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:
Jan. 24, 2012
Filed:
Aug. 11, 2009
Jimmie D. Weaver, Duncan, OK (US);
Richard D. Rickman, Duncan, OK (US);
David B. Allison, Duncan, OK (US);
Michael A. Mccabe, Duncan, OK (US);
Matt E. Blauch, Duncan, OK (US);
Jimmie D. Weaver, Duncan, OK (US);
Richard D. Rickman, Duncan, OK (US);
David B. Allison, Duncan, OK (US);
Michael A. McCabe, Duncan, OK (US);
Matt E. Blauch, Duncan, OK (US);
Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Duncan, OK (US);
Abstract
A method is provided for swelling hydrocarbon-swellable elements located in a portion of a well. The method comprises the steps of: (A) introducing a water-in-oil emulsion into the portion of the well, wherein the water-in-oil emulsion comprises: (i) a hydrocarbon liquid, wherein the hydrocarbon liquid is the external phase of the water-in-oil emulsion; (ii) an aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid is an internal phase of the water-in-oil emulsion and wherein the aqueous liquid is adjacent to the external phase of the water-in-oil emulsion; and (iii) a surfactant; and (B) allowing the water-in-oil emulsion to contact the hydrocarbon-swellable element for a sufficient length of time to cause the thickness of the hydrocarbon-swellable element to expand by a desired percentage, wherein the desired percentage is at least 5%.