Chester L Sandberg

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:

7353872, Apr 8, 2008

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/112855

Inventors:

Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/04
E21B 43/24

US Classification:

166302, 166 60

Abstract:

Certain embodiments provide a method for heating a subsurface formation. The method includes applying direct electrical current (DC) to a heater section below a first selected temperature to provide an electrically resistive heat output. The heater section includes one or more electrical conductors electrically coupled to the electrical power supply. The heater section is configured to be placed in an opening in the formation. At least one of the electrical conductors includes ferromagnetic material. Time-varying current is applied to the heater section when a temperature of the heater section approaches or is above the selected temperature. Heat is allowed to transfer from the heater section to a part of the subsurface formation.

US Patent:

7431076, Oct 7, 2008

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/112713

Inventors:

Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US
Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/04

US Classification:

166 60, 392301

Abstract:

The invention provides a system configured to heat at least a part of a subsurface formation. The system includes: an electrical power supply configured to provide modulated direct current (DC); and one or more electrical conductors configured to be electrically coupled to the electrical power supply and placed in an opening in the formation, wherein at least one of the electrical conductors has a heater section, the heater section comprising an electrically resistive ferromagnetic material configured to provide an electrically resistive heat output when electrical current is applied to the ferromagnetic material, and the heater section is configured to provide a reduced amount of heat near or above a selected temperature during use due to the decreasing electrical resistance of the heater section when the temperature of the ferromagnetic material is near or above the selected temperature, and the heater section has a turndown ratio of at least 1. 1 to 1.

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:

7490665, Feb 17, 2009

Filed:

Apr 22, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/112863

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/04

US Classification:

166 60, 392301, 166302

Abstract:

Certain embodiments provide a heating system configured to heat at least a part of 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. The heater section is configured to be placed in an opening in the formation. 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 provides 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 system is configured to allow a frequency of the applied time-varying electrical current to be varied.

US Patent:

7559367, Jul 14, 2009

Filed:

Oct 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/585302

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/04
E21B 43/24

US Classification:

1662723, 166 60, 166 651, 1662721, 1662726, 1662727, 166302, 392301, 405131

Abstract:

A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. A conduit may be located in an opening in the formation. The conduit includes ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor is positioned inside the conduit, and is electrically coupled to the conduit at or near an end portion of the conduit so that the electrical conductor and the conduit are electrically coupled in series. Electrical current flows in the electrical conductor in a substantially opposite direction to electrical current flow in the conduit during application of electrical current to the system. The flow of electrons is substantially confined to the inside of the conduit by the electromagnetic field generated from electrical current flow in the electrical conductor so that the outside surface of the conduit is at or near substantially zero potential at 25 C. The conduit may generate heat and heat the formation during application of electrical current.

US Patent:

7575052, Aug 18, 2009

Filed:

Apr 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/409556

Inventors:

Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US
Thomas David Fowler - Houston TX, US
Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Willen Jan Antoon Henri Schoeber - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 36/00
E21B 36/04
E21B 43/24

US Classification:

166248, 166 50, 166 57, 166 60, 166 7512, 166302, 392302, 392307, 405131

Abstract:

An in situ conversion system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation is described. The system includes a plurality of u-shaped wellbores in the formation. Piping is positioned in at least two of the u-shaped wellbores. A fluid circulation system is coupled to the piping. The fluid circulation system is configured to circulate hot heat transfer fluid through at least a portion of the piping to form at least one heated portion of the formation. An electrical power supply is configured to provide electrical current to at least a portion of the piping located below an overburden in the formation to resistively heat at least a portion of the piping. Heat transfers from the piping to the formation.

US Patent:

7831133, Nov 9, 2010

Filed:

Apr 21, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/409523

Inventors:

Harold J. Vinegar - Bellaire TX, US
Chester Ledlie Sandberg - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

H05B 3/02

US Classification:

392301, 166302

Abstract:

A heating system for a subsurface formation is described. The heating system includes a first heater, a second heater, and a third heater placed in an opening in the subsurface formation. Each heater includes: an electrical conductor; an insulation layer at least partially surrounding the electrical conductor; and an electrically conductive sheath at least partially surrounding the insulation layer. The electrical conductor is electrically coupled to the sheath at a lower end portion of the heater. The lower end portion is the portion of the heater distal from a surface of the opening. The first heater, the second heater, and the third heater are electrically coupled at the lower end portions of the heaters. The first heater, the second heater, and the third heater are configured to be electrically coupled in a three-phase wye configuration.