Patents by Inventor Gifford G. McClaflin

Gifford G. McClaflin 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).

  • Method and device for blending surfactant mixtures for treatment of oil wells
    Patent number: 4724907
    Abstract: A method of improving production of heavy crude oil from a well by mixing a first solution of water soluble surfactant and water, and preferably forming a mixture of the first solution and an oil solvent, and pumping the mixture into the well to mix with the heavy crude oil to be produced. A desirable surfactant is a water soluble ethoxylated nonylphenol and a desirable oil solvent is kerosene distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Composition and method for treatment of wellbores and well formations containing paraffin
    Patent number: 4668408
    Abstract: Composition and method for treating wellbores and well formations to remove and inhibit accumulations of paraffin. The composition comprises a liquid mixture of a water soluble ethoxylated alkyl phenol and an alcohol containing one to four carbon atoms. Preferred are a water soluble nonoxynol having an average number of ethylene oxide units per molecule in the range of approximately 20 to 50 and methyl alcohol. The composition is circulated in the wellbore either continuously or in batch treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Gifford G. McClaflin, Kang Yang, deceased
  • Method for producing heavy, viscous crude oil
    Patent number: 4605069
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process whereby heavy, viscous crude oil may be produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation utilizing a jet pump without the problems associated with cavitation damage of the jet pump found in the prior art. The jet pump is operated with a power fluid comprising water and surfactant, the power fluid forming an emulsion with the heavy, viscous crude oil in the jet stream of the jet pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Gifford G. McClaflin, Henry A. Bourne, Donald L. Whitfill
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4355651
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a phosphate ester of a specific block copolymer. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4333488
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of the adipate ester of a certain polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block polymers. The method is especially useful when co-produced "hard" water is used. The resulting oil-in-water emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4287902
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight of 415 to 470 and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gifford G. McClaflin, Charles R. Clark
  • Removal of metal alkaryl sulfonates from hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4274943
    Abstract: A method of removing metal alkaryl sulfonates from a hydrocarbon solution is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises (a) contacting the hydrocarbon solution containing metal alkaryl sulfonates with an aqueous basic solution containing a "recovery" surfactant, (b) forming a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase containing metal alkaryl sulfonates and (c) separating the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4249554
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an ethoxylated alkyl phenol and a sodium or ammonium salt of an ethoxylated alcohol sulfate. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4246920
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water, certain specific surfactants and a basic material to the hydrocarbon. The resulting emulsion has a much lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4246919
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an ethoxylated alkyl phenol and an ethoxylated polypropylene glycol. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4239052
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the improvement comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an ethoxylated alkyl phenol and a low molecular weight alkaryl sulfonate. The resulting emulsion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1980
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Removal of anionic surfactants from water
    Patent number: 4235712
    Abstract: A method of removing specific water-soluble anionic surfactants from water is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises forming an emulsion by adding a nonionic surfactant and a hydrocarbon to the water and anionic surfactant. The emulsion is broken, with the anionic and nonionic surfactant being present in the hydrocarbon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Gifford G. McClaflin
  • Soluble oil concentrate
    Patent number: 3981808
    Abstract: A soluble oil concentrate for forming stable emulsions of a minor part of concentrate and a major part of water. The concentrate comprises a combination of paraffinic and naphthenic base oils with an emulsifier package including a mahogany sulfonate, alkali metal hydroxide, alkylol amine, alkylene glycol, and carboxylic acids including fatty, rosin, and naphthenic acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1976
    Assignee: Continental Oil Company
    Inventors: Gifford G. McClaflin, Albert M. Durr, Jr.