Patents by Inventor Donald A. Thorssen

Donald A. Thorssen 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: 6032747
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus is provided for use in an underbalanced drilling process using exhaust gases wherein some constituents of the exhaust gas combine with water to form acids. The present invention provides a means of deacidifying drilling fluids. The pH of the drilling fluid is monitored and adjusted to prevent corrosion of equipment by acidic drilling fluids. The drilling fluid may also be optionally treated with anti-scaling agents. The drilling fluid may be a gas, a liquid or a combination of both or it may be gasified oil based drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Underbalanced Drilling Systems Limited
    Inventors: Eugene I. Moody, Donald A. Thorssen
  • Patent number: 5902775
    Abstract: A wax and asphaltene solvation fluid for use in oil and gas wells is derived as a residual fluid from a feedstock that includes a greater mass percentage of trimethylbenzene than decane, and is preferably sour. Mass percentage of both aromatics and asphaltenes in the residual fluid is in the 30%-70% range, and a complex mixture of both is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Trysol Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald A. Thorssen, Dwight N. Loree
  • Patent number: 5795850
    Abstract: A wax and asphaltene solvation fluid for use in oil and gas wells is derived as a residual fluid from a feedstock that includes a greater mass percentage of trimethylbenzene than decane, and is preferably sour. Mass percentage of both aromatics and asphaltenes in the residual fluid is in the 30%-70% range, and a complex mixture of both is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Trysol Limited
    Inventors: Donald A. Thorssen, Dwight N. Loree
  • Patent number: 5207953
    Abstract: A fire retarded solvent composition includes a mixture of at least one flammable organic solvent; and a mixture of at least one brominated hydrocarbon, in an amount sufficient to decrease the flame propagation rate of the composition and preferably increase the flash point of the solvent composition. The brominated hydrocarbon may be selected from the group consisting of dibromoethane, dibromomethane, chlorodibromomethane, bromochloromethane, dibromodifluoromethane, dibromodifluoroethane, 1,2,dibromo-1.1-difluoroethane, chlorodibromofluoromethane, 1,2dibromotetrafluoroethane and 1,2dibromoethylene. Dibromomethane and bromochloromethane are preferred. When used as an oil and gas operation fluid, the fluorinated hydrocarbons should not be used, nor should the brominated hydrocarbon be an aromatic or contain an oxygen bridge. The organic solvent is preferably selected from the group consisting of light petroleum distillate, diesel and crude, the fluid hydrocarbon primarily having between 5 and 12 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Trisol Inc.
    Inventors: Donald A. Thorssen, Dwight N. Loree