Patents by Inventor Jerry J. Weers
Jerry J. Weers 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: 11970657Abstract: A scale inhibitor squeeze treatment is enhanced by injecting a pre-flush solution into a wellbore, where the pre-flush solution includes at least one organic carbonate solvent, such as a dialkyl carbonate and/or a cyclic carbonate. The use of an organic carbonate solvent can help prevent the pre-flush solution emulsion formation, help avoid water-blocking, and enhance scale inhibitor adsorption. The use of an organic carbonate solvent also permits the pre-flush solution to be free of water, in one non-limiting embodiment.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murgesan, Jerry J. Weers, Onome Ugono, Jeffrey A. Russek, Dong Lee
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Publication number: 20240132787Abstract: Non-acidic sulfur compounds (e.g., thiols) can be selectively extracted from a hydrocarbon stream containing them (e.g., crude oil) by contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a carbonate solvent that contains at least one organic carbonate (e.g., propylene carbonate) in an amount effective to selectively absorb and extract the non-acidic sulfur compounds therefrom. The carbonate solvent may optionally also comprise an additional solvent (e.g., caprolactam), a soluble metal salt (e.g., a metal salt where the metal is iron), and/or a mercaptan scavenger that is a heterocyclic amine (e.g., oxazolidine).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2022Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Jerry J. Weers, Sai Reddy Pinappu, Onome Ugono, Kekeli A. Ekoue-Kovi
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Publication number: 20240109799Abstract: It is a continuing goal to reduce the amount of sludge produced in a biorefinery while also improving oil quality and water quality. In one aspect, an exemplary method of minimizing sludge from biorefineries includes the steps of feeding a source feedstock into a degumming centrifuge, where the source feedstock is separated into wet oil and a primary sludge stream, and conveying a portion of the primary sludge stream to a three-phase centrifuge. At the three-phase centrifuge, the portion of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered centrifuge oil, which is retrieved; centrifuged water, which is conveyed to a wastewater treatment plant; and centrifuged sludge. The remainder of the primary sludge stream is conveyed to a gravity separator, where the remainder of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered oil and residual sludge. The residual oil is retrieved from the gravity separator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Jerry j. Weers, Sai Reddy Pinappu, Jeffery K. Bolton, James E. Klolbassa, Rolando P. Perez
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Patent number: 11897860Abstract: A method for direct synthesis of cyclic carbonates is achieved by reacting at least one epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a choline catalyst, such as choline chloride, under mild conditions such as a temperature between about 25° C. to 150° C. and a pressure of from about atmospheric to 75 psi (0.52 MPa), in a cyclic carbonate solvent. The choline catalyst may be the only catalyst used, and a co-catalyst or hydrogen bond donor is not necessary. The concentration of choline catalyst in the solvent ranges from about 0.5 mol % to about 10 mol %, based on the epoxide.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Analette Carrasco, Jerry J. Weers, Catherine C Blackwell, Sankaran Murugesan, Xiaofeng Wang, Douglas Nugent, Corby A. Roberts
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Patent number: 11898106Abstract: It has been discovered that solid contaminants in a mixture of a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase may be retained in the hydrocarbon phase by introducing to the mixture an effective amount of an oil-wetting additive to retain at least a portion of the solid contaminants in the hydrocarbon phase as contrasted with an aqueous phase. The oil-wetting additive can be a surface-active additive including, but is not necessarily limited to, drilling fluid additives, surfactants, antifoulants, nanoparticles and combinations thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2022Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Brandon Vittur, Carl E. Weaver, Tran M. Nguyen, Lirio Quintero, Leonardo Franca, Jerry J. Weers, Joseph Arensdorf
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Patent number: 11879100Abstract: Catalyst fines can be removed from heavy oils, such as marine fuel oils, by introducing an additive in an effective amount to at least partially remove the catalyst fines, where the additive is an oxyalkylated acid-catalyzed alkylphenol formaldehyde resin and/or a Mannich condensate base resin copolymer.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Sai Reddy Pinappu, Jerry J. Weers, Carl E. Weaver
