The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 13, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1998
Dennis C. Wegener, Bartlesville, OK (US);
Daniel R. Maloney, Bartlesville, OK (US);
David R. Zornes, Bartlesville, OK (US);
Dave E. Reese, Bartlesville, OK (US);
Michael Lee Fraim, Bakersfield, CA (US);
Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, OK (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for enhancing the production of liquid hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore. The methods basically comprise placing one or more electric powered sonic energy transducers actuated by magnetostrictive actuators which preferably have drive rods formed of terfenol alloy in the well bore, and causing sonic energy to be emitted from the transducers in the form of pressure waves through the liquid hydrocarbons in the well bore and/or in the formation thereby causing the liquid hydrocarbons to flow into the well bore and to the surface more freely.