Patents by Inventor Duy T. Nguyen

Duy T. Nguyen 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: 20190010381
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean reservoirs. The compositions include a dialkyl dimethyl ammonium surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, and a solvent. The concentrated compositions are storage stable and easily diluted with a water source such as produced water to form injectates suitable for injecting into one or more hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean reservoirs. The injectates convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet but do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean environment. Injection of the injectates into a reservoir results in an increase in the yield of hydrocarbons recovered, in particular from low permeability, low porosity reservoirs such as those formed by or encountered in hydraulic fracturing and/or in certain geographic locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Tzu-Ping Hsu
  • Publication number: 20180312745
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formations. Novel emulsions and fracturing fluids are provided. The fracturing fluids convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet, yet exhibit a low tendency of composition components to sorb to the rock. The fracturing fluids do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean fractured rock formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Linh Do, Brian Mueller, Duy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10041007
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a microemulsion-based demulsifier composition and a method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising hydrocarbon and water. The demulsifier composition includes (i) an oil-like phase comprising at least one nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of less than about 9; (ii) a coupling agent capable of stabilizing the demulsifier composition; (iii) at least one water-soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactant that is different from the at least one nonionic surfactant in the oil-like phase; (iv) at least one additional surfactant selected from anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and combinations thereof; (v) at least one nonionic demulsifier; and (vi) water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventor: Duy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20180100097
    Abstract: A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate and a quaternary ammonium salt is provided for use in methods of increasing recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Brian L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9926486
    Abstract: A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate and a quaternary ammonium salt is provided for use in methods of increasing recovery of crude oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Brian L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 9862882
    Abstract: A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate is provided for use in methods of removing a fluid from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Fenfen Huang, Duy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20170369759
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery, or flowback, of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formations (tight shale reservoirs). The flowback compositions include an anionic dimer surfactant, an anionic monomer surfactant, and a demulsifier. The flowback compositions convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet, yet exhibit a low tendency of composition components to sorb to the rock. The flowback compositions do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean fractured rock formations. The flowback composition are useful for increasing the yield of hydrocarbons recovered from tight shale reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Jenny L. Phan
  • Publication number: 20170198204
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for enhancing production and transportation of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil and for reducing the growth of asphaltene flocculants or hindering their formation, the methods comprising contacting an oil-soluble composition that comprises polyetheramines, tallow amines, tallow diamines, alkylphenol-formaldehyde resins, reaction products of alpha-olefin, maleic anhydride and pentaerythritol, or a combination thereof, with the heavy or extra-heavy crude oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, John J. Ibagon, Vittoria Balsamo De Hernandez, Tyler D. Boyd, Joseph Paul Bailey
  • Patent number: 9701888
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a microemulsion flowback aid composition and a method of enhancing recovery of oil or gas during fracturing or stimulation processes. The microemulsion flowback aid composition includes (i) an oil-like phase comprising at least one nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of less than about 9; (ii) a coupling agent capable of stabilizing the microemulsion flowback aid composition; (iii) at least one water-soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactant that is different from the at least one nonionic surfactant in the oil-like phase; (iv) at least one additional surfactant selected from anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and combinations thereof; and (v) water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventor: Duy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9663705
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising water and oil. The method comprises adding an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one substantially fully quaternized ammonium adduct of polyephalohydrin that has a molecular weight from about 500 Da to about 2,500 Da.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Duy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9631133
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to novel foamer compositions for treatment of oil and gas wells to enhance production. The invention provides a method of foaming a fluid. The method includes introducing into the fluid a foam-forming amount of a composition comprising at least one long chain fatty acid and at least one organic solvent. An example of the long chain fatty acid is tall oil fatty acid and an example of the organic solvent is ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Duy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20170101535
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions useful as ink or coatings which contain novel dispersants that are capable of dispersing pigments which are traditionally difficult to disperse while maintaining acceptable levels of viscosity. Use of dispersants as taught herein enables the preparation of a wide variety of inks and coatings having high pigment loading and existing within a conventionally-useful viscosity range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Howard P. Klein
  • Patent number: 9567482
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions useful as ink or coatings which contain novel dispersants that are capable of dispersing pigments which are traditionally difficult to disperse while maintaining acceptable levels of viscosity. Use of dispersants as taught herein enables the preparation of a wide variety of inks and coatings having high pigment loading and existing within a conventionally-useful viscosity range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICAL LLC
    Inventors: Duy T Nguyen, Howard P Klein
  • Publication number: 20160257879
    Abstract: A composition comprising an alcohol ether sulfonate is provided for use in methods of removing a fluid from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Fenfen Huang, Duy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20160251568
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for increasing recovery of hydrocarbon compounds from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean fractured rock formations. Novel emulsions and fracturing fluids are provided. The fracturing fluids convert oil-wet rocks to water-wet, yet exhibit a low tendency of composition components to sorb to the rock. The fracturing fluids do not cause formation of emulsions with hydrocarbon compounds within the subterranean fractured rock formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Inventors: Linh Do, Brian Mueller, Duy T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20160244678
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a microemulsion-based demulsifier composition and a method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising hydrocarbon and water. The demulsifier composition includes (i) an oil-like phase comprising at least one nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of less than about 9; (ii) a coupling agent capable of stabilizing the demulsifier composition; (iii) at least one water-soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactant that is different from the at least one nonionic surfactant in the oil-like phase; (iv) at least one additional surfactant selected from anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and combinations thereof; (v) at least one nonionic demulsifier; and (vi) water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventor: Duy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9353261
    Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a microemulsion-based demulsifier composition and a method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising hydrocarbon and water. The demulsifier composition includes (i) an oil-like phase comprising at least one nonionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of less than about 9; (ii) a coupling agent capable of stabilizing the demulsifier composition; (iii) at least one water-soluble or dispersible nonionic surfactant that is different from the at least one nonionic surfactant in the oil-like phase; (iv) at least one additional surfactant selected from anionic, cationic, amphoteric, and combinations thereof; (v) at least one nonionic demulsifier; and (vi) water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Duy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9315715
    Abstract: Methods of treating hydrocarbon fluids to reduce the apparent viscosity of hydrocarbon fluids encountered in petroleum operations and reducing deposits within a well annulus or a pipeline are disclosed. The method comprises contacting such fluids with a hydrophobically modified polysaccharide to create water external emulsions. The disclosed hydrophobically modified polysaccharides have been demonstrated to reduce interfacial tension to below 65 mN/m and thereby improve the transportability of inherently viscous hydrocarbon fluids, such as heavy crude oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Marcus D. Faust, Jr., Thomas M. Weathers, Jr., Duy T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9238766
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions useful as ink or coatings which contain novel dispersants that are capable of dispersing pigments which are traditionally difficult to disperse while maintaining acceptable levels of viscosity. Use of dispersants as taught herein enables the preparation of a wide variety of inks and coatings having high pigment loading and existing within a conventionally-useful viscosity range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: HUNTSMAN PETROCHEMICAL LLC
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Howard P. Klein
  • Publication number: 20150353761
    Abstract: Provided herein are compositions useful as ink or coatings which contain novel dispersants that are capable of dispersing pigments which are traditionally difficult to disperse while maintaining acceptable levels of viscosity. Use of dispersants as taught herein enables the preparation of a wide variety of inks and coatings having high pigment loading and existing within a conventionally-useful viscosity range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, Howard P. Klein