Patents Examined by Peter Keyworth
  • Patent number: 11111374
    Abstract: There is disclosed a multivalent cation containing copolymer derived from one or more ethylenically unsaturated acids. The copolymer has the following characteristics: (a) an intrinsic viscosity of at least about 3 dl/g when measured in 1 M Na Cl solution at 25° C.; (b) the copolymer is derived from a monomer mixture comprising an ethylenically unsaturated acid and at least one comonomer, the ethylenically unsaturated acid present in an amount in the range of from about % to about 65% by weight; and (c) a residual comonomer content is less than 1000 ppm when the comonomer is an acrylamide. The copolymer, inter alia, is useful as a flocculant for treating an aqueous slurry comprising particulate material, preferably tailings from a mining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Stephen John Adkins, Holger Misslitz, Mitchell Louis Catling
  • Patent number: 11111161
    Abstract: Chloride salts of certain rare earth elements have beneficial effects as clarifying agents in the primary treatment of wastewater. Disclosed herein are methods for treating wastewater comprising dosing wastewater, as part of a primary treatment system, with a clarifying agent of chloride salts of rare earth elements, either individually or mixtures. The rare earth clarifying agents are added or dosed at any point upstream of the primary treatment operation, within the primary treatment operation, or both upstream of and within the primary treatment operation. Also disclosed herein are clarifying agents for use in the primary treatment of wastewater comprising an aqueous solution of chloride salts of the rare earth elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Neo Water Treatment, LLC
    Inventors: Mason Reames Haneline, James Frederic Gallmann
  • Patent number: 11097968
    Abstract: A method for inhibiting the formation, deposition and adherence of scale to metallic and other surfaces in the equipment, vessels and/or piping of facilities for the handling of oil and gas produced fluid is disclosed. An effective scale inhibiting amount of alginate is added to a produced fluid containing a scale-forming divalent cation. The alginate effectively cross-links with a scale-forming divalent cation, e.g., calcium, forming an alginate gel for subsequent separation and removal from the produced fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Charlesworth, Christopher John Kalli, David Glynn Thomas, Wei Shi, Brendan Francis Graham, Zachary Mark Aman, Eric Freemantle May
  • Patent number: 11091995
    Abstract: A wax control element for subsea processing of well fluids in a wellstream comprises a bundle of flowlines within an elongate tensile structure. That structure defines inlet and outlet ends and has cooling and heating provisions that act on the flowlines, in use, to promote deposition of wax in the flowlines and subsequent entrainment of wax in the wellstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Norway AS
    Inventors: Ratnam Sathananthan, James Arkley Pollock, Sigbjorn Daasvatn
  • Patent number: 11084742
    Abstract: Activated iron media and methods for generating and using the activated iron media. The method involves aqueous suspension comprising a zero-valent iron, ferrous iron, and an iron oxide to provide a settled solid and re-suspending the settled solid to provide an aqueous suspension containing an activated iron media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventor: Yongheng Huang
  • Patent number: 11072546
    Abstract: A process for removing metals and chelators from SAGD liner flowback that can be implemented at the wellhead using temporary tankage and equipment. In the first step, caustic is added to the flowback until the concentration of hydroxyl ion is high enough for the metals (Fe, Ca, Mg) to dissociate from the metal-chelate complexes and precipitate as hydroxides. In the second step, hydrogen peroxide is added and allowed to react until all of the chelator molecules are oxidized and decomposed. Once treated, the flowback can proceed to the CPF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventor: Peter Nelson Slater
  • Patent number: 11053143
    Abstract: Novel polyaluminum chlorosilicates (PACSi) and sodium aluminum silicate (SAS) products having improved characteristics useful in the treatment of water and wastewater as compared with polyaluminum chlorides (PAC), are provided herein, as well as new processes for their manufacture, and methods of using PACSi as coagulants and flocculants in the treatment of water and/or wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: USALCO, LLC
    Inventor: James M. Dulko
  • Patent number: 11046598
