Automatic Control For Production Patents (Class 166/250.15)
  • Patent number: 9988879
    Abstract: A system, method, and software are provided for use in modeling zonal allocation in multilayered subterranean reservoirs. Information associated with a wellbore that is in fluid communication with producing zones of a multilayered subterranean reservoir is provided. A methodology is selected to compute zonal splits for the wellbore and zonal splits for the wellbore are automatically computed using the selected methodology and the information associated with the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Irina Prestwood, Pojana Vimolsubsin, Pavarit Trakulhoon
  • Patent number: 9954414
    Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water includes a fluid-end with a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing. An electric machine housing is coupled to the fluid-end housing and has a hermetically sealed cavity containing a fluid at a pressure less than a hydrostatic pressure at a specified depth at which the submersible fluid system is designed to operate. An electric machine is disposed in the cavity of the electric machine housing and includes an electric machine rotor coupled to the fluid rotor and an electric machine stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Co Si Huynh
  • Patent number: 9946986
    Abstract: A method of improving operation of a petroleum reservoir using geotechnical analysis includes classifying a petroleum reservoir using a Reservoir Ranking Analysis (RRA) and then making one or modifications to the operation of the reservoir. RRA classification includes establishing reservoir classification metrics for at least resource size and recovery potential, and optionally profitability. The reservoir can be classified based on at least one metric in the profitability classification category, and also based on at least one metric in one or more of the resource size classification category or the recovery potential classification category. Classification of reservoirs can aid in reservoir management, planning, and development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: QRI GROUP, LLC
    Inventors: Nansen G. Saleri, Robert M. Toronyi
  • Patent number: 9915135
    Abstract: System and method for providing power to a downhole powered device through a sensor housing. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are a powered device engaged with a power line connectable to a power supply by a power connector, and a sensor system arranged in a sensor housing, the sensor housing located between the powered device and the power connector, and the power line passing through the sensor housing such that heat generated from the power line is dissipated away from the sensor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ACCESSESP UK LIMITED
    Inventor: David Malone
  • Patent number: 9910938
    Abstract: A method can include providing data for at least one shale gas formation; performing a statistical analysis on the data for each of the at least one shale gas formation; providing a simulation model; history matching the simulation model for each of the at least one shale gas formation based at least in part on the performed statistical analysis to generate a history matched model for each of the at least one shale gas formation; and forecasting production for another shale gas formation by plugging in data for the other shale gas formation into each generated history matched model. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriela Morales German, Rafael Navarro Rosales, Francois Xavier Dubost
  • Patent number: 9822592
    Abstract: A resistive cable-based well heater for providing heat to an oil or gas bearing formation includes a length of coiled tubing having a sealed down-hole end and an open-ended cable support adapter attached to the up-hole end of the coiled tubing. A bundle of cables is contained within the coiled tubing. The cables extend from the upper opening of the adapter and have free upper ends. A wedging tube is placed in the open end of the adapter to support the cables against the interior sidewall of the adapter when the well heater is deployed in a well. The wedging tube has an inner surface shaped to conform to the shape of one or more of the cables and an outer surface configured for weight bearing frictional contact with the inner sidewall of the cable support adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ATHABASCA OIL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maurice A Bujold, Doug Beattie
  • Patent number: 9803472
    Abstract: A remote terminal unit (RTU) may control one or more operations a well device associated with a hydrocarbon well. The RTU may include a processor that sends one or more attributes regarding the RTU, the well device, the hydrocarbon well, or any combination thereof to a cloud-based computing system. The processor may then send model data including one or more instructions regarding cloud services to be performed by the cloud-based computing system based on data provided to the cloud-based computing system from the RTU. The processor may then send a request to perform one or more control actions for the operations of the well device to the cloud-based computing system, control the operations of the well device based on the control actions when an approval of the request is received from the cloud-based computing system, and send the data to the cloud-based computing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION ASIA PACIFIC BUSINESS CENTER PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Norman Andrew Weatherhead, Edward Anthony Gray
