Patents Assigned to Transworld Technologies Inc.
  • Publication number: 20210180435
    Abstract: Methods of producing hydrocarbon materials from a geologic formation may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. The methods may include delivering an aqueous material incorporating deuterium oxide to the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may include increasing production of hydrocarbon materials by the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may include recovering a deuterium-containing hydrocarbon from the geologic formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Connors, Joseph Edward Zemetra
  • Publication number: 20190300912
    Abstract: Methods of enhancing oil recovery may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes oil. The methods may include delivering an aqueous material incorporating dissolved hydrogen to the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may include increasing production of gaseous materials by the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may also include recovering oil from the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Edward Connors, Jordan Andrew Bradfish, Roland Peter DeBruyn, Helen Mitchell, Joseph Edward Zemetra
  • Publication number: 20170240806
    Abstract: Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 9458375
    Abstract: Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 9434872
    Abstract: A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn Ulrich, Gary Vanzin, Verlin Dannar, Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson
  • Patent number: 9057082
    Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson, Robert S. Pfeiffer, Eric L. Szaloczi, Glenn A. Ulrich, Jeffrey L. Weber
  • Patent number: 9004162
    Abstract: Methods for enhancing acetoclastic methanogenesis in subterranean geologic formations. The methods may include accessing a microorganism consortium in the formation, and assessing the consortium for acetoclastic methanogenic activity. The methods may further include modifying the formation environment based on the consortium assessment to increase methane production from acetoclastic methanogenic pathways used by the consortium. The modifications to the formation environment may include introducing an amendment and/or introducing acetoclastic microorganisms to the formation environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joel R. Sevinsky, Gary F. Vanzin, Shelly A. Haveman, Nicholas R. Kotter, William Mahaffey
  • Patent number: 8794315
    Abstract: A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation is described. The method may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn Ulrich, Gary Vanzin, Verlin Dannar, Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson
  • Patent number: 8770282
    Abstract: Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8715978
    Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Roland P. Debruyn, James B. Dodson, Robert S. Pfeiffer, Eric L. Szaloczi, Glenn A. Ulrich, Jeffrey L. Weber
  • Publication number: 20140073023
    Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson, Robert S. Pfeiffer, Eric L. Szaloczi, Glenn A. Ulrich, Jeffrey L. Weber