Patents Examined by John J. Figueroa
  • Patent number: 11427752
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a method of producing a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) fluid, the VES fluid comprising desulfated seawater. The method of producing the VES fluid comprises adding an alkaline earth metal halide to seawater to produce a sulfate precipitate. The method further comprises removing the sulfate precipitate to produce the desulfated water. The method further comprises adding a VES and one or more of a nanoparticle viscosity modifier or a polymeric modifier to the desulfated seawater. Other embodiments are directed to VES fluids that maintain a viscosity greater than 10 cP at temperatures above 250° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Leiming Li, Feng Liang, Tao Chen
  • Patent number: 11427470
    Abstract: An aluminum nitride powder containing a very small amount of coarse particles. An aluminum nitride powder which provides a resin composition having high affinity for resins and high moisture resistance. The aluminum nitride powder has a volume average particle diameter D50 of 0.5 to 7.0 ?m in particle size distribution measured with a laser diffraction scattering particle size distribution meter, a D90/D50 ratio of 1.3 to 3.5 and a BET specific surface area of 0.4 to 6.0 m2/g and classified by removing coarse particles whose particle diameter is more than 5 times as large as D90. When resin paste obtained from this aluminum nitride powder and a resin is measured with a grind gauge, the upper limit particle diameter at which a streak is produced is not more than 5 times as large as D90.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TOKUYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Inaki, Yasushi Imoto, Yasuyuki Yamamoto, Masataka Himeno
  • Patent number: 11414352
    Abstract: Method of making foamed gypsum slurry having 15 to 90 volume percent gas bubbles including: passing first slurry including water and on dry basis 50 to 98 wt. % calcium sulfate hemihydrate, 1 to 50 wt. % calcium carbonate, and 0.1 to 10 wt. % cellulose thickener via a first hose to a Wye connector conduit first inlet opening at Rate C and passing alum solution via a second hose to a second inlet opening of the conduit at Rate D to create combined mixed stream passing from the conduit to a static mixer for mixing for Time 3 to activate at least a portion of the calcium carbonate and alum to generate CO2 and create the foamed gypsum slurry; transferring the slurry from the mixer to a cavity between two wall boards via a third hose. Allowing the slurry in the cavity to expand, harden and dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: David D. Pelot, Samar Emami, Robert H. Negri, Juan Carlos Ruiz Castaneda, Christopher R. Nelson, John J. Roxburgh, Edgar R. De La Rosa Cruz, Jorge A. Garcia Torres, Miguel Gama Goicochea, Antonio Contreras, Juan Huitzil
  • Patent number: 11414511
    Abstract: The invention discloses a carboxymethyl inulin graft polymer scale and corrosion inhibitor and a preparation method thereof. The main chain of the carboxymethyl inulin graft polymer scale and corrosion inhibitor consists of the following repeating unit (I): in the repeating unit (I), x:y=(20˜80):(20˜80); the range of z is from 2 to 70, the degree of carboxymethyl substitution is from 1.5 to 2.5. The beneficial effect of the technical scheme proposed in the present invention is: it has excellent scale inhibition and corrosion inhibition properties; the monomers are cheap and easily available; the reaction conditions are mild and easy to control; at the same time, the monomer raw materials don't contain phosphorus and nitrogen, and are environmentally friendly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignees: YANGTZE UNIVERSITY, PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Weichu Yu, Aibin Wu, Jingfeng Dong, Zhenhu Lyu, Zhichen Wang, Fengjuan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11399538
    Abstract: The present invention uses compound 3-OH-?-apo-13-carotenone (zaxinone) as a negative regulator of the plant hormone strigolactones (SLs). The compound 3-OH-?-apo-13-carotenone is a positive growth regulator which triggers the formation of crown roots and promotes growth in size and number of roots and shoots. Disclosed herein is a method of using 3-OH-?-apo-13-carotenone as a growth-promoting compound for cereal, grain and vegetable crops. The 3-OH-?-apo-13-carotenone compounds is also a negative regulator of strigolactone biosynthesis and release. Disclosed herein is a method of combating root parasitic weeds affecting cereal, grain and vegetable crops. Application of 3-OH-?-apo-13-carotenone to plant growth media down-regulates strigolactone production in cereal, grain and vegetable crops preventing root parasitic weed infestation of the crops by inhibiting germination of parasitic weed seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Salim Al-Babili
  • Patent number: 11401213
