Patents by Inventor Todd Pugsley

Todd Pugsley 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).

  • Patent number: 11236594
    Abstract: A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Acosta Ramirez, Todd Pugsley
  • Publication number: 20210277315
    Abstract: Processes for upgrading a heavy oil or heavy oil-derived feedstock in presence of an ionic liquid are described, and can improve the heavy oil or heavy oil-derived properties such as viscosity and composition, and reduced contaminant content, such as a reduced Total Acid Number (TAN) and a reduced heavy metal content. Processes for upgrading heavy oil or heavy oil-derived in presence of an ionic liquid can include a catalytic cracking treatment carried out under catalytic cracking conditions, and/or a non-catalytic treatment, as well as various separation steps to separate the ionic liquid or a diluent if present in the feedstock. The ionic liquids that can be used in the context of the processes described herein include ionic liquids that are feed-miscible or feed-immiscible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Carrie FANAI, Todd PUGSLEY, Dmitry BOGATKOV, Ying QI, Karolina MATUSZEK, Douglas Robert MACFARLANE, Alan Loyd CHAFFEE, Paula BERTON, Robin D. ROGERS, Steven L. BRYANT
  • Publication number: 20210025266
    Abstract: A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Acosta Ramirez, Todd Pugsley
  • Patent number: 10851630
    Abstract: A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Hugo Acosta Ramirez, Todd Pugsley
  • Publication number: 20180087354
    Abstract: A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Applicant: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Hugo Acosta Ramirez, Todd Pugsley