Patents by Inventor Colin Whyte

Colin Whyte has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20260118544
    Abstract: A method for evaluating geological hydrogen source rock in a region is provided. The method includes: collecting magnetic susceptibility data from a plurality of subsurface locations in the region; receiving geophysical survey data of the region, wherein the geophysical survey data comprises geophysical data collected from above ground; tying the magnetic susceptibility data of the plurality of subsurface locations to the geophysical survey data; generating a geologic map of igneous rock, metamorphic rock, or mafic mineral-or iron-rich sedimentary rock within the region based on the magnetic susceptibility data using a model; and determining, based on the geologic map, a target zone of the geological hydrogen source rock with a potential for hydrogen production or with the potential for hydrogen accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Brent Lary, Christopher Gardner, Colin Whyte, William Eymold, Peter Kras
  • Publication number: 20260118340
    Abstract: Methods for identifying, evaluating, and high-grading rocks associated with past or future potential generation of hydrogen from geologic materials are provided. For example, a method for evaluating a hydrogen system within a geological source rock includes obtaining a geological sample of the geological source rock; extracting ‘mobile’ gases of the geological sample under a pressure gradient; evaluating the ‘mobile’ gases extracted from the geological sample; and quantifying a volume of hydrogen previously generated based on the ‘mobile’ gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Brent Lary, Christopher Gardner, Colin Whyte, William Eymold
  • Publication number: 20260118339
    Abstract: Methods for identifying, evaluating, and high-grading rocks associated with past or future potential generation of hydrogen from geologic materials are provided. For example, a method for evaluating a hydrogen system within a geological source rock includes obtaining a geological sample of the geological source rock; extracting ‘mobile’ gases of the geological sample under a pressure gradient; evaluating the ‘mobile’ gases extracted from the geological sample; and quantifying a volume of hydrogen previously generated based on the ‘mobile’ gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Colin Whyte, William Eymold, Christopher Gardner, Brent Lary
  • Publication number: 20260118289
    Abstract: The mineralogical, chemical, magnetic, and physical properties of a rock can be used to determine the amount of hydrogen that was generated during rock alteration and the remaining amount of hydrogen generation potential. The methodologies evaluate the hydrogen generation potential of geological samples and identify natural hydrogen source rocks. The mineralogy, elemental composition, iron content and oxidation state, and other properties of a geological sample may be determined. From the determined mineralogy and other properties of the geological sample, the amount of hydrogen which the geological sample may have generated may be quantified. This method can determine the maturity of hydrogen source rocks, the potential volume of hydrogen that can be generated in other parts of a given geologic province with higher degrees of hydrogen source rock maturity, and quantify the potential remaining volume of hydrogen that can be still be generated via secondary enhanced hydrogen stimulation processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Brent Lary, Christopher Gardner, Colin Whyte, William Eymold
  • Publication number: 20260118546
    Abstract: A method for evaluating geological hydrogen source rock in a region is provided. The method includes: collecting magnetic susceptibility data from a plurality of subsurface locations in the region; receiving geophysical survey data of the region, wherein the geophysical survey data comprises geophysical data collected from above ground; tying the magnetic susceptibility data of the plurality of subsurface locations to the geophysical survey data; generating a geologic map of igneous rock, metamorphic rock, or mafic mineral- or iron-rich sedimentary rock within the region based on the magnetic susceptibility data using a model; and determining, based on the geologic map, a target zone of the geological hydrogen source rock with a potential for hydrogen production or with the potential for hydrogen accumulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2025
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Brent Lary, Christopher Gardner, Colin Whyte, William Eymold, Peter Kras, Christopher Davin, Jacob Harrington, Trevor Aitken
  • Publication number: 20260110234
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to producing hydrogen from a subsurface formation by injecting a reactant into the subsurface formation and reacting the reactant with the subsurface formation to form at least one of hydrogen gas or a mineralized product within the subsurface formation. The hydrogen produced is collected or one or more components of the reactant is sequestered to form a mineralized product in the subsurface formation. Other embodiments of the invention relate to producing hydrogen by injecting a thermal fluid into the subsurface rock formation, where the thermal fluid includes a reactant. The reactant is reacted with components in the subsurface formation to form at least one of hydrogen gas mineralized sulfur, or mineralized carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2025
    Publication date: April 23, 2026
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Colin Whyte, Jacob Harrington, Peter Johnson
  • Patent number: 12590941
