Patents by Inventor Kirk E. Wells

Kirk E. Wells 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: 11292959
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking of aqueous crosslinkable polymers such as polysaccharides in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is a reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Patent number: 11111429
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods are effective in injectable compositions comprising or substantially excluding dissolved reactive species. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is the reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Also provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Brian Mueller, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Publication number: 20200148942
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking of aqueous crosslinkable polymers such as polysaccharides in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is a reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Publication number: 20200063021
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods are effective in injectable compositions comprising or substantially excluding dissolved reactive species. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is the reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Also provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Brian Mueller, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Patent number: 10550315
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking of aqueous crosslinkable polymers such as polysaccharides in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is a reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Publication number: 20180016488
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking of aqueous crosslinkable polymers such as polysaccharides in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is a reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Publication number: 20170037303
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for delaying crosslinking in injectable compositions for hydraulic fracturing and related applications. The compositions and methods are effective in injectable compositions comprising or substantially excluding dissolved reactive species. The compositions and methods provide delayed crosslinking at high temperatures and pressures, such as those encountered by hydraulic fracturing compositions injected into subterranean environments. Compositions include injectable solutions comprising a competing agent that is the reaction product of a dialdehyde having 2 to 4 carbon atoms with a non-polymeric cis-hydroxyl compound. Also provided are methods of making and using delayed-crosslinking compositions comprising crosslinker compositions containing zirconium complexes and the competing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher Waller, Kirk E. Wells, Brian Mueller, Trinh Tran, Pablo Munoz
  • Patent number: 9193898
    Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion composition and method of production is disclosed. The composition may comprise a monomer phase, an organic phase, at least one initiator, and an inverting phase. The monomer phase may further comprise at least one monomer, water, ammonium chloride, sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate, tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and at least one water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The organic phase may further comprise at least one hydrophobic solvent, lecithin, and a polyoxyethylene derivative of a sorbitan ester. The at least one monomer may be selected from the group consisting of an acrylic monomer, an acrylamide monomer, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Kin-Tai Chang, Kirk E. Wells, Jesse V. Mello
  • Publication number: 20120316090
    Abstract: A water-in-oil emulsion composition and method of production is disclosed. The composition may comprise a monomer phase, an organic phase, at least one initiator, and an inverting phase. The monomer phase may further comprise at least one monomer, water, ammonium chloride, sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonate, tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and at least one water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The organic phase may further comprise at least one hydrophobic solvent, lecithin, and a polyoxyethylene derivative of a sorbitan ester. The at least one monomer may be selected from the group consisting of an acrylic monomer, an acrylamide monomer, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Kin-Tai Chang, Kirk E. Wells, Jesse V. Mello
  • Patent number: 7431845
    Abstract: A method of clarifying oily waste water comprising adding to the waste water an effective clarifying amount of one or more demulsifiers selected from the group consisting of dendritic polyamines, dendritic polyamidoamines and hyperbranched polyethyleneimines and the reaction products thereof with gluconolactone, alkylene oxides, salts of 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, alkyl halides, benzyl halides and dialkyl sulfates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Maria B. Manek, Michael J. Howdeshell, Kirk E. Wells, Hester A. Clever, William K. Stephenson