Christopher Alexande Harris

US Patent:

6991045, Jan 31, 2006

Filed:

Oct 24, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/279289

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US
Robin Adrianus Hartmann - Rijswijk, NL
Christopher Arnold Pratt - Cochrane, CA
Gordon Bruce Lepper - Calgary, CA
Randolph Rogers Wagner - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 7/04

US Classification:

175 45, 175 61, 175 62, 166 665, 324346

Abstract:

A method for forming one or more openings in a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method may include forming or providing a first opening in the formation. A plurality of magnets may be provided into the first opening. The plurality of magnets may be positioned along a portion of the first opening. The plurality of magnets may produce a series of magnetic fields along the portion of the first opening. A second opening in the formation may be formed using magnetic tracking of the series of magnetic fields. The second opening may be spaced a desired distance from the first opening. Alternate embodiments include use of an energized conduit to create a magnetic field. Such energized conduit can be used alone or with the plurality of magnets.

US Patent:

7121341, Oct 17, 2006

Filed:

Oct 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/693819

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Aklto CA, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US
Jaime Santos Son - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/24
E21B 36/04

US Classification:

166302, 166 60, 392301

Abstract:

A heater may include an electrical conductor. Applying alternating current to the electrical conductor may generate resistively heat the electrical conductor. The electrical conductor may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The ferromagnetic material may at least partially surround a non-ferromagnetic material. The heater may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. A conduit may at least partially surround the electrical conductor. A centralizer may maintain a separation distance between the electrical conductor and the conduit.

US Patent:

7121342, Oct 17, 2006

Filed:

Apr 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/831351

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Peter Veenstra - Sugar Land TX, US
Steven Paul Giles - Damon TX, US
Chester L. Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US
Frederick Henry Kreisler Rambow - Houston TX, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US
Lanny Gene Schoeling - Katy TX, US
Mark Gregory Picha - Houston TX, US
Etuan Zhang - Houston TX, US
Gary Beer - Houston TX, US
Taixu Bai - Katy TX, US
Dong Sub Kim - Sugar Land TX, US
Michael David Fairbanks - Katy TX, US
Guillermo Pastor Sanz - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/02
E21B 43/24

US Classification:

166302, 166 57, 166 59, 166 651

Abstract:

A process may include providing heat from one or more heaters to at least a portion of a subsurface formation. Heat may transfer from one or more heaters to a part of a formation. In some embodiments, heat from the one or more heat sources may pyrolyze at least some hydrocarbons in a part of a subsurface formation. Hydrocarbons and/or other products may be produced from a subsurface formation. Certain embodiments describe apparatus, methods, and/or processes used in treating a subsurface or hydrocarbon containing formation.

US Patent:

7370704, May 13, 2008

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/113342

Inventors:

Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/24

US Classification:

166302, 166 60

Abstract:

Certain embodiments provide a heater. The heater includes an inner electrical conductor. A heater section at least partially surrounds the inner electrical conductor. The heater section is configured to generate an electrically resistive heat output during application of time-varying electrical current to the heater section. The heater section includes ferromagnetic material. An outer electrical conductor at least partially surrounds the heater section. An applied time-varying electrical current is configured to propagate through the inner electrical conductor and the outer electrical conductor in substantially the same direction. The applied time-varying electrical current is configured to propagate through the heater section in a substantially opposite direction. The heater provides a first heat output when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater below a selected temperature, and a second heat output approximately at and above the selected temperature during use. The second heat output is reduced compared to the first heat output.

US Patent:

7383877, Jun 10, 2008

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/112714

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/00

US Classification:

166 60, 166302, 192301

Abstract:

Certain embodiments provide a system including a heater. The heater includes one or more electrical conductors. The heater is configured to generate a heat output during application of electrical current to the heater. The heater includes a ferromagnetic material. A conduit at least partially surrounds the heater. A fluid is located in a space between the heater and the conduit. The fluid has a higher thermal conductivity than air at standard temperature and pressure (STP) (0 C. and 101. 325 kPa). The system is configured to provide (a) a first heat output below a selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater, and (b) a second heat output near or above the selected temperature when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater.

US Patent:

7481274, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/112878

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/04

US Classification:

166302, 166 60, 392301

Abstract:

Certain embodiments provide a system configured to heat a subsurface formation. The system includes an electrical power supply. A heater section includes one or more electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical power supply. At least one of the electrical conductors includes ferromagnetic material. The heater section provides a first heat output when time-varying electrical current is applied to the heater section below a selected temperature, and a second heat output approximately at and above the selected temperature during use. The second heat output is reduced compared to the first heat output. The system is configured to allow heat to transfer from the heater section to a part of the formation. The electrical power supply is configured to provide a relatively constant amount of time-varying electrical current that remains within about 15% of a selected constant current value when a load of the electrical conductors changes.

US Patent:

7793722, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Apr 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/788871

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US
Stanley Leroy Mason - Allen TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 17/00
E21B 43/24

US Classification:

166302, 166 60, 1662421, 1662424

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and heaters for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. At least one system for electrically insulating an overburden portion of a heater wellbore is described. The system may include a heater wellbore located in a subsurface formation and an electrically insulating casing located in the overburden portion of the heater wellbore. The casing may include at least one non-ferromagnetic material such that ferromagnetic effects are inhibited in the casing.

US Patent:

8200072, Jun 12, 2012

Filed:

Oct 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/693816

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Aklto CA, US
Christopher Kelvin Harris - Houston TX, US
Jaime Santos Son - Houston TX, US
James Louis Menotti - Dickinson TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/04
H05B 3/78

US Classification:

392301, 392469

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for heating a subsurface formation. Alternating electrical current may be applied to one or more electrical conductors. The electrical conductors may be located in a subsurface formation. The electrical conductors may provide an electrically resistive heat output upon application of the alternating electrical current. At least one of the electrical conductors may include an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material. The electrical conductor may provide a reduced amount of heat above or near a selected temperature. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the electrical conductor to a part of the subsurface formation.