  • Patent number: 9792571
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for tracking the efficiency of a drilling rig are provided. A sensor system on a drilling rig is provided. A controller in communication with the sensor system may be operable to generate measurable parameters relating to at least one Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The measurable parameters may be compared with measurable parameters from a target to generate an Invisible Lost Time (ILT) period and an Invisible Saved Time (IST) period for the drilling rig. The KPIs, ILT period, and IST period may be displayed to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Chakrapani Mandava, Michael David Lockridge
  • Patent number: 9766364
    Abstract: A control system for a well site, the well site includes connectable elements configured for inserting down a well. An explosion hazard zone surrounds the well site. A first electronics enclosure is remote from the explosion hazard zone and houses a first electronics module. A remote electronics control module is spaced apart from the first electronics housing and a remote hydraulics module removed from the first electronics module and the hazard zone module. The control system includes a human machine interface including a display and input. A central communications module is in wireless communication with the first electronics control module, the remote electronics module, and a remote location. A processor is in one or more of the first electronics module, the communications module or the human machine interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Inventor: Don Darrell Hickman
  • Patent number: 9720422
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of monitoring a fluid processing network having a plurality of fluid processing regions including the steps of: receiving measured current parameter values at known points of the network; determining from the measured current parameter values regions of the network that are active, all other regions being deemed inactive; subtracting inactive regions of the network from a model of the fluid processing network to provide a current active network model; determining current parameter values of the current active network at least at points remote from the known points, the parameter values at said remote points being determined using the measured current parameter values and the current active network model; based on the current parameter values, determining if one or more pre-specified boundaries are breached; and performing a predetermined action if one or more said boundaries are breached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Process Systems Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Constantinos Christou Pantelides, Ying Sheng Cheng, James Ingram Marriott
  • Patent number: 9722951
    Abstract: Systems, computer-implemented methods, and non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program stored therein can provide adaptive priority scheduling of communications over a communication network and dynamic resources allocation among a plurality of devices positioned in the communication network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Soloman M. Almadi
  • Patent number: 9695680
    Abstract: A logic used to auto-adjust plunger lift system parameters optimizes oil and gas well production with minimal human interaction. The auto-adjustments place and maintain the well in an optimized state wherein the well has either a Minimum-OFF time (e.g., length of time just long enough for the plunger to reach the bottom of the well), or Minimum-ON time (e.g., flowing just long enough for the plunger to reach the surface) cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Patrick W. Bergman
  • Patent number: 9670764
    Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) wherein the proppant comprises from 1 to 100 percent in weight of stiff, low-elasticity and low-deformability elongated particles (34) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy M. Lesko, James Ernest Brown, Dean M. Willberg, Ivan Vitalievich Kosarev, Anatoly Vladimirovich Medvedev, Jonathan Abbott, Alexander Burukhin
  • Patent number: 9582775
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for reducing uncertainty in a hydraulic model of a water distribution network due to uncertain parameters and faults in the water distribution network is provided which includes the steps of: (i) calculating an optimized placement of sensors throughout a given uncertain section of the water distribution network; (ii) collecting data from the sensors; (iii) partitioning the given uncertain section of the water distribution network into observable and unobservable sub-sections based on the hydraulic model and a) a position, b) a number, and/or c) a type of the sensors that are available; (iv) correcting uncertain parameters and identifying faults for each of the observable sub-sections; (v) calculating a global uncertainty value for each of the unobservable sub-sections; and (vi) repeating the steps (i)-(vi) iteratively, at each iteration selecting an uncertain sub-section of the water distribution network, until no uncertain sub-sections of the water distribution network remain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Amadou Ba, Francesco Fusco, Olivier Verscheure
  • Patent number: 9567842
