Patents Examined by Timothy J. Kugel
  • Patent number: 7977285
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon fluid compositions comprising a liquid hydrocarbon, an aluminum soap, a hydrocarbon foaming agent and a gas. The fluids can be used in various oil field operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Trican Well Service Ltd.
    Inventors: Kewei Zhang, Bill O'Neil, Darren Maley
  • Patent number: 7977284
    Abstract: A method of making phenol and alkylphenol ethoxylates non-estrogenic by inserting 1 mole of propylene oxide onto the phenolic group before proceeding with the addition of ethylene oxide or mixtures of ethylene and propylene oxide. The final phenolic products can be further reacted to form sulfates, sulfonates, phosphate esters, condensed alkylphenol alkoxylates and other derivatives of alkylphenol or phenol. Non-estrogenic phenol and alkylphenol alkoxylates and their derivatives have been found to be excellent salt tolerant, high temperature stable surfactants for oil recovery from subterranean reservoirs. These products are also useful in forming emulsions of heavy crude for transportation through pipelines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Oil Chem Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Paul Berger, Christie Berger
  • Patent number: 7972996
    Abstract: Phosphate esters useful for gelling hydrocarbons in combination with a metal source are disclosed along with methods of preparation of the phosphate esters. Fouling in oil refinery towers has been attributed due to distillation of impurities present in phosphate esters used to gel hydrocarbons for oil well fracturing. The improved method of preparation of the phosphate ester results in a product that substantially reduces or eliminates volatile phosphorus, which is phosphorus impurities that distill up to 250° C., and increases the high temperature viscosity of the hydrocarbon gels formed using the phosphate esters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Brine-Add Fluids Ltd
    Inventors: Ioan Ghesner, David P. Horton
  • Patent number: 7972542
    Abstract: The preparation of robust, thin film materials with large second-order optical nonlinearities through the covalent self-assembly of chromophoric compositions and innovative use of silyl chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Milko E. van der Boom
  • Patent number: 7972995
    Abstract: A drilling fluid additive is provided and the additive consist of: syrup solids which are heated to evaporate water and then admixed with a liquid medium, and the syrup solids are derived from a group consisting essentially of agave syrup, barley syrup, sugar syrup, beets syrup, birch syrup, rice syrup, cane syrup, chocolate syrup, coconut syrup, corn syrup, date syrup, fruit syrup, golden syrup, high fructose corn syrup, karo syrup, citrus fruit syrup, maple syrup, molasses, Muscavado syrup, palm syrup, rice syrup, sorghum syrup, Turbinado syrup, vanilla syrup and mixtures and blends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventors: Jerry Rayborn, Sr., Dan M. DeLaRosa
  • Patent number: 7968500
    Abstract: Methods and compositions useful in inhibiting the formation, growth, and/or maintenance of gas hydrates in a fluid mixture. The gas hydrate inhibitors comprise polyetheramines and acids that are exothermically reacted in situ to produce polyetherammonium compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Marek K Pakulski, Qi Qu
  • Patent number: 7968501
    Abstract: A delayed crosslinker system useful in downhole treatment fluids is disclosed. The crosslinker system comprises water-reactive solids, a non-aqueous, non-oily, hygroscopic liquid, a suspension aid, and an optional polyol. The crosslinker system may be prepared at a remote location and transported to the site of its intended use. There it may be pumped into a formation and activated when a gel fluid is introduced into the wellbore, only then forming a high viscosity treatment fluid. Thus, the amount of energy required for pumping is reduced. The optional polyol component increases crosslink delay and enhances the rate of viscosity after high shear (shear recovery).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Michael D. Parris
  • Patent number: 7964537
    Abstract: An air drilling misting fluid is provided and the fluid comprises: a continuous liquid phase solution comprising syrup, syrup solids and a first liquid medium, the syrup and syrup solids are derived from a group consisting essentially of agave syrup, barley syrup, sugar syrup, beets syrup, birch syrup, rice syrup, cane syrup, chocolate syrup, coconut syrup, corn syrup, date syrup, fruit syrup, golden syrup, high fructose corn syrup, inverted sugar syrup, karo syrup, citrus fruit syrup, maple syrup, molasses, Muscavado syrup, palm syrup, rice syrup, sorghum syrup, Turbinado syrup, vanilla syrup and mixtures and blends thereof; and a second liquid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventors: Jerry Rayborn, Sr., Dan M. DeLaRosa
  • Patent number: 7964539
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of controlling water in a subterranean formation, said method comprising contacting said formation with a water control treatment agent which comprises an organosilane in an amount effective to reduce the water permeability of at least part of said formation. At the same time, any decrease in the overall hydrocarbon (e.g. oil) permeability of said formation is preferably minimized. The invention further provides a method of plugging or sealing a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Statoil ASA
    Inventor: Hans Kristian Kotlar
  • Patent number: 7964538
    Abstract: A synthetic glass family in the quaternary phase field of CaO—SiO2-Al2O3-MgO (CSAM) with hydraulic and pozzolanic properties for use in differing applications in the gas and oil well cementing area. A method of making a mud-to-cement (MTC) slurry and a method for treating oil and gas wells with the MTC slurry containing a homogenous amorphous synthetic glass made from a mixture of inorganic materials selected from the group consisting of CSAM, wherein the cementing glasses with the mixture of inorganic materials are in a 100% amorphous phase with a degree of crystallization of zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Yibran Perera, Virginia Buccellato, George Quercia, Aiskely Blanco
  • Patent number: 7963329
    Abstract: A method including a) injecting into the formation an aqueous solution containing a polymer and a surfactant to create a organic phase and a aqueous phase, the surfactant being capable of reducing the interfacial tension between the phases to less than 1 dyne/cm; b) recovering a portion of the organic and aqueous phases containing at least a portion of the polymer and surfactant components and a portion of native petroleum surfactants generated in the porous formation; c) adjusting the conditions of the recovered portions to force a portion of the polymer and surfactant from one phase into the other phase by use of chemical, physical, electrical or gravitational means or a combination of said means; d) separating the polymer-and surfactant-containing phase; e) concentrating the polymer and surfactant components in the separated phase; and f) re-injecting at least a portion of the concentrated polymer and surfactant components into the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Gordon Thomas Shahin, Joseph Michael Redican
  • Patent number: 7960316
    Abstract: At least in aspect, the invention provides methods that include a method comprising: contacting a metal surface with an acidic fluid comprising an aqueous base-fluid, an acid, a corrosion inhibitor, and a corrosion inhibitor intensifier composition comprising an intensifier compound that corresponds to the following formula: wherein R1 is a methyl or ethyl group, and R2 is H or an alkyl, aryl, alkyl aryl, alkylthio aryl, alkyloxy aryl, halogenated aryl, phenyl, alkyl phenyl, alkylthio phenyl, alkyloxyphenyl, or a halogenated phenyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Juanita M. Cassidy, Jim L. Lane, Chad E. Kiser
  • Patent number: 7960314
    Abstract: A method comprising contacting a zwitterionic surfactant, co-surfactant, and water to form a microemulsifier, and contacting the microemulsifier with an oleaginous fluid under low shear conditions to form a microemulsion. A method comprising introducing a first wellbore servicing fluid comprising at least one oleaginous fluid into a wellbore, wherein the first wellbore servicing fluid forms oil-wet solids and/or oil-wet surfaces in the wellbore, and contacting the oil-wet solids and/or oil-wet surfaces in the wellbore with a second wellbore servicing fluid comprising a zwitterionic surfactant, a co-surfactant, and a brine to form a microemulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Van Zanten, Douglas J. Harrison
  • Patent number: 7956016
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method of controlling fluid loss from a subterranean formation of a well bore. In a first aspect, the method is done by providing a treatment fluid made of an aqueous fluid and a hydrophobic polymer; and introducing the treatment fluid into the wellbore. In a second aspect, the method is done by providing a treatment fluid made of water and a water soluble polymer; providing in the treatment fluid a fluid loss additive having a hydrophobic polymer; using the treatment fluid in a well bore of a subterranean formation; allowing the treatment fluid to establish a permeable filter cake with the water soluble polymer in at least a portion of the well bore; and allowing hydrophobic polymer to enter into the filter cake to reduce permeability of the filter cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mohan K. R. Panga, Isabelle Couillet, Carlos Abad