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a composite metal oxide hollow fibre. A certain stoichiometry of composite metal oxide raw material and a polymer binding agent are added to an organic solvent, and mixed mechanically to obtain an evenly dispersed spinning solution having a suitable viscosity. After defoaming treatment, the spinning solution is extruded through a spinneret and, after undergoing a certain dry spinning process, enters an external coagulation bath; during this period, a phase inversion process occurs and composite metal oxide hollow fibre blanks are formed. The blanks are immersed in the external coagulation bath and the organic solvent is displaced; after natural drying, the blanks undergo a heat treatment process; during this period, polymer burn off, in situ reaction, and in situ sintering processes occur to obtain the composite metal oxide hollow fibre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Nanjing University of Technology
    Inventors: Wanqin Jin, Jiawei Zhu, Zhengkun Liu
  • Patent number: 11390336
    Abstract: Disclosed is a balance weight of steel and heavy concrete components and a production method for the balance weight, as an alternative to pig casting and spheroidal graphite casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Ugur Atilgan
  • Patent number: 11390795
    Abstract: The invention is directed to delayed gelation agents comprising a degradable polymeric cage containing therein one or more gelation agents. The cage degrades in situ, e.g, in an oil reservoir, thus releasing the gelation agent(s), which can then crosslink second polymers in situ to form a gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
    Inventors: Huili Guan, Cory Berkland, Ahmad Moradi-Araghi, Jenn-Tai Liang, David R. Zornes, Riley B Needham, James H. Hedges, Min Cheng, James P. Johnson, Faye L. Scully
  • Patent number: 11390794
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for mineral oil production, in which an aqueous saline surfactant formulation comprising a surfactant mixture of at least one anionic surfactant of the general formula R1—O—(CH2C(CH3)HO)x—(CH2CH2O)y—SO3M and at least one anionic surfactant of the general formula R2—O—(CH2CH2O)z—SO3M and a base is injected through injection boreholes into a mineral oil deposit, and crude oil is withdrawn from the deposit through production boreholes. The invention further relates to the surfactant mixture, a concentrate comprising the surfactant mixture and a manufacturing process as well as the use of the surfactant mixture and the con- centrate in the production of mineral oil from underground mineral oil deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Christian Bittner, Ashok Kumar Mishra, Kathrin Cohen, Clara Maria Hernandez Morales, Prapas Lohateeraparp, Hans-Christian Raths, Michael Bueschel, Gabriela Alvarez Juergenson, Thomas Altmann, Benjamin Wenzke
  • Patent number: 11384273
    Abstract: A drilling fluid composition having a controlled viscosity with the addition of a polyamide as a rheology modifier. The polyamide having has an acid value from 10 mg KOH/g to 200 mg KOH/g is obtained from a reactant mixture comprising: one or more polycarboxylic acids and one or more polyamines. The polycarboxylic acid is selected from the group of polycarboxylic acids having a carboxylic acid functionality of two or more, an average number of carboxylic acid functionalities of from 2 to 4, and having from 2 to 60 carbon atoms, wherein at least one of the polycarboxylic acids is derived from a dimer fatty acid. The polyamine is selected from the group of polyamines having an amine functionality of two or more selected from the group of primary and secondary amino groups, an average number of amine functionalities of from 2 to 4, and having from 2 to 36 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: KRATON POLYMERS LLC
    Inventors: Robert C Bening, Harry Jerrold Miller, Jos H. M. Lange
  • Patent number: 11384281
    Abstract: Methods for preparing and using invert emulsions and treatment fluids including the invert emulsions are provided herein. In one or more embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure comprise providing an aqueous fluid comprising water and one or more water-soluble monomers; providing an oil-based fluid comprising a solvent and one or more polymerization surfactants, wherein the solvent comprises a linear or branched dibasic ester; combining the aqueous fluid and the oil-based fluid to form an invert emulsion that comprises an aqueous phase comprising the aqueous fluid and an oil phase comprising the oil-based fluid; and polymerizing at least a portion of the one or more water-soluble monomers in the invert emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Recio, III, Gladys Rocio Montenegro-Galindo, Paul Ashcraft, Hong Sun
  • Patent number: 11384283
    Abstract: Coated particles include a particulate substrate, a surface copolymer layer surrounding the particulate substrate, and a resin layer surrounding the surface copolymer layer. The surface copolymer layer includes a copolymer of at least two monomers chosen from styrene, methyl methacrylate, ethylene, propylene, butylene, imides, urethanes, sulfones, carbonates, and acrylamides. The resin layer includes a cured resin. Methods of preparing the coated particles include preparing a first mixture including at least one polymerizable material, an initiator, and optionally a solvent; contacting the first mixture to a particulate substrate to form a polymerization mixture; heating the polymerization mixture to cure the polymerizable material and form a polymer-coated particulate; preparing a second mixture including the polymer-coated substrate, an uncured resin, and a solvent; and adding a curing agent to the second mixture to cure the uncured resin and form the coated particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Alfaisal University
