Patents by Inventor Hartley H. Downs
Hartley H. Downs 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).
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Patent number: 8356667Abstract: Fluids containing liquid crystal-forming surfactants or polymeric surfactants, or polymers, or complex polymers or copolymers, or graphite nanotubes or Janus particles in a polar and/or non polar liquid, and optionally, co-surfactants, are useful in drilling, completion and production operations to give increased viscosity (solids suspension ability) and/or decreased fluid loss, as compared to otherwise identical fluids absent the liquid crystals. These liquid crystal compositions contain organized micelles. The liquid crystal-containing fluids are useful in completion fluids, fracturing fluids, formation damage remediation, waste management, lost circulation, drilling optimization, reducing trapped annular pressure during the hydrocarbon production process, well strengthening, friction and drag reducers, fluids introduced through an injection well, for geothermal wells, and the controlled release of additives into a wellbore, at a subterranean formation or at the oil production facilities.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Lirio Quintero, David E. Clark, Antonio Enrique Cardenas, Hartley H. Downs, Christopher T. Gallagher
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Publication number: 20100314118Abstract: Fluids containing liquid crystal-forming surfactants or polymeric surfactants, or polymers, or complex polymers or copolymers, or graphite nanotubes or Janus particles in a polar and/or non polar liquid, and optionally, co-surfactants, are useful in drilling, completion and production operations to give increased viscosity (solids suspension ability) and/or decreased fluid loss, as compared to otherwise identical fluids absent the liquid crystals. These liquid crystal compositions contain organized micelles. The liquid crystal-containing fluids are useful in completion fluids, fracturing fluids, formation damage remediation, waste management, lost circulation, drilling optimization, reducing trapped annular pressure during the hydrocarbon production process, well strengthening, friction and drag reducers, fluids introduced through an injection well, for geothermal wells, and the controlled release of additives into a wellbore, at a subterranean formation or at the oil production facilities.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Lirio Quintero, David E. Clark, Antonio Enrique Cardenas, Hartley H. Downs, Christopher T. Gallagher
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Patent number: 6841089Abstract: A method for reducing the toxicity of onium compounds, such as ammonium compounds and phosphonium compounds, by the use of certain additives is described. Suitable additives include, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxylic acids (e.g. naphthenic acids), sulfonic acids, organophosphonic acids, phenolic compounds, ether sulfates, phosphoric acid esters, sulfonated fatty acids, sulfated fatty acids, oligocarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, and alkali metal salts of these compounds and amine salts of these compounds.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2004Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Gordon T. Rivers, Hartley H. Downs
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Publication number: 20040144732Abstract: A method for reducing the toxicity of onium compounds, such as ammonium compounds and phosphonium compounds, by the use of certain additives is described. Suitable additives include, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxylic acids (e.g. naphthenic acids), sulfonic acids, organophosphonic acids, phenolic compounds, ether sulfates, phosphoric acid esters, sulfonated fatty acids, sulfated fatty acids, oligocarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, and alkali metal salts of these compounds and amine salts of these compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2004Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Gordon T. Rivers, Hartley H. Downs
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Patent number: 6723249Abstract: A method for reducing the toxicity of onium compounds, such as ammonium compounds and phosphonium compounds, by the use of certain additives is described. Suitable additives include, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxylic acids (e.g. naphthenic acids), sulfonic acids, organophosphonic acids, phenolic compounds, ether sulfates, phosphoric acid esters, sulfonated fatty acids, sulfated fatty acids, oligocarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, and alkali metal salts of these compounds and amine salts of these compounds.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Gordon T. Rivers, Hartley H. Downs
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Publication number: 20030116507Abstract: A method for reducing the toxicity of onium compounds, such as ammonium compounds and phosphonium compounds, by the use of certain additives is described. Suitable additives include, but are not necessarily limited to, carboxylic acids (e.g. naphthenic acids), sulfonic acids, organophosphonic acids, phenolic compounds, ether sulfates, phosphoric acid esters, sulfonated fatty acids, sulfated fatty acids, oligocarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, and alkali metal salts of these compounds and amine salts of these compounds.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2001Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventors: Gordon T. Rivers, Hartley H. Downs
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Patent number: 5302296Abstract: Materials such as amines, alcohols, aminoalcohols, ethers and mixtures thereof, including halogenated adducts thereof, have been found to be useful floc modifiers for water clarifiers to form an effective overall water clarifier composition. The water clarifier portion of the composition is a dithiocarbamate. The floc modifier of a particular water clarifier composition need not be the same compound that is reacted with carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) to make the water clarifier portion of the novel compositions.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1993Date of Patent: April 12, 1994Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Eric J. Evain, Hartley H. Downs, Daniel K. Durham
