Patents by Inventor Timothy Gareth John Jones
Timothy Gareth John Jones 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: 9034651Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for determination of ion concentrations, particularly in downhole water from hydrocarbon wells, aquifers etc. It is useful in a wide range of applications, including predicting the formation of scale and fingerprinting waters from different sources. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of ligands whose electronic configuration is altered by the binding of the scaling ions within a water sample. These alterations are detected electrochemically by applying varying potential to electrodes and measuring current flow as potential is varied, from which is derived the concentration of scaling ions in the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Andrew Meredith, Markus Pagels, Amilra Prasanna De Silva
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Publication number: 20150072905Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous viscoelastic compositions comprising a cleavable surfactant and possibly also an electrolyte. The cleavable surfactants useful in the present invention comprise at least one weak chemical bond, which is capable of being broken under appropriate conditions, to produce oil soluble and water soluble products typically having no interfacial properties and surface activity compared with the original surfactant molecule. Further, the rheological properties of the aqueous viscoelastic composition are usually altered upon cleavage of the cleavable surfactant generally resulting in the elimination of the viscosifying, viscoelastic and surfactant properties of the composition. Aqueous viscoelastic compositions in accordance with the present invention are suitable for use in oil-field applications, particularly for hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Robert Seth Hartshorne, Trevor Lloyd Hughes, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin, Jian Zhou
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Patent number: 8785355Abstract: The present invention provides aqueous viscoelastic compositions comprising a cleavable anionic surfactant which is a sulphonate and possibly also an electrolyte. The cleavable surfactants useful in the present invention comprise a chemical bond, which is capable of being broken under appropriate conditions, to produce oil soluble and water soluble products typically having no interfacial properties and surface activity compared with the original surfactant molecule. Further, the rheological properties of the aqueous viscoelastic composition are usually altered upon cleavage of the cleavable surfactant generally resulting in the elimination of the viscosifying, viscoelastic and surfactant properties of the composition. Aqueous viscoelastic compositions in accordance with the present invention are suitable for use in oil-field applications, particularly for hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Robert Seth Hartshorne, Trevor Lloyd Hughes, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin, Jian Zhou
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Patent number: 8613843Abstract: An electro-chemical sensor for methane is described having a catalyst to react methane or other low molecular weight hydrocarbons and a detector to detect the turnover or reaction rate and using such information to determine the concentration of the methane or other low molecular weight species. The sensor is preferably used for measurements in a wellbore.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Timothy Gareth John Jones, Li Jiang
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Patent number: 8518702Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Oliver C. Mullins, Gale H. Gustavson, Christopher Harrison, Bhavani Raghuraman, Ronald E. G. Van Hal, Jimmy Lawrence, Kosta Ladavac, Albert Ballard Andrews, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos
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Patent number: 8268146Abstract: A wellbore tool has an electrochemical sensor for measuring the amount of hydrogen sulphide or thiols in a fluid downhole in a wellbore. The sensor comprises a temperature- and pressure-resistant housing containing a flow path for the fluids. The fluids flow over one side of a gas permeable membrane the other side of the membrane being exposed to a chamber containing at least two electrodes and containing a reaction solution which together with the hydrogen sulphide or thiols create a redox reaction resulting in an electrical current dependent upon the amount of hydrogen sulphide or thiols in the fluid. Measurement is made by passing formation fluid along the flow path and repeatedly applying varying potential to one electrode and measuring the peak current flowing between that electrode and a second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Jonathan Webster Brown, Andrew Gilbert
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Patent number: 8252730Abstract: A water-based wellbore treatment fluid contains: one or more viscoelastic-gelling carboxylic acids and/or alkali metal salts thereof; and one or more solubilizing alkylolamines. The carboxylic acids and/or alkali metal salts and the alkylolamines are present in the fluid in respective amounts such that, at 25° C., the alkylolamines solubilize a sufficient portion of the carboxylic acids and/or alkali metal salts to render the fluid viscoelastic. A remaining portion of the carboxylic acids and/or alkali metal salts forms a suspension of solid particulates in the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Robert Seth Hartshorne, Trevor Lloyd Hughes, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin, James Francis Westwood
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Patent number: 8241474Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for monitoring one or more characteristics associated with a fluid. An insulating layer comprising non-conducting diamond is positioned within a housing and has a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid. A plurality of microelectrodes made of electrically conducting diamond each have a surface exposed directly or indirectly to the fluid. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with each of the microelectrodes is adapted to convert electrical signals from the microelectrodes into at least one signal associated with a characteristic being monitored. The sensing system is well suited to hydrocarbon wellbore related applications, but can also be used in other applications.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Clive Edward Hall
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Patent number: 8122959Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more water-soluble reactive liquid component capable of subsequent polymerization or cross-linking to form a solid to improve the zonal isolation and alleviate the impacts of cracks and fissures in the cement sheath around a completed subterranean well. It includes the steps of injecting a wellbore fluid carrying the reactive component or additive into the wellbore, injecting a cementitious composition as slurry into the wellbore and letting said reactive liquid component pass through at least one of the interfaces between cement and formation, cement and filter cake, and filter cake and formation before forming a solid of said reactive liquid component that traverses said at least one of the interfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Christopher Alan Sawdon, Hemant Kuman Jethalal Ladva, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin
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Patent number: 8058071Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Oliver C. Mullins, Gale H. Gustavson, Christopher Harrison, Bhavani Raghuraman, Ronald E. G. Van Hal, Jimmy Lawrence, Kosta Ladavac, Albert Ballard Andrews, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos
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Patent number: 7987912Abstract: A subterranean location accessed via a wellbore is treated with an oilfield fluid containing a viscosifying agent which is a polymer and a cross-linking agent which can undergo the Diels-Alder reaction to form a gel. Conditions at the subterranean location alter fluid viscosity by bringing about the Diels-Alder reaction to increase viscosity or the retro Diels-Alder reaction to decrease the viscosity of the gel.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2008Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Kay Louise Robinson, Maria Violante De Paz Banez, Gary John Tustin, Timothy Gareth John Jones
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Patent number: 7959864Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Oliver C. Mullins, Gale H. Gustavson, Christopher Harrison, Bhavani Raghuraman, Ronald E. G. Van Hal, Jimmy Lawrence, Kosta Ladavac, A. Ballard Andrews, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos
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Publication number: 20110111507Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: May 12, 2011Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Oliver C. Mullins, Gale H. Gustavson, Christopher Harrison, Bhavani Raghuraman, Ronald E.G. Van Hal, Jimmy Lawrence, Kosta Ladavac, A. Ballard Andrews, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos
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Publication number: 20110104809Abstract: Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for detecting hydrogen sulfide in a formation fluid downhole. A detection mixture is combined with the formation fluid downhole. The detection mixture includes metal ions for reacting with hydrogen sulfide forming a metal sulfide, and charged nanoparticles sized so as to inhibit significant aggregation of the metal sulfide so as to enable spectroscopic detection of the metal sulfide downhole. The combined mixture and formation fluid is then spectroscopically interrogated so as to detect the presence of the metal sulfide thereby indicating the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the formation fluid. The mixture also includes chelating ligands for sustaining thermal endurance of the mixture under downhole conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Oliver C. Mullins, Gale H. Gustavson, Christopher Harrison, Bhavani Raghuraman, Ronald E.G. Van Hal, Jimmy Lawrence, Kosta Ladavac, A. Ballard Andrews, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Rogerio Tadeu Ramos
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Patent number: 7901555Abstract: An electro-chemical sensor is described having two molecular redox systems sensitive to the same species and having an detector to detect relative shifts in the voltammograms of the two redox systems.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Richard Compton, Nathan Lawrence, Gregory George Wildgoose, Malingappagari Pandurangappa, Oliver Clinton Mullins, Andrew Meredith
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Patent number: 7858562Abstract: A powder composition comprising viscoelastic surfactant forms, in aqueous solution, a viscoelastic wellbore treatment fluid.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2007Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin
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Patent number: 7858563Abstract: A treatment of a subterranean formation which contains a hydrocarbon-bearing zone, is carried out using a hydrocarbon-responsive fluid thickened with an oligomeric surfactant consisting of from 2 to 8_linked surfactant monomer subunits. The process of treatment comprises (i) mixing a thickening amount of oligomeric surfactant with an aqueous liquid to make a viscoelastic treatment fluid, (ii) pumping said viscoelastic treatment fluid through a wellbore and into the subterranean formation, where (iii) contact with hydrocarbons within the formation dissipates the viscosity of the treatment fluid.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2010Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Trevor Hughes, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin, Jian Zhou
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Patent number: 7835003Abstract: An optical sensor for pH is described using a cross-linked network of bisilanes to immobilize a pH sensitive chromophore to a surface potentially exposed to a high pressure, high temperature environment such as wellbore effluents at a downhole location.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2005Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones
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Publication number: 20100255587Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for determination of ion concentrations, particularly in downhole water from hydrocarbon wells, aquifers etc. It is useful in a wide range of applications, including predicting the formation of scale and fingerprinting waters from different sources. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of ligands whose electronic configuration is altered by the binding of the scaling ions within a water sample. These alterations are detected electrochemically by applying varying potential to electrodes and measuring current flow as potential is varied, from which is derived the concentration of scaling ions in the fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Andrew Meredith, Markus Pagels, Amilra Prasanna De Silva
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Publication number: 20100243480Abstract: A wellbore tool has an electrochemical sensor for measuring the amount of hydrogen sulphide or thiols in a fluid downhole in a wellbore. The sensor comprises a temperature- and pressure-resistant housing containing a flow path for the fluids. The fluids flow over one side of a gas permeable membrane the other side of the membrane being exposed to a chamber containing at least two electrodes and containing a reaction solution which together with the hydrogen sulphide or thiols create a redox reaction resulting in an electrical current dependent upon the amount of hydrogen sulphide or thiols in the fluid. Measurement is made by passing formation fluid along the flow path and repeatedly applying varying potential to one electrode and measuring the peak current flowing between that electrode and a second electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2010Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Li Jiang, Timothy Gareth John Jones, Jonathan Webster Brown, Andrew Gilbert