Patents by Inventor James R. Korte

James R. Korte 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: 9334337
    Abstract: Nanocomposite microgel particles containing a three-dimensional network, containing a water-swellable nanoclay and an organic network polymer. The nanocomposite microgel particles include primary nanocomposite microgel particles having a mean diameter of 1 to 10 micrometers. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture for the nanocomposite microgel particles. The nanocomposite microgel particles can be used together with a base polymer to provide water swellable compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anil K. Sadana, Xiao Wang, James R. Korte
  • Patent number: 9303200
    Abstract: A polymer composition includes a base polymer comprising a hydrocarbon rubber, an acrylic copolymer, and a refined oil in which the acrylic polymer is dispersed. The polymer composition is swellable when treated with an aqueous medium, non-aqueous medium, or both. A sealing element for a flow channel includes an expandable section filled with a swellable composition that swells when treated with a swelling material. The swellable composition includes the polymer composition, and the swelling material may be aqueous, non-aqueous, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John Thurston
  • Publication number: 20150210825
    Abstract: Nanocomposite microgel particles containing a three-dimensional network, containing a water-swellable nanoclay and an organic network polymer. The nanocomposite microgel particles include primary nanocomposite microgel particles having a mean diameter of 1 to 10 micrometers. Also disclosed is a method of manufacture for the nanocomposite microgel particles. The nanocomposite microgel particles can be used together with a base polymer to provide water swellable compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Anil K. Sadana, Xiao Wang, James R. Korte
  • Patent number: 9018144
    Abstract: A polymer composition includes a base polymer comprising a hydrocarbon rubber, an acrylic copolymer, and a refined oil in which the acrylic polymer is dispersed. The polymer composition is swellable when treated with an aqueous medium, non-aqueous medium, or both. A sealing element for a flow channel includes an expandable section filled with a swellable composition that swells when treated with a swelling material. The swellable composition includes the polymer composition, and the swelling material may be aqueous, non-aqueous, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John Thurston
  • Patent number: 8875800
    Abstract: A downhole sealing system includes a reactive material provided on a tubular and including an oxidizable substance; and a sealing material, wherein the oxidizable substance oxidizes when in contact with the sealing material. Also included is a method of providing a seal in a downhole system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Justin Cash Bowersock, James R. Korte
  • Publication number: 20130306306
    Abstract: A polymer composition includes a base polymer comprising a hydrocarbon rubber, an acrylic copolymer, and a refined oil in which the acrylic polymer is dispersed. The polymer composition is swellable when treated with an aqueous medium, non-aqueous medium, or both. A sealing element for a flow channel includes an expandable section filled with a swellable composition that swells when treated with a swelling material. The swellable composition includes the polymer composition, and the swelling material may be aqueous, non-aqueous, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John Thurston
  • Publication number: 20130056207
    Abstract: A downhole sealing system includes a reactive material provided on a tubular and including an oxidizable substance; and a sealing material, wherein the oxidizable substance oxidizes when in contact with the sealing material. Also included is a method of providing a seal in a downhole system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Justin Cash Bowersock, James R. Korte
  • Publication number: 20120208934
    Abstract: Through the combination of at least two polymer families, and the optimization of other components, a rubber compound has been developed for use in downhole applications that will swell in water-based fluids. A cellulose component, such as carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), is used together with an acrylate copolymer (AC) that can increase the swelling capacity of an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) in water. The amount of swelling achieved depends on physical boundaries and limitations, the salinity of the water, and the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John J. Thurston, James Edward Goodson
  • Publication number: 20120168161
    Abstract: Plug-inducing matter includes junk shot comprising members and swellable material substantially covering the members which are configured to swell upon exposure to wellbore fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Justin Cash Bowersock, Rodney D. Bennett, James R. Korte, Ervin D. Griffith
  • Patent number: 8181708
    Abstract: Through the combination of at least two polymer families, and the optimization of other components, a rubber compound has been developed for use in downhole applications that will swell in water-based fluids. A cellulose component, such as carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), is used together with an acrylate copolymer (AC) that can increase the swelling capacity of an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) in water. The amount of swelling achieved depends on physical boundaries and limitations, the salinity of the water, and the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John J. Thurston, James Edward Goodson
  • Patent number: 8118092
    Abstract: A swelling packer is covered with a material that is preferably in a tubular form and slipped over the swelling element to be shrink fit with applied heat. The material is formulated to break down at temperatures slightly below the expected downhole temperatures so that ideally the packer has about 48 hours of swelling delay which is normally a time period long enough to allow it to be properly located without it swelling so much as to cause it to be damaged by running in. Various polymers can be used to make an imperious covering for run in that on the way starts to break down. Ideally the material for the cover disappears about the time of sealing or shortly thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, Kent A. Evans, Dustin D. Ellis, John J. Thurston, Anthony P. Foster, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20100147507
