Patents Examined by Angela M Ditrani
  • Injection fluids for oil recovery and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 10883039
    Abstract: Viscous aqueous injections fluids including polymers having hydrophilic moieties and hydrophobic groups and at least one of crude oil emulsions and amphiphilic diblock copolymers are provided herein. Methods of making the aqueous injection fluids, and methods of using the aqueous injection fluids for oil recovery are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Aditya Jaishankar, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Alex G. K. Lee, Daniel P. Cherney, Mobae Afeworki, Sartaj S. Ghai
  • Injection fluids for oil recovery and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 10883040
    Abstract: Viscous aqueous injections fluids including polymers having hydrophilic moieties and hydrophobic groups and at least one of crude oil emulsions and amphiphilic diblock copolymers are provided herein. Methods of making the aqueous injection fluids, and methods of using the aqueous injection fluids for oil recovery are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Aditya Jaishankar, Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Jessica L. Vreeland, Daniel P. Cherney
  • Methods of utilizing carbon monoxide to increase oil recovery and protect tubulars
    Patent number: 10876384
    Abstract: A method of utilizing carbon monoxide to increase oil recovery includes injecting an effective amount of carbon monoxide, either as pure carbon monoxide or as a component of a gas mixture, into an oil reservoir. The carbon monoxide increases oil flow and rate of oil flow from the oil reservoir through a variety of chemical mechanisms. The carbon monoxide also reduces corrosion in oilfield tubulars due to the formation of a reduced iron species coating on previously oxidized (corroded) areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Paul B. Trost
  • Formation of micro-proppant particulates in situ
    Patent number: 10876044
    Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation wherein a silicate component and a silica precipitation agent are each mixed with the fracturing fluid. The fracturing fluid is introduced to a subterranean formation such that the fracturing fluid is allowed to precipitate silica and form micro-proppant particulates in situ in a microfracture. The silicate component can be selected from potassium silicate, sodium silicate and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajender Salla, Sairam Eluru, Sumukh Deshprabhu, Philip D. Nguyen
  • Annular pressure buildup mitigation using acid swellable polymer system
    Patent number: 10876029
    Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems for mitigating annular pressure buildup in a wellbore. A method comprises introducing a spacer fluid into an annulus of the wellbore, wherein the spacer fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, an acid swellable polymer, and a hydrolysable ester. The method further comprises allowing or causing to allow at least a portion of the spacer fluid to remain in the annulus; and allowing or causing to allow a temperature to increase in the annulus to the temperature sufficient to hydrolyze the hydrolysable ester; wherein hydrolysis of the hydrolysable ester produces an acid; wherein the acid reacts with the acid swellable polymer to produce a salt; and wherein the produced salt has a thermal expansion coefficient less than that of the aqueous base fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Krishna M. Ravi, Vaishali Mishra, Ganesh S. Pangu, Sandip Patil, Sunita Sameer Kadam, Rahul Chandrakant Patil
  • Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin proppants
    Patent number: 10870792
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyolefin particles as proppants for treating subterranean formations, as well as to compositions comprising said particles and to fracturing methods employing said particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: REPSOL, S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel López Reyes, Ricardo César Bezerra De Melo, Jacobo Canal Vila, Itziar Martínez Cebrián, Richard Llewellyn Lolley Bowen, Ana Isabel Montenegro García
  • Pre-flush for oil foamers
    Patent number: 10858577
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oil or gas production comprises injecting into a well penetrating a subterranean formation a pre-flush fluid to increase water wettability of the well, the subterranean formation, a flowline, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and injecting into the well a foamer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Rosanel Morales, Lirio Quintero, Scott Eric Lehrer
  • Method and materials to convert a drilling mud into a solid gel based lost circulation material
    Patent number: 10851279