    Abstract: The present application is relate to a method and system for treating high salinity water, comprising the following steps: step 1, by a first membrane concentration unit, concentrating the raw water; step 2, with the assistance of a crystallization initiation unit, mixing the raw water concentrated, initiating crystallization by a seed crystal, and, discharging precipitated crystals; step 3, with the assistance of a crystallization termination unit, firstly, introducing the resulting water of the crystallization initiation unit, then, terminating crystallization, secondly, discharging precipitated miscellaneous salts; step 4, with the assistance of a mechanical filter unit, the liquid to discharged from the crystallization termination unit flowing through the mechanical filter unit, removing the residual seed crystal and floccules; step 6, with the assistance of a second membrane concentration unit, the concentrated salinity water entering the second membrane concentration unit for concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: JINZHENG ECO-TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Yuebiao Li, Huijie Lin, Hui Li, Guoliang Li, Hongzhi Yan, Changyin Wan, Zhuo Zhang
  • Patent number: 11040902
    Abstract: Methods of employing peroxycarboxylic acid compositions for the prevention of scale formation and in some embodiments the removal of existing scale are disclosed. In particular, the scale inhibition properties of percarboxylic acids of varying chain lengths including C1-C22 provide effective scale inhibition and scale removal or destruction. Methods of employing peroxycarboxylic acid compositions for scale inhibition and/or removal are particularly well suited for treating fluids intended to flow through pipes, namely in the energy industry, water and paper industries, etc. The methods provide suitable scale inhibition replacements and/or additives to known scale inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Balasubramanian, Brian Epps, Junzhong Li, Richard Staub, Victor Keasler
  • Patent number: 11039728
    Abstract: A washing appliance includes a treating chamber, a sprayer emitting liquid into the treating chamber, and a recirculation circuit including a centrifugal separator and an electrocoagulation unit both fluidly coupled to the recirculation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 11034597
    Abstract: Described herein is a coagulant blend for use in SAGD water treatment systems. Specifically, a blend of high charge density polyamine and low charge density poly(diallylmethyl ammonium chloride (poly-DADMAC) is used in the warm lime softening treatment process to coagulate and flocculate solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Lee D. Osness, Kevin Lucas, Paul Sameshima, Jason C. Grundler
  • Patent number: 11027993
    Abstract: Processes of consolidating oil sands tailings which includes fines and process water are disclosed. The processes include mixing the oil sands tailings with a highly water soluble salt or an aqueous solution thereof to destabilize and consolidate solids in the tailings, e.g., to destabilize and consolidate fines in the tailings and separating the consolidated solids from the process water. A water soluble polymer and coarse particles, e.g., sand, can also be used in the treatment of oil sands tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: EXTRAKT PROCESS SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Paul C. Painter, Bruce G. Miller, Aron Lupinsky
  • Patent number: 11027995
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treating oil sands tailings streams using multiple dosages of lime are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a tailings stream including 3-40% solids by total weight, combining the tailings stream with a first dosage of lime to produce a first mixture having a pH of less than 12.0, and then combining the first mixture with a polymer to produce a second mixture. In some embodiments, the method can further include combining the second mixture with a second dosage of lime to produce a third mixture having a pH greater than 12.0, and dewatering the third mixture in a centrifuge unit and/or a pressure filtration unit to produce a product stream having 55% or more solids by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Graymont Western Canada Inc
    Inventors: Michael John Tate, Jared Ira Leikam, Jesse Wayne Fox, Nikolas Andrei Romaniuk
  • Patent number: 11014024
    Abstract: A skimmer for removing water from a sediment basin to a water removal system may include a float portion, and a first pipe having a first end attached to said float portion and in communication with the water removal system. The first pipe has an orifice formed therein to admit water from below a surface of said sediment basin. A guard is attached to said float portion and said first pipe, said guard fixedly positioning said float portion so that said orifice is located below said surface. The guard has a continuous, vertically-extending side wall having a bottom edge defining a water flow path opening located below said orifice. A flow path into said orifice from the sediment basin extends only through said flow path opening, upwardly to said orifice, then downwardly though said orifice into said first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SW Feesaver, LLC
    Inventor: James McCutchen
  • Patent number: 10981813
