Patents Examined by Charles R. Nold
  • Patent number: 12168252
    Abstract: Disclosed are bioremediation substrates that include animal-based proteins and animal-based lipids that can function as electron donors in microbial respiration. The bioremediation substrates have been developed from animal by-products, such as rendered animal co-products. The bioremediation substrates can be utilized in restoration of subsurface environments, such as soil, sediment, and water, that have been impacted by one or more environmental contaminants, such as chlorinated solvents and metals such as chromium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: CLEMSON UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Kevin Finneran
  • Patent number: 12163386
    Abstract: A drilling fluid conditioning system for a well system includes a return conduit configured to receive drilling fluid recirculated from a wellbore of the well system, a drilling fluid pre-chilling system in fluid communication with and downstream from the return conduit, wherein the drilling fluid pre-chilling system includes a cooler configured to transfer heat from the drilling fluid to a heat sink, and a solids control system in fluid communication with and downstream from the drilling fluid pre-chilling system, wherein the solids control system is configured to separate at least some solids from the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Ian M. Holman, Eric Landon Scott, Mark J. Lapeyrouse, Bradford R. Wood
  • Patent number: 12157855
    Abstract: A steam-assisted gravity drainage method is described that includes a two stage solvent injection scheme, wherein steam plus solvent injection is followed by steam plus heavier-solvent injection. The two solvent injections improve recoveries of both the heavy oil and the injected solvent while limiting steam requirements, thus improving the economics of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Arelys Y. Salazar Hernandez, Tawfik N. Nasr
  • Patent number: 12158062
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing oil from a subsurface reservoir include drilling a horizontal production well into the subsurface reservoir and drilling a horizontal injection well into the subsurface reservoir below the horizontal production well. Carbon dioxide and a second gas are mixed to form a gas mixture with a density more than a density of reservoir fluids between the horizontal production well and the horizontal injection well. The gas mixture is injected into the subsurface formation through the horizontal injection well and fluid is produced from the subsurface reservoir through the horizontal production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Zuhair Ali AlYousif, Subhash Chandrabose Ayirala, Sunil Kokal, Ali Abdallah Al-Yousef
  • Patent number: 12146207
    Abstract: A variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal having a degradable phase and a stiffener material. The variable stiffness engineered degradable ball or seal can optionally be in the form of a degradable diverter ball or sealing element which can be made neutrally buoyant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Terves, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Sherman, Nicholas Farkas, Raghu Meesala
  • Patent number: 12129421
    Abstract: A surfactant composition including a C10 AOS and/or C12 AOS, and an effective amount of at least one solubilizing component so as to increase brine tolerance of the composition is disclosed. The solubilizing component comprises a mixture of where X is H, an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium, and R is a linear C6-C16 alkyl group. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir during gas injection into said reservoir is also disclosed which involves at least periodically injecting the gas and a foam-forming surfactant composition into the reservoir so as to assist in the recovery of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Wang, Amit Katiyar, Troy E. Knight, Matthew E. Crosley, Phillip D. Kardenetz
  • Patent number: 12116885
    Abstract: A method may include receiving a plurality of signals from a sensor deployed in a subterranean formation and performing a step-rate analysis for the subterranean formation using the plurality of signals. An ideal volumetric flow rate and pressure of water injected into the subterranean formation by a power water injector may be determined from the step-rate analysis. A cumulative volume and pressure of water injected into the subterranean formation may be determined continuously to obtain a plurality of cumulative injected water and pressure data points. A Hall plot analysis may be performed from the plurality of cumulative injected water and pressure data points. A mitigation action may be performed when a deviation from steady state within the Hall plot analysis is beyond a constant factor, wherein the mitigation action reduces the deviation from steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdulrahim Khalid Al Mulhim, Ibrahim Mohamed El-Zefzafy
  • Patent number: 12116874
