Patents Examined by Andrew Sue-Ako
  • Addition of monovalent salts for improved viscosity of polymer solutions used in oil recovery applications
    Patent number: 10894914
    Abstract: An oil recovery composition having a brine, a hydrolyzable polymer, and a monovalent cations to divalent cations ration in the range of about 2.5:1 to 3:1 is provided. An oil recovery composition may be formed from a brine recovered from production water and a polymer. A monovalent salt may be added to the brine recovered from production water to form a modified brine and achieve a modified monovalent cations to divalent cations ratio in the range of about 2.5:1 to 3:1. Processes for forming the oil recovery composition and enhanced oil recovery using the oil recovery composition are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Saleh F. Hassan, Abdulkareem M. AlSofi
  • Surface blocking agents
    Patent number: 10894913
    Abstract: Injectates and method that use surface blocking agents for enhancing subterranean oil recovery are disclosed. The surface blocking agents reduce the adhesion of oil to rock surfaces thereby increasing oil recovery. The surface blocking agents attach to or are attracted to the oils positive nitrogen sites and have an opposing negative charge that is repulsed by the negative rock surface charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick V. Brady
  • Self-breakable treatment fluids for use in subterranean formation operations
    Patent number: 10889753
    Abstract: Treatment fluids comprising an aqueous base fluid and a gelling agent of selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl starch phosphate, a hydroxypropyl starch phosphate derivative, and any combination thereof. The treatment fluids may be used to perform subterranean formation operations, such as fracturing operations and proppant particulate placement operations. The treatment fluids are self-breakable and provide viscosity for proppant particulate suspension without the use of breakers or crosslinkers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sairam Eluru, Rajender Salla, Sunil Narasingrao Garaje, Vijaya Kumar Patnana
  • Foaming mixtures and methods of use thereof
    Patent number: 10889752
    Abstract: Fluids injected into a carbonate reservoir formation during Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) may include a foaming mixture that includes a zwitterionic surfactant, an omega-3-acid ethyl ester, and aqueous salt solution. The omega-3-acid ethyl ester may include eicosapentaenoic acid ethyl ester, docosahexaenoic acid ethyl ester, or combinations thereof. The foaming mixtures may be incorporated into methods for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery in a carbonate reservoir formation. The methods may include introducing the foaming mixture to the carbonate reservoir formation such that any hydrocarbon present in the carbonate reservoir formation is displaced by the foaming mixture and is recoverable from the carbonate reservoir formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa Alkhowaildi, Zuhair Yousef, Sunil Kokal
  • Fracturing fluid compositions having Portland cement clinker and methods of use
    Patent number: 10883043
    Abstract: Proppant compositions for hydraulic fracturing that include Portland cement clinker are provided. A cement clinker proppant composition for hydraulic fracturing may include Portland cement clinker and another proppant. Another cement clinker proppant composition for hydraulic fracturing may include resin-coated Portland cement clinker and another proppant. Methods of hydraulic fracturing using the cement clinker proppant compositions and manufacturing the cement clinker proppant compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: B. Raghava Reddy, Feng Liang
  • Silane-based tackifiers for treatment of subterranean formations
    Patent number: 10876031
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to silane-based tackifiers for treatment of subterranean formations. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation. The method includes placing in the subterranean formation a tackifier having the structure: or a salt thereof, wherein the variables are as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Monica Rajendra Dandawate, Shoy George Chittattukara, Rajender Salla, Philip D. Nguyen
  • System and method for providing drilling fluid for earth drilling
    Patent number: 10871044
    Abstract: It is described how to provide a drilling fluid for earth drilling, wherein the drilling fluid comprises a liquid and at least one mineral. A recycling device preconditions supplied drilling fluid. At least one drilling fluid analyzer is provided for determining the state of drilling fluid that comes out of the borehole. There is also a mixing device for mixing drilling fluid reconditioned by the recycling device with liquid and/or mineral, wherein the mixing device is coupled to the drilling fluid analyzer in order to perform mixing according to the state of the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Sebastian Fischer
