Patents by Inventor Thomas Ray Starks

Thomas Ray Starks 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).

  • Use of superabsorbent polymers for pressure control and diversion applications
    Patent number: 10161223
    Abstract: A method of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprises: providing a diverting fluid comprising a carrier fluid, a first superabsorbent polymer and a second superabsorbent polymer, the second superabsorbent polymer having a shape, or a composition, or a combination thereof different from that of the first superabsorbent polymer; injecting the diverting fluid into the subterranean formation; and injecting a fracturing fluid into the formation after injecting the diverting fluid. A viscosity modifying agent can be present in the diverting fluid. Superabsorbent polymers can also be used to develop a temporary filter cake at the formation face to reduce or eliminate the fluid leakoff out of the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Jia Zhou, Harold Dean Brannon, Paul S. Carman, Leiming Li, Thomas Ray Starks, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Harold G. Hudson, Scott G. Nelson