    Abstract: A method for neutralizing hydrogen sulfide in a well using oxidants by installing a venturi jet pump between a packer and a tubing string in a reservoir, injecting oxidant into water forming a power fluid using a surface tension modification generator; continuously injecting the power fluid into tubing in the source well or oil field production well at 50 psi-5000 psi to an inlet nozzle of the venturi jet pump. Velocity increases and pressure decreases on the power fluid as fluid flows through the inlet nozzle. Simultaneously drawing in reservoir fluid and mixing with the power fluid in a draw down chamber forming a molecularly mixed fluid. Mixing oxidant with reservoir fluid for 0.1 to 10 seconds to scavenge hydrogen sulfide, methyl sulfide and/or explode cell membranes of anaerobic bacteria of the reservoir and discharging the treated stream from the venturi jet pump up an annulus of the wellbore to surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Tech Flo Consulting, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Dove, Erik Reissig, Von Krosigk
  • Patent number: 12110787
    Abstract: A method and system estimates an influx profile for at least one well fluid from a reservoir to a producing petroleum well with two or more influx zones or influx locations to a production flow. The method includes installing at least one tracer source with distinct tracer materials in known levels of the well and transporting tracer molecules from the tracer sources in the well into the reservoir. The method also includes inducing production flow in the well from the reservoir into the well, collecting samples downstream of the two or more influx zones at known sampling times and analyzing samples for concentration and type of tracer material from said possible tracer sources. The contribution of flow from the two or more influx zones may be calculated based on the analyzed tracer concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: RESMAN AS
    Inventor: Olaf Kristoffer Huseby
  • Patent number: 12098602
    Abstract: Methods and systems for removing drilling fluid from wet drill cuttings are described. The methods may comprise: at a pressure above atmospheric pressure: separating air into constituent nitrogen and oxygen gases; heating a first mixture comprising the constituent oxygen gas with a mixture of air and natural gas to a combustion temperature, to produce a first combustion exhaust; transferring heat from the first combustion exhaust to a second mixture comprising the constituent nitrogen gas and non-condensable inert gas, thereby heating the second mixture to a first temperature; providing the heated second mixture to the wet drill cuttings to contact and directly heat the wet drill cuttings by convection so that at least a portion of drilling fluid is evaporated therefrom and at least some dry solid drill cuttings remain; condensing the evaporated drilling fluid to produce condensed drilling fluid; and separately recovering condensed drilling fluid and dry solid drill cuttings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: ELAVO CLEANTECH LTD.
    Inventor: Barry McIntyre
  • Patent number: 12098316
    Abstract: Interpolymers useful for enhancing the efficacy of nutrients in soil and fertilizers; and methods of inhibiting the precipitation of, and/or dispersing, inorganic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan D. Evans, Adam Evans
  • Patent number: 12091610
    Abstract: Described herein is a multi-phase aqueous composition containing a surfactant; a first phase comprising water, an acid, and a water-soluble acid retarding agent; and a second phase selected from the group consisting of an immiscible organic phase, a gas, and combinations thereof. Further described are methods of making and using such compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Daeffler, Mohan Kanaka Raju Panga
  • Patent number: 12091611
    Abstract: Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) including with a lamellar phase having Janus nanoparticles, petroleum surfactant, crude oil, and water and with additional water to give the flooding fluid that may be pumped through a wellbore into a subterranean formation to affect a property of hydrocarbon in the subterranean formation via contact of the flooding fluid with the hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Sehoon Chang, Amr I. Abdel-Fattah
  • Patent number: 12084616
    Abstract: Shelf-stabilized H2S scavengers and methods for preparing such shelf-stabilized H2S scavengers. In one aspect, a stabilized hydrogen sulfide scavenger configured for storage at an elevated temperature includes a base scavenger, free formaldehyde, and a stabilizing alcohol. In another aspect, a method of preparing the stabilized hydrogen sulfide scavenger includes the steps of providing a quantity of base scavenger; providing a quantity of free formaldehyde; and adding a quantity of stabilizing alcohol, wherein the quantity of stabilizing alcohol is determined as a function of the provided quantity of free formaldehyde. In yet another aspect, the stabilized scavenger includes about 25 wt. % base scavenger, wherein the base scavenger is an amine-aldehyde condensate; about 15 wt. % free formaldehyde; and between about 10 wt. % and about 25 wt. % stabilizing alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhengwei Liu, Scott Lehrer, Jagrut Jani, Jerry J. Weers, Sunder Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 12077504
