Patents Examined by John J. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 12037535
    Abstract: A drilling fluid composition includes an aqueous base fluid, 0.01 to 5 wt. % of polyamine-functionalized activated carbon (AC-PAD), 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a shale material, 0.01 to 2 wt. % of a thickener, 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a fluid loss control additive, 0.01 to 5 wt. % of an adsorbent, and 1 to 20 wt. % of a borehole stabilizer. Each wt. % is based on a total weight of the drilling fluid composition. The AC-PAD is uniformly disposed on surfaces of the shale material. The shale material has an average pore size of 5 to 400 nanometers (nm). A method of preparing the AC-PAD and a method of drilling a subterranean geological formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Tawfik Abdo Saleh, Azeem Rana
  • Patent number: 12031086
    Abstract: A method of removing a sulfate scale from a surface is provided. The method includes contacting the sulfate-comprising scale with a conversion solution including 1 to 10 wt. % of an alkali metal carbonate, 0.5 to 10 wt. % of a borate salt or hydrate thereof, and 0.5 to 2.5 wt. % of a base to produce a carbonate-comprising scale. The method further includes exposing the carbonate-comprising scale with an acid solution including 2.5 to 25 wt. % of an acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mohamed Mahmoud, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal
  • Patent number: 12033766
    Abstract: A method for conditioning of spent ion exchange resins from nuclear facilities comprises the steps of: mixing the spent ion exchange resins with water to form a reaction mixture; setting and controlling the pH of the reaction mixture in a range from 1.0 to 3.5, preferably in a range from 2.0 to 3.0; adding an oxidant to the reaction mixture, with the temperature of the reaction mixture maintained at 90°° C. or less so that the spent ion exchange resin and the oxidant react with each other to form an aqueous reaction solution comprising the organic reaction products of the spent ion exchange resin; and electrochemically oxidizing the organic reaction products, wherein carbon dioxide is produced and a carbon-depleted aqueous reaction solution having a TOC (total organic carbon) value of less than 50 ppm is obtained. Furthermore, an apparatus for the conditioning of spent ion exchange resins from nuclear facilities is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: FRAMATOME GMBH
    Inventors: Gert Seybert, Robert Lehr, Bertram Zeiler, Philip Schuberth, Steffen Weiss
  • Patent number: 12018211
    Abstract: Water-in-oil emulsions are provided that include an alkyl propylene diamine and an ethoxylated alcohol as the inverting surfactant, which is present in an amount less than 5 percent by weight of the water-in-oil emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: RHODIA OPERATIONS
    Inventors: Stanley Gunawan, Zhihua Zhang, Shaopeng Zhang, Igor Pimkov, Zhenxing Cheng, Qi Qu
  • Patent number: 12006465
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water-based subterranean treatment fluid, comprising: a) a continuous aqueous phase; b) an internal oil phase; c) from 0.1 to 15 g/100 ml, based on the total fluid volume, of an emulsifying composition comprising a first surfactant having a HLB from 10 to 20 and a second surfactant obtained by reacting a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, ethylene oxide and a hydroxyalkylamine. The invention further relates to a method for treating a subterranean formation comprising providing said water-based subterranean treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: LAMBERTI SPA
    Inventors: Alberto Zeffiro, Andrea Balestrini, Sama Nazar Makiah
  • Patent number: 12006470
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for enhanced oil recovery, comprising: (A) internal ketones sulfonated alpha to the ketone group; and (B) unsulfonated internal ketones, with a molar ratio B/(A+B) greater than or equal to the limiting molar concentration of unsulfonated ketones from which a stabilization is observed in the reduction in mobility when the mixture of said ketones is injected into a porous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: RHODIA OPERATIONS, IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Mikel Morvan, Pascal Pitiot, Loïc Baussaron, Roberto Company
  • Patent number: 12001767
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products can be used for determining the amount of oil removed by a miscible gas flood. One of the methods includes identifying locations of oil within a volume representing a reservoir rock sample. The method includes identifying locations of gas within the volume. The method also includes determining the amount of oil removed based on locations within the volume where oil is either coincident with the gas or is connected to the gas by a continuous oil path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Dassault Systemes Americas Corp.
