Patents Examined by Frances Tischler
  • Method of designing compressible particles having buoyancy in a confined volume
    Patent number: 11434406
    Abstract: A method of designing compressible particles for a fluid mixture. The compressible particles are intended to be used for attenuating pressure within a confined volume such as a trapped annulus. Preferably, the compressible particles reside buoyantly within an aqueous fluid, forming a fluid mixture. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within the confined volume, and comprises carbon. The particles may each have a porosity of between 5% and 40%, and a compressibility of between 10% and 30%, at 10,000 psi. The particles are tuned to have a buoyancy that is lower than the carrier fluid while still having resiliency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ward E. Narhi, Sandeep A. Kibey, David A. Stiles, Michael R. Awe, Adam W. Aylor
  • Graphene oxide janus nanosheets relative permeability modifier (RPM) for reducing subterranean formation water permeability in carbonate formations
    Patent number: 11434411
    Abstract: A graphene oxide Janus nanosheets relative permeability modifier (RPM) for carbonate formations. The graphene oxide Janus nanosheets RPM may be used to treat a water and hydrocarbon producing carbonate formation to reduce water permeability in the formation and increase the production of hydrocarbons. The graphene oxide Janus nanosheet RPM includes a first side having negatively charged functional groups and a second side having alkyl groups. The alkyl groups may include C8 to C30 alkyls. The negatively charged functional groups may include carboxyl groups, epoxy groups, and hydroxyl groups. Methods of reducing water permeability of a carbonate formation using the graphene oxide Janus nanosheets RPM and methods of manufacturing the graphene oxide Janus nanosheets RPM are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jin Huang, Feng Liang, Wengang Li
  • Copolyesters for use in low shear melt applications
    Patent number: 11427675
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a molded article by a low shear manufacturing process that includes: placing a solid polyester in a mold having mold surfaces; heating said polyester until it becomes molten; dispersing said molten polyester over said mold surfaces; solidifying said molten polyester to form a solid molded article; and removing said molded article from said mold; where the polyester is obtained by polymerization of dimethylcyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, cyclohexane dimethanol, polytetramethylene ether glycol and branching agent and has a steep melting curve evidenced by a puddling curve slope of ?2 to ?10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Marc Alan Strand, Laura Bauerle Weaver, Robert Erik Young
  • Decontamination of sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 11427769
    Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a hydrocarbon. The method comprises introducing methylmorpholine-N-oxide to a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises the hydrocarbon, and wherein the hydrocarbon comprises hydrogen sulfide; and treating the hydrocarbon by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the hydrogen sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: United Laboratories International, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen D. Matza
  • Highly heat-resistant polycarbonate ester and preparation method therefor
    Patent number: 11421076
    Abstract: A heat-resistant, bio-based polycarbonate ester prepared by melt polycondensation of 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol and a carbonate, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, or a terephthalate is disclosed. The heat-resistant, bio-based polycarbonate ester includes a repeat unit 1 of Formula 1, a repeat unit 2 of Formula 2, and a repeat unit 3 of Formula 3: The polycarbonate ester has excellent heat resistance, transparency, and processability. A method of producing the polycarbonate includes a step of melt polycondensation of 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitol and a carbonate, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, or a terephthalate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SK CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang Sei Oh
  • Polyester resin for toners, method for producing same, toner and method for producing toner
    Patent number: 11415903
    Abstract: A polyester resin, including: (a) a constitutional unit derived from at least one tetravalent carboxylic acid selected from Compounds (A) and (B); a constitutional unit derived from a bisphenol A-alkylene oxide adduct; and a constitutional unit derived from an aliphatic alcohol having a boiling point of lower than or equal to 290° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Mori, Yoko Tamura, Asako Kaneko
  • Weighted drilling fluid containing organophilic phyllosilicate
    Patent number: 11414585
    Abstract: A drilling fluid formulation is provided, which includes a fluid phase, an organophilic phyllosilicate as an anti-sagging additive, and a weighting agent (e.g. barite). The organophilic phyllosilicate contains an ion-exchange reaction product of a clay material (e.g. smectite) and quaternary ammonium cations. The organophilic phyllosilicate is effective in preventing barite sagging as demonstrated by low sag factor when drilling at elevated temperatures. Rheology properties of the drilling fluid including gel strength, yield point, plastic viscosity, and storage modulus are also specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventor: Salaheldin Elkatatny
