Patents Examined by Timothy J. Kugel
  • Patent number: 8043693
    Abstract: A flame-resistant polymer excels in moldability capable of providing a flame-resistant molded item of novel configuration; a relevant flame-resistant polymer solution; a process for easily producing them; a carbon molding from the flame-resistant polymer; and a process for easily producing the same. A flame-resistant polymer is modified with an amine compound. Further, a flame-resistant polymer solution has the polymer dissolved in a polar organic solvent. A flame-resistant molding whose part or entirety is constituted of the flame-resistant polymer modified with an amine compound. A carbon molding was part or entirety constituted of a carbon component resulting from carbonization of the flame-resistant polymer modified with an amine compound. From the solution containing the flame-resistant polymer, moldings of various configurations can be obtained through further work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsunori Higuchi, Katsumi Yamasaki, Koichi Yamaoka, Tomihiro Ishida
  • Patent number: 8044001
    Abstract: A solid zirconium cross-linking agent is prepared comprising zirconium and hydroxyalkylated ethylene diamine ligand. Use of the cross-linking agent in compositions for oil field applications such as hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dorf Ketal Speciality Catalysts, LLC
    Inventor: Donald Edward Putzig
  • Patent number: 8043998
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods of treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, the formation having at least one fracture, by contacting the fracture with a composition that includes a solvent and a nonionic fluorinated polymeric surfactant, wherein the composition interacts with at least a portion of the proppants in the fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Gary A. Pope, Jimmie R. Baran, Jr., John Skildum, Vishal Bang, Mukul M. Sharma
  • Patent number: 8039421
    Abstract: A method is provided for inhibiting scale in a hydrocarbon system, including the steps of: providing a hydrocarbon system; providing an aloe-derived scale inhibitor; and mixing the aloe-derived scale inhibitor with the hydrocarbon system in amounts effective to inhibit formation of scale. The scale inhibitor is an aloe vera gel/aloe sap mix dissolved in water at a concentration of between about 5 and about 50% wt/wt, which includes polysaccharides having a hydrocarbon chain structure having carboxyl and alcohol functional groups that interact with divalent ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Alfredo Viloria, Luis Castillo, Jose A. Garcia, Maria Alejandra Carrasquero Ordaz, Elluz Vanessa Torin
  • Patent number: 8039422
    Abstract: An acid-in-oil emulsion having a corrosion inhibitor as the external phase has been found to prevent downhole corrosion when acidizing carbonate formations to enhance hydrocarbon recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ali A. Al-Zahrani
  • Patent number: 8034750
    Abstract: A cross-linking system for hydratable polymers for using is formation fracturing applications is disclosed along with methods for using same, where the cross-linking system includes a reaction product of a transition metal alkoxide or alkanolate and a borate or borate generating reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwater International LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Earl Thompson, Sarkis R. Kakadjian
  • Patent number: 8034749
    Abstract: Use of aerogels reduce the density of system fluids useful during drilling operations and system fluids comprising aerogels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles W. Alsobrook, Thomas A. Jones
  • Patent number: 8030254
    Abstract: A method includes providing a wellbore treatment fluid having a divalent brine and an amount of polymer and lowering a pH value of the treatment fluid. The method further includes retaining the treatment fluid at the lower pH value until the polymer achieves a primary hydration value. The method further includes adding a cross-linking agent and a cross-linking delay agent to the treatment fluid. The cross-linking agent includes zirconium and/or titanium, and the cross-linking delay agent is a polyol. The method further includes performing a wellbore treatment with the treatment fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Alhad Phatak, Yenny Christanti, Carlos Abad, Balkrishna Gadiyar
  • Patent number: 8030248
    Abstract: This invention relates to drilling fluids and processes for making drilling fluids, such as for use in environmentally sensitive areas. The environmentally friendly drilling fluid includes a first fluid component having between about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of olefins with a chain length in a range of between about C12 and about C48. The first fluid component includes at least about 50 weight percent trisubstituted olefin functionality. The environmentally friendly drilling fluid includes a second fluid component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Ineos USA LLC
