Patents by Inventor Frank Zamora

Frank Zamora 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: 7942201
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of reducing the viscosity of a gelled fluid is provided. In one embodiment, a viscosity reducing microbe is disposed in a capsule and added to the gelled fluid. The gelled fluid may include a thickening agent adapted to increase its viscosity. Upon release from the capsule, the microbe begins to digest the thickening agent in the gelled fluid and/or releases enzymes that that breakdown the thickening agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Ekstrand, Frank Zamora, Sarkis R. Kakadjian
  • Patent number: 7932214
    Abstract: An aqueous, foamable composition useful for formation fracturing is disclosed, which includes an ionically coupled gel system. These compositions are well suited in fracturing formation where there are insufficient or non-existent hydration units. Methods for making the compositions and methods using the foamable compositions to fracture formation with insufficient hydration units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Zamora, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Thomas P Wilson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7886824
    Abstract: A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora, Tina Garza
  • Publication number: 20110005756
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for their use are disclosed, where the compositions comprise an amine component, an amine/phosphate ester component and optionally a solvent component. The compositions are adapted to coat solid materials, substrates and/or surfaces of producing of reservoirs and formations and methods for making and using same, where the coating agents modify surface properties of the solid materials, substrates and/or surfaces of producing formations decreasing residual oil saturation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora, Ray Veldman, Ron van Petegen
  • Publication number: 20100311620
    Abstract: A new class of winterizing compositions are disclosed including a winterizing agents being a compound of general formula Z(R1)m, where Z is a polyol having between 5 and 30 carbon atoms, R1 is a carbyl group having between about 10 and about 40 carbon atoms, and where m is an integer having the value of 1 or 2, when m is 2, R1 can be the same or different and one or more carbon atoms of R1 can be replaced by B, N, O, Si, P, S, Ge and/or mixtures thereof and one or more of the hydrogen atoms in R1 can be replaced by F, Cl, Br, I, CONR22, COOR2, OR2, NR22, SR2, PR22, and/or mixtures thereof and where R2 can be a hydrogen atom, alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or arylalkyl group having between 1-20 carbon atoms where one or more carbon or hydrogen atoms can be replaced as set forth for R1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Gabriel Monreal, Roy Perez, Joseph E. Thompson, Frank Zamora
  • Publication number: 20100305010
    Abstract: New heavy phosphate brines are disclosed, where the water soluble phosphate brines include two or more metal phosphate. Methods for making and using the heavy phosphate brines in drilling, completion, and fracturing operations are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Olusegun M. Falana, Emilia U. Ugwu, Ray Veldman, Frank Zamora, Arthur T. Gilmer
  • Publication number: 20100292108
    Abstract: A method for treating solid materials is disclosed, where the treating compositions coats surfaces or portions of surfaces of the solid materials changing an aggregation or agglomeration propensity of the materials. Treating composition and treated solid materials are also disclosed. The methods and treated materials are ideally suited for oil field applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Raynard Veldman, Frank Zamora, Erin Fitzgerald, Tina Garza
  • Publication number: 20100252262
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for reducing settling rates of proppants in fracturing fluids, where the method includes injection sufficient gas into the fluid to form bubbles that reduce proppant settling rates. Compositions including a proppants make buoyant with gas bubbles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Barry Ekstrand, Frank Zamora, Sarkis R. Kakadjian
  • Publication number: 20100212905
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for well completion and/or production, where an aggregating, agglomerating or conglomerating composition is injected into a producible formation, zone or interval thereof to alter an aggregation or zeta potential of formation surfaces and particulate to increase a maximum sand free production rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
    Inventors: Ronald van Petegem, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora
  • Publication number: 20100197968
    Abstract: A novel method for producing amine-aldehyde sulfur scavenging compositions are disclosed, where the method comprises contacting an amine containing component and a aldehyde containing component in the presence of an alcohol at an amine to aldehyde ratio of between about 0.8 and 0.45 for a reaction time and at a reaction temperatures sufficient to produce an amine-aldehyde adduct product having a specific gravity between about 3% and 7% less than the specific gravity of a mixture of starting materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Olusegun Matthew Falana, Ray Veldman, Frank Zamora, Emilia U. Ugwu, Zoraida Vazquez
  • Publication number: 20100122815
    Abstract: An aqueous, foamable composition useful for formation fracturing is disclosed, which includes an ionically coupled gel system. These compositions are well suited in fracturing formation where there are insufficient or non-existent hydration units. Methods for making the compositions and methods using the foamable compositions to fracture formation with insufficient hydration units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Zamora, Sakis R. Kakadjian, Thomas P. Wilson, JR.