  • Branched acid emulsifier compositions and methods of use
    Patent number: 11414586
    Abstract: Compositions may contain an oleaginous base fluid, and a branched amidoamine surfactant prepared from the reaction of an alkylene amine or an oligoalkylene amine and a branched acid having a C4 to C24 primary hydrocarbon chain, and having one or more C1 to C24 branches. Methods may include emplacing a wellbore fluid into a wellbore, wherein the wellbore fluid contains an oleaginous base fluid; and a branched amidoamine surfactant prepared from the reaction of an alkylene amine or an oligoalkylene amine and a branched acid having a C4 to C24 primary hydrocarbon chain, and having one or more C1 to C24 branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yiyan Chen, Dimitri M. Khramov
  • Processes for recycling polystyrene waste
    Patent number: 11407878
    Abstract: There are provided recycled polystyrene polymers having a melt flow index of less than about 25 g/10 min. There are provided processes for recycling polystyrene waste. The processes can comprise dissolving said polystyrene waste in p-cymene under conditions to obtain a polystyrene/p-cymene mixture, adding the polystyrene/p-cymene mixture to a hydrocarbon polystyrene non-solvent under conditions to obtain precipitated polystyrene and washing the precipitated polystyrene with additional portions of hydrocarbon polystyrene non-solvent under conditions to obtain twice-washed polystyrene. The twice-washed polystyrene can optionally be dried and formed into polystyrene pellets. There is also provided recycled polystyrene obtained from such processes for recycling polystyrene waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Polystyvert Inc.
    Inventor: Roland Côté
  • Fluid mixture containing compressible particles
    Patent number: 11401459
    Abstract: A fluid mixture for attenuating pressure within a confined volume. The fluid mixture comprises an aqueous carrier fluid. The fluid mixture further comprises a plurality of compressible particles dispersed in the carrier fluid. Each of the compressible particles is fabricated to collapse in response to fluid pressure within a confined volume. Each of the compressible particles has a density that is less than a density of the carrier fluid and has a compressibility of between 10% and 30%, up to 10,000 psi. A column of fluid within a trapped annulus of a wellbore is also presented, wherein the column of fluid has a plurality of compressible particles dispersed in a carrier fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ward E. Narhi, Sandeep A. Kibey
  • Copolymerized saturated polyester resin and coating composition containing same
    Patent number: 11401371
    Abstract: A copolymerized saturated polyester resin is formed by polycondensation of an acid component and an alcohol component. The acid component contains (a-1) 90 to 99% by mole of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a C1-2 alkyl ester thereof and (a-2) 0.5 to 2% by mole of a trifunctional or higher functional carboxylic acid or an anhydride thereof. The alcohol component contains (b-1) 45 to 80% by mole of an alicyclic polyhydric alcohol and (b-2) 20 to 55% by mole of an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol having a C1-3 alkyl side chain. A coating composition containing the copolymerized saturated polyester resin shows excellent corrosion resistance and chemical resistance. A coating film formed from the coating composition shows excellent processability and resin solubility, and is useful for coating a can and pre-coated metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SK CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyung-Gon Kim, Jong-Ki Sim, Soon-Ki Kim
  • Polyester resin having excellent heat resistance and solubility in solvents, and coating composition containing same
    Patent number: 11401372
    Abstract: A polyester resin and a coating composition containing the polyester resin are disclosed. The polyester resin includes a repeating unit obtained by copolymerizing (a) a divalent acid component and (b) a diol component containing (b-1) an isosorbide and (b-2) a cycloaliphatic diol, and has excellent heat resistance and solubility in a solvent. The cycloaliphatic diol may be one or more diol derivatives of a tricycle C7-14 alkane. A coating formed from a coating composition containing the polyester shows excellent heat resistance, hardness, chemical resistance, pollution resistance, and hydrolysis resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: SK CHEMICALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong-ki Sim, Soon-Ki Kim
  • Reversible crosslinked polymers
    Patent number: 11390710
    Abstract: A reversibly crosslinked polymer and methods for producing and using the obtained polymer are disclosed. In particular, reversibly crosslinked polymers of the invention comprise polyesters formed by the reaction of mercaptosuccinic acid and a diol to form a monomeric unit that includes thiol groups as crosslinking moieties. Oxidation of the thiol groups affords crosslinked polymer comprising a disulfide linkage that, upon reduction of the disulfide linkage, provides a non-crosslinked polymer. In some embodiments, polymers of the invention are degradable and are biocompatible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Droske