    Inventors: Burnell Lee, Georgia Lambert, Vahid Bagheri, Heath Chisholm
  • Patent number: 8030253
    Abstract: Of the many compositions provided herein, an embodiment includes a foamed cement composition comprising a cementitious component, an oil-swellable particle comprising at least one swellable elastomer selected from the group consisting of acrylate butadiene rubber, polyacrylate rubber, isoprene rubber, choloroprene rubber, butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, chlorinated polyethylene, neoprene rubber, styrene butadiene block copolymer, sulphonated polyethylene, ethylene acrylate rubber, epichlorohydrin ethylene oxide copolymer, ethylene-propylene rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, fluorosilicone rubber, silicone rubber, and combinations thereof, a foaming and stabilizing surfactant, gas, and water. Another embodiment includes a foamed cement composition comprising a cementitious component, an oil-swellable particle comprising a block copolymer of styrene butadiene rubber, a foaming and stabilizing surfactant, and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig W. Roddy, Jiten Chatterji, Bobby J. King, D. Chad Brenneis
  • Patent number: 8030250
    Abstract: The production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation is enhanced by use of a well treatment fluid which contains a carboxylated guar which may be prepared by reacting a guar source and a derivatizing agent of the formula X(CH2)nCOOH or alkali salts thereof, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of —OSO2CH3; —OSO2C2H5; —OTs, —Br, and —I and n is between from 1 to 4. The intrinsic viscosity of the carboxylated guar in 2% KCl at 27° C. is at least 750 mL/g and the degree of substitution (DS) of the carboxylated guar is typically between from about 0.02 to about 0.15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Hong Sun, Frances DeBenedictis, Qi Qu
  • Patent number: 8029861
    Abstract: A phase change ink including a colorant and a carrier including a tri-ester of the formula wherein R1, R2 and R3, and n are as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Adela Goredema, Caroline M. Turek, Christopher A. Wagner, C. Geoffrey Allen
  • Patent number: 8026198
    Abstract: A water-based drilling fluid and method of using same are presented in this disclosure, which fluid is used in drilling wells through a formation containing a shale that swells in the presence of water. The drilling fluid comprises an aqueous based continuous phase; a weighting material; and a shale hydration inhibition agent (SHIA) selected from the group consisting of propylamine derivatives, hydrogenated poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers (HPPID), and polyamine twin dendrimers (PTD). In some embodiments, the SHIA of this disclosure is not hydrolyzed at a temperature in the range of from about 100° F. to about 500° F. The drilling fluid may further comprise a fluid loss control agent, an encapsulating agent, other additives, and combinations thereof. A method of reducing shale swelling during wellbore drilling is also described. The method comprises circulating in the subterranean well a water-based drilling fluid comprising an aqueous based continuous phase, a weighting material, and a SHIA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Richard F. Miller
  • Patent number: 8022018
    Abstract: Corrosion of metallic tubulars in an oil, gas or geothermal well may be inhibited by introducing into the well a dithiazine or dithiazine of the formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a C1 to C12 saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group or a C1 to C10 ?-hydroxy saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group; R1 is selected from the group consisting of a C1-C24 straight chain or branched alkyl group or a C1-C24 arylalkyl; R2 is selected from the group consisting of X-R4-X, R4 being a C1-C6 alkyl group; and X is chlorine, bromine or iodine. The dithiazine may he isolated from a whole spent fluid formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide and a triazine. Alternately, the whole spent fluid containing the dithiazine may be introduced into the well. The dithiazines of formulae (II) and (III) are quaternized derivatives of the dithiazine of formula (I).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Grahame Nigel Taylor
  • Patent number: 8022014
