Patents Assigned to Transworld Technologies Inc.
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Publication number: 20210180435Abstract: Methods of producing hydrocarbon materials from a geologic formation may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. The methods may include delivering an aqueous material incorporating deuterium oxide to the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may include increasing production of hydrocarbon materials by the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may include recovering a deuterium-containing hydrocarbon from the geologic formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Daniel Edward Connors, Joseph Edward Zemetra
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Publication number: 20190300912Abstract: Methods of enhancing oil recovery may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes oil. The methods may include delivering an aqueous material incorporating dissolved hydrogen to the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may include increasing production of gaseous materials by the consortium of microorganisms. The methods may also include recovering oil from the reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2018Publication date: October 3, 2019Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Daniel Edward Connors, Jordan Andrew Bradfish, Roland Peter DeBruyn, Helen Mitchell, Joseph Edward Zemetra
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Publication number: 20170240806Abstract: Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2016Publication date: August 24, 2017Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich
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Patent number: 9458375Abstract: Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich
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Patent number: 9434872Abstract: A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn Ulrich, Gary Vanzin, Verlin Dannar, Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson
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Patent number: 9057082Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson, Robert S. Pfeiffer, Eric L. Szaloczi, Glenn A. Ulrich, Jeffrey L. Weber
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Methods of stimulating acetoclastic methanogenesis in subterranean deposits of carbonaceous material
Patent number: 9004162Abstract: Methods for enhancing acetoclastic methanogenesis in subterranean geologic formations. The methods may include accessing a microorganism consortium in the formation, and assessing the consortium for acetoclastic methanogenic activity. The methods may further include modifying the formation environment based on the consortium assessment to increase methane production from acetoclastic methanogenic pathways used by the consortium. The modifications to the formation environment may include introducing an amendment and/or introducing acetoclastic microorganisms to the formation environment.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Joel R. Sevinsky, Gary F. Vanzin, Shelly A. Haveman, Nicholas R. Kotter, William Mahaffey -
Patent number: 8794315Abstract: A method of increasing biogenic production of a combustible gas from a subterranean geologic formation is described. The method may include extracting formation water from the geologic formation, where the extracted formation water includes at least a first species and a second species of microorganism. The method may also include analyzing the extracted formation water to identify the first species of microorganism that promotes the biogenic production of the combustible gas. An amendment may be introduced to the formation water to promote the growth of the first species of microorganism, and the biological characteristics of the formation water may be altered to decrease a population of the second species in the geologic formation.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn Ulrich, Gary Vanzin, Verlin Dannar, Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson
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Patent number: 8770282Abstract: Methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content are described. The methods may include accessing a consortium of microorganisms in a geologic formation that includes a carbonaceous material. They may also include providing hydrogen and one or more phosphorous compounds to the microorganisms. The combination of the hydrogen and phosphorous compounds stimulates the consortium to metabolize the carbonaceous material into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content. Also, methods of stimulating biogenic production of a metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content by providing a carboxylate compound, such as acetate, to a consortium of microorganisms is described. The carboxylate compound stimulates the consortium to metabolize carbonaceous material in the formation into the metabolic product with enhanced hydrogen content.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert S. Pfeiffer, Glenn A. Ulrich
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Patent number: 8715978Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Roland P. Debruyn, James B. Dodson, Robert S. Pfeiffer, Eric L. Szaloczi, Glenn A. Ulrich, Jeffrey L. Weber
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Publication number: 20140073023Abstract: Disclosed are strategies for the economical microbial generation of hydrogen, useful as an alternative energy source, from hydrocarbon-rich deposits such as coal, oil and/or gas formations, oil shale, bitumen, tar sands, carbonaceous shale, peat deposits and sediments rich in organic matter through the management of the metabolism of microbial consortia.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2013Publication date: March 13, 2014Applicant: Transworld Technologies Inc.Inventors: Roland P. DeBruyn, James B. Dodson, Robert S. Pfeiffer, Eric L. Szaloczi, Glenn A. Ulrich, Jeffrey L. Weber