Patents by Inventor Mazen Kanj

Mazen Kanj 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: 11923880
    Abstract: An electromagnetic (EM)-based diagnostics and monitoring system and method for the non-Invasive diagnosis and monitoring of in-vivo and ex-vivo Skin Anomalies Using Lesion-Optimized Sensor System Design and Topology is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: American University of Beirut
    Inventors: Nader Shafi, Joseph Costantine, Rouwaida Kanj, Youssef Tawk, Assaad Eid, Mazen Kurban, Jihane Abou Rahal, Ali H. Ramadan
  • Patent number: 11702583
    Abstract: A method for modifying surface wettability of a surface of a solid substrate may include contacting the surface of the solid substrate with a brine solution containing carbon nanodots. The carbon nanodots may have carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen as constituent elements and may include one or more functional groups disposed at outer surfaces of the carbon nanodots. The brine solution has a salinity of greater than 30,000 TDS. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the brine solution is less than or equal to 500 ppmw. Contacting the solid substrate with the brine solution comprising the carbon nanodots is characterized by a contact duration, a contact volume, or both, that is sufficient to reduce the oil wettability of the surface of the solid substrate by at least 15%, as defined by a contact angle of a crude oil droplet contacted with the surface of the solid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mazen Kanj, Sivabalan Sakthivel
  • Patent number: 11352549
    Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation includes withdrawing hydrocarbons from a production well and injecting a treatment fluid that includes carbon nanodots dispersed in a brine solution from an injection well that is spaced apart from the production well. The carbon nanodots include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen and are surface functionalized. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the treatment fluid is less than or equal to 500 parts per million by weight. Injection of the treatment fluid having the carbon nanodots is characterized by an injection duration, an injection pressure, an injection volume, or a combination thereof, that is sufficient to increase cumulative oil recovery of hydrocarbons from the first subterranean formation, the second subterranean formation, or both by at least 10% compared to injecting the brine solution without the carbon nanodots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mazen Kanj, Sivabalan Sakthivel
  • Publication number: 20210371724
    Abstract: A method for modifying surface wettability of a surface of a solid substrate may include contacting the surface of the solid substrate with a brine solution containing carbon nanodots. The carbon nanodots may have carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen as constituent elements and may include one or more functional groups disposed at outer surfaces of the carbon nanodots. The brine solution has a salinity of greater than 30,000 TDS. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the brine solution is less than or equal to 500 ppmw. Contacting the solid substrate with the brine solution comprising the carbon nanodots is characterized by a contact duration, a contact volume, or both, that is sufficient to reduce the oil wettability of the surface of the solid substrate by at least 15%, as defined by a contact angle of a crude oil droplet contacted with the surface of the solid substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mazen Kanj, Sivabalan Sakthivel
  • Publication number: 20210371726
    Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation includes withdrawing hydrocarbons from a production well and injecting a treatment fluid that includes carbon nanodots dispersed in a brine solution from an injection well that is spaced apart from the production well. The carbon nanodots include carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen and are surface functionalized. A concentration of carbon nanodots in the treatment fluid is less than or equal to 500 parts per million by weight. Injection of the treatment fluid having the carbon nanodots is characterized by an injection duration, an injection pressure, an injection volume, or a combination thereof, that is sufficient to increase cumulative oil recovery of hydrocarbons from the first subterranean formation, the second subterranean formation, or both by at least 10% compared to injecting the brine solution without the carbon nanodots.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicants: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mazen Kanj, Sivabalan Sakthivel
  • Patent number: 10287877
    Abstract: A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Yogesh Gianchandani, Scott Green, Kamal Sarabandi, Mazen Kanj, Howard Schmidt, Jun Tang, Jiangfeng Wu
  • Patent number: 10093851
    Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Yun Chang, Mazen Kanj, Curt Thies
  • Patent number: 10018817
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an imaging system and method using adaptive optics and optimization algorithms for imaging through highly scattering media in oil reservoir applications and lab-based petroleum research. Two-/multi-photon fluorescence microscopy is used in conjunction with adaptive optics for enhanced imaging and detection capabilities in scattering reservoir media. Advanced fluorescence techniques are used to allow for super-penetration imaging to compensate for aberrations both in and out of the field of interest, extending the depth at which pore geometry can be imaged within a rock matrix beyond the current capability of confocal microscopy. The placement of a Deformable Mirror or Spatial Light Modulator for this application, in which scattering and index mismatch are dominant aberrations, is in an optical plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane of the objective lens in the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignees: ARAMCO SERVICES COMPANY, SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Thomas Bifano, Shannon L. Eichmann, Bennett B. Goldberg, Mazen Kanj, Hari P. Paudel, William Shain
  • Patent number: 9796919
    Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Yun Chang, Mazen Kanj, Curt Thies
  • Publication number: 20170114268
    Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 27, 2017
    Inventors: Yun CHANG, Mazen KANJ, Curt THIES
  • Publication number: 20170030189
    Abstract: A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Yogesh GIANCHANDANI, Scott GREEN, Kamal SARABANDI, Mazen KANJ, Howard SCHMIDT, Jun TANG, Jiangfeng WU
  • Publication number: 20160259156
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an imaging system and method using adaptive optics and optimization algorithms for imaging through highly scattering media in oil reservoir applications and lab-based petroleum research. Two-/multi-photon fluorescence microscopy is used in conjunction with adaptive optics for enhanced imaging and detection capabilities in scattering reservoir media. Advanced fluorescence techniques are used to allow for super-penetration imaging to compensate for aberrations both in and out of the field of interest, extending the depth at which pore geometry can be imaged within a rock matrix beyond the current capability of confocal microscopy. The placement of a Deformable Mirror or Spatial Light Modulator for this application, in which scattering and index mismatch are dominant aberrations, is in an optical plane that is conjugate to the pupil plane of the objective lens in the imaging system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas Bifano, Shannon L. Eichmann, Bennett B. Goldberg, Mazen Kanj, Hari P. Paudel, William Shain
  • Publication number: 20150368551
    Abstract: The present application provides for an acid precursor capsule that includes an acid precursor that is a non-aqueous ester and a polymerized shell that encapsulates the acid precursor. In some embodiments, the acid precursor converts into an associated acid during a hydrolysis period while in contact with water at an elevated temperature. In further embodiments, the associated acid is soluble in water and forms an aqueous acid solution with water. In certain embodiments, the polymerized shell contains the acid precursor and prevents interaction between the acid precursor and water at the elevated temperature until the polymerized shell dissolves in the water during a dissolution period. An acid precursor capsule suspension can include the acid precursor capsule and a suspension fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Yun CHANG, Mazen Kanj, Curt Thies
  • Patent number: 8946132
    Abstract: A controlled release composition comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminum nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts. Methods of delivering a controlled release of surfactants composition, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a solution into a reservoir, the solution comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminum nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts; and delivering water to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Yun Chea Chang, Mazen Kanj
  • Publication number: 20130023450
    Abstract: A controlled release composition comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminium nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts. Methods of delivering a controlled release of surfactants composition, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a solution into a reservoir, the solution comprising an aqueous sulfonate solution; an anionic surfactant; and a salt selected from aluminium nitrate nanohydrate, calcium chloride dehydrate, magnesium chloride hexahydrate, cobalt chloride hexahydrate, and other metal salts; and delivering water to the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mazen Kanj, Yun Chea Chang