Patents by Inventor Thomas David Fowler

Thomas David Fowler 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).

  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using heat sources positioned within open wellbores
    Patent number: 6752210
    Abstract: A coal formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. 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 positioned within open wellbores in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Charles Robert Keedy, Robert Charles Ryan, Bruce Gerard Hunsucker
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using a controlled heating rate
    Patent number: 6749021
    Abstract: A coal 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. A heating rate to a selected volume of the formation may be controlled by altering an amount of heating energy per day that is provided to the selected volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to increase a permeability/porosity of the formation
    Publication number: 20040108111
    Abstract: A coal 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 may increase a permeability of the formation. The permeability may increase uniformly throughout the treated formation. The permeability of the treated portion may increase to a relatively high permeability as compared to an initial permeability of the untreated coal formation. The porosity of the treated formation may also uniformly increase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation using a controlled heating rate
    Patent number: 6745837
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. A heating rate to a selected volume of the formation may be controlled by altering an amount of heating energy per day that is provided to the selected volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to control product composition
    Patent number: 6745832
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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 and pressure applied to the formation may be controlled so that a majority of the hydrocarbons produced from the formation have carbon numbers less than 25. Conditions may be controlled to produce low quantities of olefins in non-condensable hydrocarbons produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation by controlling a pressure of the formation
    Patent number: 6745831
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. A pressure within a majority of the portion may be controlled and/or maintained to alter a composition of the produced mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation using repeating triangular patterns of heat sources
    Patent number: 6742589
    Abstract: A coal 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 pattern. The pattern may be a repeating pattern of triangles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Ilya Emil Berchenko, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, George Leo Stegemeier, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce formation fluids having a relatively low olefin content
    Patent number: 6742588
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. A hydrocarbon condensate produced from the formation may be a high quality oil that has a low olefin content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation and tuning production
    Patent number: 6739393
    Abstract: A coal 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. The mixture may be produced from the formation through production wells. A spacing between production wells, and operating conditions of production wells and heat injection wells, may allow the produced mixture to have a desired ratio of condensable hydrocarbons to non-condensable hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • Production of synthesis gas from a hydrocarbon containing formation
    Patent number: 6739394
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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 synthesis gas production temperature. A synthesis gas producing fluid may be introduced into the formation to generate synthesis gas. Synthesis gas may be produced from the formation in a batch manner or in a substantially continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    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, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Lanny Gene Schoeling, Robert Martijn Van Hardeveld
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a mixture with a selected hydrogen content
    Patent number: 6732794
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. The mixture produced from the formation may have a relatively high hydrogen partial pressure, and a large portion of the pressure within the formation may be attributable to hydrogen partial pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Harold J. Vinegar, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to pyrolyze a selected percentage of hydrocarbon material
    Patent number: 6732795
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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 may be allowed to transfer from one or more heat sources to a selected section of the formation such that superimposed heat from the one or more heat sources pyrolyzes a relatively large portion of hydrocarbon material within the selected section of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected ratio of heat sources to production wells
    Patent number: 6729395
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. The mixture may be produced from the formation through a plurality of production wells. A selected number of heat sources may be positioned in the formation for each production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation with a selected vitrinite reflectance
    Patent number: 6729397
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. The formation to be treated may be chosen so that the mixture produced from the formation will have a desired amount of condensable hydrocarbons and non-condensable hydrocarbons. The formation to be treated may be chosen based on an initial vitrinite reflectance of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Etuan Zhang, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation to produce hydrocarbons having a selected carbon number range
    Patent number: 6729396
    Abstract: A coal 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. An average temperature and/or pressure within the formation may be controlled to inhibit production of hydrocarbons that have carbon numbers greater than 25. A small amount of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers greater than 25 may be entrained in vapor produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation by controlling a pressure of the formation
    Patent number: 6725921
    Abstract: A coal 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. A pressure within a majority of a selected section of the formation may be controlled and/or maintained to alter a composition of the produced mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, John Michael Karanikas, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to convert a selected amount of total organic carbon into hydrocarbon products
    Patent number: 6725920
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. Heating may be controlled such that at least a selected amount of a total organic carbon content of the hydrocarbon material in the formation may be converted into formation fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Etuan Zhang, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of a coal formation with a selected oxygen content and/or selected O/C ratio
    Patent number: 6722430
    Abstract: A coal 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. A formation may be selected that will produce a relatively large amount of condensable hydrocarbons and/or a relatively large amount of non-condensable hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons within the formation may have a relatively low initial elemental oxygen weight percentage. The formation to be treated may be selected based on initial elemental oxygen to carbon ratio of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    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, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan
  • In situ thermal processing of hydrocarbons within a relatively permeable formation
    Patent number: 6722431
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to a first portion of the formation to mobilize hydrocarbons within the formation. Heat may be applied to a second portion of the formation to raise a temperature of the second portion to a pyrolysis temperature. Vaporized hydrocarbons and pyrolysis fluids may be produced from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John Michael Karanikas, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan, Meliha Deniz Sumnu-Dindoruk
  • In situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation leaving one or more selected unprocessed areas
    Patent number: 6722429
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing 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. An unpyrolyzed section may be left between two substantially pyrolyzed sections to inhibit subsidence of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Pierre de Rouffignac, Harold J. Vinegar, Scott Lee Wellington, Ilya Emil Berchenko, George Leo Stegemeier, Kevin Albert Maher, Etuan Zhang, Gordon Thomas Shahin, Jr., Thomas David Fowler, Robert Charles Ryan