    Inventors: Bernd Crouse, Rui Xu, Guangyuan Sun
  • Patent number: 11999898
    Abstract: A process is disclosed that includes providing a mixture to a wellbore. The mixture can comprise formic acid or a formic acid precursor, a salt of lactic acid, and a salt of gluconic acid. The mixture can be introduced into an underground formation around the wellbore. The mixture can prevent or at least reduce the formation of formate crystals as compared to mixtures without the salt of lactic acid or the salt of gluconic acid. The mixture permits the formic acid, or formic acid produced from hydrolysis of the formic acid precursor, to react with acid soluble material in the underground formation to generate soluble calcium salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: CLEANSORB LIMITED
    Inventor: Ralph Edmund Harris
  • Patent number: 11999905
    Abstract: A polyacrylamide friction reducer wherein the friction reducer contains surfactant functional groups, and wherein the polyacrylamide friction reducer is degradable, can be used for multi-functional, slickwater fracturing fluid projects. Under downhole conditions, the polymer degrades and releases the surfactant molecules to act as oil displacing agent to provide additional stimulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignees: CNPC USA CORPORATION, BEIJING HUAMEI INC., CHINA NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fuchen Liu, Jianshen Li, Lijun Lin, Jiangshui Huang, Genyao Lin, Lulu Song, Stephanie Yu
  • Patent number: 11993745
    Abstract: Nano-sized mixed metal oxide carriers capable of delivering a well treatment additive for a sustained or extended period of time in the environment of use, methods of making the nanoparticles, and uses thereof are described herein. The nanoparticles can have a formula of: A/[Mx1My2Mz3]OnHm where x is 0.03 to 3, y is 0.01 to 0.4, z is 0.01 to 0.4 and n and m are determined by the oxidation states of the other elements, and M1 can be aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), or thallium (Tl). M2 and M3 are not the same and can be a Column 2 metal, Column 14 metal, or a transition metal. A is can be a treatment additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: CHAMPIONX LLC
    Inventors: Chao Yan, Ross Tomson, Paula Guraieb, Nasser Ghorbani
  • Patent number: 11993748
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for on- and off-site tagging of fracking sand and a composition of matter capable of being utilized in that process. The composition of matter includes a linker polymer conjugated to a rare earth particle. The method involves forming two mixtures, a first involving mixing a linker polymer conjugated to a rare earth particle into an aqueous blend of fracking sand, and a second involving an activated amine terminated polymer in an aqueous solution. The second mixture is then added to the first mixture, and covalent amide bonds are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: INTELLIGENT MATERIAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Joshua E. Collins, Howard Y. Bell
  • Patent number: 11993744
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes solid compositions comprising a paraffin inhibitor and a corrosion inhibitor. The paraffin inhibitors include polymers having various repeat units containing one or more ester moieties. The corrosion inhibitors can be imidazoline compounds, quaternary ammonium compounds, or a combination thereof. These solid compositions can be used to treat subterranean hydrocarbon-containing reservoir and can inhibit or reduce paraffin deposition in the reservoir and/or inhibit or reduce corrosion in a piece of equipment in contact with the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Saugata Gon, Jeremy Moloney, Boyd Anthony Laurent, Andrew Robert Neilson
  • Patent number: 11987741
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of biocementation comprising contacting a granular, cohesionless soil with a solution, wherein the solution comprises urea, urease, a source of calcium ions, and a source of non-urease proteins, wherein the urea, urease, source of calcium ions, and source of non-urease proteins are provided in effective amounts suitable to cause crystallization of calcium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Edward Kavazanjian, Nasser Hamdan, Hamed Khodadadi Tirkolaei, Abdullah Almajed
  • Patent number: 11981857
    Abstract: A drilling fluid composition includes an aqueous base fluid, 0.01 to 5 wt. % of polyamine-functionalized activated carbon (AC-PAD), 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a shale material, 0.01 to 2 wt. % of a thickener, 0.1 to 10 wt. % of a fluid loss control additive, 0.01 to 5 wt. % of an adsorbent, and 1 to 20 wt. % of a borehole stabilizer. Each wt. % is based on a total weight of the drilling fluid composition. The AC-PAD is uniformly disposed on surfaces of the shale material. The shale material has an average pore size of 5 to 400 nanometers (nm). A method of preparing the AC-PAD and a method of drilling a subterranean geological formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Tawfik Abdo Saleh, Azeem Rana
