Patents by Inventor Rajesh Saini

Rajesh Saini 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: 20070066492
    Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise a base fluid and an orthoester-based surfactant. In some instances, the treatment fluid may have a pH of about 8.5 or greater. Also provided are emulsified treatment fluids that comprise an oleaginous phase, an aqueous phase having a pH of about 8.5 or greater, and an orthoester-based surfactant. Methods of using the treatment fluid and methods of facilitating flow through a conduit also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Funkhouser, Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20070066493
    Abstract: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise a base fluid and an orthoester-based surfactant. In some instances, the treatment fluid may have a pH of about 8.5 or greater. Also provided are emulsified treatment fluids that comprise an oleaginous phase, an aqueous phase having a pH of about 8.5 or greater, and an orthoester-based surfactant. Methods of using the treatment fluid and methods of facilitating flow through a conduit also are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Publication date: March 22, 2007
    Inventors: Gary Funkhouser, Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20070049501
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and compositions for generating acids for use downhole, for example, to break fluid-loss control pills. The delayed-release acid breakers of the present invention comprise orthoesters and/or poly(orthoesters).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Publication date: March 1, 2007
    Inventors: Rajesh Saini, Karen Savery
  • Publication number: 20060258544
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for treating subterranean formations. A treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous liquid, and a degradable surfactant derived from a degradable polymer is provided. Also provided are emulsified treatment fluids and foamed treatment fluids that comprise degradable surfactants derived from degradable polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventor: Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20060258543
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating subterranean formations. A method, that comprises providing a treatment fluid that comprises an aqueous fluid, and a degradable surfactant derived from a degradable polymer; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore that penetrates the subterranean formation, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventor: Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20060254774
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of generating an acid downhole that comprise providing a degradable surfactant; introducing the degradable surfactant into a well bore that penetrates a subterranean formation; and allowing at least a portion of the degradable surfactant to degrade, thereby releasing an acid. Also provided are methods of degrading an acid-soluble component present within a subterranean formation, and methods of reducing the viscosity of a viscosified treatment fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventors: Rajesh Saini, Bradley Todd, Michael Mang
  • Publication number: 20060185847
    Abstract: Methods of treating a subterranean formation comprising placing a solid treatment chemical and a tacky polymer onto a solid substrate to create a coated solid substrate; placing the coated solid substrate into a portion of a subterranean formation; and, allowing the tacky polymer to degrade and allowing the solid treatment chemical to be released into the portion of the subterranean formation. Methods of creating a particulate pack comprising a treatment chemical in a subterranean formation comprising placing a solid treatment chemical and a tacky polymer onto a particulate to create a coated particulate; creating a slurry comprises the coated particulates slurried into a treatment fluid; placing the slurry into a portion of a subterranean formation so a to create a particulate pack; and, allowing the tacky polymer to degrade and allowing the solid treatment chemical to be released into the portion of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Rajesh Saini, Bradley Todd
  • Publication number: 20060169450
    Abstract: Herein provided are methods for producing degradable particulates at a drill site, and methods related to the use of such degradable particulates in subterranean applications. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method comprising: providing a degradable polymer solvent mixture that comprises a degradable polymer and a first solvent; and mixing the degradable polymer solvent mixture with a second solvent at a drill site with shear to form a solid liquid dispersion comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase, the solid phase comprising degradable particulates and the liquid phase comprising the first solvent and the second solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Mang, Trinidad Munoz, Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20060172894
    Abstract: Herein provided are methods for producing degradable particulates at a drill site, and methods related to the use of such degradable particulates in subterranean applications. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid comprising degradable particulates, at least a portion of the degradable particulates having been made by a supercritical fluid assisted method at a drill site; and introducing the treatment fluid into a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation at the drill site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Mang, Trinidad Munoz, Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20060172895
    Abstract: Herein provided are methods for producing degradable particulates at a drill site, and methods related to the use of such degradable particulates in subterranean applications. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of forming degradable particulates comprising: providing a degradable polymer melt; atomizing the degradable polymer melt into an atomization fluid stream at a drill site; and allowing degradable particulates to form.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Mang, Trinidad Munoz, Rajesh Saini
  • Publication number: 20060046938
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation comprising introducing to a portion of a subterranean formation a slurry comprising a solid, particulate chelating agent substantially coated with a degradable material and a viscosified treatment fluid comprising a crosslinked gelling agent, allowing the degradable material to degrade and release the chelating agent into the viscosified treatment fluid; and, allowing the released chelating agent to delink at least a portion of the crosslinked gelling agent. Another embodiment provides a delinker for use in a viscosified treatment fluid comprising a crosslinked gelling agent, comprising a particulate chelating agent substantially coated with a degradable material wherein the degradable material is capable of degrading to release the chelating agent and wherein the released chelating agent is then capable of delinking at least a portion of the crosslinked gelling agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Philip Harris, Rajesh Saini, Bradley Todd
  • Publication number: 20050205265
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to disposable composite downhole tool formed of a resin-coated fiber. The fiber is formed of a degradable polymer, such as a poly(lactide) or polyanhydride. The resin is formed of the same degradable polymer as the fiber. It chemically bonds to the fiber, thereby making a strong rigid structure once cured. The fiber may be formed into a fabric before being coated with the resin. Alternatively, the fiber is formed of a non-biodegradable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Bradley Todd, Rajesh Saini, Loren Swor, Phillip Starr
  • Publication number: 20050169830
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the creation of macroscopic materials and objects comprising aligned nanotube segments. The invention entails aligning single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) segments that are suspended in a fluid medium and then removing the aligned segments from suspension in a way that macroscopic, ordered assemblies of SWNT are formed. The invention is further directed to controlling the natural proclivity of nanotube segments to self assemble into ordered structures by modifying the environment of the nanotubes and the history of that environment prior to and during the process. The materials and objects are “macroscopic” in that they are large enough to be seen without the aid of a microscope or of the dimensions of such objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Applicant: William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Smalley Richard, Daniel Colbert, Kenneth Smith, Deron Walters, Michael Casavant, Chad Huffman, Boris Yakobson, Robert Hauge, Rajesh Saini, Wan-Ting Chiang, Xiao Qin
  • Publication number: 20050034861
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating subterranean formations, and more specifically, to improved methods and compositions for degrading filter cake deposited on a subterranean formation. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of creating particulates coated with acid-releasing degradable material on-the-fly comprising the step of: combining an acid-releasing degradable material with a solvent or a plasticizer to create a coating solution; and, coating the coating solution onto a particulate on-the-fly to create coated particulates. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a gravel pack comprising gravel particles coated on-the-fly with an acid-releasing degradable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: February 17, 2005
    Inventors: Rajesh Saini, Bradley Todd