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Patent number: 5207919Abstract: Complex molecules of phosphonic acid ligands and transition metal ions are found to be surprisingly good at inhibiting and even preventing scale in aqueous solutions, crude oils, aqueous production fluids, heat exchange media, etc. Ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic) acid (ENTMP) complexed with copper (II) is a particularly effective scale inhibitor over wide pH and temperature ranges. Other useful metal complex molecules include various alkyleneamino(alkylphosphonic) acids, or salts thereof, complexed with transition metals such as nickel (II), cobalt (II), and zinc (II), in addition to copper (II). The active complexes may be termed phosphonate metal complexes, or in some forms, phosphonic acid metal complexes.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1991Date of Patent: May 4, 1993Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Patrick J. Breen, Hartley H. Downs, Bruce N. Diel
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Water clarification composition containing a water clarifier component and a floc modifier component
Patent number: 5190683Abstract: Materials such as amines, alcohols, aminoalcohols, ethers and mixtures thereof, including halogenated adducts thereof, have been found to be useful floc modifiers for water clarifiers to form an effective overall water clarifier composition. The water clarifier portion of the composition is a dithiocarbamate. The floc modifier of a particular water clarifier composition need not be the same compound that is reacted with carbon disulfide (CS.sub.2) to make the water clarifier portion of the novel compositions.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1990Date of Patent: March 2, 1993Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Eric J. Evain, Hartley H. Downs, Daniel K. Durham -
Patent number: 5057228Abstract: Complex molecules of phosphonic acid ligands and transition metal ions are formed to be surprisingly good at inhibiting and even preventing scale in aqueous solutions, crude oils, aqueous production fluids, heat exchange media, etc. Ethylenediaminetetra(methylenephosphonic) acid (ENTMP) complexed with copper (II) is a particularly effective scale inhibitor over wide pH and temperature ranges. Other useful metal complex molecules include various alkyleneamino(alkylphosphonic) acids, or salts thereof, complexed with transition metals such as nickel (II), cobalt (II) and zinc (II), in addition to copper (II). The active complexes may be termed phosphonate metal complexes, or in some forms, phosphonic acid metal complexes.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1990Date of Patent: October 15, 1991Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Patrick J. Breen, Hartley H. Downs, Bruce N. Diel
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Patent number: 5006274Abstract: Method and additive are provided for clarifying an aqueous system which may contain an oil-in-water emulsion, a dispersion of a non-aqueous discontinuous phase, without production of a resultant uncontrollable floc in the system, by contacting the system with an effective water clarifying amount of a composition having present a dithiocarbamate of bishexamethylenetriamine, said dithiocarbamate having the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R is hydrogen, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, ion or an amine, the ratio of carbon disulfide to primary amine for said dithiocarbamate of bishexamethylenetriamine is approximately stoichiometric. The composition is maintained in the system for sufficient time to effectively clarify the system without production of an uncontrollable floc.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 1989Date of Patent: April 9, 1991Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Daniel K. Durham, Urban C. Conkle, Hartley H. Downs
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Patent number: 4855060Abstract: Method and additive are provided for clarifying an aqueous system which may contain an oil-in-water emulsion, a dispersion of a non-aqueous discontinuous phase, without production of a resultant uncontrollable floc in the system, by contacting the system with an effective water clarifying amount of a composition having present a dithiocarbamate of bishexamethylenetriamine, said dithiocarbamate having the formula: ##STR1## wherein: R is hydrogen, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, ion or an amine, the ratio of carbon disulfide to primary amine for said dithiocarbamate of bishexamethylenetriamine is approximately stoichiometric. The composition is maintained in the system for sufficient time to effectively clarify the system without production of an uncontrollable floc.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1988Date of Patent: August 8, 1989Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Daniel K. Durham, Urban C. Conkle, Hartley H. Downs
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Patent number: 4612332Abstract: Surfactant-free stable aqueous foams may be produced by water soluble copolymers of acrylamide and N-alkylacrylamide with chain lengths greater than or equal to 6 carbons. Additionally, these polymers may contain an anionic monomer, such as a monovalent salt of acrylic acid. These copolymers and terpolymers are added to water or brine at a concentration of 0.005 to 2 parts per 100 of solvent. When the resulting solutions are subjected to intensive mixing with the addition of air or other gases, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, high quality, persistent foams are formed. These foams are formed at relatively low polymer concentrations without added surfactants. They have good high temperature stability and excellent salt tolerance.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 1985Date of Patent: September 16, 1986Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.Inventors: Jan Bock, Hartley H. Downs, Donald B. Siano, Salvatore J. Pace