  • Treatment of kerogen in subterranean zones
    Patent number: 10871061
    Abstract: Technologies relating to increasing hydraulic fracturing efficiencies in subterranean zones by degrading organic matter, such as kerogen, are described. A method for treating kerogen in a subterranean zone includes placing a composition in the subterranean zone, and the composition includes an oxidizer including sodium bromate and an additive including a tetrasubstituted ammonium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman, David Jacobi
  • Fracturing utilizing an air/fuel mixture
    Patent number: 10865630
    Abstract: A system of producing subterranean fractures in geologic formations for the extraction of hydrocarbons includes flowing an air and fuel mixture into a well hole. The well hole may then be sealed with a packer plug creating a compression chamber with the air and fuel mixture. A liquid, such as water, may be pumped into the well hole to create pressure in the compression chamber. The build-up of pressure eventually causes auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture which fractures the formation. The water may then rush into the compression chamber which thermally shocks the area causing additional fractures. The water may vaporize to steam and thoroughly disinfect the well hole eliminating the need for added biocides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Twin Disc, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin E. Wilson
  • Rheology modifier for organoclay-free invert emulsion drilling fluid systems
    Patent number: 10858568
    Abstract: Invert emulsion drilling fluids having a combination of fatty acids derived from waste vegetable oil (WVO) and a fatty amine as a rheology modifier are provided. An invert emulsion drilling fluid may include a water in oil emulsion, an invert emulsifier, a fatty amine having six to thirty carbon atoms, and a fatty acid having six to eighteen carbon atoms. The fatty acid is provided by esterifying a waste vegetable oil to produce a methyl ester of the waste vegetable oil and cleaving an ester group from the methyl ester of the waste vegetable oil. The invert emulsion drilling fluid may be formulated free of organoclay. Methods of drilling a wellbore using an invert emulsion drilling fluid are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jothibasu Ramasamy, Vikrant Wagle, Md Amanullah
  • Permeability enhancement method for coalbed methane wells by using electric pulse detonation fracturing technology
    Patent number: 10858913
    Abstract: A permeability enhancement method for coalbed methane wells by using electric pulse detonation fracturing technology is applicable to exploitation of coalbed methane wells in coal beds with low permeability. Firstly, a positive electrode coalbed methane wellbore and a negative electrode coalbed methane wellbore are constructed from the ground surface to a coal bed. A fixed platform installed with a positive electrode and a high-voltage pulse device are placed, by using a derrick, downwards to a predetermined permeability enhancement portion of the coal bed in the positive electrode coalbed methane wellbore, and another fixed platform installed with a negative electrode is placed, by using a derrick, downwards to a predetermined permeability enhancement portion of the coal bed in the negative electrode coalbed methane wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Bai quan Lin, Fazhi Yan, Xiangliang Zhang, Jia Kong, Ting Liu, Chuanjie Zhu
  • Development of anti-bit balling fluids
    Patent number: 10851281
    Abstract: Anti-bit balling drilling fluids and methods of making and using drilling fluids are provided. The anti-bit balling drilling fluid contains water, a clay-based component, and at least one of a surfactant having the formula: R—(OC2H4)x—OH, where R is a hydrocarbyl group having from 10 to 20 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 1 and 10, or a polyethylene glycol having the formula: H—(O—CH2—CH2)n—OH, where n is an integer from 1 to 50. Methods of making and using these drilling fluids are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Abdulaziz A. Ba Hamdan, Saleh A. Haidary, Vikrant Wagle, Hussain AlBahrani, Ali Safran, Nasser AlHareth, Abdulla H. Awadh
  • Heat scavenging method for thermal recovery process
    Patent number: 10851632
