Patents by Inventor Patricia A. Potts

Patricia A. Potts 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).

  • Water based fluids comprising multivalent salts and low molecular weight, low charge cationic polyacrylamide copolymers
    Patent number: 6855671
    Abstract: A drilling system fluid and method of using same. The drilling system fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of a multivalent metal, and a quantity of a water soluble polyacrylamide copolymer having a charge density of at least about 1%. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James E. Norfleet, Michael A. Jarrett, Patricia A. Potts, Tao Xiang, Frank E. Evans
  • Water based fluids comprising multivalent salts and low molecular weight, low charge cationic polyacrylamide copolymers
    Publication number: 20030069141
    Abstract: A drilling system fluid and method of using same. The drilling system fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of a multivalent metal, and a quantity of a water soluble polyacrylamide copolymer having a charge density of at least about 1%. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: James E. Norfleet, Michael A. Jarrett, Patricia A. Potts, Tao Xiang, Frank E. Evans
  • Shale stabilizing drilling fluids comprising calcium chloride and low molecular weight low charge cationicpolyacrylamide copolymers
    Patent number: 6355600
    Abstract: A drilling fluid and method of using same. The drilling fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of calcium chloride, and a quantity of a polyacrylamide copolymer. The amount of calcium chloride and the quantity of polyacrylamide copolymer in the drilling fluid are sufficient to produce a rate of penetration approaching that achieved using a synthetic oil-based drilling fluid while preventing substantial screen blinding. In a preferred embodiment, the continuous phase also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James E. Norfleet, Michael A. Jarrett, Patricia A. Potts, Tao Xiang, Frank E. Evans, Jr.
  • Use of alkoxylated surfactants and aluminum chlorohydrate to improve brine-based drilling fluids
    Patent number: 6194355
    Abstract: A drilling fluid having a brine base fluid, aluminum chlorohydrate as a viscosifying agent, an alkoxylated surfactant, and an amphoteric polymer encapsulant has been found to have excellent viscoelasticity and suspension characteristics. Surprisingly, it has been discovered that a synergistic effect is present between the aluminum chlorohydrate and the surfactant such that less of each component is required when both are used together to suspend the same amount of solids, than if one or the other is used separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael A. Jarrett, Harold R. Krause, John C. Welch, Allen Gabrysch, Patricia Potts