    Abstract: A convertible composition comprising a nanosilica drilling fluid, the nanosilica drilling fluid comprising an aqueous based drilling mud, where the aqueous based drilling mud comprises water, and an alkaline nanosilica dispersion, where the alkaline nanosilica dispersion comprises nanosilica; and a chemical activator, the chemical activator operable to hydrolyze in the presence of water to produce an acid, where a weight ratio of the alkaline nanosilica dispersion to the chemical activator is between 1 to 0.001 and 1 to 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Vikrant Wagle, Abdullah Al-Yami, Rajendra A. Kalgaonkar, Zainab Alsaihati
  • Flow control in subterranean wells
    Patent number: 10851615
    Abstract: A plugging device can include a body configured to engage and substantially block flow through a passageway, and the body including a winding of at least one of fiber, line, rope, tube, filament, film, fabric, mesh and weave. A method of plugging a passageway can include releasing a plugging device into a fluid flow, thereby causing the plugging device to be carried by the fluid flow to the passageway, the plugging device including a body formed with at least one winding, and the plugging device engaging the passageway and thereby blocking the passageway. A well system can include a plugging device conveyed through a tubular string by fluid flow in the well, the plugging device including a body configured to engage and resist extrusion through a passageway in the well, the body including a winding, and in which the winding substantially blocks the fluid flow through the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Gregory A. Kliewer
  • Enhanced oil recovery compositions and methods thereof
    Patent number: 10851629
    Abstract: Additional oil recovery is obtained from a reservoir with a composition comprising at least a coupling solvent typically employed in waterborne coating compositions. Provided herein are embodiments of methods of recovering hydrocarbons using at least one coupling solvent, such as an oxygenated coupling solvent. The coupling solvent increases the mutual solubility with water at the injection temperature to facilitate the mixing and injection, particularly with an optional co-solvent. The coupling solvent helps mitigate formation plugging and improve performance when injected into a formation, as the solvent mixture moves from being miscible in the injection field water to being miscible in the reservoir oil, mobilizing the reservoir oil to increase oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Robert G. Shong, Gregory A. Winslow, Taimur Malik, Marlon Solano
  • Spacer fluids and cement slurries that include surfactants
    Patent number: 10844266
    Abstract: According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a well bore cementing system may comprise a spacer fluid and a cement slurry. The spacer fluid may be positioned within a well bore, and the spacer fluid may comprise a first surfactant package comprising one or more surfactants. The cement slurry may be positioned within the well bore, and the cement slurry may comprise a second surfactant package comprising one or more surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Hussain AlBahrani, Vikrant Wagle
  • Demolition agent
    Patent number: 10836955
    Abstract: A soundless cracking demolition agent (SCDA) comprising quicklime, water, a viscosity enhancing agent (VEA), a high range water reducing admixture (HRWR) and an anhydrous accelerator component. A method for in-situ leaching and a method for the recovery of unconventional oil or gas utilising the SCDA of the present invention are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Monash University
    Inventors: Ranjith Pathegama Gamage, Radhika Shehan Vidanage De Silva
  • Nanoparticulate containing proppant suspension composition with breaker and aggregator
    Patent number: 10829684
    Abstract: A proppant suspension composition including a proppant, gelling agent, nanoparticles, at least one breaker, and a tackifying resin. The gelling agent may include cross-linkable polymers. The nanoparticles may be natural or synthetic clays. The at least one breaker may include oxidizers, monovalent salts and/or bis-quaternary ammonium compounds. The composition can be provided downhole during fracturing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Dipti Singh, Loan K. Vo
  • Method for enhancing gas recovery of natural gas hydrate reservoir
    Patent number: 10830019
    Abstract: A method for improving the gas recovery of a natural gas hydrate reservoir by using artificial impermeable layers is described. Artificial impermeable layers are formed by injecting cement slurry into the permeable overburden and underburden layers. When depressurization exploitation is performed, a large amount of seawater can be effectively blocked from entering a hydrate layer, and a production pressure difference between the hydrate layer and the production well is effectively increased, so that a hydrate decomposition rate and the gas recovery are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM (EAST CHINA)
