James B Crews

Address:

PO Box 2963, Tampa, FL 33601

VIN:

1GNFC13007R383972

Make:

CHEVROLET

Model:

TAHOE

Year:

2007

Address:

4664 Cornish St, Houston, TX 77007

VIN:

2HGFG12827H513305

Make:

HONDA

Model:

CIVIC

Year:

2007

US Patent:

7343972, Mar 18, 2008

Filed:

May 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/125465

Inventors:

John Robert Willingham - Cypress TX, US
Allen D. Gabrysch - Houston TX, US
Patrick A. Kelly - Conroe TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US
James H. Treadway - Magnolia TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/04
E21B 43/26
E21B 43/27

US Classification:

166279, 166278, 166283, 166300, 166307, 1663082

Abstract:

An aqueous, viscoelastic fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) is stabilized and improved with an effective amount of an alkali earth metal oxide and/or alkali earth metal hydroxide. These fluids are more stable and have reduced or no tendency to precipitate, particularly at elevated temperatures. The additives may also increase viscosity to the point where less VES is required to maintain a given viscosity. These stabilized, enhanced, aqueous viscoelastic fluids may be used as treatment fluids for subterranean hydrocarbon formations, such as in hydraulic fracturing.

US Patent:

7527103, May 5, 2009

Filed:

May 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/754786

Inventors:

Tianping Huang - Spring TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 21/00
E21B 37/00
E21B 37/08

US Classification:

166311, 166205, 166300, 166317, 166376

Abstract:

A flow conduit having at least one orifice is placed in the vicinity of a flow source, which in one non-limiting embodiment may be a hydrocarbon reservoir. The flow pathway between the orifice and the source is temporarily blocked with a degradable barrier. Once the flow pathway is physically placed, the degradable barrier is removed under the influence of an acid, a solvent, time and/or temperature. The flow source and the flow pathways are at least partially covered (and flow blocked by) a temporary coating such as a pseudo-filter cake formed by a viscoelastic surfactant-gelled aqueous drill-in fluid, and the flow conduit is extended to the flow source. The pseudo-filter cake is removed when viscosity is reduced by an internal breaker, and flow is then allowed. The method is useful in one context of recovering hydrocarbons where the flow conduit is a telescoping sleeve or tube that contacts the borehole wall.

US Patent:

7530393, May 12, 2009

Filed:

Jul 26, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/828784

Inventors:

William Russell Wood - Spring TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/26

US Classification:

166279, 166283, 166300, 1663082

Abstract:

Adding relatively low molecular weight water-soluble friction loss reduction polymers to an aqueous fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) increases the critical generalized Reynold's number at which the Fanning friction factor increases and friction pressure starts to increase rapidly. The water-soluble polymeric friction loss reduction additives lower surface pumping pressure in VES-gelled fracturing fluids for a given pump rate, thus lowering hydraulic horsepower (HHP) requirements for pumping fluids downhole, e. g. for hydraulic fracturing or frac packing treatments of subterranean formations.

US Patent:

7543644, Jun 9, 2009

Filed:

Jul 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/830299

Inventors:

Tianping Huang - Spring TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US
John R. Willingham - Cypress TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/00
E21B 43/26
E21B 43/16

US Classification:

1663051, 166279, 166300, 1663082

Abstract:

The handling, transport and delivery of particulate materials, particularly fine particles, may be difficult. Alkaline earth metal oxide particles such as magnesium oxide (MgO) may be suspended in glycerin and/or alkylene glycols such as propylene glycol up to loadings of 51 wt %. Such suspensions or slurries make it easier to deliver MgO and similar agents into fluids, such as aqueous fluids gelled with viscoelastic surfactants (VES). The MgO serves as stabilizers and/or fluid loss control agents for VES-gelled fluids used to treat subterranean formations, e. g. for well completion or stimulation in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The particle size of the magnesium oxide or other agent may be between 1 nanometer to 0. 4 millimeter.

US Patent:

7543646, Jun 9, 2009

Filed:

May 19, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/122843

Inventors:

Tianping Huang - Spring TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/00
E21B 43/16
E21B 43/26

US Classification:

1663051, 166300, 1663082, 166279

Abstract:

The handling, transport and delivery of particulate materials, particularly fine particles, may be difficult. Alkaline earth metal oxide particles such as magnesium oxide (MgO) may be suspended in glycerin and/or alkylene glycols such as propylene glycol up to loadings of 51 wt %. Such suspensions or slurries make it easier to deliver MgO and similar agents into fluids, such as aqueous fluids gelled with viscoelastic surfactants (VES). These concentrated suspensions or slurries may be improved in their stability by the inclusion of minor amounts of a vegetable oil and/or a fish oil. The MgO serves as stabilizers and/or fluid loss control agents for VES-gelled fluids used to treat subterranean formations, e. g. for well completion or stimulation in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The particle size of the magnesium oxide or other agent may be between 1 nanometer to 0.

US Patent:

7550413, Jun 23, 2009

Filed:

May 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/755581

Inventors:

Tianping Huang - Spring TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

C09K 8/76
E21B 43/26

US Classification:

507240, 507241, 507244, 507245, 507265, 507269, 507270, 507271, 507272, 507275

Abstract:

Alkaline earth metal compounds may be fluid loss control agents for viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluids used for well completion or stimulation in hydrocarbon recovery operations. The VES fluid may further include proppant or gravel, if it is intended for use as a fracturing fluid or a gravel packing fluid, although such uses do not require that the fluid contain proppant or gravel. The fluid loss control agents may include, but not be limited to, oxides and hydroxides of alkaline earth metal, and in one case magnesium oxide where the particle size of the magnesium oxide is between 1 nanometer to 0. 4 millimeter. The fluid loss agent appears to associate with the VES micelles and together form a novel pseudo-filter cake crosslinked-like viscous fluid layer that limits further VES fluid flow into the porous media. The fluid loss control agent solid particles may be added along with VES fluids.

US Patent:

7595284, Sep 29, 2009

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/145630

Inventors:

James B. Crews - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

C09K 8/584
B01D 43/00

US Classification:

507239, 507271, 507921, 516102, 516104, 516113

Abstract:

Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their viscosities reduced (gels broken) by the direct or indirect action of a composition that contains at least one metal ion source and optionally at least one second source. An optional second source may be a chelating agent where at least one reducing agent source may be additionally optionally used. Another optional component with the metal ion source includes a second, different metal ion source. The breaking composition is believed to directly attack the VES itself, possibly by disaggregating or otherwise attacking the micellar structure of the VES-gelled fluid, and/or possibly by changing the chemical structure of the VES to give two or more products.

US Patent:

7615517, Nov 10, 2009

Filed:

Jan 7, 2008

Appl. No.:

11/970389

Inventors:

Tianping Huang - Spring TX, US
James B. Crews - Willis TX, US

Assignee:

Baker Hughes Incorporated - Houston TX

International Classification:

C09K 8/035
C09K 8/584
C09K 8/86

US Classification:

507265, 507240, 507244, 507245, 507246, 166282, 166283, 1663051

Abstract:

Fluids viscosified with viscoelastic surfactants (VESs) may have their fluid loss properties improved with at least one mineral oil which has a viscosity greater than 20 cps at ambient temperature. The mineral oil may initially be dispersed oil droplets in an internal, discontinuous phase of the fluid. In one non-limiting embodiment, the mineral oil is added to the fluid after it has been substantially gelled in an amount between about 0. 2 to about 10% by volume.