Patents Examined by Aiqun Li
  • Patent number: 11535588
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrated crystalline form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid having a 2-theta powder X-ray diffraction diagram comprising peaks at 10.58°, 11.2°, 12.65°, 13.66°, 16.28°, 18.45°, 20°, 20.4°, 22.5°, 25.5°, 25.88°, 26.47°, 28.52°, 30.28°, 30.8°, 34.09°, 38.19°, 40.69°, 41.82°, 43.74°, 46.04° degrees (+/?0.1°). The present invention also relates to a production method for this form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and a preparation method for an aqueous solution A of a salt of this form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and the (co)polymer of this form of -acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: SPCM SA
    Inventors: Cédrick Favero, Johann Kieffer
  • Patent number: 11530348
    Abstract: Provided is a composition that may include a mixture of an ionic liquid and a surfactant in an aqueous composition, where a carbonaceous hydrocarbon-bearing formation has a wettability value and comprises hydrocarbons, where there is an interfacial tension value between the aqueous composition and hydrocarbons present in the carbonaceous hydrocarbon-bearing formation, where the aqueous solution may be configured to modify the wettability value of the carbonaceous hydrocarbon-bearing formation from a first value to a second value that is more water-wet than the first value, and where the presence of the ionic liquid in the aqueous composition may not substantially impact the value for interfacial tension between the hydrocarbons in the carbonaceous hydrocarbon-bearing formation and the aqueous composition. Further provided is a method that may introduce the aqueous composition into a carbonaceous hydrocarbon-bearing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ziyuan Qi, Ming Han
  • Patent number: 11518927
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to demulsifier compositions for treatment of subterranean formations or produced petroleum comprising an emulsion. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in the subterranean formation a demulsifier composition. The demulsifier composition includes an alkanolamide surfactant that is a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl amide having groups R1 and R2 substituted on the amide nitrogen, wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —(C1-C50)hydrocarbyl, and —(C1-C50)hydrocarbylene-OH, wherein at least one of R1 and R2 is —(C1-C50)hydrocarbylene-OH. The demulsifier composition includes an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant that is a (C1-C50)hydrocarbyl-OH having a —((C2-C3)alkylene-O)n—H group on the —OH group, wherein n is about 1 to about 100. The demulsifier composition also includes an amine-oxide surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Chandra Sekhar Palla-Venkata, Jeremy A. Holtsclaw, Antonio Recio, III, Kristina Henkel Holan
  • Patent number: 11472994
    Abstract: A method for demulsifying a recovered drilling fluid is disclosed. A recovered drilling fluid is first combined with dilution water and a diethanolamine-based C8-C18 alkanolamide demulsifying agent. The recovered drilling fluid comprises hydrocarbons, a brine having at least 25% total dissolved solids, an emulsifier, and undissolved oil-wetted solids. In a second step, the mixture is separated, or is allowed to separate, into three distinct phases, including a clear oil phase comprising the hydrocarbons, a clear brine phase, and a water-wetted solid phase. Compositions suitable for use as demulsifiers and demulsified compositions are also disclosed. The alkanolamide demulsifying agents enable rapid, clean separation of phases and efficient recovery of 80% or more of the oil phase from the recovered drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: STEPAN COMPANY
    Inventors: Yongling Ginger Ren, Aaron Sanders, Jonathan Mohandessi
  • Patent number: 11472993
    Abstract: Non-aqueous suspension composition of water-soluble polymers and method for treating a subterranean formation comprising the step of placing an aqueous fluid containing the suspension composition into the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Lamberti SPA
    Inventors: Lorenzo Giardini, Luigi Merli, Pierangelo Pirovano, Giovanni Floridi, Giuseppe Li Bassi
  • Patent number: 11447680
    Abstract: An additive composition includes a rheology modifier selected from alcohol ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, or ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, wherein the rheology modifier has an HLB ranging from about 4 to 10; and a winterizing agent that is at least one aliphatic non-ionic surfactant that has a branched structure and/or includes at least one unsaturation, wherein the winterizing agent has an HLB value between about 8 and 10.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dimitri M. Khramov, Reda Karoum, Stephen Cliffe
  • Patent number: 11447689
    Abstract: A method of making a proppant-gel matrix comprising: a) hydrating a gelling agent to form a hydrated gelling agent; b) adding a basic compound to the hydrated gelling agent to form a basic hydrated gelling agent having a pH in the range of 11.5 to 14.0; c) mixing the basic hydrated gelling agent and a proppant to form a basic hydrated gelling system; and d) adding a crosslinking agent to the basic hydrated gelling system to form the proppant-gel matrix, is disclosed. The proppant-gel matrix can then be used as a fracturing fluid in a hydraulic fracturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: HEXION INC.
    Inventors: Charles Zha, Jan Beetge
  • Patent number: 11441061
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, water-based drilling fluids may include an aqueous base fluid and one or more additives. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lubricant blend including at least oleic acid and palmitoleic acid. The sum of the volume percent of the oleic acid and palmitoleic acid may be from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % of the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. In embodiments, water-based drilling fluids may include a lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil in an amount of from 0.1 vol. % to 10 vol. % relative to the total volume of the water-based drilling fluid. At least 90% of the lesser melting point fraction of jojoba oil may have a melting point less than or equal to 15° C. Methods for drilling subterranean wells with the water-based drilling fluids are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Md Amanullah, Raed Alouhali, Sara Alkhalaf, Ali Radhwan, Mohammed Khalid Al-Arfaj, Abdulaziz S. Al-Qasim
  • Patent number: 11434404
    Abstract: A rapidly dehydrating lost circulation material (LCM) composition is provided. The LCM composition may include a carrier fluid, diatomaceous earth, a viscosifier, and date tree rachis fibers. The carrier fluid may be water and the viscosifier may be a cellulosic microfiber. The LCM composition may form a rapidly dehydrating loss control slurry (RDLCS). The LCM composition may be formed by mixing the carrier fluid, the diatomaceous earth, the viscosifier, and the date tree rachis fibers in a mixer to form a homogenous mixture. Methods of lost circulation control and manufacture of a rapidly dehydrating LCM are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Md Amanullah
  • Patent number: 11421142
    Abstract: Provided is a composition comprising at least one polymer, the repeat unit of which comprises at least one amide functional group, at least one polyetheramine with a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of greater than 100 g.mo1?1 and exhibiting at least two secondary and/or tertiary amine functional groups, and optionally, but preferably, at least one organic solvent. Also provided is method of using of the composition for delaying, indeed even preventing, the formation of gas hydrates, in particular in a process for extracting oil and/or gas and/or condensates, and also to the process for delaying, indeed even preventing, the formation and/or the agglomeration of gas hydrates, employing a composition as defined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Arkema France
    Inventors: Tong Eak Pou, Frédéric Moser
  • Patent number: 11421146
    Abstract: A viscoelastic emulsion formed by combining at least one extended surfactant, a salt (e.g., brine), an oil, such as crude oil, diesel, kerosene, or a vegetable oil, and water, into a mixture comprising an oil-starved Winsor III microemulsion into which excess oil is dispersed. The viscoelastic emulsion may be combined with a proppant to form a fracking fluid. The viscoelastic emulsion may be used in various reservoir applications, such as hydraulic fracturing, or flooding for enhanced tertiary oil recovery, and in other applications such as, but not limited to, environmental remediation, or formation of consumer products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Changlong Chen, Jeffrey H. Harwell, Bor Jier Shiau
  • Patent number: 11414588
    Abstract: Disclosed are alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides and alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters used in compositions and methods for inhibiting natural gas hydrate agglomerates. The alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyamides and alkyl lactone-derived hydroxyesters are reaction products of an alkyl lactone and an amine, and an alkyl lactone and an alcohol, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Wayne Bartels, Jeffrey M. Servesko
  • Patent number: 11414591
    Abstract: This invention relates to compositions and methods of microbial enhanced oil recovery using biochemical-producing microbes. In specific embodiments, the methods of the subject invention comprise applying a bio surfactant-producing bacteria and/or a growth by-product thereof to an oil-producing site. In preferred embodiments, the bacteria is a strain of Bacillus in spore form. In some embodiments, the methods further comprise applying the bacteria with a yeast fermentation product, an alkaline compound, a polymer, a non-biological surfactant, and/or one or more chelating agents. Advantageously, the subject invention can be useful for stimulating the flow of oil from a well, as well as dissolving scale present in an oil-bearing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Farmer, Ken Alibek, Sharmistha Mazumder, Kent Adams, Tyler Dixon, Yajie Chen, Maja Milovanovic
  • Patent number: 11401455
    Abstract: The invention is directed to polymers that self-crosslink at acidic pH or can be crosslinked by phenolic agents in brine. Such polymers have lower viscosity and can be pumped deep into reservoirs, where they will cross link in situ, thus increasing their viscosity and/or form a gel and blocking thief zones. Methods of making and using such polymers are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