  • Patent number: 11981855
    Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a liquid and functionalized nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. At least some of the functionalized nanoparticles comprise nanoparticles of aluminosilica and have a chemical structure of: wherein at least one of the X's represents —O— bonded to a silicon (Si) atom or an aluminum (Al) atom of the aluminosilica of at least one of the nanoparticles; each other of the X's represents an additional —O— bonded to another silicon (Si) atom or another aluminum (Al) atom of the aluminosilica of at least one of the nanoparticles, an alkoxy group, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group (OH), a hydrogen atom, or a halide; Z represents an oxygen (O) atom or an NH group; and Q represents an epoxide group, an aziridine group, a —CH(OH)CH2OH group, a —CH(OH)CH2NH2 group, a —CH(NH)2CH2OH group, or a —CH(NH2)CH2NH2 group. Methods of formation and of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
    Inventors: Oleg A. Mazyar, Radhika Suresh
  • Patent number: 11976008
    Abstract: The Present disclosure is related to hot-mix asphalt (“HMA”) which open new price/performance areas to asphalt cement concrete (“ACC”) pavement. Equivalent-performing pavement may be made at lower cost, or higher-performing pavement may be made at equivalent-to-prior-art cost. The amendments, recycled asphalt pavement (“RAP”, and including recycled asphalt shingles [“RAS”]), and reinforcing fiber (aramid fiber) may be adjusted as described herein to achieve a desired price/performance target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignees: Surface Tech, LLC, Bakelite Chemicals LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Dennis, Steven Santa Cruz, Phillip B. Blankenship
  • Patent number: 11970660
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chemical composition produced from mixtures of organic chemical compounds, alcohols, inorganic compounds and oxidizing compounds, by combining controlled strong acids, organic bases, oxidizing compounds, alcohols and a mixture of distilled and double-distilled fatty acids, which mixture, through the use of specific controlled pressures and temperatures, can be used for the production, improved recovery and processing of light, medium, heavy and extra-heavy hydrocarbons and bituminous sands at the surface or from a deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GLOBALQUIMICA, LLC.
    Inventors: David de Jesus Martucci Urdaneta, William J. Jimenez Cumare
  • Patent number: 11964545
    Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to complexly curved laminates made from a complexly curved substrate and a flat substrate, such as automotive window glazings, and methods of cold forming complexly-curved glass products from a curved substrate and a flat substrate. In one or more embodiments, the laminate includes first complexly-curved glass substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a second complexly-curved glass substrate with a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface with a thickness therebetween; and a polymer interlayer affixed to the second convex surface and third surface, wherein the third surface and fourth surface have compressive stress values respectively that differ such that the fourth surface has as compressive stress value that is greater than the compressive stress value of the third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: William Keith Fisher, Mark Stephen Friske, Steven Luther Moyer, Paul George Rickerl
  • Patent number: 11965132
    Abstract: A method of removing a sulfate scale from a surface is provided. The method includes contacting the sulfate-comprising scale with a conversion solution including 1 to 10 wt. % of an alkali metal carbonate, 0.5 to 10 wt. % of a borate salt or hydrate thereof, and 0.5 to 2.5 wt. % of a base to produce a carbonate-comprising scale. The method further includes exposing the carbonate-comprising scale with an acid solution including 2.5 to 25 wt. % of an acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mohamed Mahmoud, Muhammad Shahzad Kamal
  • Patent number: 11959068
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for use in controlling souring and corrosion causing prokaryotes, such as SRP, by treating oil and gas field environments or treatment fluids with a newly identified bacterial strain ATCC Accession No. PTA-124262 as a self-propagating whole cell that produces an anti-SRP bacteriocin in situ. In another aspect, the methods use one or more toxic peptides or proteins isolated therefrom in methods to control unwanted prokaryotic growth in these environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Lanxess Corporation
    Inventors: Kathleen Manna, Ian A. Tomlinson, Abhiram Thatipelli, Christopher Janes, Elizabeth J. Summer