    Abstract: A polymer composition includes a base polymer comprising a hydrocarbon rubber, an acrylic copolymer, and a refined oil in which the acrylic polymer is dispersed. The polymer composition is swellable when treated with an aqueous medium, non-aqueous medium, or both. A sealing element for a flow channel includes an expandable section filled with a swellable composition that swells when treated with a swelling material. The swellable composition includes the polymer composition, and the swelling material may be aqueous, non-aqueous, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John Thurston
  • Patent number: 7681653
    Abstract: A swelling packer is covered with a material that is preferably in a tubular form and slipped over the swelling element to be shrink fit with applied heat. The material is formulated to break down at temperatures slightly below the expected downhole temperatures so that ideally the packer has about 48 hours of swelling delay which is normally a time period long enough to allow it to be properly located without it swelling so much as to cause it to be damaged by running in. Various polymers can be used to make an imperious covering for run in that on the way starts to break down. Ideally the material for the cover disappears about the time of sealing or shortly thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, Kent A. Evans, Dustin D. Ellis, John J. Thurston, Anthony P. Foster, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20100025035
    Abstract: A swelling packer is covered with a material that is preferably in a tubular form and slipped over the swelling element to be shrink fit with applied heat. The material is formulated to break down at temperatures slightly below the expected downhole temperatures so that ideally the packer has about 48 hours of swelling delay which is normally a time period long enough to allow it to be properly located without it swelling so much as to cause it to be damaged by running in. Various polymers can be used to make an imperious covering for run in that on the way starts to break down. Ideally the material for the cover disappears about the time of sealing or shortly thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, Kent A. Evans, Dustin D. Ellis, John J. Thurston, Anthony P. Foster, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20100025049
    Abstract: A swelling packer is covered with a material that is preferably in a tubular form and slipped over the swelling element to be shrink fit with applied heat. The material is formulated to break down at temperatures slightly below the expected downhole temperatures so that ideally the packer has about 48 hours of swelling delay which is normally a time period long enough to allow it to be properly located without it swelling so much as to cause it to be damaged by running in. Various polymers can be used to make an imperious covering for run in that on the way starts to break down. Ideally the material for the cover disappears about the time of sealing or shortly thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: James R. Korte, Kent A. Evans, Dustin D. Ellis, John J. Thurston, Anthony P. Foster, Steve Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20090178800
    Abstract: A packer for downhole use responds to water containing fluids by swelling from its core. The core is preferably covered with an outer layer that preferably has a lower rate of diffusion and swelling than the core that it surrounds. Because of this arrangement, the packer can be delivered to the desired location before it is set by swelling of the core. The outer layer can also be responsive to water containing fluids by dissolving slowly to allow time to properly position the packer before the core swells to a sealing relationship with the surrounding tubular or the wellbore wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: James R. Korte, Edward T. Wood
  • Publication number: 20090084550
    Abstract: Through the combination of at least two polymer families, and the optimization of other components, a rubber compound has been developed for use in downhole applications that will swell in water-based fluids. A cellulose component, such as carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), is used together with an acrylate copolymer (AC) that can increase the swelling capacity of an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) in water to over 1000%. The amount of swelling achieved depends on physical boundaries and limitations, the salinity of the water, and the temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James R. Korte, John J. Thurston, James Edward Goodson
  • Patent number: 7441596
    Abstract: A sealing element that swells on exposure to well fluids present or added to the wellbore is assembled to the mandrel in a manner to induce circumferential stresses proximately to the inside diameter of the element so as to resist the tendency of the inside diameter of the element to grow during the swelling process. A vacuum and a pressure method are described. Leak paths between the mandrel and the sealing element are minimized or eliminated as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Steven N. Bailey, Walter J. Laflin, Vel Berzin, James R. Korte, Edward J. O'Malley, Bennett M. Richard
  • Publication number: 20070295498
    Abstract: A sealing element that swells on exposure to well fluids present or added to the wellbore is assembled to the mandrel in a manner to induce circumferential stresses proximately to the inside diameter of the element so as to resist the tendency of the inside diameter of the element to grow during the swelling process. A vacuum and a pressure method are described. Leak paths between the mandrel and the sealing element are minimized or eliminated as a result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Steven N. Bailey, Walter J. Laflin, Vel Berzin, James R. Korte, Edward J. O'Malley, Bennett M. Richard
  • Patent number: 7205348
    Abstract: Process of producing unvulcanized rubber useful for producing vulcanized rubber with improved hysteresis, which comprises mixing a composition comprising unvulcanized rubber, carbon black and xanthogen polysulfide at an elevated temperature in a non-productive stage and composition suitable for producing unvulcanized rubber useful for producing vulcanized rubber with improved hysteresis, which comprises unvulcanized rubber, a filler comprising carbon black and xanthogen polysulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Uniroyal Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph F. Stieber, Martin J. Hannon, L. P. Felipe Chibante, James R. Korte, Frank E. Welsh