    Inventors: Huili Guan, Cory Berkland, Ahmad Moradi-Araghi, Jenn-Tai Liang, Terry M. Christian, Riley B. Needham, James H. Hedges, Min Cheng, Faye L. Scully
  • Patent number: 11396632
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are antifouling compositions including a combination of one or more dispersant polymers and one or more inhibitors, the one or more dispersant polymers including the polymerized residues of one or more ?-olefins and maleic anhydride, further wherein the maleic anhydride residues are reacted with a primary amine; and the one or more inhibitors including a functionalized p-phenylene diamine. Concentrates of the antifouling compositions in solvents are stable and pourable at temperatures of 0° C. to ?40° C. The antifouling compositions are added to a petroleum product to form a treated petroleum product, wherein fouling by the treated petroleum product is reduced and a stable dispersion is formed over a wide range of processing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Abuzar Syed, Kailash Sawhney
  • Patent number: 11390793
    Abstract: A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method, a method for well treatment may comprise providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid; and a nanofribril cellulose additive, wherein the nanofribril cellulose additive comprises nanofribril cellulose and a surfactant adsorbed onto a surface of the nanofribril cellulose; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation. Additional systems, methods and compositions are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: William Cecil Pearl, Jr., Samuel J. Lewis, Thomas Singh Sodhi
  • Patent number: 11384282
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a one-component type multi-functional fracturing fluid additive and a process for preparing the same. The process the following steps: mixing ethylene glycol, isopropanol, 1-butanol, 1-hexanol and 1-octanol, and heating to uniformly disperse the mixture to obtain an aqueous dispersant; adding a high molecular polymer thickener and an auxiliary agent to the aqueous dispersant, and stirring the mixture at a high speed to obtain a suspension, wherein the auxiliary agent is one or more selected from clay stabilizers, drainage aids, drag reducers, emulsion inhibitors, filtrate reducers, corrosion inhibitors and fungicides; and slowly stirring the suspension at a low speed, and cooling the suspension to room temperature to collect a sample of suspension. This auxiliary agent has good characteristics such as temperature resistance, shear resistance, salt resistance, and sand suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Shaanxi University Of Science & Technology
    Inventors: Xiaojuan Lai, Meiling Fan, Lei Wang, Xingen Feng, Weibo Liu, Peng Li, Xiaoxin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11377584
    Abstract: A method may include introducing into a wellbore a treatment fluid including a nanoparticle antiscalant; and a base fluid; contacting the nanoparticle antiscalant with an iron sulfide scale present in the wellbore; and dissolving at least a portion of the iron sulfide scale with the nanoparticle antiscalant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Saleh Haif Almutairi, Yasmeen Hani Najm, Azhar Ahmed Alhasawi
  • Patent number: 11370957
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a copolymer concentrate in a bio-solvent that can be further diluted into a slurry composition. The bio-solvent facilitates the formation of a viscosified base fluid with the mixing being carried out in a short period of time and at ambient, providing a free flowing, pumpable, and dispersible slurry. The slurry is characterized as having excellent stability, maintaining suspension over a wide range of temperatures. In embodiments, the bio-solvent is selected from terpene and terpene-derivative-containing solvents, fatty acid alkyl esters, and mixtures thereof. The bio-solvent can be first mixed with a styrenic diblock copolymer to form a concentrate prior mixing with a hydrocarbon solvent, forming a viscosified base fluid for subsequent mixing with a water-soluble polymer to form the slurry. The bio-solvent can also be used to dilute the hydrocarbon solvent, prior to mixing with the styrenic diblock copolymer to form the viscosified base fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: KRATON POLYMERS LLC
    Inventor: Robert C Bening
  • Patent number: 11365173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrated crystalline form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid having a 2-theta powder X-ray diffraction diagram comprising peaks at 10.58°, 11.2°, 12.65°, 13.66°, 16.28°, 18.45°, 20°, 20.4°, 22.5°, 25.5°, 25.88°, 26.47°, 28.52°, 30.28°, 30.8°, 34.09°, 38.19°, 40.69°, 41.82°, 43.74°, 46.04° degrees (+/? 0.1°. The present invention also relates to a production method for this form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and a preparation method for an aqueous solution A of a salt of this form of 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and the (co)polymer of this form of -acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: SPCM SA
    Inventors: Cédrick Favero, Johann Kieffer