD
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Publication number: 20140251608Abstract: The present disclosure describes a single well predominantly gravity-dominated recovery process for producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil sands formation. The process operates a single vertical or inclined well within a formation, the wellbore having an injection means and a production means, the injection means being positioned in the wellbore closer to the surface than the production means. The process provides an area of high mobility adjacent the production means. A mobilizing fluid is injected through the injection means into the formation to mobilize the viscous hydrocarbons in the formation while substantially concurrently producing hydrocarbons through the production means. The gravity dominated process may be SAGD and the present process may be a single vertical or inclined well SAGD process.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: CENOVUS ENERGY INC.Inventors: Simon D. GITTINS, Subodh GUPTA, Arun SOOD
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Patent number: 8770281Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir by operating a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process with two adjacent well pairs. Each well pair includes an injector well and a producer well. A mobilized zone forms around each well pair through the gravity-controlled recovery process, and a bypassed region forms between the adjacent well pairs when the respective mobilized zone of each well pair merge to form a common mobilized zone. A plurality of infill producer wells are provided in the bypassed region. The plurality of infill producer wells are operated to establish fluid communication between the plurality of infill producer wells and the common mobilized zone. Once fluid communication is established, the plurality of infill producer wells and the adjacent well pairs are operated under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, and hydrocarbons are recovered from the plurality of infill producer wells and from the producer wells.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Cenovus Energy Inc.Inventors: John E. Arthur, Simon D. Gittins, Harbir S. Chhina
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Publication number: 20120325470Abstract: An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: FCCL PARTNERSHIPInventors: Subodh Gupta, Simon D. Gittins, Mark A. Bilozir
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Publication number: 20120217005Abstract: A slotted liner having straight-cut liner slots with a wall roughness which does not exceed 1 ?m. A slot cutting method to produce smooth slots using a specified blade configuration, rotational speed, and feed rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: August 30, 2012Inventors: Subodh Gupta, Arnoud Struyk, Denis Gilbert, Simon D. Gittins
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Publication number: 20120193094Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir by operating a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process with two adjacent well pairs. Each well pair includes an injector well and a producer well. A mobilized zone forms around each well pair through the gravity-controlled recovery process, and a bypassed region forms between the adjacent well pairs when the respective mobilized zone of each well pair merge to form a common mobilized zone. A plurality of infill producer wells are provided in the bypassed region. The plurality of infill producer wells are operated to establish fluid communication between the plurality of infill producer wells and the common mobilized zone. Once fluid communication is established, the plurality of infill producer wells and the adjacent well pairs are operated under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, and hydrocarbons are recovered from the plurality of infill producer wells and from the producer wells.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Inventors: John E. Arthur, Simon D. Gittins, Harbir S. Chhina
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Patent number: 7556099Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir by operating a first injector-producer well pair under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, the first injector-producer well pair forming a first mobilized zone, operating a second injector-producer well pair under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, the second injector-producer well pair forming a second mobilized zone, the first injector-producer well pair and the second injector-producer well pair together being the adjacent well pairs, providing an infill well in a bypassed region, the bypassed region formed between the adjacent well pairs when the first mobilized zone and the second mobilized zone merge to form a common mobilized zone, operating the infill well to establish fluid communication between the infill well and the common mobilized zone, operating the infill well and the adjacent well pairs under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, and recovering hydrocarbons from the infill wellType: GrantFiled: June 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Encana CorporationInventors: John E. Arthur, Simon D. Gittins, Harbir S. Chhina