  • Vent cleaning of rubber molds
    Patent number: 11377524
    Abstract: Vents and micro-structures of rubber molds may become clogged with rubber that is difficult to remove. These vents and micro-structures can be cleaned of rubber, even if heat aged, by subjecting the mold to high temperatures in the presence of a solvent to devulcanize any rubber present. If the rubber used with the mold being cleaned includes carbon black, a solvent may be used to dissolve the devulcanized polymer, leaving the carbon black which can be removed by water jets or other cleaning means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Rubreco, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Harrison, Hurdon A. Hooper, Mathew Ness
  • Date tree waste-based compound fibrous LCMs
    Patent number: 11370953
    Abstract: A date tree waste-based lost circulation material (LCM) is provided. The date tree waste LCM may include includes fibers from the date tree waste produced from processing date trees in the production of date fruits. The date tree waste may include fibers from one or more of the following: date tree trunks, date tree rachis, date tree leaflets, date tree panicles, and date tree roots. The date tree waste LCM may include fibers having lengths in the range of 5 millimeters (5 mm) to 15 mm, diameters in the range of 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm, and having an aspect ratio range of 6 to 30. Methods of lost circulation control using and manufacture of a date tree waste LCM are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Md Amanullah
  • High-hardness molding resin sheet and molded article using same
    Patent number: 11370206
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, provided is a molding resin sheet including: a base material layer containing a polycarbonate resin (a1); a high-hardness resin layer containing a high-hardness resin; and a hard coat layer, wherein the high-hardness resin layer is located between the base material layer and the hard coat layer, the high-hardness resin has a pencil hardness of HB or more, and the glass transition points of the polycarbonate resin (a1) and the high-hardness resin satisfy the following relationship: ?10° C.?(the glass transition point of the high-hardness resin)?(the glass transition point of the polycarbonate resin (a1))?40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC., MGC FILSHEET CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Tokita, Masaki Hirabayashi, Masato Takasaki
  • Multilayer polymer composite constructs
    Patent number: 11364656
    Abstract: A method of forming particles for controlled guest agent release includes coextruding first and second polymer materials to form a multilayer polymer composite sheet comprising alternating first and second polymer layers, dividing the multilayer sheet into particles, immersing the particles in a solvent containing the guest agent such that the first layers swell and the guest agent is loaded into the swollen first layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Rigoberto Advincula, Pengfei Chao, Eric Baer
  • Development of retarded acid system
    Patent number: 11365339
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a retarded acid system comprises an aqueous acid and a retarding surfactant. The aqueous acid may comprise from 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % of a strong acid, that is, an acid having a Ka greater than or equal to 0.01. The aqueous acid may further comprise from 75 wt. % to 95 wt. % water. The retarding surfactant may have the general chemical formula R—(OC2H4)X—OH where R is a hydrocarbon having from 11 to 15 carbon atoms and x is an integer from 6 to 10. The retarding surfactant may have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance from 8 to 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdullah Al-Yami, Vikrant Wagle, Ali Safran
  • Delivery of halogens to a subterranean formation
    Patent number: 11365344
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating kerogen in a subterranean formation by generating bromine and other halogens in situ in a subterranean formation. In some implementations, the generation of the bromine or halogen is delayed. This can occur, for example, by the decomposition of precursors, a chemical reaction, the encapsulation of precursors or reactants, or a combination of these approaches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Desmond Schipper, Katherine Leigh Hull, Younane N. Abousleiman
  • Method of improving rock hardness in carbonate formations
    Patent number: 11365345
    Abstract: A method is described for strengthening a carbonate formation rock within a subterranean formation. The method involves contacting the rock with a composition of Ca(OH)2 nanoparticles in an organic solvent, which results in a treated rock having a Young's modulus that is increased by at least 10%. The composition may optionally comprise a CO2 source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Murtada Al-Jawad, Mahmoud Desouky, Theis Solling, Khalid Alramadan, Abduljamiu Amao