Patents Examined by Timothy J. Kugel
  • Crosslinked glycerol or oligoglycerol esters, and use thereof as an additive in drilling fluids
    Patent number: 8193125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crosslinked glycerol or oligoglycerol ester which can be obtained by crosslinking a non-crosslinked glycerol or oligoglycerol ester which can be obtained by reacting an (A) acid phase comprising (a1) a fatty acid, (a2) a dicarboxylic acid, (a3) a dimeric fatty acid, (a4) an oligomeric fatty acid, (a5) a hydroxy fatty acid or (a6) a mixture of at least two thereof, with a (B) alcohol phase comprising (b1) monoglycerol, (b2) diglycerol, (b3) triglycerol, (b4) oligoglycerol made up of more than three glycerol units, (b5) an alkoxylate of glycerols (b1), (b2), (b3) or (b4), or (b6) a mixture of at least two thereof, forming a full or partial ester and crosslinking the full or partial ester by means of a crosslinking agent, wherein the crosslinking can take place during or after the formation of the full or partial ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Emery Oleochemicals GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz Muller, Diana Maker, Nadja Herzog, Alfred Westfechtel
  • Process of using hard brine at high alkalinity for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications
    Patent number: 8188012
    Abstract: The present invention describes the use of EDTA and/or alkali treated hard brine at high pH for making ASP formulations for EOR applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Oil field treatment fluids comprising zwitterionic betaine-group-containing polymers
    Patent number: 8183181
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method comprising: mixing (i) a zwitterionic polymer prepared by inverse emulsion polymerization of at least one monomer Ab comprising a betaine group and optionally one or more nonionic monomers Ba, (ii) a surfactant and (iii) produced water to form a well servicing fluid. The resulting well servicing fluid is introduced into a hydrocarbon well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Madhukar Chetty, Paul Scott Carman
  • Method of treating a wellbore at high temperature in contact with carbon dioxide
    Patent number: 8183183
    Abstract: A method for treating a subterranean formation is made of steps of providing a composition comprising a carrier fluid, a polymer viscosifying agent, carbon dioxide and a formate salt or formic acid; injecting into a wellbore, the composition; contacting the composition with the subterranean formation, wherein the temperature is above 100 degrees Celsius at this contact; and allowing the composition to treat the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Leiming Li, Lijun Lin, Curtis L. Boney, Michael D. Parris, Kevin W. England
  • System, method, and apparatus for acid fracturing with scale inhibitor protection
    Patent number: 8183179
    Abstract: A method for treating a subterranean formation includes forming a treatment fluid including a carrier fluid, a solid acid-precursor, and a solid scale inhibitor. The solid acid-precursor includes a material that forms an acid at downhole conditions in the subterranean formation. The method further includes adding a solid acid-responsive material into the treatment fluid, where the solid acid-responsive material enhances formation of acid from the solid acid-precursor in acidic conditions. The method includes performing an acid fracture treatment and inhibiting scale formation within the subterranean formation. The solid scale inhibitor allows for long-term scale inhibition after the treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Marieliz Garcia-Lopez De Victoria, John W. Still, Toan Bui
  • Polyelectrolyte complexes for oil and gas applications
    Patent number: 8183184
    Abstract: A polyelectrolyte complex for the controlled release of an oil and gas field chemical selected from the group consisting of (a) a gel-forming or cross-linking agent, (b) a scale inhibitor, (c) a corrosion inhibitor, (d) an inhibitor of asphaltene or wax deposition, (e) a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, (f) a hydrate inhibitor, (g) a breaking agent, and a surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: University of Kansas
    Inventors: Cory Berkland, Mary Cordova, Jenn-Tai Liang, G. Paul Willhite
  • Composition of microemulsion and method for advanced recovery of heavy oil
    Patent number: 8183182
    Abstract: A composition of a microemulsion including a mixture of a combination of surfactants and co-surfactants, an oil phase and an aqueous phase is described. In addition, a method for the advanced recovery of heavy oils is described which includes the steps of injecting a bank containing a microemulsion composition, injecting a bank of a polymer solution, and injecting water. The microemulsion composition can be applied in arenitic and carbonatic reservoirs, containing oils with API below 22.3° API, in both onshore and offshore fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
    Inventors: Marcia Cristina Khalil Oliveira, Gaspar Gonzalez Maldonado
  • Well servicing fluid comprising an organic salt being the product of an organic acid and an organic amine base and method of servicing a well with the fluid
    Patent number: 8183185
    Abstract: A well servicing fluid is disclosed. The well servicing fluid is formulated with components comprising: an organic salt, the organic salt being the product of an organic acid and an organic amine base; and an aqueous based solvent. A method of servicing a well is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incoporated
    Inventor: Marek K. Pakulski
  • Graphene compositions and drilling fluids derived therefrom
    Patent number: 8183180
    Abstract: Drilling fluids comprising graphenes and nanoplatelet additives and methods for production thereof are disclosed. Graphene includes graphite oxide, graphene oxide, chemically-converted graphene, and functionalized chemically-converted graphene. Derivatized graphenes and methods for production thereof are disclosed. The derivatized graphenes are prepared from a chemically-converted graphene through derivatization with a plurality of functional groups. Derivatization can be accomplished, for example, by reaction of a chemically-converted graphene with a diazonium species. Methods for preparation of graphite oxide are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: James M. Tour, Howard K. Schmidt, Jay R. Lomeda, Dmitry V. Kosynkin, Condell D. Doyle
  • Solvent-free synthesis of soluble nanocrystals
    Patent number: 8178585
    Abstract: Methods for preparing high quality and high yields of nanocrystals, i.e., metal-oxide-based nanocrystals, using a novel solvent-free method. The nanocrystals advantageously comprise organic alkyl chain capping groups and are stable in air and in nonpolar solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Melissa Petruska, Guiquan Pan
  • Proppant having a glass-ceramic material
    Patent number: 8178476
