Energy News Monitoring

The proposed patent review includes an analysis of 577 patent applications from 24 patent offices, registered in 2017 by 260 applicants from 16 countries around the world in the field related to the exploration, production and processing of Coal Bed Methane, Coal Mine Methane and Abandoned Mine Methane.

The top 10 applicants include representatives of three countries – the USA, China and the Netherlands. As of the date of this publication, the largest number of patent applications was registered by the American Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. During this year, compared with the previous one, many new applicants entered the top 10 list: Conoco Phillips, Shell Oil Company, China Petroleum & Chemical Company, Taiyuan University of Technology, Coiled Tubing Specialties LLC.

Top 10 applicants by the number of patent applications filed in 2017
Status Country Name Average, Rate Total, 2017 % of Total

Source: Advanced Energy Technologies

Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. registered its documents in 14 foreign offices, which is more than others. It is followed by Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. with 11 offices. China University of Mining and Technology and Taiyuan University of Technology filed documents exclusively in the domestic patent office.

Distribution of patent applications by patent offices around the world among the top 10 applicants

Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
ARIPO - African Regional Intellectual Property Organization; CIPO (CA) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office; CNIPA (CN) - National Intellectual Property Administration; EAPO - Eurasian Patent Organization; EPO - European Patent Organization; IMPI (MX) - Mexican Institute of Industrial Property; INPI (AR) - National Institute of Industrial Property; INPI (BR) - National Institute of Industrial Property (Brazil); INPI (FR) - National Institute of Industrial Property (France); IP Australia (AU) - IP Australia; IPO (GB) - Intellectual Property Office; IPOS (SG) - Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; JPO (JP) - Industrial Property Office (Japan); MyIPO (MY) - Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia; NIPO (NO) - Norwegian Industrial Property Office; RVO (NL) - Netherlands Patent Office; Rospatent (RU) - Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Russia); USPTO (US) - United States Patent and Trademark Office; WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization

In 481 patent applications the inventors disclosed their technical solutions in the form of various methods, in 286 applications in the form of technical devices, and in 110 cases novel compositions were proposed.

The list of problems the authors approached in their patent applications is notable for its impressive diversity. For Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. the most typical were "Low efficiency of production processes" and "High costs of production processes". For Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V. and Shell Oil Company – "High OPEX / Operation and expendables" and "Low efficiency of surface treatment". China University of Mining and Technology, and Taiyuan University of Technology to a greater degree were developing solutions to the problems of "Low efficiency of production processes" and "Low efficiency caused by specific features of reservoir", while Coiled Tubing Specialties LLC, as well as Oren Technologies, LLC –"High CAPEX / Equipment".

The leading applicants also demonstrated diversity in their technological interests. Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. developed technical solutions that fully correspond to the primary specialization of this company - Drilling, Exploration, Hydraulic fracturing, Production.

Technological interests of the top 10 applicants

Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
CTL - Coal to liquid; DR – Drilling; E – Exploration; HF - Hydraulic fracturing; P – Production; TT - Treatment & transportation

Applications of Shell group companies are related exclusively to the "Coal to liquid" sector. Coiled Tubing Specialties LLC dedicated its inventions to the subject of Drilling, while Oren Technologies, LLC – to Hydraulic fracturing. The main interest of China University of Mining and Technology was related to the processes of Exploration, while for Conoco Phillips it was Hydraulic fracturing.

Several patent applications published in 2017 and selected on the basis of the highest bibliographic rating are provided below, and may be of special professional interest:

- 重复利用来自费-托反应器的水的饱和器和方法 (SATURATOR AND METHOD FOR REUSING WATER FROM A FISCHER-TROPSCH REACTOR) /CN106714957A; PROCESS FOR PREPARING A CHLORINE COMPRISING CATALYST, THE PREPARED CATALYST, AND ITS USE /US20170297006A1; METHOD FOR STARTING UP A FISCHER TROPSCH PROCESS /US20170283709A1; PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SWEETENING AND LIQUEFYING A GAS STREAM /US20170122659A1; SATURATOR AND METHOD FOR REUSING WATER FROM A FISCHER-TROPSCH REACTOR /US20170233662A1; CATALYST / A: EP3119517A1, by the Shell group companies(SHELL INTERATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V, SHELL OIL COMPANY); 

一种微波与超声波相协同的煤层气强化开采方法 (Microwave and ultrasonic synergistic enhanced coalbed methane recovery method) /CN106499366A; 种煤与油气绿色协调开采系统及应用方法 (Coal and oil gas green coordination exploiting system and application method thereof) /CN106321025A; 基于核磁共振的煤层气产出过程甲烷状态监测装置及方法 (Device and method for monitoring states of methane in coal seam gas output procedures on basis of nuclear magnetic resonance) / CN106290443A, registered by China University of Mining and Technology;

- СПОСОБ ПОДАВЛЕНИЯ ОБРАСТАНИЯ МЕТАЛЛИЧЕСКИХ ПОВЕРХНОСТЕЙ С ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕМ АГЕНТА ДЛЯ МОДИФИКАЦИИ ПОВЕРХНОСТИ (METHOD OF INHIBITING FOULING ON A METALLIC SURFACE USING A SURFACE MODIFYING TREATMENT AGENT) /RU2016115075A, by Baker Hughes Incorporated.

More detailed information on the methodology as well as on the results of patent researches in the most important fields of contemporary energy industry can be found at Advanced Energy Technologies.