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. A central wellpad originates injector and/or producer wells, arranged in a radial pattern, and either or both provided with multilateral wells, thus effectively expanding the coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: Total E&P Canada Ltd, ConocoPhillips Resources Corp., ConocoPhillips Surmont Partnership
    Inventors: Kevin A. Wilfing, John L. Stalder
  • Patent number: 9557438
    Abstract: A method of processing data generated from an energy industry or oilfield operation includes: receiving a data set representing parameter values generated during at least a portion of the operation, the parameter values including values of a plurality of parameters relating to the operation; dividing the data set into a plurality of data subsets, each data subset including values for multiple parameters; determining a measure of similarity between data in each subset relative to data in one or more other subsets; displaying a map of the data set in at least two dimensions, the map including a visual representation of each subset positioned relative to a visual representation of the one or more other subsets based on the measure of similarity; and analyzing the map to estimate a condition associated with the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stefan Wessling, Daniel Moos, John D. Macpherson
  • Patent number: 9512702
    Abstract: A technique facilitates a more desirable inflow distribution of fluid along a tubing string deployed in a wellbore. The technique comprises providing a tubing string with a plurality of flow control devices and conveying the tubing string downhole into the wellbore. An injection fluid is pumped down along an interior of the tubing string and out through the plurality of flow control devices for entry into the surrounding formation. Based on a function of this injection flow, the flow areas of the flow control devices are adjusted to improve the subsequent distribution of inflowing fluids. The injection and the subsequent adjustment of flow areas as a function of the injection flow through each flow control device may be repeated for continued improvement, e.g. continued optimization, of the inflow distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robin M. Greene, Terje Moen
  • Patent number: 9501851
    Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided that display various graphs in an interactive user interface in substantially real-time in response to input from a user in order to determine information related to measured data points and provide the determined information to the user in the interactive user interface. For example, a computing device may be configured to retrieve data from one or more databases and generate one or more interactive user interfaces. The one or more interactive user interfaces may display the retrieved data in one or more graphs, such as time-series or scatterplots. The user interface may be interactive in that a user may manipulate one graph, which causes an identical or nearly identical manipulation of another displayed graph in real-time. The manipulations may occur even if the displayed graphs include data across different time ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: Palantir Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Cervelli, David Skiff, David Tobin, Allen Cai
  • Patent number: 9470077
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of recovering a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation comprising: (i) injecting an oxygen-rich gas into said formation; (ii) combusting said oxygen-rich gas in said formation thereby heating and reducing the viscosity of said hydrocarbon mixture and generating CO2-rich gas; (iii) recovering said heated hydrocarbon; and (iv) capturing at least a portion of CO2 from said CO2-rich gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: STATOIL ASA
    Inventors: Harald Vindspoll, Knut Vebjørn Grande, Karina Heitnes Hofstad
  • Patent number: 9464517
    Abstract: An apparatus for remote monitoring of well operations. The apparatus may include an alerts module positioned proximate a well, at least one well parameter sensor in communication with the alerts module, and a well operation control module in communication with the alerts module. The apparatus may further include a remotely positioned well monitoring station in communication with the alerts module, and a plurality of user terminal in communication with the well monitoring station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Canrig Drilling Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris Papouras, Pradeep Annaiyappa, Hari Koduru
  • Patent number: 9459195
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are implementations of various technologies for a method for estimating porosity or permeability in a region of interest. The method may receive chemical measurements for the region of interest. The chemical measurements may include an amount of silicon, aluminum, potassium and iron in the region of interest. The method may determine an amount of biogenic silica in the region of interest using the chemical measurements. The method may determine grain density of the region of interest based on the amount of biogenic silica. The method may determine the porosity or permeability in the region of interest based on the grain density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Little
  • Patent number: 9455563
