Patents by Inventor Steven Dexter Crane

Steven Dexter Crane 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: 20140190691
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing heat from one or more heaters to a hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation such that at least some hydrocarbons in the layer are mobilized; and producing at least some of the hydrocarbons through one or more production wells located in the hydrocarbon containing layer. At least one of the production wells is located at a selected depth in the hydrocarbon containing layer so that hydrocarbons of a selected quality are produced from a part of the hydrocarbon containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Kevin Albert Maher, John Michael Karanikas, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Steven Dexter Crane
  • Patent number: 8627887
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Kevin Albert Maher, John Michael Karanikas, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Steven Dexter Crane
  • Publication number: 20100126727
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Melliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Kevin Albert Maher, John Michael Karanikas, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Steven Dexter Crane
  • Patent number: 7066254
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a tar sands formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Steven Dexter Crane, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts
  • Patent number: 7055600
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section. A production rate of the mixture may be controlled to adjust the time that at least some hydrocarbons are exposed to pyrolysis temperatures in the formation in order to produce hydrocarbons of a selected quality in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Margaret Ann Messier, Steven Dexter Crane, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington
  • Patent number: 6981548
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from a first set of heat sources to a first section of the formation. The heat provided to the first section may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in the first section. Heat may also be provided from a second set of heat sources to a second section of the formation. The heat provided to the second section may mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the second section. A portion of the hydrocarbons from the second section may be induced to flow into the first section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation. The produced mixture may include at least some pyrolyzed hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Steven Dexter Crane, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Harold J. Vinegar
  • Publication number: 20030155111
    Abstract: An in situ process for treating a tar sands formation is provided. The process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a part of the formation such that heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes at least some hydrocarbons within the part. Hydrocarbons may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Scott Lee Wellington, Steven Dexter Crane, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts
  • Publication number: 20030098149
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may reduce the viscosity of at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A gas may be produced to the selected section of the formation. The gas may produce a flow of hydrocarbons within the selected section. A mixture of hydrocarbons may be produced from the selected section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Steven Dexter Crane, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Margaret Ann Messier, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Harold J. Vinegar
  • Publication number: 20030100451
    Abstract: A method for treating a relatively permeable formation containing heavy hydrocarbons in situ may include providing heat from one or more heat sources to a portion of the formation. The heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a selected section of the formation. The transferred heat may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons within the selected section. A temperature proximate a selected portion of a heater well may be selectively limited to inhibit coke formation at or near the selected portion. A mixture of at least some hydrocarbons may be produced through the selected portion of the heater well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventors: Margaret Ann Messier, Steven Dexter Crane, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Kevin Albert Maher, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk, Bruce Edmunds Roberts, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington