Patents by Inventor H. Robert Froning

H. Robert Froning 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 of forming carbon dioxide mixtures miscible with formation crude oils
    Patent number: 4529037
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a carbon dioxide-containing mixture which is miscible with crude oil. The method comprises maintaining a mixture of crude oil and carbon dioxide in an extraction zone at a temperature and pressure such that multiple phase equilibrium is achieved therebetween. A carbon dioxide-rich phase that includes a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons is withdrawn and is miscible with the reservoir crude oil when injected into the reservoir from which the crude oil was produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1985
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: H. Robert Froning, William F. Yellig, Jr.
  • Method for improving sulfonate surfactants used in enhanced recovery processing in subterranean oil-bearing formations
    Patent number: 4277351
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for reducing formation plugging impurities in a sulfonate surfactant used in enhanced oil recovery operations which comprises contacting said surfactant with an effective amount of an aldehyde having from 1 to about 18 carbon atoms. In a preferred instance, a method is disclosed for the treatment of sulfonate surfactants useful in enhanced recovery processing to substantially reduce the formation plugging impurities, typically inorganic sulfite salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: George W. Powers, Jr., H. Robert Froning, Davis L. Taggart
  • Waterflood method using surfactants
    Patent number: 4187907
    Abstract: A method for improving the sweep efficiency of a waterflood comprising the addition of a small amount of a surfactant, preferably a petroleum-derived sulfonate, to at least the first portion of injected water. The surfactant interacts with clays in the formation to reduce the permeability of the formation to the flood water and thereby improve the mobility ratio of the flooding process, resulting in a better sweep efficiency of the flooding medium through the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: H. Robert Froning, William W. Owens, Duane L. Archer