Patents by Inventor Burton B. Sandiford
Burton B. Sandiford has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 5957203Abstract: Cationic polymer-containing gels are stable at elevated temperatures in soft and hard waters.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1994Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Hoai T. Dovan, Burton B. Sandiford
-
Patent number: 5762141Abstract: Cationic polymer-containing gels are stable at elevated temperatures in soft and hard waters.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1997Date of Patent: June 9, 1998Assignee: Union Oil Company Of CaliforniaInventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Hoai T. Dovan, Burton B. Sandiford
-
Patent number: 5617920Abstract: Enhanced gel properties (e.g., faster gel time, higher attainable gel strengths) are achieved by reducing the pH and/or increasing the salt of a monovalent and/or divalent cation concentration of an aqueous reaction medium in which a polymer is reacted with an organic crosslinking agent. In addition, the gelation time of an aqueous composition comprising a polymer and an organic crosslinking agent is reduced by heating the composition above about 48.9.degree. C. (120.degree. F.) prior to injecting the composition into a subterranean formation. Alternatively, the gelation time of the aqueous composition is increased by incorporating a pH increasing agent into the composition.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1994Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Hoai T. Dovan, Burton B. Sandiford, Richard D. Hutchins
-
Patent number: 5486312Abstract: Gels stable in a subterranean formation at a temperature greater than about 175.degree. F. are formed using, inter alia, a stabilizing agent (e.g., a buffer having a buffering capacity at a pH of at least about 8 and/or a chelating agent).Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 1993Date of Patent: January 23, 1996Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan, Richard D. Hutchins
-
Method for delaying gelation of a gelable polymer composition injected into a subterranean formation
Patent number: 5335733Abstract: The gelation of a gelable composition is delayed by using, inter alia, a crosslinking rate retardant selected from the group consisting of epoxides, ethers, and mixtures thereof.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1993Date of Patent: August 9, 1994Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan, Richard D. Hutchins -
Patent number: 5268112Abstract: Gels containing gas precursors and/or pathways are used to selectively reduce the flow of aqueous fluids with respect to the flow of nonaqueous fluids to enhance the recovery of the nonaqueous fluids from subterranean formations. The gels, while stable at reservoir conditions, are also readily degraded by gel degrading agents such as acids and therefore are also employed as fail-safe gels in subterranean gel treatments. In another embodiment, selective permeability is restored to a previously treated well by injecting a gas into the previous treated portions of the subterranean formation to displace any aqueous fluid obstructing the passage of the nonaqueous fluid through the polymer-coated pores or gel.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1992Date of Patent: December 7, 1993Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan
-
Patent number: 5246073Abstract: Gels stable in a subterranean formation at a temperature greater than about 175.degree. F. are formed using, inter alia, a stabilizing agent (e.g., a buffer having a buffering capacity at a pH of at least about 8 and/or a chelating agent).Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1992Date of Patent: September 21, 1993Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan, Richard D. Hutchins
-
Patent number: 5203834Abstract: Pathway-containing foamed gels enhance the recovery of the nonaqueous fluids from subterranean formations by selectively reducing the flow of aqueous fluids with respect to the flow of nonaqueous fluids.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1992Date of Patent: April 20, 1993Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan
-
Patent number: 5145012Abstract: Gels containing gas precursors and/or pathways are used to selectively reduce the flow of aqueous fluids with respect to the flow of nonaqueous fluids to enhance the recovery of the nonaqueous fluids from subterranean formations. The gels, while stable at reservoir conditions, are also readily degraded by gel degrading agents such as acids and therefore are also employed as fail-safe gels in subterranean gel treatments. In another embodiment, selective permeability is restored to a previously treated well by injecting a gas into the previous treated portions of the subterranean formation to displace any aqueous fluid obstructing the passage of the nonaqueous fluid through the polymer-coated pores or gel.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1990Date of Patent: September 8, 1992Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Richard D. Hutchins, Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan
-
Patent number: 4796700Abstract: A gel-forming composition is provided comprising a first substance selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, and mixtures thereof, glutaraldehyde, and water, and which does not require a separately provided acidic catalyst to crosslink and form a gel. The gel-forming composition is useful for retarding the flow of fluids in subterranean formations. For example, a method is provided for retarding the flow of water in high permeability channels in an oil reservoir. Such method is particularly useful in waterflood operations to increase the sweep efficiency of the oil recovery process. Since these gels have very good stability at elevated temperature they can be used in reservoirs having an average in situ temperature of 80.degree. C. or higher.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1986Date of Patent: January 10, 1989Assignee: Cities Service Oil and Gas CorporationInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Roger C. Zillmer
-
Patent number: 4673038Abstract: A gel-forming composition is provided comprising a first substance selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl alcohol copolymers, and mixtures thereof, a second substance selected from the group consisting of aldehydes, aldehyde generating substances, acetals, acetal generating substances, and mixtures thereof capable of crosslinking with the first substance through the formation of acetal crosslinkages, and water, and which requires contacting with a sorbed substance or brine which has sorbed substantial amounts of carbon dioxide before the gel-forming composition will form a gel. The gel-forming composition is useful for retarding the flow of carbon dioxide and other fluids in subterranean formations. For example, a method is provided for preventing the loss of carbon dioxide to nonproductive parts of an oil reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1986Date of Patent: June 16, 1987Assignee: Cities Service Oil and Gas CorporationInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Roger C. Zillmer
-
Patent number: 4665986Abstract: A gel-forming composition is provided comprising a PVA based substance selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, and mixtures thereof, an aldehyde operable for crosslinking with the PVA based substance, and water. The gel-forming composition is useful for reducing steam channeling in subterranean formations. For example, a method is provided for diverting the flow of injected steam in nonproductive steam channels in an oil reservoir during waterflood and steam cycling operations.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1986Date of Patent: May 19, 1987Assignee: Cities Service Oil and Gas CorporationInventor: Burton B. Sandiford
-
Patent number: 4665987Abstract: A gel-forming composition is provided comprising a PVA based substance selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, and mixtures thereof, aldehyde, and water. The gel-forming compositions are preheated to effect a predetermined amount of partial crosslinking of the PVA based substance and the aldehyde thereby enabling a lower aldehyde concentration to be used which in turn produces a more stable gel. The gel-forming compositions are useful for retarding the flow of fluids in subterranean formations. For example, for retarding the flow of water in high permeability channels in oil reservoirs. The gels and method of use herein provided are particularly useful in waterflood operations to increase the sweep efficiency of the oil recovery process.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 1986Date of Patent: May 19, 1987Assignee: Cities Serice Oil and Gas CorporationInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Chji-Shyoung Chiou
-
Patent number: 4643255Abstract: A rapid setting gel-forming composition is provided comprising a first substance selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl alcohol copolymer, and mixtures thereof, and aldehyde, and water, which is useful in preventing the loss of circulation fluids in well drilling, completion of workover operations. A combination process is also provided using a slower setting gel-forming composition for retarding the flow of waters or brines in high permeable non-productive channels in combination with a subsequent acidizing step for increasing the permeability of low porous structure in subterranean formations. The combination process is particularly useful in waterflood operations to increase the sweep efficiency of the oil recovery process while improving the flow oil and drive water in the productive parts of the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1985Date of Patent: February 17, 1987Assignee: Cities Service Oil and Gas CorporationInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Roger C. Zillmer
-
Patent number: 4501324Abstract: A method for tagging an oil so that subsequently it may be identified as to source by incorporating into the oil as a tracer material a minor amount of certain halohydrocarbons or halocarbons, utilizing the so-tagged oil in any desired manner wherein control of the oil is at least temporarily lost, and thereafter analyzing an oil suspected to contain at least a portion of the so-tagged oil for the presence of the tracer material by gas chromatography, using a pulsed election capture detector.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1982Date of Patent: February 26, 1985Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, E. Reinold Fett, Harold J. Bickford
-
Patent number: 4413680Abstract: A method for selectively reducing the permeability of the higher permeability zones of a subterranean reservoir having heterogeneous permeability, such permeability reduction occurring a substantial distance away from a well in which there is injected into the reservoir an aqueous solution or solutions of a water-soluble polymer, a material capable under certain conditions of at least partially cross-linking the polymer to form a gelatinous precipitate, and a water-soluble alkaline material in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH of the polymer-containing composition above about 9 until the composition has passed a substantial distance through the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1981Date of Patent: November 8, 1983Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Hoai T. Dovan, Richard D. Hutchins
-
Patent number: 4332297Abstract: A method for restricting fluid flow in depth outwardly from the bore hole through the medium to high permeable zones of a subterranean reservoir of nonuniform permeability in which there is injected into the reservoir aqueous solutions of a water-soluble polymer and an alkali metal silicate. The injected solutions are either admixed at the surface prior to injection, simultaneously injected or injected sequentially.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1980Date of Patent: June 1, 1982Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventor: Burton B. Sandiford
-
Patent number: 4147211Abstract: A process of treating a plurality of wells involved in an enhanced oil recovery process so that oil and/or gas can be displaced from a reservoir in a more uniform manner comprising treating the formation surrounding and in the immediate vicinity of each well involved in the process with a solution that sets with time to form a plug in the more permeable zones of the reservoir surrounding each well.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 1977Date of Patent: April 3, 1979Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventor: Burton B. Sandiford
-
Patent number: 4069869Abstract: A method of forming a mixed plug in the more permeable zones of a subterranean reservoir of nonuniform permeability in which there is injected into the reservoir aqueous solutions of: a polymer, a material that reacts with the polymer to form a time-delayed polymer-containing plug, an alkali metal silicate and a material that reacts with the silicate to form a time-delayed silicate-containing plug. The injected solutions are either admixed at the surface prior to injection or are simultaneously injected so that a mixed polymer-silicate plug is formed in the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1977Date of Patent: January 24, 1978Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventor: Burton B. Sandiford
-
Patent number: 4031958Abstract: A method of selectively plugging permeable water-producing zones in a subterranean formation of nonuniform permeability comprising sequentially injecting into the formation (1) an aqueous solution of a first reactant material rendered more viscous than the subsequently injected liquids by the addition of a viscosity increasing agent, (2) a low viscosity inert aqueous spacer liquid, (3) a low viscosity aqueous solution containing a second reactant material which, on contact, will react with the first reactant material to produce an insoluble precipitate, (4) a low viscosity inert aqueous spacer liquid and (5) an additional amount of the aqueous solution of a first reactant material, which aqueous solution is optionally rendered more viscous than the previously injected aqueous solution containing the second reactant material by the addition thereto of a viscosity increasing agent.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1975Date of Patent: June 28, 1977Assignee: Union Oil Company of CaliforniaInventors: Burton B. Sandiford, Robert K. Knight