Patents by Inventor Françoise LaFuma

Françoise LaFuma 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).

  • Patent number: 7928039
    Abstract: The invention concerns modified hydrophobic polyelectrolytes by amide formation of a hydrophilic skeleton by n-alkylamines whereof the alkyl chain comprises 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Preferably, the amide formation is obtained by di-n-dodecylamine. The hydrophilic skeleton is preferably a sodium polyacrylate or polyacrylic acid corresponding to a statistical acrylate-AMPS copolymer. Said polymers can be used for stabilizing direct or invert emulsions likely to be destabilized or inverted by a modification in the degree of salinity of the aqueous phase or a pH modification. The invention is particularly useful for stabilizing oil drilling fluids or the like in particular drilling, fracturation, acidification or completion fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nathalie Monfreux-Gaillard, Patrick Perrin, Françoise LaFuma, Christopher Sawdon
  • Patent number: 7884153
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for preparing anisotropic silica aggregates comprising the following steps: a) contacting at least one polymer with non-aggregated silica particles and/or highly dispersed in an aqueous medium, with a ratio R, polymer weight to silica particle surface, ranging between 0.03 and 2 mg/m; 2; and whereof the electrostatic value of the silica particle surface is not less than the value of the charge of the silica particle surface measured in an aqueous phase without added salts at a pH not less than 7; b) consolidating the aggregates obtained at step a) either by heat treatment, or by precipitation of a mineral compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignees: Rhodia Chimie, C.N.R.S.
    Inventors: Lionel Ventelon, Julien Hernandez, Françoise Lafuma, Christophe Chassenieux, Christelle Perreur
  • Patent number: 7385019
    Abstract: Water-based fluids that can viscosify under shear or can produce a gel or form a gel under shear are obtained by dissolving polymers in an aqueous phase. These polymers comprise three types of functional groups: non-ionic functional groups that are hydrosoluble at the temperature under consideration, ionic functional groups, and functional groups that are hydrophobic at the temperature under consideration. These three types of functional groups can be distributed or spread in a random distribution along the polymer chain. A slightly block distribution is acceptable. For applications to oil wells, functional groups are used which exhibit LCST (Lower Critical Solution Temperature) behavior (i.e., a low critical solution temperature) instead of hydrophobic functional groups. At temperatures below the LCST, the functional groups are hydrophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Pierre Maroy, Arnaud Cadix, Dominique Hourdet, Ilias Iliopoulos, Françoise Lafuma
  • Patent number: 7262152
    Abstract: The invention concerns modified hydrophobic polyelectrolytes by amide formation of a hydrophilic skeleton by n-alkylamines whereof the alkyl chain comprises 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Preferably, the amide formation is obtained by di-n-dodecylamine. The hydrophilic skeleton is preferably a sodium polyacrylate or polyacrylic acid corresponding to a statistical acrylate-AMPS copolymer. Said polymers can be used for stabilizing direct or invert emulsions likely to be destabilized or inverted by a modification in the degree of salinity of the aqueous phase or a pH modification. The invention is particularly useful for stabilizing oil drilling fluids or the like in particular drilling, fracturation, acidification or completion fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nathalie Monfreux-Gaillard, Patrick Perrin, Françoise LaFuma, Christopher Sawdon
  • Patent number: 6822039
    Abstract: The invention concerns modified hydrophobic polyelectrolytes by amide formation of a hydrophilic skeleton by n-alkylamines whereof the alkyl chain comprises 6 to 22 carbon atoms. Preferably, the amide formation is obtained by di-n-dodecylamine. The hydrophilic skeleton is preferably a sodium polyacrylate or polyacrylic acid corresponding to a statistical acrylate-AMPS copolymer. Said polymers can be used for stabilising direct or invert emulsions likely to be destabilised or inverted by a modification in the degree of salinity of the aqueous phase or a pH modification. The invention is particularly useful for stabilising oil drilling fluids or the like in particular drilling, fracturation, acidification or completion fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nathalie Monfreux-Gaillard, Patrick Perrin, Françoise LaFuma