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Publication number: 20230383196Abstract: It has been discovered that solid contaminants in a mixture of a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase may be retained in the hydrocarbon phase by introducing to the mixture an effective amount of an oil-wetting additive to retain at least a portion of the solid contaminants in the hydrocarbon phase as contrasted with an aqueous phase. The oil-wetting additive can be a surface-active additive including, but is not necessarily limited to, drilling fluid additives, surfactants, antifoulants, nanoparticles and combinations thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Brandon Vittur, Carl E. Weaver, Tran M. Nguyen, Lirio Quintero, Leonardo Franca, Jerry J. Weers, Joseph Arensdorf
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Publication number: 20230383172Abstract: A scale inhibitor squeeze treatment is enhanced by injecting a pre-flush solution into a wellbore, where the pre-flush solution includes at least one organic carbonate solvent, such as a dialkyl carbonate and/or a cyclic carbonate. The use of an organic carbonate solvent can help prevent the pre-flush solution emulsion formation, help avoid water-blocking, and enhance scale inhibitor adsorption. The use of an organic carbonate solvent also permits the pre-flush solution to be free of water, in one non-limiting embodiment.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2022Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Jerry J. Weers, Onome Ugono, Jeffrey A. Russek, Dong Lee
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Patent number: 11820938Abstract: Dispersants including at least one organic carbonate can keep deposits dispersed within hydrocarbons, where the solids are asphaltenes and derivatives from triazine-based H2S scavengers.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2022Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Onome Ugono, Sankaran Murugesan, Jerry J. Weers, Kekeli A. Ekoue-Kovi
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Publication number: 20230348794Abstract: Catalyst fines can be removed from heavy oils, such as marine fuel oils, by introducing an additive in an effective amount to at least partially remove the catalyst fines, where the additive is an oxyalkylated acid-catalyzed alkylphenol formaldehyde resin and/or a Mannich condensate base resin copolymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2022Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Sai Reddy Pinappu, Jerry J. Weers, Carl E. Weaver
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Patent number: 11802246Abstract: A combination of at least one basic compound, such as potassium hydroxide, together with at least one aldehyde donor can synergistically scavenge mercaptans from organic fluids, such as hydrocarbons, where “synergistically effective” is defined as the amount of mercaptans scavenged is greater as compared with a combination where either the basic compound or the reaction product is absent, used in the same total amount.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2021Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Peng Jin, Zhengwei Liu, Jerry J. Weers, Sunder Ramchandran, Jagrut Jani, Scott Lehrer, Johnathon Brooks
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Publication number: 20230286936Abstract: A method for direct synthesis of cyclic carbonates is achieved by reacting at least one epoxide with carbon dioxide in the presence of a choline catalyst, such as choline chloride, under mild conditions such as a temperature between about 25° C. to 150° C. and a pressure of from about atmospheric to 75 psi (0.52 MPa), in a cyclic carbonate solvent. The choline catalyst may be the only catalyst used, and a co-catalyst or hydrogen bond donor is not necessary. The concentration of choline catalyst in the solvent ranges from about 0.5 mol % to about 10 mol %, based on the epoxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Analette Carrasco, Jerry J. Weers, Catherine C. Blackwell, Sankaran Murugesan, Xiaofeng Wang, Douglas Nugent, Corby A. Roberts
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Patent number: 11718798Abstract: It has been discovered that contaminants such as metals and/or amines can be transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble C5-C12 polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, ammonium salts thereof, alkali metal salts thereof, and mixtures of all of these. The composition may also optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. The method permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. Resolving the emulsion into the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase occurs in a refinery desalting process using electrostatic coalescence. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom. The polyhydroxy carboxylic acid additionally inhibits metal corrosion of metal pipe or other equipment used in a crude unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLCInventors: Mary Jane Legaspi Felipe, Jerry J. Weers, Tran M. Nguyen
