Patents by Inventor Dirk Jacob Lighthelm

Dirk Jacob Lighthelm 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).

  • AQUEOUS DISPLACEMENT FLUID INJECTION FOR ENHANCING OIL RECOVERY FROM AN OIL BEARING FORMATION
    Publication number: 20110306525
    Abstract: A method for enhancing recovery of crude oil from a porous subterranean formation of which the pore spaces contain crude oil and connate water comprises:—determining the Ionic Strength (Mol/l) of the connate water; and—injecting an aqueous displacement fluid having a lower Ionic Strength (Mol/l) than the connate water into the formation, which aqueous displacement fluid furthermore has an Ionic Strength below 0.15 Mol/l. FIGS. 13 and 16 and Table 4 demonstrate that injection of an aqueous displacement fluid with lower Ionic Strength than the connate water improves oil recovery (IOR).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: Dirk Jacob Lighthelm