    Abstract: Thermal recovery of oils is improved by capturing waste heat from a depleted steam chamber using steam plus foam and an optional gas to carry low quality steam deep into the chamber where the waste heat converts water to steam in situ. Thus, overall steam generation needs and thus costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: David A. Brown, Siluni L. Wickramdthilaka, Logan A. Warren, Thomas J. Wheeler, Pradeep A. Govind
  • Methods of zonal isolation and treatment diversion with shaped particles
    Patent number: 10851283
    Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation are disclosed that include introducing a treatment fluid including shaped particle and/or shaped uniform particles into a subterranean formation via a wellbore, and creating a plug including the shaped particle and/or shaped uniform particles of the treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitriy Ivanovich Potapenko, Alexey Alexandrovich Sova, Dmitry Sergeyevich Solnyshkin, Maxim Grigorievich Ivanov, Olga Petrovna Alekseenko, Marina Nikolaevna Bulova, Bruno Lecerf
  • Composition and methods for microbial enhanced digestion of polymers in fracking wells
    Patent number: 10844276
    Abstract: The present invention provides environmentally-friendly compositions and methods for degrading polymers used in fracking operations to enhance the recovery of oil and gas. Specifically, the compositions and methods utilized microorganisms and/or heir growth by products to degrade polymers, such as PGA, PLA and PAM, used in fracking wells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Farmer, Ken Alibek, Kent Adams, Karthik N. Karathur, Sharmistha Mazumder
  • Self-diverting acidizing system
    Patent number: 10844277
    Abstract: A method of acidizing a formation penetrated by a wellbore that includes the steps of injecting into the wellbore at a pressure below formation fracturing pressure a treatment fluid that includes a gelling fluid including a gelling agent and a hydrophobically-modified associative polymer, and an aqueous acid; and allowing the treatment fluid to acidize the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: RHODIA OPERATIONS
    Inventors: Rose Ndong, Juliette Triquet, Genyao Lin, Subramanian Kesavan, Louis Villafane, Jian Zhou, Ahmed Rabie
  • Sealing fluid for setting a packer
    Patent number: 10844269
    Abstract: A method and a sealing fluid for setting a packer in an annulus between a well bore and a well tubular is provided, which by adjusting i.a. the density, viscosity and setting time of the sealing fluid is able to provide among other things a full radial seal with an acceptable axial dispersion, in particular in highly deviated wells and/or in wells having eccentric annuli.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOTAL E&P DANMARK A/S
    Inventors: Edo Boekholtz, Hans Van Dongen
  • Method for oil displacement using dispersed particle gel-strengthened polymer ternary composite displacement system
    Patent number: 10844275
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for oil displacement using a dispersed particle gel-strengthened polymer ternary composite displacement system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: China University of Petroleum (East China)
    Inventors: Caili Dai, Guang Zhao, Jiaping Tao, Yifei Liu, Chenglin Gu, Jiaming Li
  • Method of enhancing stability of cement slurries in well cementing operations
    Patent number: 10844270
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of delaying viscosification of a well treatment fluid within a well by introducing into the well a cement slurry containing particulates of a hydratable viscosifying agent having a minimum of 90% retention on a 20 mesh screen. The presence of the hydratable viscosifying agent in the slurry prevents settling of the cement after the slurry is pumped into the well. The stability of the slurry is thus enhanced by the presence of the hydratable viscosifying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Angela Anh Doan, Guido Gustavo Narvaez, Matthew Grady Kellum
  • Oil recovery methods using carboxylated pyrolyzed date leaves
    Patent number: 10836952
    Abstract: A method of recovering a hydrocarbon from a reservoir, whereby an oil recovery formulation containing carboxylic acid functionalized-pyrolyzed date leaf particles is injected into the reservoir, and the hydrocarbon is collected from the reservoir. The carboxylic acid functionalized-pyrolyzed date leaf particles are obtained sequentially from date leaves by cutting the date leaves and drying, pulverizing in the presence of a metal bicarbonate, pyrolyzing at 700 to 1,000° C., and treating the product thus obtained with an acid solution that includes nitric acid to introduce carboxylic acid functional groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Bashirul Haq, Abdul Aziz, Abbas Saeed Hakeem, Dhafer A. Al Shehri