    Abstract: The present invention relates to glass-ceramic proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions, as well as other uses. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the glass-ceramic proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Oxane Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuming Xie, Dilip Chatterjee, Christopher E. Coker, Christopher Y. Fang
  • Acrylate-modified aspartates and gel coat compositions made therefrom
    Patent number: 8178204
    Abstract: A coating composition is provided. The composition comprises as component I, a) a polyaspartic acid ester comprising the reaction product of one more diamines, one or more difunctional acrylate-containing compounds and one or more maleic/fumaric acid esters; b) at least one moisture scavenger; c) at least one deaerator; d) at least one plasticizer; and e) optionally additives; and as component II, one or more polyisocyanates. Methods of making and applying the composition to a substrate are also provided. The coating is particularly suitable for use as a gel coat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience LLC
    Inventors: Myron W. Shaffer, John P. Forsythe, Leone Hermans-Blackburn, Amy S. Wylie, Aaron A. Lockhart, Emery Yuhas, Roy B. Clemens
  • Proppants with carbide and/or nitride phases
    Patent number: 8178477
    Abstract: Proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions are described. Proppant formulations which use one or more proppants of the present invention are described, as well as methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions, and other uses for the proppants and methods of making the proppants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Oxane Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Skala, John R. Loscutova, Christopher E. Coker
  • Functional surface coating
    Patent number: 8178602
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of preparing functional thin films or surface coatings with low non-specific binding are described. The thin films contain specified functional groups and non-specific binding repellant components. The thin films are either covalently bound to or passively adsorbed to various solid substrates. The specified functional group provides specified activity for the thin film modified solid surfaces and non-specific binding repellant components significantly reduce the non-specific binding to the thin film modified solid surfaces. Non-specific binding repellant components do not affect specified functional group's activity in the thin films. In these methods, specified functional groups are anchored to the solid substrates through a spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Accelr8 Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Guoqiang Mao, Steven W. Metzger, Michael J. Lochhead
  • Selective application of therapeutic agent to a medical device
    Patent number: 8173200
    Abstract: A method of coating an implantable medical device may include providing an implantable medical device, applying a polymer base to the medical device, and directing a first solution including therapeutic agent and solvent through the nozzle onto a target zone of the polymer base coating to penetrate the polymer base coating. The solution may be directed at the target zone until a predetermined concentration of the therapeutic agent can be integrated within the polymer base coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Liza J. Davis, Thomas Priebe, Kim Robertson
  • Writing implement with thermochromic coloring color-memory composition
    Patent number: 8173052
    Abstract: A writing implement with a thermochromic coloring color-memory composition which comprises a homogeneous solubilized mixture of (A) an electron donative coloring organic compound, (B) an electron accepting compound and (C) a reaction medium which controls color reactions of the components (A) and (B), wherein a complete decoloring temperature (T4) of the thermochromic coloring color-memory composition is 50° C. or higher and a coloring starting temperature (T2) of thermochromic coloring color-memory composition is 10° C. or lower regarding the color density-temperature curve, and the thermochromic coloring color-memory composition has color-memory ability at the ordinary temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: The Pilot Ink Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Fujita
  • Method of manufacture and the use of a functional proppant for determination of subterranean fracture geometries
    Patent number: 8168570
    Abstract: Proppants having added functional properties are provided, as are methods that use the proppants to track and trace the characteristics of a fracture in a geologic formation. Information obtained by the methods can be used to design a fracturing job, to increase conductivity in the fracture, and to enhance oil and gas recovery from the geologic formation. The functionalized proppants can be detected by a variety of methods utilizing, for example, an airborne magnetometer survey, ground penetrating radar, a high resolution accelerometer, a geophone, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultra-sound, impedance measurements, piezoelectric activity, radioactivity, and the like. Methods of mapping a subterranean formation are also provided and use the functionalized proppants to detect characteristics of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Oxane Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew R. Barron, Robert D. Skala, Christopher E. Coker, Dilip K. Chatterjee, Yuming Xie
  • Degradation of polypropylene with hydroxylamine ester compositions
    Patent number: 8168725
    Abstract: The invention relates to novel composition comprising hydroxylamine esters and thio compounds, which are suitable for lowering the molecular weight of polypropylene, propylene copolymers or polypropylene blends and result in an excellent degradation performance at temperatures below 220° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Michael Roth, Peter Nesvadba, David E. Horst
  • Method for applying remedial cement to a wellbore
    Patent number: 8163679
    Abstract: A cement composition and method of applying remedial cement to a downhole perforation is described. The method involves the sequential delivery of a phosphate acid activator and a silicate suspension to the perforation to allow in situ reaction of the activator with the binder within the perforation, thereby forming a phosphosilicate plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Cemblend Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Getzlaf, Marty Stromquist
  • Emulsifier blend
    Patent number: 8163676
    Abstract: An oil-in-water emulsion that includes a brine continuous phase; and an oleaginous discontinuous phase stabilized by an emulsifier blend, the emulsifier blend comprising: an emulsifier having an HLB greater than 11; and an amphoteric chemotrope is disclosed. Emulsifier blends comprising an emulsifier having an HLB greater than 11 and an amphoteric chemotrope and methods of using emulsifier blends are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eugene Dakin, Hui Zhang, Bethicia B. Prasek