  • Publication number: 20100077938
    Abstract: A foamed cement composition is disclosed for utilization in performing a variety of well cementing operations, and to methods for making and using same. The foamed cement composition basically includes a cement, water sufficient to form a pumpable slurry, a gas sufficient to foam the slurry, a foaming agent and optionally a foam stabilizing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Inventors: Frank Zamora, Marilyn J. Bramblett, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Ali D. Allison
  • Patent number: 7686084
    Abstract: Well bore servicing fluids are provided that include a thermally activated viscosification compound. Further, methods of servicing a well bore are provided that include displacing such a servicing fluid into the well bore, wherein a viscosity of the servicing fluid increases as it passes down the well bore due to its temperature increasing. Thus, the viscosity of the servicing fluid is effective to suspend solids therein when the servicing fluid is in the well bore. The servicing fluid may be, for example, a cement slurry, a drilling fluid, a gravel packing fluid, a fracturing fluid, a completion fluid, or a work-over fluid. In an embodiment, the thermally activated viscosification compound includes at least one water-soluble hydrophobically modified polymer comprising a hydrophobic substituent having from about 1 to about 22 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: B. Raghava Reddy, Frank Zamora, Ronney R. Koch, Joe M. Sandy, Ian D. Robb
  • Publication number: 20100012901
    Abstract: Hydrolyzed nitrilotriacetonitrile compositions are disclosed prepared by a method characterized by a one-shot addition of an amount of nitrilotriacetonitrile to a solution containing an acid catalyst, where the reaction is complete in a time period of less than an hour. The method is also characterized by adjusting the pH of the reaction mixture to a pH of at least 8. The method is also characterized by oxidatively removing free cyanide to a desired low level through the addition of an oxidizing agent the produces environmentally benign by-products to the crude hydrolyzed NTAN to form hydrolyzed NTAN compositions having minimized, negligible, or substantially no free cyanide levels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Olusegun M. Falana, Aziz Hikem, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora
  • Publication number: 20100000795
    Abstract: New oil-based foam drilling fluids for oil and/or gas wells are disclose as well as methods of making and using same. The new oil-based drilling fluids including a base oil, a foaming agent and a polymer including at least one aromatic olefin monomer and at least one diene monomer, where the polymer improves foam properties rendering a foam stable at temperatures at or above 300° F. and even at temperatures at or above 350° F.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Olusegun M. Falana, Edward Marshall, Michael DiBiasio, Frank Zamora
  • Patent number: 7642223
    Abstract: Methods of servicing a wellbore include generating gas in a plugging composition in situ within a permeable zone in the wellbore, thereby improving the ability of the plugging composition to seal the permeable zone. The gas may be generated via a chemical reaction by, for example, introducing first and second reactants to the plugging composition that can react at ambient temperatures in the wellbore. In an embodiment, the first and second reactants are concurrently pumped into the wellbore via separate flow paths within two concentric conduits to the permeable zone where they are allowed to contact each other in the presence of the plugging composition. In another embodiment, the first reactant, the second reactant, and a retarder for slowing the reaction between the two reactants are concurrently pumped to the permeable zone. In yet another embodiment, one of the reactants is encapsulated to delay a reaction between the two reactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok K. Santra, B. Raghava Reddy, Frank Zamora, Giddo Antonio Ocana Gomez, Ronnie G. Morgan, Mark R. Savery
  • Publication number: 20090308616
    Abstract: An assembly and methods for constructing a MONOWELL include a monodiameter casing disposed in a monodiameter wellbore having diametric efficiency with a monobore production delivery system disposed within the monodiameter casing. An assembly for constructing a monodiameter wellbore includes a bottomhole assembly having a overgauge hole drilling member, a directional steering assembly, a measurement while drilling tool, and a logging while drilling tool; a work string attached to the bottomhole assembly and extending to the surface; drilling fluids flowing through the work string and bottomhole assembly; chemical casing casing the borehole; expandable casing disposed in the wellbore; and a sealing composition disposed between the expandable casing and the wellbore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenda Wylie, Frank Zamora, Beegamudre N. Murali, James B. Terry, Lance Everett Brothers, Anthony Vann Palmer, Baireddy R. Reddy, Larry S. Eoff, Jimmie D. Weaver, John M. Wilson, Denise Berryhill, Russell M. Fitsgerald, Ann M. Culotta, M. Vikram Rao, Roger Boulton, Chen-Kang David Chen, Thomas M. Gaynor, John Hardin, Daniel Gleitman, Colin Walker
  • Publication number: 20090275488
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for improved sand control, fines control, load recovery and well productivity, where the compositions comprise reaction products of an amine and a phosphate-containing compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Zamora, Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Erin Fitzgerald, Tina Garza
  • Publication number: 20090200033
    Abstract: A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Clearwater International, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora, Tina Garza, Laura Márquez De Santis, Jean-Luis Salager
  • Publication number: 20090200027
    Abstract: A microemulsion system is disclosed which comprises a solvent subsystem, a co-solvent subsystem and a surfactant subsystem comprises at least one monoalkyl branched propoxy sulfate anionic surfactant, where the microemulsion system are useful in drilling, producing, remediation, and fracturing application to reduce water blocks and water blocking in formation of a producing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: CLEARWATER INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Sarkis R. Kakadjian, Frank Zamora, Tina Garza