    Abstract: An interface is disclosed for a self powered protection relay that uses mechanical switches for its configuration. The protection relay can include a base relay for measurement of line current and for generation of a trip signal, and a Human Machine Interface (HMI) unit for specifying, by a user, a base setting of an operating parameter of the protection relay. The base relay can be self-powered from the line and the HMI unit can include an auxiliary power supply. The protection relay is configured with mechanical switches provided in the protection relay. The HMI unit in the protection relay is designed to detect and alert the user of the relay of any change in the base setting carried out with one or more mechanical switches provided in the relay in powered and unpowered conditions of the base relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Vijay Shah, Indresh Bhatia, Sohal Patel, Vishal H. Shah
  • Patent number: 9447679
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating and monitoring an acoustic response to particular fluid flow conditions in a wellbore include incorporating a sound-producing element into each inflow control device installed in a wellbore. Each of the sound-producing elements generates an acoustic signature that is readily identifiable from each other sound-producing element installed in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Jinjiang Xiao
  • Patent number: 9371717
    Abstract: A system usable with a well includes a waveform generator for enhancing fluid recovery from a reservoir by controlling a production pump or an injection pump downhole in the well with waveform signals to create a pressure wave which propagates into the reservoir and enhances the recovery of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Eslinger
  • Patent number: 9371697
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and a method of transmitting data from a rotating control device. In one aspect, a method of transmitting data from a rotating control device coupled to an offshore drilling unit is provided. The method includes the step of generating data relating to a parameter associated with the rotating control device. The method further includes the step of transmitting the data from a transmitting assembly coupled to the rotating control device to a receiving assembly positioned proximate the transmitting assembly. Additionally, the method includes the step of transmitting the data from the receiving assembly to the offshore drilling unit. In another aspect, a data gathering and transmitting system for use with a rotating control device coupled to an offshore drilling unit is provided. In a further aspect, a method for transmitting data generated in a rotating control device coupled to a riser is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Gray, Thomas F. Bailey, James Chambers
  • Patent number: 9200509
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved system for measurement of the liquid flow rate and totalized liquid production of a producing well. In the method of the present invention, liquid production rate in a pumping well is determined by calculation based upon wellbore geometry and continuously monitoring the depth of the fluid level within the wellbore. It is applicable to any pump lifted well where it is possible to shut the pump off periodically. Accuracy is enhanced with this method by properly accounting for pump leakage and where pump leakage is either known or can be estimated within reasonable limits or where it is measured during the pump shut off cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron USA Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Hiroshi Yamasaki, David King Anderson, II, Richard Paul Rubbo, Mitcell Carl Smithson
  • Patent number: 9151868
    Abstract: An interactive system and method of operating the system to define and evaluate a model of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The reservoir model is defined from extrinsic information such as seismic surveys, well logs, and the like, and is based on elements of formation regions, connections among the regions, wells, and perforations. A boundary-element method is used to determine pressure interference responses, corresponding to the pressure at a perforation in response to a single perforation producing fluid at a unit flow rate. These pressure interference responses are then convolved with measured well flow rates obtained during production to arrive at estimates of the wellbore pressure at one or more wells of interest. The estimated wellbore pressure can be compared with downhole pressure measurements to validate the reservoir model, or to provoke the user into modifying the model and repeating the evaluation of the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Michael M. Levitan
  • Patent number: 9097247
    Abstract: Inventive methods and apparatus for automated control of a pump utilized to draw liquid from a fluid reservoir. Certain aspects relate to one or more components of an oil well pump control system. Other aspects relate to methods for automated control of a pump utilized to draw oil from an oil well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: CUSHING PUMP REGULATOR, LLC
    Inventors: Darrell Dana Cushing, Kenn Nelson, Steve Fowler
  • Patent number: 9068432
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and program product facilitate the automation of an oil & gas process, e.g., a drilling process, through the use of a dynamic phase machine incorporating multiple autonomous agents. An agent may be used to perform automated acceptance of a survey performed by a downhole survey device, e.g., so that an oil & gas drilling process may proceed for an accepted survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Clinton D. Chapman