    Abstract: The disclosure features methods of analyzing a fluid extracted from a reservoir, the methods including introducing a first composition featuring a first complexing agent into a reservoir at a first location, extracting a fluid from the reservoir at a second location different from the first location, combining the fluid with a second composition featuring a concentration of a lanthanide ion to form a third composition featuring a concentration of a complex formed by the first complexing agent and the lanthanide ion, exposing a quantity of the complex to electromagnetic radiation for a first time period ending at a time to, detecting fluorescence emission from the quantity of the complex for a second time period starting at a time t1>t0, where t1?t0 is greater than 2 microseconds, and determining information about a fluid flow path between the first location and the second location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Hooisweng Ow, Rena Shi, Jason R. Cox, Sehoon Chang
  • Patent number: 12075771
    Abstract: Reducing fines from an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle is provided in the disclosed methods. The agricultural spray comprises water, an agricultural composition such as a pesticide, at least one oil emulsion drift reduction adjuvant, and at least one spontaneous emulsion drift reduction adjuvant. The agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets having a diameter less than about 105 ?m, about 150 ?m, and/or about 210 ?m compared to an agricultural spray neither or only one of the oil emulsion drift reduction adjuvant and the spontaneous emulsion drift reduction adjuvant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: WinField Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Joe V. Gednalske, Jason Roth, Andrea Clark, Lillian C. Magidow
  • Patent number: 12071579
    Abstract: Disclosed are a carbon-based microorganism electronic diverter material and a preparation method and use thereof. The preparation method may include the following steps of (1) bringing a porous carbon material and dopamine to reaction to obtain a dopamine modified porous carbon material; and (2) bringing the dopamine modified porous carbon material and resazurin to reaction to obtain the carbon-based microorganism electronic diverter material. The carbon-based microorganism electronic diverter material prepared by the disclosure has a capability of storing charges, and is capable of intercepting electrons in a microorganism-driven reduction process of dissimilatory arsenic and iron, and remarkably reducing arsenic reduction and release in a rice field flooding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Fangbai Li, Liping Fang, Kai Liu
  • Patent number: 12065599
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and kits of fibers and acid-functional vinyl alcohol polymers, wherein such compositions and kits are useful for wellbore remediation as applied to a subterranean formation traversed by the borehole of an oil or gas well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ghebrehiwet Ghebremeskel, Keisuke Morikawa, Takuma Kaneshima
  • Patent number: 12060767
    Abstract: An actuator with an embedded motherboard is provided. Firmware on the motherboard executes a kickoff mode to bring an oil well online by controlling a control valve of a gas injection line to change pressures and gas flow rates in the injection line. The kickoff mode includes four phases based on the gas flow rates and pressures associated with the gas injection line. Firmware also executes an optimization mode that optimally finds a bottom hole pressure for the oil well by decreasing and increasing the gas injection rates. The optimization mode can continuously be executed after kickoff exits to maintain optimal oil extraction and bottom hole pressures for the well. Firmware further executes a well protection mode that continuously monitors current pressures and flow rates and jumps directly to a needed phase of kickoff based thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: A-T Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Hunnicutt, Celso Siado
  • Patent number: 12060761
    Abstract: A system and method for treating a subterranean formation. The method may include utilizing a diluted stream and a high-loading stream which are combined to form a diverting composition. The diverting composition may then be injected into a wellbore. The system may include devices to prepare the diluted stream and high-loading stream, combine the streams, and introduce the combined stream into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chad Kraemer, Bruno Lecerf, Zinaida Usova, William Troy Huey