Patents by Inventor Francis A. Dullien

Francis A. Dullien 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).

  • Enhanced oil recovery process
    Patent number: 4953619
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery process is described wherein oil is recovered from a depleted water-wet formation by the application of a gas to the formation. The flow of gas through the formation causes oil droplets to spontaneously form an oil film on connate water, which is extruded and discharged from the pores. The films pass through the formation under the influence of gravity, gradually accumulating more oil to form an oil mass which enters the producing well bore. A sem-permeable membrane may be used to prevent the inert gas from entering the well bore from the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: University of Waterloo
    Inventors: Francis A. Dullien, Ioannis Chatzis, Ian F. Macdonald