    Inventors: Jian Hou, Ermeng Zhao, Yongge Liu, Kang Zhou, Bei Wei, Yunkai Ji, Nu Lu, Yajie Bai, Wenbin Liu
  • Method of using Sophorolipids in well treatment operations
    Patent number: 10822541
    Abstract: Recovery of fluids from a subterranean formation during a well treatment operation is enhanced by injecting into the formation a treatment fluid comprising a sophorolipid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Charles David Armstrong, Rupa Venugopal, Qi Qu
  • Methods of controlling fines migration in a well
    Patent number: 10822538
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprises introducing into the subterranean formation a treatment fluid comprising encapsulated particles having a core of a crosslinking agent and a shell of a chitosan encapsulant disposed on the core; releasing the crosslinking agent from the encapsulated particles with an acid; reacting the released crosslinking agent with the chitosan encapsulant or a derivative thereof forming a polymerized chitosan; and consolidating a plurality of particles in the subterranean formation with the polymerized chitosan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Darryl Ventura, Deepak Kumar, Anton Kovalchuk
  • Method for removing organic and inorganic deposits in one step
    Patent number: 10822537
    Abstract: Both organic deposits and inorganic deposits in a wellbore are simultaneously removed from a wellbore by contacting the deposits with a single phase fluid for an amount of time effective to simultaneously disperse the organic deposits and dissolve the inorganic deposits, where the single phase fluid includes least one solvent, at least one surfactant, at least one co-solvent, and at least one scale dissolver. The method further involves at least partially removing the organic deposits and inorganic deposits from the wellbore. In an embodiment where it is not necessary to remove inorganic deposits, the scale dissolver may be omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Lirio Quintero, Mary Jane Felipe
  • Proppant comprising a crosslinked polymer for treatment of subterranean formations
    Patent number: 10815420
    Abstract: Proppants comprise crosslinked polymers for treatment of subterranean formations. The proppants may have a particle size less than or equal to 100 microns. A method of treating a subterranean formation includes placing a proppant including a crosslinked polymer in the subterranean formation. The placing may include placing the proppant in secondary fractures. Placing the proppant may avoid the closure of the secondary fractures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mallikarjuna Shroff Rama, Sairam Eluru, Monica Dandawate, Phillip D. Nguyen
  • Method for a fracturing fluid system at high temperatures
    Patent number: 10815419
    Abstract: The method for well-stimulation through a wellbore in a rock formation is hydraulic fracturing under high temperature conditions. The method includes injecting a fracturing fluid system to the rock formation; fracturing the rock formation at a temperature between 150-260 degrees Celsius; and recovering fluid components of the fracturing fluid system from the wellbore and setting the proppant in the fractures. The fracturing fluid system includes proppant and a plurality of fluid components. The fluid components can include water, a gelling agent, and a stabilizer made of ascorbic acid ranging from 50-100 ppt so as to adjust pH and delay said cross linking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CNPC USA Corporation
    Inventors: Lulu Song, Zhenzhou Yang
  • Multi-stage combustion impact wave coal mass cracking and heat injection alternating intensified gas extracting method
    Patent number: 10808514
    Abstract: A multi-stage combustion impact wave coal mass cracking and heat injection alternating intensified gas extracting method is provided. A large amount of N2 or CO2 is injected into a drill hole by a heat injection and gas injection extracting pipe and by a high-pressure gas cylinder and a reducing valve, then a certain amount of methane and dry air are injected into a high-temperature and high-pressure combustion chamber by the high-pressure gas cylinder and the reducing valve, to be mixed and combusted to form high-temperature and high-pressure impact wave. High-temperature vapour is injected into the drill holes by the heat injection and gas injection extracting pipe to promote desorption of the coal masses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignees: China University of Mining and Technology, XUZHOU BOAN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
    Inventors: Baiquan Lin, Yang Zhao, Wei Yang