    Abstract: A method for enhanced mud gas logging includes receiving a gas stream; separating the gas stream into a first gas stream, a second gas stream, and a third gas stream; directing the first gas stream to a gas chromatography configuration including a gas chromatography column and a photoionization detector; detecting, by the photoionization detector, gas species in the first gas stream; separating, by a first separation component, water vapor from the second gas stream to produce a processed second gas stream; detecting, by a first mass spectrometer, gas species in the processed second gas stream; separating, by a second separation component, water vapor and other gas species from the third gas stream to produce a processed third gas stream; and detecting, by a second mass spectrometer, gas species in the processed third gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: Koloma, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Whyte, Thomas Darrah, Brent Lary, Henry Wulsin, Christopher Gardner, William Eymold, Jacob Harrington
  • Patent number: 12545576
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sequestering carbon, evolving hydrogen gas, producing iron oxide as magnetite, and producing magnesium carbonate as magnesite through sequential carbonation and serpentinization/hydration reactions involving processed olivine- and/or pyroxene-rich ores, as typically found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rock. Precious or scarce metals, such nickel, cobalt, chromium, rare earth elements, and others, may be concentrated in the remaining ore to facilitate their recovery from any gangue material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2026
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Vikram Rao, Colin Whyte
  • Patent number: 12529290
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to producing hydrogen from a subsurface formation by injecting a reactant into the subsurface formation and reacting the reactant with the subsurface formation to form at least one of hydrogen gas or a mineralized product within the subsurface formation. The hydrogen produced is collected or one or more components of the reactant is sequestered to form a mineralized product in the subsurface formation. Other embodiments of the invention relate to producing hydrogen by injecting a thermal fluid into the subsurface rock formation, where the thermal fluid includes a reactant. The reactant is reacted with components in the subsurface formation to form at least one of hydrogen gas, mineralized sulfur, or mineralized carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Koloma, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Colin Whyte, Jacob Harrington, Peter Johnson
  • Patent number: 12429473
    Abstract: Methods for identifying, evaluating, and high-grading rocks associated with past or future potential generation of hydrogen from geologic materials are provided. For example, a method for evaluating a hydrogen system within a geological source rock includes obtaining a geological sample of the geological source rock; extracting ‘mobile’ gases of the geological sample under a pressure gradient; evaluating the ‘mobile’ gases extracted from the geological sample; and quantifying a volume of hydrogen previously generated based on the ‘mobile’ gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: Koloma, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Colin Whyte, William Eymold, Christopher Gardner, Brent Lary
  • Patent number: 12399139
    Abstract: The mineralogical, chemical, magnetic, and physical properties of a rock can be used to determine the amount of hydrogen that was generated during rock alteration and the remaining amount of hydrogen generation potential. The methodologies evaluate the hydrogen generation potential of geological samples and identify natural hydrogen source rocks. The mineralogy, elemental composition, iron content and oxidation state, and other properties of a geological sample may be determined. From the determined mineralogy and other properties of the geological sample, the amount of hydrogen which the geological sample may have generated may be quantified. This method can determine the maturity of hydrogen source rocks, the potential volume of hydrogen that can be generated in other parts of a given geologic province with higher degrees of hydrogen source rock maturity, and quantify the potential remaining volume of hydrogen that can be still be generated via secondary enhanced hydrogen stimulation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Koloma, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Brent Lary, Christopher Gardner, Colin Whyte, William Eymold
  • Publication number: 20250069388
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for training an image analysis engine to identify surface features of the Earth consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. An example method includes receiving, by communications circuitry, a training dataset of labeled images illustrating surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation, the surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation comprising ovoid surficial depressions. The example method further includes training, by a model generator and using the training dataset, an image classification model of the image analysis engine to identify whether new images contain surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. The example method further includes hosting the image classification model by the image analysis engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Ian Howat, Joachim Moortgat, Colin Whyte
  • Patent number: 12165404
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for training an image analysis engine to identify surface features of the Earth consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. An example method includes receiving, by communications circuitry, a training dataset of labeled images illustrating surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation, the surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation comprising ovoid surficial depressions. The example method further includes training, by a model generator and using the training dataset, an image classification model of the image analysis engine to identify whether new images contain surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. The example method further includes hosting the image classification model by the image analysis engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Ian Howat, Joachim Moortgat, Colin Whyte