    Abstract: A method of solubilizing/removing cellulose or chemically-modified cellulosic polymers utilized in subterranean drilling operations such as fracturing. The method involves introducing a deep eutectic solvent (DES) into a subterranean region. Deep eutectic solvents useful as cellulose solvents include quaternary ammonium compounds, including choline chloride and chlorcholine chloride, reacted with a compound selected from amides, amines, carboxylic acids alcohols, and metal halides. The DES material can be pumped downhole after fracturing operations to remove cellulosic material used, for example, to thicken fracturing fluid which is left behind in the created fractures, on the face of the formation, along the wellbore, or elsewhere within the subterranean region. The DES can be used alone or in a sequential treatment protocol, whereby the DES is introduced into the subterranean region, followed by post-treatment introduction of water, caustic, acid or anhydride into the subterranean as a flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Richard F. Miller
  • Patent number: 8022016
    Abstract: There is a viscoelastic fluid. The fluid has one or more cationic surfactants selected from the group consisting of certain quaternary salts, certain amines, and combinations thereof; one or more anionic polymers/anionic surfactants; one or more of certain zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants; and water. There is also a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. The viscoelastic fluid is pumped through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation. There is also a method for gravel packing a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Rhodia, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Li, Manilal Dahanayake, Allwyn Colaco
  • Patent number: 8022019
    Abstract: Method and system for making a spherical proppant having a selected grade from a naturally occurring mined mineral having a hardness of over 6.0 Mohs. The method and system involves preprocessing the mineral mechanically into a semi-dry feedstock comprising a mass of particles with initial sphericity values generally less than 0.60; subjecting the semi-dry feedstock to an aggressive abrasive attrition operation for a process time; and, controlling the process time to a value wherein the particles of the feedstock are converted to final processed particles having a sphericity greater than 0.60 by increasing the sphericity of the feedstock particles by at least 0.10. In addition, the processed particles are screened to obtain a proppant having a selected grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Unimin Corporation
    Inventors: David John Rush, Juan Leal Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8022017
    Abstract: Corrosion of metallic tubulars in an oil, gas or geothermal well may be inhibited by introducing into the well a dithiazine of the formula: wherein R is selected from the group consisting of a C1 to C10 saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group or a C1 to C10 ?-hydroxy saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group. The dithiazine may be isolated from a whole spent fluid formed by reaction of hydrogen sulfide and a triazine. Alternately, the whole spent fluid containing the dithiazine may be introduced into the well. In addition, the dithiazine or whole spent fluid may be formulated with at least one component selected from alkyl, alkylaryl or arylamine quaternary salts; mono or polycyclic aromatic amine salts; imidazoline derivative or a quaternary salt thereof; a mono-, di- or trialkyl or alkylaryl phosphate ester; or a monomeric or oligomeric fatty acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Grahame Nigel Taylor
  • Patent number: 8022015
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of treating high temperature subterranean formations of up to about 500° F. (260° C.) are provided. The compositions and methods utilize a high molecular weight synthetic copolymer and a pH buffer than maintains a pH in a range of about 4.5 to about 5.25 for the compositions. The high molecular weight synthetic copolymer is derived from acrylamide, acrylamidomethylpropanesulfonic acid, and vinyl phosphonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Paul S. Carman, Jeffrey C. Dawson
  • Patent number: 8017561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to curable, permeable resin compositions and methods of using such compositions. One embodiment of provides a method of creating a resin mass comprising the steps of combining a resin, a hardening agent, a hydrocarbon diluent, a silane coupling agent, a foaming agent, a compressible gas, and a degradable material to form a resin composition; placing the resin composition in a subterranean formation; and, allowing the resin to substantially cure and the degradable material to substantially degrade so as to form a permeable, hardened resin mass. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a resin composition useful in subterranean applications comprising a resin, a hardening agent, a hydrocarbon diluent, a silane coupling agent, a foaming agent, a compressible gas, and a degradable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip D. Nguyen