    Abstract: A method for eliminating harmful algal blooms through optimized utilization of a modified clay method includes building a real-time state index and a standardized value grading system for eliminating a site harmful algal bloom or a harmful algal bloom in accordance with the features of monitored harmful algal bloom organisms and modified clay flocculates; acquiring corresponding grade codes of feature index values of the harmful algal bloom in a to-be-treated water body or harmful algal bloom elimination effect through the real-time site state index and the standardized value grading system; comparing the above grade codes with an expert system to obtain an operation solution for eliminating harmful algal blooms through optimized utilization of the modified clay method. The result is tracked and monitored in real time and the operation solution is optimized and adjusted in time according to the harmful algal bloom elimination effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF OCEANOLOGY, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Xihua Cao, Zhiming Yu, Xiuxian Song, Yongquan Yuan, Zaixing Wu, Liyan He
  • Patent number: 10974979
    Abstract: A composition for cleaning water using an electrolytic chlorine generator includes an oxidizer, a pH reducer, a flocculent, a chelator, and a borate compound. A method of cleaning water treated with an electrolytic chlorine generator includes adding, to a body of water treated with an electrolytic chlorine generator, the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Inventors: James Stuart, David Stuart
  • Patent number: 10968121
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the treatment of water from the production well of chemical enhanced oil recovery (CEOR) extraction. In particular, the process relates to the treatment of produced water with a combination of reagents to clarify the water, the reagents being selected from (i) a dithiocarbamate polymer which is water-soluble and has a molecular weight of 00 or more and (ii) a metal ion selected from the group comprising a cation of a transition metal, aluminium and lead, and an apparatus therefor. The use of such reagents in the clarification of produced water from polymer flood from chemical enhanced oil recovery is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Duttlinger, Jr., Brian Scott Caird
  • Patent number: 10960409
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the recovery of hydrophobic particles from a slurry comprised of water, the hydrophobic particles, and a hydrophilic component. Slurry is exposed to a gas stream to permit bubbles to adhere to the hydrophobic particles. The slurry generally flows vertically through a vessel at a velocity that maintains gas hold-up at least between 30 and 70% to maintain a bubbly flow without a slurry froth interface so that a portion of the water of the slurry, together with entrained gas bubbles attached to hydrophobic particles, flows out of the vessel with a portion of the water of the slurry and the hydrophilic component remaining in the vessel. Water from the slurry and gas bubbles attached to hydrophobic particles flowing through the vessel is discharged and collected for processing. A portion of the hydrophilic component is extracted as tailings for disposal or subsequent processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: 2678380 Ontario Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Kosick, Glenn S. Dobby, Catherine A. McInnes
  • Patent number: 10960121
    Abstract: A method of automatically ensuring against chloramine contamination in purified product water includes supplying input water to the system and purifying the water to generate the purified product water. The purifying includes removing chlorine and chloramine contamination from the water using a carbon filter and supplying chlorine-depleted water to a deionization filter, and deionizing the chlorine-depleted water using said deionization filter. The product water is supplied to a sensor for continuous monitoring of the resistivity of the purified product water by the first sensor, and an alarm is generated indicating possible chloramine breakthrough when the resistivity of the product water falls below a predetermined resistivity level, which is selected to provide a reserve filter capacity before breakthrough would occur. The carbon filter is replaced at least responsively to the alarm to ensure excess capacity of said carbon filter sufficient to prevent chloramine breakthrough in said product water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Goetz Friederichs, Dennis M. Treu, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Yuriy N. Tatashin
  • Patent number: 10941351
    Abstract: Provided are a layer-separation method of a spent caustic solution, and a recycling method of an additive, and more particularly, a layer-separation method of a spent caustic solution including: injecting an additive and an acidic compound to the spent caustic solution occurring from a refinery process to break down a red oil emulsion and to perform layer-separation into an upper layer fraction and a lower layer fraction, wherein the additive is an aliphatic hydrocarbon compound having a water solubility of 0.1 to 10 g/L at 20° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: SK Innovation Co., Ltd., SK Incheon Petrochem Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Ho Lee, Dong Hyun Kim, Jae Yang Song, Joong Min Park, Sung Wook Jun