Patents by Inventor Thomas B. O'Brien

Thomas B. O'Brien 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: 8377165
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to the extraction of rare earth elements and heavy metals from geothermal fluids used in geothermal electrical production. The invention provides systems and methods for extracting these elements from hydrothermal products by the application of one or more forces that affect different components of a condensate differently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shale and Sands Oil Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130014930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the methods and devices for using the ambient atmosphere to increase the energy efficiency of refrigerators and freezers. The invention generally provides energy-conserving chilling systems, devices, and methods, which involve a compartment in a case coupled to a fluid conduit and configured to be positioned within a building to allow passage of a fluid via the conduit from an exterior of the building to the case, thereby decreasing an interior temperature of air within the compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8186430
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil sands using nuclear energy sources for power to decrease the viscosity of bitumen in oil sands deposits and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products form the oil sands deposits are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Shale and Sands Oil Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20120125153
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to the extraction of rare earth elements and heavy metals from geothermal fluids used in geothermal electrical production. The invention provides systems and methods for extracting these elements from hydrothermal products by the application of one or more forces that affect different components of a condensate differently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SHALE AND SANDS OIL RECOVERY LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20110198085
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil sands using nuclear energy sources for power to decrease the viscosity of bitumen in oil sands deposits and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products form the oil sands deposits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: THOMAS B. O'BRIEN
  • Patent number: 7980304
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil shale using nuclear energy sources for energy to fracture the oil shale formations and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products from the oil shale formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Shale and Sands Oil Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7931080
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil sands using nuclear energy sources for power to decrease the viscosity of bitumen in oil sands deposits and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products form the oil sands deposits are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Shale and Sands Oil Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20090236092
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil sands using nuclear energy sources for power to decrease the viscosity of bitumen in oil sands deposits and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products form the oil sands deposits are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20090173491
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from limestone using nuclear energy sources for energy to fracture the limestone formations and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products from the limestone formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20090044943
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil shale using nuclear energy sources for energy to fracture the oil shale formations and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products from the oil shale formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventor: THOMAS B. O'BRIEN
  • Publication number: 20090028000
    Abstract: A method for the identification of metallic deposits in a rock formation is provided. The method for the identification includes the steps of providing an acoustic source for generating frequencies to produce acoustic waves, arranging at least one geophone optimized to detect the frequencies and oriented to enhance reflection planes from faults and fractures associated with an ore body in a rock formation and locating the acoustic source and at least one geophone in at least one shallow bore hole beneath unconsolidated surface material of the rock formation. The method further includes the steps of directing the acoustic waves to an underlying rock formation to generate seismic reflection data and processing the seismic reflection data by altering the frequency and the amplitude to identify unique seismic attributes that allow detection of at least one metallic deposit or ore body in the rock formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7445041
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil shale using nuclear energy sources for energy to fracture the oil shale formations and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products from the oil shale formations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Shale and Sands Oil Recovery LLC
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20070181301
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil shale using nuclear energy sources for energy to fracture the oil shale formations and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Embodiments of the present invention also disclose steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products from the oil shale formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 4481973
    Abstract: A circulating valve is provided for connection into the tubing string of a well for establishing selective flow of fluid between the tubing string and the well casing. The circulating valve incorporates a valve body which is adapted for connection into the tubing string of the well, which body defines a flow passage in registry with the flow passage of the tubing string. A valve seat is provided on the valve body and an outlet opening is defined downstream of the valve seat which is of sufficiently restricted dimension to permit opening of the valve at a particular injection pressure and to permit maintenance of the valve open condition by means of a pressure lower than the valve opening injection pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1984
    Assignee: O'Brien Goins Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. O'Brien, Edwin W. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4427070
    Abstract: A circulating sub is provided which is adapted for connection in a production tubing string of a flowing well and which defines a flow passage through which production fluid is enabled to flow. The body structure of the sub defines an equalizing port in communication with the annulus between the tubing and casing of the well, which port is normally closed by means of a sleeve valve. An actuating plug is dropped through the production tubing after shutting in the well and descends to the level of the circulating sub where it seats on the closed valve. Application of fluid pressure through the tubing develops sufficient pressure differential across the valve and plug to force the valve to its open position to thus communicate the tubing and annulus for pressure equalization. The plug member incorporates a check valve which permits accurate balancing of kill fluid to well pressure to thus permit emergency killing of the well without causing damage to the production formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: O'Brien-Goins Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas B. O'Brien