As a continuation of the previous overview dated 29.08.2019, where the general statistical indicators for the selection of the latest patent applications in the field of unconventional oil production for 2018 were provided, the present overview includes a brief analysis of key applicants. In total, 974 documents from 28 patent offices around the world were selected for examination,these applications were developed with the participation of 275 applicants from 29 countries. The table below represents data on the top 10 patent applicants.
The top 10 applicants registered 438 patent applications, which is almost 45% of the total number. The highest activity was demonstrated by the American inventors, led by the longstanding leader – Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., which had 121 applications in its 2018 portfolio. In addition to the applicants from the USA, the top 10 also includes Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Arabia) and PetroChina Company Limited (China).
Top 10 applicants by the number of patent applications filed in 2018
| Status | Country | Name | Average, Rate | Total, 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company | US | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | 12.5 | 121 |
| Company | SA | Saudi Arabian Oil Company | 12.6 | 95 |
| Company | CN | PetroChina Company Limited | 12.1 | 34 |
| Company | US | Dow Global Technologies, LLC | 10.5 | 31 |
| Company | US | ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company | 14.1 | 30 |
| Company | US | ConocoPhilips Company | 11.9 | 28 |
| Company | US | Aramco Services Company, Inc. | 11.1 | 26 |
| Company | US | Xyleco Inc. | 12.3 | 26 |
| Company | US | Cabot Corporation | 8.1 | 24 |
| Company | US | Baker Hughes Incorporated | 13 | 23 |
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
All companies that appear in the top 10 list, except for PetroChina Company Limited, in addition to the patent office of their registration country also filed their inventions in the patent offices of other countries.
Distribution of patent applications by patent offices around the world among the top 10 applicants
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
CIPO (CA) - Canadian Intellectual Property Office; CNIPA (CN) - National Intellectual Property Administration; EAPO - Eurasian Patent Organization; EPO - European Patent Organization; ILPO (IL) - Israel Patent Office; IMPI (MX) - Mexican Institute of Industrial Property; INAPI (CL) - National Institute of Industrial Property (Chile); INPI (AR) - National Institute of Industrial Property (Argentina); 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 (United Kingdom); IPONZ (NZ) - Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand; IPOS (SG) - Intellectual Property Office of Singapore; JPO (JP) - Industrial Property Office (Japan); KIPO (KR) - Korean Intellectual Property Office; MyIPO (MY) - Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia; NIPO (NO) - Norwegian Industrial Property Office; Rospatent (RU) - Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Russia); SIC (CO) - Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio, Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo (Colombia); USPTO (US) - United States Patent and Trademark Office; WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization
Several companies, including Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Dow Global Technologies LLC, and Xyleco Inc. filed their applications to 10 or more offices in the world. Six companies used the WIPO patent office to register their documents.
The majority of companies from the top 10 list proposed technical solutions for various technological applications in the field of unconventional oil production from the list provided below, excluding the Cabot Corporation, which was focused exclusively on the solutions to the problems related to Treatment and refinement.
Technological interests of the top 10 applicants
Source: Advanced Energy Technologies
CS - Chemical stimulation; D - Drilling and well elements; DDH - Directional drilling or hydraulic fracturing; GWF - Gas injection or water flooding; ISC - In-situ combustion; ME - Mechanical extraction; OU - Other unclassified; RPIE - Reservoir permeability improvement and extraction; SEI - Surface exploration and infrastructure; STI - Steam injection; SUM - Surface or underground mining; TR - Treatment and refinement; UAM - Undefined activation method; URE - Underground reservoir exploration; UTR - Uncommon thermal recovery; WP - Waste processing
Eight out of ten companies were in one way or another concerned with the technological aspects of Steam injection in their inventions. Furthermore, for PetroChina Company Limited, Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Dow Global Technologies LLC, Baker Hughes Incorporated, and ConocoPhilips Company this issue was dominating. ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company was also focused on the technologies of Gas injection or water flooding, while Halliburton Energy Services – on the issues related to Drilling and well elements.
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 www.aenert.com
