Patents by Inventor Karen Schooley

Karen Schooley 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).

  • Oil recovery process including enhanced softening of produced water
    Patent number: 9938813
    Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water resulting from an oil recovery operation. Produced water is subjected to a softening process wherein a caustic or other softening reagent is added to the produced water to increase the pH of the produced water. Downstream of softening, there is provided an evaporator for evaporating at least a portion of the produced water and producing steam and a concentrated brine. At least a portion of the concentrated brine is recycled upstream of the evaporator and mixed with the produced water and the softening reagent to enhance the softening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Schooley, David E. Gamache
  • Oil recovery process including a high solids crystallizer for treating evaporator blowdown
    Patent number: 9932810
    Abstract: An oil recovery process is provided where an oil-water mixture is recovered from an oil-bearing formation. Oil is separated from the oil-water mixture to yield produced water. The produced water is typically subjected to a pre-treatment process. After pre-treatment, the produced water is directed to an evaporator that evaporates at least some of the produced water and produces steam and an evaporator blowdown. The evaporator blowdown is directed to a dual stage crystallizer that concentrates the evaporator blowdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Schooley, Donald A. Boudreau, Jr.
  • OIL RECOVERY PROCESS INCLUDING A HIGH SOLIDS CRYSTALLIZER FOR TREATING EVAPORATOR BLOWDOWN
    Publication number: 20150345278
    Abstract: An oil recovery process is provided where an oil-water mixture is recovered from an oil-bearing formation. Oil is separated from the oil-water mixture to yield produced water. The produced water is typically subjected to a pre-treatment process. After pre-treatment, the produced water is directed to an evaporator that evaporates at least some of the produced water and produces steam and an evaporator blowdown. The evaporator blowdown is directed to a dual stage crystallizer that concentrates the evaporator blowdown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Schooley, Donald A. Boudreau, JR.
  • OIL RECOVERY PROCESS INCLUDING ENHANCED SOFTENING OF PRODUCED WATER
    Publication number: 20150345277
    Abstract: A process is provided for treating produced water resulting from an oil recovery operation. Produced water is subjected to a softening process wherein a caustic or other softening reagent is added to the produced water to increase the pH of the produced water. Downstream of softening, there is provided an evaporator for evaporating at least a portion of the produced water and producing steam and a concentrated brine. At least a portion of the concentrated brine is recycled upstream of the evaporator and mixed with the produced water and the softening reagent to enhance the softening process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen Schooley, David E. Gamache