  • Patent number: 9059587
    Abstract: A system for providing power to a load of a drilling rig has a natural gas engine/generator and an energy storage system. The load is switchably connected to one or both of the natural engine/generator and the energy storage system. The natural gas engine/generator and the energy storage system have a capacity suitable for supplying requisite power to the load. A rectifier is connected to an output line of the engine/generator so as to convert the AC power to DC power. This rectifier is a phase-controlled silicon-controlled rectifier so as to be responsive to a power requirement of the load. The energy storage system is a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin R. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150136389
    Abstract: A logic used to auto-adjust plunger lift system parameters to optimize oil and gas well production with minimal human interaction is described. The auto-adjustments place and maintain the well in an optimized state wherein the well has either a Minimum-OFF time (e.g., length of time just long enough for the plunger to reach the bottom of the well), or Minimum-ON time (e.g., flowing just long enough for the plunger to reach the surface) cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Patrick W. BERGMAN
  • Patent number: 9033037
    Abstract: An instrumented tubing for determining a contribution of a given zone to fluid production of a reservoir, the instrumented tubing including a tube having an open end for collecting a fluid flowing from the given zone and a port for coupling the tube to a production tubing for letting the collected fluid flow into the production tubing, and a sensor for measuring a parameter of the collected fluid, wherein the sensor is connected to an electronic unit for determining the contribution of the given zone to the fluid production of the reservoir based on said measured parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Fabien Cens, Yann Dufour, Christian Chouzenoux
  • Patent number: 9031674
    Abstract: A method of optimizing production of wells using choke control includes generating, for each well, an intermediate solution to optimize the production of each well. The generating includes using an offline model that includes a mixed-integer nonlinear program solver and includes using production curves based on a choke state and a given wellhead pressure. The method further includes calculating, using a network model and the intermediate solution of each well, a current online wellhead pressure for each well. The method further includes setting the intermediate solution as a final solution based on determining that a difference between the current online wellhead pressure of each well and a prior online wellhead pressure of each well is less than a tolerance amount. The method further includes adjusting, using the final solution of each well, at least one operating parameter of the wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Kashif Rashid, Suleyman Demirel, Benoit Couet
  • Publication number: 20150114632
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system for removing fluids from a well comprising a rotary pump for positioning within the well, the rotary pump including an inlet end and a discharge end, the rotary pump comprising at least one pump impeller intermediate the inlet end and discharge end, the at least one pump impeller rotating at a rate greater than 3600 rpm; a driver for driving the at least one pump impeller to a rate greater than 3600 rpm, the driver positioned within the wellbore and operatively connected to the rotary pump; a magnetic bearing system, the magnetic bearing system operatively connected to the rotary pump and/or driver; and a digital controller positioned within the wellbore to control the magnetic bearing system. A method for removing liquids from a well and an apparatus and method for producing gas from a wellbore or injecting a fluid into a wellbore are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Michael C. Romer, Stan O. Uptigrove
  • Publication number: 20150114631
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for stimulating a formation is disclosed. A stimulation operation is performed at a selected stimulation zone of the formation using a first value of stimulation parameter. A temperature measurement profile is obtained at the formation during the stimulation operation, wherein the obtained temperature measurement profile is indicative of a parameter related to the stimulation operation. The downhole parameter is determined using the obtained temperature measurements, and stimulation parameter is altered to a second value in real-time based on the determined parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jeff Chen, Chee M. Chok
  • Patent number: 9010441
    Abstract: A reservoir production management system includes a plurality of dielectric spectrometers disposed at different locations along the length of production tubing within a wellbore, each of the plurality dielectric spectrometers being in fluid communication with separate producing zones of the reservoir, wherein the plurality of dielectric spectrometers are configured to detect one or more dielectric properties by measuring the response of incident radio waves through fluids from each of the respectively separate producing zones, and a plurality of valves in the production tubing to selectively control production from each of the respectively separate producing zones in response to detected dielectric fluid properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Luis Phillipe Tosi
