As a continuation of the previous review (UNCONVENTIONAL GAS 2019/ key indicators), the results of patenting activity of major applicants from patent applications, dedicated to unconventional gas production including associated petroleum gas (APG), coal bed methane (CBM) and methane hydrates (GHD) are briefly evaluated here. In total, 564 documents were selected for consideration, which were submitted by 270 applicants from 17 countries and registered in 20 patent offices around the world (GHD – 138, CBM – 180, APG – 246). Patent applications were collected from generally-accessible sources as of the date of this publication
The main applicants for these three topics are provided in the table below (for applicants who have filed at least 6 patent applications). The leader of patenting process by the number of registered applications in this year was Chevron USA, Inc. Also, the top five applicants include Baker Hughes Incorporated (US), General Electric (US), PetroChina Company Limited (CN) and China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT). Chevron was present in all three sections, but most of all in the GHD. Baker Hughes Incorporated and General Electric had the largest number of applications in the APG sector, PetroChina Company Limited and China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) – in the CBM sector. In total, this list includes representatives of seven countries, and more than others from the United States.
Leading applicants, who registered the largest number of applications in 2019
| Applicant | Country | APG | CBM | GHD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Electric | US | 16 | - | - | 16 |
| ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company | US | 14 | 1 | - | 15 |
| Baker Hughes Incorporated | US | 9 | 3 | 5 | 17 |
| Kuraray Co., Ltd. | JP | 9 | - | - | 9 |
| Saudi Arabian Oil Company | SA | 9 | - | 3 | 12 |
| PetroChina Company Limited | CN | 8 | 8 | - | 16 |
| Rosneft | RU | 8 | - | - | 8 |
| ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company | US | 7 | - | - | 7 |
| Cryostar Sas | FR | 6 | - | - | 6 |
| Velocys Inc | US | 6 | - | - | 6 |
| China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) | CN | - | 16 | - | 16 |
| Oren Technologies, LLC | US | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| Taiyuan University of Technology (TYUT) | CN | - | 10 | - | 10 |
| Chevron USA, Inc. | US | 5 | 8 | 20 | 33 |
| Coiled Tubing Specialties LLC | US | - | 8 | - | 8 |
| Henan Polytechnic University (HPU) | CN | - | 6 | - | 6 |
| Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey | CN | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Jilin Univeristy (JLU) | CN | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Southwest Petroleum University (SWPU) | CN | - | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| ConocoPhilips Company | US | - | 3 | 6 | 9 |
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
The following diagrams shows data on the distribution of patent applications registered by top 10 applicants for each of the topics by patent offices around the world, and by technology elements, which act as the indicators of detailed breakdown of production process.
In the sector APG, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company filed patent applications in 9 patent offices around the World, which is more than the others applicants, while Kuraray Co., Ltd. and Rosneft filed in 6 patent offices, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company and General Electric filed in 5 patent offices. No patent applications filed in foreign countries are found for PetroChina Company Limited.
Distribution of patent applications by patent offices around the world among the top 10 applicants (APG)
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
Baker Hughes Incorporated, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, Kuraray Co., Ltd., Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Rosneft and PetroChina Company Limited concentrated on the development and improvement of the preparation operations complex that includes, inter alia, separation of oil from gas, dehydration, removal of hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, etc. from gas. Among other the technological processes the inventors demonstrated the strongest interest in relation to the technologies of Gas to power (General Electric, Cryostar Sas) and Gas to liquid (ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, Velocys Inc., Rosneft).
Technological interests of the top 10 applicants (APG)
AGM - Associated gas metering; FP - Flaring process; GTL - Gas to liquid; GTP - Gas to power; P- Preparation; TA - Transport and storage; UI - Underground injection
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
In the case of CBM, the most popular with applicants were the patent offices the USPTO (Baker Hughes Incorporated, Oren Technologies, LLC, China University of Mining and Technology), EPO (Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Oren Technologies, LLC), IPO (GB) (Coiled Tubing Specialties LLC), INAPI (Cl) (ConocoPhilips Company) and MyIPO (MY) (ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company).
Distribution of patent applications by patent offices around the world among the top 10 applicants (CBM)
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
When considering the list of technology processes of CBM production each of the applicants had their own preferences in their inventions.
Baker Hughes Incorporated, China University of Mining and Technology, Oren Technologies, LLC, ConocoPhilips and Saudi Arabian Oil Company were to a substantial degree focused on Hydraulic fracturing technologies. Coiled Tubing Specialties LLC and ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company prevailed in the field of Drilling.
Technological interests of the top 10 applicants (CBM)
DR - Drilling; E - Exploration; HF - Hydraulic fracturing; MTE - Methane to electricity; MTL - Methane to liquid; P - Production; TT - Treatment & transportation
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
In the sector of GHD Halliburton Energy Services Inc. filed patent applications in 8 foreign countries, which is more than the others applicants, while Chevron USA Inc. filed in 3. No patent applications filed in foreign countries are found for majority Chinese entities.
Distribution of patent applications by patent offices around the world among the top 10 applicants (GHD)
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
Chevron USA, Inc. was mainly focused on the Exploration and Activation technologies. Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey and Jilin University concentrated on the development and improvement of Exploration. Almost 60% of applications by Southwest Petroleum University were dedicated to Underwater drilling or capture.
Technological interests of the top 10 applicants (CBM)
A - Activation; DCG - Drilling or capture in general; E - Exploration; IS - Infrastructure & security; TT - Treatment & transportation; UGC - Underground drilling or extraction; UWC - Underwater drilling or capture
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
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.