  • Patent number: 7956013
    Abstract: Compositions comprising: (A) at least one surfactant of the general formula (I) (R1—[(O—(CH2)2)x1(O—CH(CH3)CH2)x2]O)kP(?O)(OH)3-k??(I) wherein the sequence of the alkyleneoxy units is arbitrary, each R1 independently represents a moiety selected from the group consisting of linear and branched C12-C22-alkyl, C12-C22-alkenyl, C12-C22-alkynyl, (C11-C21-alkyl)carbonyl, (C11-C21-alkenyl)carbonyl and (C11-C21-alkynyl)carbonyl, k represents 1 or 2 and x1 and x2 each independently represent an integer of 0 to 20, the sum of x1 and x2 being a number of 1 to 20; and (B) at least one thickener comprising at least two hydrophobic groups R2 which are linked to one another via a bridging hydrophilic group (?), wherein each R2, independently represents a moiety selected from the group consisting of C8-C32-alkyl, C8-C32-alkenyl, C8-C32-alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and aryl-C1-C32-alkyl, which in each case may have up to 3 hydroxyl substituents; wherein the composition has a pH which is viscosity-dependent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Ulrich Steinbrenner, Günter Oetter, Uwe Ossmer, Marcus Guzmann
  • Patent number: 7956017
    Abstract: A method for treating solid materials is disclosed, where the treating compositions coats surfaces or portions of surfaces of the solid materials changing an aggregation or agglomeration propensity of the materials. Treated solid materials are also disclosed. The methods and treated materials are ideally suited for oil field applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Gatlin, Frank Zamora, Jim Venditto, Sarkis Kakadjian Ranka
  • Patent number: 7956015
    Abstract: A method of providing a substantially constant rheological profile of a drilling fluid over a temperature range of about 120° F. to about 40° F. includes adding a drilling fluid additive to the drilling fluid, wherein the drilling fluid additive includes the reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties; and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more. A composition, such as an oil based drilling fluid, includes the reaction product of a carboxylic acid with at least two carboxylic moieties and a polyamine having an amine functionality of two or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Elementis Specialties, Inc.
    Inventor: David Dino
  • Patent number: 7956012
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method comprising introducing into a well bore a fluid comprising a zwitterionic polymer. The polymer is prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization of at least one monomer Ab comprising a betaine group and optionally one or more nonionic monomers Ba. The well bore is chosen from a natural gas well bore and an oil well bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: BJ Services Company LLC
    Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Madhukar Chetty, Paul Carman
  • Patent number: 7951866
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a transparent resin molding having both high reflow heat resistance and excellent optical characteristics and to provide an optical lens and an optical film each including the transparent resin molding and having high heat resistance and excellent optical characteristics. A transparent resin molding according to the present invention is obtained by molding a molding material containing a thermoplastic resin and crosslinking the thermoplastic resin, in which the thermoplastic resin is selected from resins having an average transmissivity of 60% or more in the wavelength range of 600 to 1,000 nm when molded into a molding with a thickness of 2 mm, and the resin molding with a thickness of 2 mm has an average transmissivity of 60% or more in the wavelength range of 600 to 1,000 nm when the resin molding is heated at 200° C. for 10 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Fine Polymer, Inc.
    Inventor: Makoto Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 7951754
    Abstract: Environmentally friendly compounds for corrosion inhibition and hydrocarbonaceous deposit removal and methods using such compounds are disclosed and claimed. The compounds are derivatives of heterocyclic bis-quaternary molecules having an amido moiety and are applicable to a variety of oil and gas operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Laxmikant Tiwari, G. Richard Meyer, David Horsup