  • Publication number: 20240386700
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for training an image analysis engine to identify surface features of the Earth consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. An example method includes receiving, by communications circuitry, a training dataset of labeled images illustrating surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation, the surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation comprising ovoid surficial depressions. The example method further includes training, by a model generator and using the training dataset, an image classification model of the image analysis engine to identify whether new images contain surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. The example method further includes hosting the image classification model by the image analysis engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Ian Howat, Joachim Moortgat, Colin Whyte
  • Publication number: 20240308843
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sequestering carbon, evolving hydrogen gas, producing iron oxide as magnetite, and producing magnesium carbonate as magnesite through sequential carbonation and serpentinization/hydration reactions involving processed olivine—and/or pyroxene-rich ores, as typically found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rock. Precious or scarce metals, such nickel, cobalt, chromium, rare earth elements, and others, may be concentrated in the remaining ore to facilitate their recovery from any gangue material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Vikram Rao, Colin Whyte
  • Patent number: 12006212
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sequestering carbon, evolving hydrogen gas, producing iron oxide as magnetite, and producing magnesium carbonate as magnesite through sequential carbonation and serpentinization/hydration reactions involving processed olivine- and/or pyroxene-rich ores, as typically found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rock. Precious or scarce metals, such nickel, cobalt, chromium, rare earth elements, and others, may be concentrated in the remaining ore to facilitate their recovery from any gangue material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Vikram Rao, Colin Whyte
  • Publication number: 20240142661
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for training an image analysis engine to identify surface features of the Earth consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. An example method includes receiving, by communications circuitry, a training dataset of labeled images illustrating surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation, the surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation comprising ovoid surficial depressions. The example method further includes training, by a model generator and using the training dataset, an image classification model of the image analysis engine to identify whether new images contain surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. The example method further includes hosting the image classification model by the image analysis engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Ian Howat, Joachim Moortgat, Colin Whyte
  • Publication number: 20240104924
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for training an image analysis engine to identify surface features of the Earth consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. An example method includes receiving, by communications circuitry, a training dataset of labeled images illustrating surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation, the surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation comprising ovoid surficial depressions. The example method further includes training, by a model generator and using the training dataset, an image classification model of the image analysis engine to identify whether new images contain surface features consistent with subsurface hydrogen accumulation. The example method further includes hosting the image classification model by the image analysis engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Ian Howat, Joachim Moortgat, Colin Whyte
  • Publication number: 20230393114
    Abstract: A method for assessing a molecular or isotopic composition of a fluid includes analyzing a proportion of the fluid derived from a source to determine the source of the fluid, quantifying the proportion of the fluid derived from one or more sources, and assessing the relationships of chemical species within the fluid to validate the source of the fluid. This assessment can be accomplished through the direct measurement of molecular composition of fluid mixtures or the isotopic composition of specific fluids in that mixture, and/or a combination of statistical, thermodynamics, or kinetic modelling of these chemical reactions. The results of these measurements and models can be used to verify the source and conditions of various forms of hydrogen or other resources.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Colin Whyte, Jacob Harrington, Brent Lary
  • Publication number: 20230323756
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to producing hydrogen from a subsurface formation by injecting a reactant into the subsurface formation and reacting the reactant with the subsurface formation to form at least one of hydrogen gas or a mineralized product within the subsurface formation. The hydrogen produced is collected or one or more components of the reactant is sequestered to form a mineralized product in the subsurface formation. Other embodiments of the invention relate to producing hydrogen by injecting a thermal fluid into the subsurface rock formation, where the thermal fluid includes a reactant. The reactant is reacted with components in the subsurface formation to form at least one of hydrogen gas, mineralized sulfur, or mineralized carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Darrah, Colin Whyte, Jacob Harrington, Peter Johnson