Patents by Inventor Melissa C. Weston

Melissa C. Weston 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).

  • Publication number: 20180238830
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic microfluidic system and a method of pumping a fluid using a magnetohydrodynamic system are disclosed. The method includes applying at least one of an electric current and an electric voltage to a first modified electrode and a second electrode to generate an ionic current between the first modified electrode and the second electrode and to cause a current carrying species to move to or from the modified electrode, applying a magnetic field perpendicular to an ionic current vector, the magnetic field and the ionic current combining to induce flow of the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and the ionic current vector, and maintaining fluid flow by recharging the modified electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Applicant: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
    Inventors: Ingrid Fritsch, Christena Nash, Sai Kumar, Timothy Muldoon, Kartik Balachandran, Adair Claycomb, Matthew D. Gerner, Joshua Hutcheson, Foysal Z. Khan, Amy Powless, Sandra Prieto, Preston G. Scrape, Melissa C. Weston, David Parette
  • Patent number: 9989452
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic microfluidic system and a method of pumping a fluid using a magnetohydrodynamic system are disclosed. The method includes applying at least one of an electric current and an electric voltage to a first modified electrode and a second electrode to generate an ionic current between the first modified electrode and the second electrode and to cause a current carrying species to move to or from the modified electrode, applying a magnetic field perpendicular to an ionic current vector, the magnetic field and the ionic current combining to induce flow of the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and the ionic current vector, and maintaining fluid flow by recharging the modified electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventors: Ingrid Fritsch, Christena Nash, Sai Kumar, Timothy Muldoon, Kartik Balachandran, Adair Claycomb, Matthew D. Gerner, Joshua Hutcheson, Foysal Z. Khan, Amy Powless, Sandra Prieto, Preston G. Scrape, Melissa C. Weston
  • Patent number: 9890316
    Abstract: Embodiments including methods comprising providing a treatment fluid comprising a first aqueous base fluid and a polymeric gelling agent, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a first surface tension; introducing a fluid mobility modifier into the treatment fluid, wherein the fluid mobility modifier comprises: a first surfactant selected from the group consisting of a non-ionic surfactant; a cationic surfactant; and any combination thereof, and a solvent-surfactant blend comprising a second aqueous base fluid, a second surfactant, a solvent, and a co-solvent, wherein the ratio of the first surfactant to the solvent-surfactant blend is in the range of between about 1:5 to about 5:1, wherein the fluid mobility modifier causes the treatment fluid to adopt a second surface tension that is less than the first surface tension; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Donovan Welton, Glenn S. Penny, Jeremy Holtsclaw, Dipti Singh, Melissa C. Weston, Nathan Schultheiss
  • Publication number: 20160146756
    Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic microfluidic system and a method of pumping a fluid using a magnetohydrodynamic system are disclosed. The method includes applying at least one of an electric current and an electric voltage to a first modified electrode and a second electrode to generate an ionic current between the first modified electrode and the second electrode and to cause a current carrying species to move to or from the modified electrode, applying a magnetic field perpendicular to an ionic current vector, the magnetic field and the ionic current combining to induce flow of the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and the ionic current vector, and maintaining fluid flow by recharging the modified electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Ingrid Fritsch, Christena Nash, Sai Kumar, Timothy Muldoon, Kartik Balachandran, Adair Claycomb, Matthew D. Gerner, Joshua Hutcheson, Foysal Z. Khan, Amy Powless, Sandra Prieto, Preston G. Scrape, Melissa C. Weston
  • Publication number: 20140196904
    Abstract: A method for treating subterranean formations by the use of delayed release pH control agents in subterranean formations during fracturing operations includes providing a fracturing fluid comprising a base fluid, a viscosifying agent, a pH sensitive crosslinking agent, and a delayed release pH-adjusting material. The delayed release pH-adjusting material includes a pH-adjusting agent and a binder. The fracturing fluid is introduced into a subterranean formation, and the pH of the fracturing fluid is changed through at least partial degradation or disassociation of the delayed release pH-adjusting material, thereby allowing the viscosifying agent to be crosslinked through activation of the pH sensitive crosslinking agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Lucas K. Fontenelle, Melissa C. Weston
  • Publication number: 20130031972
    Abstract: In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. Fluids can be monitored prior to or during their introduction into a subterranean formation using the opticoanalytical devices. Produced fluids from a subterranean formation can be monitored in a like manner. The methods can comprise providing water from a water source; monitoring a characteristic of the water using a first opticoanalytical device that is in optical communication with a flow pathway for transporting the water; and introducing the water into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Freese, David M. Loveless, Rory D. Daussin, Christopher M. Jones, Melissa C. Weston, Lucas K. Fontenelle, Johanna Haggstrom
  • Publication number: 20130032545
    Abstract: In or near real-time monitoring of fluids can take place using an opticoanalytical device that is configured for monitoring the fluid. The opticoanalytical devices can be used for monitoring various processes in which fluids are used. The methods can comprise providing a fluid in a fluid stream and monitoring a characteristic of the fluid using a first opticoarialytical device that is in optical communication with the fluid in the fluid stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Robert P. Freese, Christopher M. Jones, Michael T. Pelletier, Rory D. Daussin, Valerie J. Yeager, Melissa C. Weston, Lucas K. Fontenelle, David M. Loveless, Johanna Haggstrom, Cory D. Hillis