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Publication number: 20230166992Abstract: A method for selective extraction of lithium from geothermal brines using host-guest complexes of host molecules such as calixarene, dendrimeric polymers, hyper-branched polymers, and/or acid-catalyzed resins complexed with synergists such as organic acids, condensation polymers, olefin/maleic anhydride copolymers, and/or chelants.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sankaran Murugesan, Mary Jane Legaspi Felipe, Jerry J. Weers, Onome Ugono, Kekeli A. Ekoue-Kovi, Sai Reddy Pinappu
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Patent number: 11491466Abstract: A regeneration solvent comprised of one or more ethylene amines may contact an adsorbent bed that has been used to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to extract adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent material in the bed to regenerate it. The one or more ethyleneamines may have structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1, R2, R5 and R6 are, to the extent chemically possible, independently H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group is independently H or C1 alkyl, where R3 and R4 are alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where x ranges from 0 to 3, y ranges from 1 to 6. The regenerated adsorbent bed may be reused, either alone or in combination with a liquid-liquid extraction column, to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sai Reddy Pinappu, Jerry J. Weers
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Publication number: 20220290055Abstract: A combination of at least one basic compound, such as potassium hydroxide, together with at least one aldehyde donor can synergistically scavenge mercaptans from organic fluids, such as hydrocarbons, where “synergistically effective” is defined as the amount of mercaptans scavenged is greater as compared with a combination where either the basic compound or the reaction product is absent, used in the same total amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: September 15, 2022Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Peng Jin, Zhengwei Liu, Jerry J. Weers, Sunder Ramchandran, Jagrut Jani, Scott Lehrer, Johnathon Brooks
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Patent number: 11434434Abstract: Metals, such as mercury, may be removed from aqueous, hydrocarbon, or mixed oilfield or refinery fluids by: applying a sulfur compound having the general formula HS—X, where X is a heteroatom substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and/or alkylaryl group either alone or in combination with or as a blend with at least one demulsifier, a buffering agent, a pour point depressant, and/or a water clarifier to chelate the at least one metal and form a chelate complex of the sulfur compound with the at least one metal and then separating the chelate complex from the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLCInventors: Jagrut Jani, Tran M. Nguyen, Jerry J. Weers, Zhengwei Liu
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Patent number: 11331649Abstract: A solvent comprised of (1) a caustic and an alcohol, (2) a caustic and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, or (3) a caustic, an alcohol, and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide may contact an adsorbent bed that has been used to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to extract adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent material in the bed to regenerate it. The regenerated adsorbent bed may be reused, either alone or in combination with a liquid-liquid extraction column, to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Sai Reddy Pinappu, Jerry J. Weers, Timothy J. O'Brien, Waynn C. Morgan
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Patent number: 11326109Abstract: Metals, such as mercury, may be removed from glycol fluids by applying a sulfur compound having the general formula HS—X, wherein X is a heteroatom-substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and/or alkylaryl group either alone or in combination with or as a blend with at least one antifoam additive, at least one demulsifier and/or a buffering agent, to chelate the at least one metal and form a chelate complex of the sulfur compound with the at least one metal and then separating the chelate complex from the fluid.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLCInventors: Jagrut Jani, Tran M. Nguyen, Jerry J. Weers, Zhengwei Liu
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Patent number: 11261385Abstract: An extraction solvent comprised of one or more ethyleneamines having structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1-R6 can independently be H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group independently H or C1 alkyl, and where x ranges from 1 to 6, may be contacted with a hydrocarbon stream to remove or extract non-acidic contaminants, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, mercaptans, aromatics, oxygenates, metals, olefins, and combinations thereof, from the hydrocarbon stream. The extraction solvent may include co-solvents and the hydrocarbon stream may be in gas and/or liquid form.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLCInventors: Paul J. Biggerstaff, Jerry J. Weers, Sai Reddy Pinappu, Weldon J. Cappel