    Inventors: Wengang Li, Edreese Alsharaeh, Ayman Almohsin, Mohammed Abdullah Bataweel
  • Patent number: 11377589
    Abstract: An emulsifier with high temperature resistance, low viscosity and low corrosiveness, and an emulsified acid system comprising the same. The emulsifier includes a viscoelastic surfactant, which is prepared by a quaterization of fatty acid acyl propyl dimethylamine and a halogenated compound; by a quaterization of a long-chain halogenated hydrocarbon and a tertiary amine compound; or by a reaction of the fatty acid acyl propyl dimethylamine with a linking group synthesized by epichlorohydrin and an alkylamine compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xiaojiang Yang, Difei Han, Jincheng Mao, Heng Zhang, Chong Lin, Jinhua Mao, Jinzhou Zhao
  • Patent number: 11365608
    Abstract: A method of moving a string assembly within a wellbore is disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises moving the string assembly within the wellbore; obtaining surface data regarding at least one parameter associated with moving the string assembly within the wellbore over a range of depths; modeling the at least one parameter over the range of depths for a plurality of assumed friction factors to obtain modeled data for each assumed friction factor; calculating a derivative of the surface data over the range of depths; calculating a derivative of the modeled data over the range of depths; comparing the derivative of the surface data to the derivative of the modeled data; determining one or more local friction factors for the range of depths based on the comparison; and adjusting at least one string assembly operating parameter based on the one or more local friction factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Haining Zheng, Lei Wang, Michael W. Walker
  • Patent number: 11365342
    Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids and associated methods for removing metal sulfate scale. An example method includes introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore comprising metal sulfate scale, wherein the treatment fluid comprises: a phosphonated aminocarboxylate; a carboxylated alkanol, a carboxylated alkyl halide, and/or a multicarboxylic acid; an anion; and an aqueous base fluid; wherein the treatment fluid has a pH in a range between about 7 to about 13. The method further includes contacting the metal sulfate scale with the treatment fluid; wherein the treatment fluid is allowed to remain static during the contacting; and removing the treatment fluid from the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Enrique Antonio Reyes, Kristina Henkel Holan, Aaron Michael Beuterbaugh
  • Patent number: 11365843
    Abstract: A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Nicole M. Ernat
  • Patent number: 11360241
    Abstract: This invention includes a wettable biomedical device containing a high molecular weight hydrophilic polymer and a hydroxyl-functionalized silicone-containing monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin P. McCabe, Frank F. Molock, Jr., Gregory A. Hill, Azaam Alli, Robert B. Steffen, Douglas G. Vanderlaan, James D. Ford
  • Patent number: 11345843
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for producing an emulsifier suitable for use in an emulsion drilling fluid may comprise esterifying a processed vegetable oil to produce a first mixture comprising fatty acid alkyl esters. The processed vegetable oil may comprise less than 1 wt. % of compounds having an atmospheric boiling point less than or equal to 150° C. The method may further comprise removing at least 99 wt. % of each of glycerol, water, and short-chain alcohols having a main chain of less than or equal to 12 carbon atoms from the first mixture to produce a modified mixture, and hydrolyzing the fatty acid alkyl esters of the modified mixture with a base to produce the emulsifier comprising at least one salt of a fatty acid. Emulsion drilling fluids comprising the emulsifier and methods of producing emulsion drilling fluids are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jothibasu Ramasamy, Md Amanullah
  • Patent number: 11339318
    Abstract: Compositions herein may include an oleaginous continuous phase, an aqueous discontinuous phase, a first clay comprising an organophilic smectite clay, and a second clay comprising a magnesium silicate clay. Methods herein may include circulating such fluids downhole as well as admixing a magnesium silicate dispersed clay and an organophilic smectite clay in an oleaginous base fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Balakrishnan Panamarathupalayam, Paulo Pauferro, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11339319
    Abstract: A method for the simultaneous removal of filter cake from a wellbore and fracturing of the wellbore using a mixture including a chelating agent and a thermochemical. The method including feeding a mixture into the wellbore, contacting the filter cake with the mixture, reacting the chelating agent and the thermochemical to produce heat and pressure, removing the filter cake from the wellbore, and creating microfractures in the wellbore using pressure produced from the reacting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM & MINERALS
    Inventors: Ayman R. Al-Nakhli, Mohamed Ahmed Nasr El Din Mahmoud, Abdulazeez Abdulraheem, Zeeshan Tariq