  • Patent number: 8985222
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for controlling the flow of fluid, such as formation fluid, through an oilfield tubular positioned in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation. Fluid flow is autonomously controlled in response to change in a fluid flow characteristic, such as density or viscosity. A fluid diverter is movable between an open and closed position in response to fluid density change and operable to restrict fluid flow through a valve assembly inlet. The diverter can be pivotable, rotatable or otherwise movable in response to the fluid density change. The diverter is operable to control a fluid flow ratio through two valve inlets. The fluid flow ratio is used to operate a valve member to restrict fluid flow through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Dykstra, Michael L. Fripp, Orlando DeJesus
  • Patent number: 8978757
    Abstract: A remote actuation tool equipped with an intermediate volumetric mechanism for enhanced tool durability in high pressure differential downhole environments. Valve segments of the tool are actuated by power available due to a pressure differential between atmospheric and hydrostatic chambers of the tool. Yet, the intermediate volumetric mechanism, whether in the form of a discrete chamber or a hydraulic line system, minimizes stresses of the differential pressure on tool hydraulics. Thus, failure rates are substantially reduced. So, for example, the tool may be reliably employed in downhole environments which present differential pressures in excess of about 30,000 PSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Colin Longfield, David Merlau, Sebastian Ives, Brad Bailey, Belinda D. Manning
  • Publication number: 20150068739
    Abstract: In producing methane a bottom hole assembly the borehole may enlarge due to shifting sands in an unconsolidated formation as the methane is produced. The enlargement of the borehole can be sensed in real time such as by using a fiber optic cable. In response to such information parts of the bottom hole assembly near the washout can be isolated or the bottom hole assembly in the vicinity of the washout can be fortified with inserts from the surface to minimize damage from erosion caused by higher velocities resulting from borehole washouts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Michael H. Johnson, Bennett M. Richard, John K. Wakefield
  • Patent number: 8967253
    Abstract: A downhole formation fluid pumping and a sampling apparatus are disclosed that may form part of a formation evaluation while drilling tool or part of a tool pipe string. The operation of the pump is optimized based upon parameters generated from formation pressure test data as well as tool system data thereby ensuring optimum performance of the pump at higher speeds and with greater dependability. New pump designs for fluid sampling apparatuses for use in MWD systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Reinhart Ciglenec, Steven G. Villareal, Albert Hoefel, Peter Swinburner, Michael J. Stucker, Jean-Marc Follini
  • Publication number: 20150041122
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a flow meter for measuring multi-phase flow and method of use. The flow meter comprises an impeller assembly having a one or more blades in an asymmetric blade configuration and one or more sensors to measure partial rotations of the blades. With this local velocity information, the operation of a system may be enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: Pietro Valsecchi
  • Publication number: 20150041120
    Abstract: A method of designing a well control operation includes obtaining sub-surface data related to a formation surrounding a well, building a geomechanical model of the formation based on the sub-surface data, obtaining operational data related to the well control operation, performing, on a processor, a hydraulic fracture simulation of the formation, wherein the simulation is based on the operational data and the geomechanical model, and determining an estimated volume of fluid required for a fracture to breach an upper surface of the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Salamat Gumarov, Talgat A. Shokanov, Julio Roberto Ronderos, Kevin Simpson, Viacheslav Viktorovich Anokhin, Said Benelkadi
  • Publication number: 20150027694
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to heater patterns and related methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subsurface hydrocarbon-containing formation (for example, an oil shale formation) where a heater cell may be divided into nested inner and outer zones. Production wells may be located within one or both zones. In the smaller inner zone, heaters may be arranged at a relatively high spatial density while in the larger surrounding outer zone, a heater spatial density may be significantly lower. Due to the higher heater density, a rate of temperature increase in the smaller inner zone of the subsurface exceeds that of the larger outer zone, and a rate of hydrocarbon fluid production ramps up faster in the inner zone than in the outer zone. In some embodiments, a ratio between a half-maximum sustained production time and a half-maximum rise time of a hydrocarbon fluid production function is relatively large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: GENIE IP B.V.
