Patents Examined by Aiqun Li
  • Patent number: 11359131
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations with fluids containing lost circulation materials are provided. In one embodiment, the methods introducing a treatment fluid that includes a base fluid and a lost circulation material into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein the lost circulation material includes a plurality of particles having a multi-modal particle size distribution comprising a d10 value ranging from about 20 to about 50 microns, a d50 value ranging from about 55 to about 90 microns, and d90 value ranging from about 240 to about 340 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Lee Whitfill, Ifueko Akpata, V. Ramireddy Devarapalli, Mohamed Abdel Salam
  • Patent number: 11319473
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mixture of esters obtainable by reacting components of an esterifiable composition with each other, wherein the esterifiable composition comprises at least one trimer fatty acid, at least one fatty acid and at least one hydroxy monocarboxylic acid and a production process of the mixture of esters. Furthermore, the present invention relates to environmental friendly, preferably oil based, drilling fluids comprising the above-mentioned mixture of esters, water and an organic phase and the use of said mixture as viscosifier for drilling fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Emery Oleochemicals GmbH
    Inventors: Diana Maeker, Patrick Haehnel
  • Patent number: 11319477
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, compositions, and systems directed to filter cake removal embodying a delayed breaker fluid for oil-based drill-in fluids. A wellbore treatment method comprising: introducing a delayed breaker fluid into a wellbore, wherein the delayed breaker fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, an acid precursor, and a carbodiimide; and contacting a filter cake in the wellbore with the delayed breaker fluid such that the filter cake is at least partially degraded by acid released from the acid precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine Martin Santos, William Walter Shumway, Jay Paul Deville
  • Patent number: 11299665
    Abstract: Compositions for stimulating hydrocarbon production from a subterranean formation are generally disclosed. In some embodiments, such compositions include olefinic ester compounds, such as alkyl esters of C10-18 unsaturated fatty acids. In some embodiments, the olefinic ester compounds are derived from a natural oil or a natural oil derivative, for example, by catalytic olefin metathesis. Uses of such compounds, such as in oil- and gas-production methods are also generally disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Wilmar Trading Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Frederyk Ngantung, Robin Weitkamp
  • Patent number: 11292951
    Abstract: Methods for the use of treatment fluids that include thermally responsive anti-sag agents in subterranean formations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include introducing a treatment fluid including a base fluid and an anti-sag agent including a thermally responsive hydrogel that includes at least one thermoresponsive polymer into at least a portion of a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Preston Andrew May, William Walter Shumway
  • Patent number: 11286412
    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: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 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: 11286326
    Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-arm star macromolecules which are used as thickening agents or rheology modifiers, including use in hydraulic fracturing fluid compositions. In one aspect of the invention, a star macromolecule is capable of thickening via a dual mechanism comprising (1) self-assembly of the hydrophobic polymerized segments of the star macromolecules via hydrophobic interactions or associations, and (2) association, reaction, or combination of the hydroxyl-containing polymerized segments of one or more of the star macromolecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Pilot Polymer Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick McCarthy, Yuanxi Liao, Liang Huang
  • Patent number: 11279801
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to a silane-functionalized polyalkyleneimine (PAI) clay stabilizer for treatment of subterranean formations. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method can include placing in the subterranean formation a silane-functionalized PAI clay stabilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatyana V. Khamatnurova, Gladys Rocio Montenegro-Galindo, Denise Nicole Benoit
  • Patent number: 11279887
    Abstract: A treatment composition for reducing viscosity, pour point, and precipitate content of a hydrocarbon fluid at temperatures below 90° F., preferably 34° F. to 90° F. The treatment composition includes one or more mixed fatty acid methyl esters, an aromatic mixture consisting essentially of C9 to C15 aromatic compounds, and a main solvent consisting essentially of low odor kerosene, low odor diesel, or a mixture of low odor diesel or low odor kerosene. The treatment composition solubilizes hydrocarbon deposits for removal. The treatment composition also solubilizes paraffins and asphaltenes in a hydrocarbon fluid to prevent or mitigate the formation of hydrocarbon deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: WELLRENEW, LLC
    Inventor: Charles Bullick Talley
  • Patent number: 11248157
    Abstract: Drilling fluid compositions include invert emulsion fluids having an oleaginous phase, an aqueous phase, and an emulsifier composition that includes an ethoxylated alcohol compound and a polyaminated fatty acid compound. The ethoxylated alcohol compound has the formula R1—(OCH2CH2)n—OH, where R1 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and n is from 1 to 8. The ethoxylated alcohol compound has a Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) of less than or equal to 6. The polyaminated fatty acid compound has the formula R2—CO—NH—CH2—CH2—N(COR2)—CH2—CH2—NH—CO—R3, where R2 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and R3 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkylene carboxylate group having formula —R4—COOH, where R4 is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbylene having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms. Methods of drilling wells include operating a drill in a wellbore in the presence of drilling fluid compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Vikrant Wagle, Abdullah Al-Yami
  • Patent number: 11230911
    Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation, comprising placing into the wellbore a wellbore servicing fluid comprising a superabsorbent starch hydrogel (SSH) and an aqueous fluid, wherein the SSH is formed from an SSH reaction mixture comprising a starch, a crosslinker, a base, and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zhou, Jay Paul Deville
  • Patent number: 11220623
    Abstract: A flow constraint material consists essentially of degradable particles, where at least 50% by volume of the degradable particles have an average particle size of about 1 millimeters (mm) to about 6 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Wedell Gullickson, William Owen Alexander Ruhle, John Dean Stabenau
  • Patent number: 11208585
    Abstract: A method of using a suppression factor fluid during a well activity is provided. The method comprising the steps of introducing a suppression factor fluid into a wellbore, the suppression factor fluid comprising an untreated divalent brine, and a suppression sugar alcohol, the suppression sugar alcohol in an amount operable to achieve a suppression factor of at least 0.1, wherein a density upper limitation of the suppression factor fluid is greater than the density upper limitation of the divalent brine; wherein the suppression factor fluid is in the absence of zinc; and completing the well activity in the wellbore, such that the suppression sugar alcohol inhibits crystallization during the well activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Arthur G. Mack
  • Patent number: 11208586
    Abstract: A method of using a suppression factor fluid during a well activity is provided. The method comprising the steps of introducing a suppression factor fluid into a wellbore, the suppression factor fluid comprising an untreated monovalent brine; and a suppression sugar alcohol, the suppression sugar alcohol in an amount operable to achieve a suppression factor, wherein a density upper limitation of the suppression factor fluid is greater than the density upper limitation of the monovalent brine; and completing the well activity in the wellbore, such that the suppression sugar alcohol inhibits crystallization during the well activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: TETRA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Arthur G. Mack
  • Patent number: 11203709
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formations (tight shale reservoirs). The flowback compositions include an anionic dimer surfactant, an anionic monomer surfactant, and a demulsifier. The flowback compositions convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet, yet exhibit a low tendency of composition components to sorb to the rock. The flowback compositions do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean fractured rock formations. The flowback composition are useful for increasing the yield of hydrocarbons recovered from tight shale reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Jenny L. Phan
  • Patent number: 11203708
    Abstract: The present application provides a gas-generating aqueous fluid containing a gas-generating compound like an azo compound, and an organic amine like a primary, secondary or tertiary amine, a hydrazine, a hydrazide, or a semicarbazide. The aqueous fluid may also a viscosifier, and a foaming surfactant. The present application also provides a method of using the gas-generating composition to modulate density of a wellbore fluid for use in downhole applications. The method optionally includes adding an oxidizer to the wellbore fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: B. Raghava Reddy
  • Patent number: 11186764
    Abstract: This invention relates to an anionic-cationic-nonionic surfactant as substantially represented by the formula (I), production and use thereof in tertiary oil recovery. The anionic-cationic-nonionic surfactant of this invention exhibits significantly improved interfacial activity and stability as compared with the prior art. With the present anionic-cationic-nonionic surfactant, a flooding fluid composition for tertiary oil recovery with improved oil displacement efficiency and oil washing capability as compared with the prior art could be produced. In the formula (I), each group is as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SHANGHAI RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY, SINOPEC
    Inventors: Yingcheng Li, Songyuan Gu, Weidong Zhang, Xinning Bao, Ou Sha, Zhiqin Shen, Yiqing Yang, Xiaodong Zhai
  • Patent number: 11180588
    Abstract: Compositions may include those of the formula: (I) wherein R1 is an alkyl chain having a carbon number in the range of greater than 40 to 200, R2 is a multiester, R3 is hydrogen, an ion, or an alkyl chain having a carbon number in the range of 1 to 200, m is an integer selected from 0 to 4, and n is an integer selected from the range of 0 to 4, wherein the sum of m and n is 1 or greater. Compositions may include a reaction product of a polyisobutylene-substituted succinic anhydride and a hydroxy-functional dendrimer, wherein the molar ratio of polyisobutylene-substituted succinic anhydride to hydroxy-functional dendrimer is within the range of 10:1 to 30:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stepan Company
    Inventors: Rachael Anne Cole, Pradyumna Avinash Deshpande, Chandrashekhar Yeshwant Khandekar, Tore Nordvik, Loic Regnault De La Mothe, Elodie Shaw, Laure Canal, Marine Dugand, José Santiago
  • Patent number: 11174422
    Abstract: Salt-free invert emulsions having an external phase comprising a hydrocarbon fluid, and an internal phase comprising a hygroscopic fluid selected from the group consisting of an amino alcohol, a glycol, an amine glycol, and any combination thereof. Methods including introducing the salt-free invert emulsion into a subterranean formation and performing a subterranean formation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Umesh Namdeo Nehete, Mohamed Abdel Salam, Sanjay Kumar Premnarayan Mishra, Sharad Bhimrao Gotmukle
  • Patent number: 11162009
    Abstract: The invention relates to powdered lubricants for water based drilling fluids. Conventional liquid lubricants containing particularly divalent ions have the tendency to grease out. The powdered lubricants have excellent dispersion properties and hence do not grease out, when added to the drilling mud in the concentrations, preferably of the order of about 3% or less. The powdered lubricant is a combination of inert fillers with fatty acids that are essentially free from fatty acid esters and metal soaps and have organic acids containing C10-C24 alkyl groups fatty acids. The improved lubricating properties of the drilling muds result in greatly increased life of the rotary drilling bits and marked reduction in torque required to rotate the bit. Solid powdered additives compositions greatly reduce transportation costs and simplify the logistics and environmental concerns associated with shipping large volumes of liquids and overcome the pour point issues associated with liquid additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Inventors: Vivek Gupta, Sakshi Indulkar, Megha Asrani