    Inventors: Harold Vinegar, Scott Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150021019
    Abstract: A fluid flow control system includes a flow control assembly having a fluid flow path for a flowing fluid. First and second flow control components are disposed in parallel in the fluid flow path, the first having a positive flowrate response to decreasing fluid viscosity and the second having a negative flowrate response to decreasing fluid viscosity. A valve is disposed in the fluid flow path in downstream series with the first and second flow control components. The valve has first and second inlet paths for fluid from the first and second flow control components, respectively, such that decreasing the fluid viscosity of the flowing fluid increases a ratio of the flowrate through the first control component to the flowrate through the second flow control component and such that when the ratio reaches a predetermined level, the valve autonomously shifts from an open position to a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Jan Veit
  • Publication number: 20150013973
    Abstract: A method for routing a fluid within a flowline of a downhole tool is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes moving a piston within a chamber of a downhole tool to push a fluid out of the chamber and into a flowline. The method also includes using a pump in the downhole tool and in fluid communication with the flowline to route the fluid within the downhole tool via the flowline while moving the piston within the chamber. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremy Murphy, Sylvain Ramshaw, Satya Bhan, Julian J. Pop, Steven Villareal, Kent D. Harms
  • Patent number: 8910710
    Abstract: A method, software, and apparatus for controlling a pump configured to pump liquid out of a well. Such control may involve determining whether a production rate of gas from the well is increasing, decreasing, or steady, and whether to switch the pump between an OFF state and an ON state. Whether the pump is switched may depend upon whether the production rate of the gas is determined to be increasing, decreasing, or steady.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Frederick Krauss
  • Publication number: 20140352955
    Abstract: Components of a downhole integrated well management system, and its method of use, can be deployed through tubing, a liner, or casing in existing wells without the need to deploy new pipe or remove and re-install pipe in the well. The system can seal the flow of hydrocarbon fluid and re-direct it into the claimed internal flow control module which, in embodiments, comprises a mandrel comprising one or more ports providing fluid communication between the interior of the mandrel and the outside of the mandrel and corresponding controllable port covers and/or seals that are adapted to open, partially open, or fully close a corresponding port; a flow controller; one or more sensor modules adapted to monitor a predetermined set of activities in a well; one or more communications module; and one or more power electronic modules. A surface module may be present and adapted to generate and transmit commands to the flow control modules and receive information from them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: TUBEL, LLC
    Inventors: Paulo Tubel, Rogelio Cantu, Jorge Laurent, Sagar Shinde, Richard Lee Tilotta, James Kendall Warren, Sergio Cornejo, John Batiste Laine, Amanda Lauren Tubel
  • Publication number: 20140352954
    Abstract: A technique facilitates a fracturing operation by maintaining the heterogeneity of proppant fluid as it is injected into reservoir fractures. The technique comprises using a blender to deliver proppant material in a pulsating manner to create pulses of proppant. The pulses of proppant are mixed with a fluid to create a proppant slurry having the pulses of proppant material separated by a second fluid. The proppant slurry is then split between a plurality of pumps which are operated to pump the slurry to a well. To maintain heterogeneity, the pump rates of the pumps are individually adjusted to control dispersion of the pulses of proppant downstream of the pumps and to substantially maintain the separated pulses of proppant material in the slurry. A wide variety of other system adjustments also may be made for enhancing the ability of the overall fracturing system to maintain separated pulses of concentrated proppant material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Aleksandr Lakhtychkin, Mikhail Shestakov, Chad Kraemer, Herbe Gomez
  • Publication number: 20140352953
    Abstract: A downhole pump assembly for pumping production fluid to a surface of a well. The downhole pump assembly includes a fluid pump that is operable to pump the production fluid to the surface. An optical computing device having at least one integrated computational element and at least one detector. The at least one integrated computational element is configured to optically interact with the production fluid proximate the fluid pump and is configured to generate optically interacted light. The at least one detector is arranged to receive the optically interacted light and to generate an output signal corresponding to a characteristic of the production fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Gao, Andrew Kurkjian, Christopher Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 8881798
    Abstract: A subterranean tool that is self contained for actuation can be run into a desired location on an automatic set mode controlled by a timer. If a problem develops in getting the tool to the desired location in time a magnetic field created by permanent or electro-magnets can be brought to bear on the tool to stop the timer before the tool actuates. Once the tool is subsequently positioned at the desired location another magnetic field can be brought to bear near the tool to set it. Alternatively, the tool can be run to the desired location without activation with the timer and then the magnetic field can be brought to the tool to set it. The magnetic field can be lowered to the tool with wireline or can be dropped or pumped past the tool to actuate the tool. Optionally the field can be generated from within an object that ultimately lands on a seat to provide a backup way to set the tool using tubing pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Ramon, Amy L. Farrar, Ammar A. Munshi, Basil J. Joseph, Keven O'Connor, Aubrey C. Mills, Nathaniel Wagner, Steve Rosenblatt