Patents by Inventor Ralph Moorhouse

Ralph Moorhouse 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: 6737386
    Abstract: A high temperture aqueous based zirconium (IV) crosslinked guar fracturing fluid having a pH from about 9 to about 12 includes a polymer solution and a zirconium (IV) crosslinking agent in an amount from about 0.1 PPTG to about 5 PPTG of the polymer solution. The polymer solution includes an aqueous fluid, natural guar gum in an amount from about 10 PPTG to about 100 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, a stabilizer in an amount from about 1 PPTG to about 50 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, a non-delayed alkaline buffer in an amount from about 1 PPTG to about 40 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, and a gelation delaying agent in an amount from about 0.25 PPTG to about 3.75 PPTG of the aqueous fluid, where those agents are combined to produce a fracturing fluid suitable to the purposes of hydraulically fracturing subterranean formations with static bottom-hole temperatures greater than 250° F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Benchmark Research and Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Moorhouse, Lester E. Matthews
  • Patent number: 6251838
    Abstract: A composition for delaying the cross-linking of water soluble polymer solutions includes a boron source suspended by an organophilic clay in a solution of a non-aqueous solvent. One process of manufacturing the composition includes the steps of first suspending the organophilic clay in the non-aqueous solvent and then suspending the boron source in the organophilic clay-non-aqueous solvent suspension. Another process of manufacturing composition includes the steps of first mixing the boron source and the organophilic clay to form a dry mixture and then suspending the dry mixture of the boron source and the organophilic clay in a non-aqueous solvent. In a method of hydraulically fracturing a formation, a water soluble polymer solution with a pH between about 8.5 and 12.5 and the boron source suspended by the organophilic clay in the solution of the non-aqueous solvent are pumped into the formation under sufficient pressure to cause a fracture in the formation rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Benchmark Research & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Moorhouse, Gong Chen
  • Patent number: 6225264
    Abstract: A composition for delaying the cross-linking of water soluble polymer solutions includes a boron source suspended by an organophilic clay in a solution of a non-aqueous solvent. One process of manufacturing the composition includes the steps of first suspending the organophilic clay in the non-aqueous solvent and then suspending the boron source in the organophilic clay- non-aqueous solvent suspension. Another process of manufacturing composition includes the steps of first mixing the boron source and the organophilic clay to form a dry mixture and then suspending the dry mixture of the boron source and the organophilic clay in a non-aqueous solvent. In a method of hydraulically fracturing a formation, a water soluble polymer solution with a pH between about 8.5 and 12.5 and the boron source suspended by the organophilic clay in the solution of the non-aqueous solvent are pumped into the formation under sufficient pressure to cause a fracture in the formation rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Benchmark Research & Technology
    Inventors: Ralph Moorhouse, Gong Chen
  • Patent number: 5697444
    Abstract: A novel fracturing fluid composition comprising:(1) a carboxyalkyl derivatized polygalactomannan having a degree of substitution of between about 0.01 and about 3.0;(2) a zirconium salt crosslinking agent;(3) one or more thermal stabilizing agents;(4) one or more pH buffers; and(5) water;wherein said fluid is capable of maintaining at least 10 percent of its original cross-linked viscosity after three hours at a temperature greater to or equal to 250.degree. F. is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Moorhouse, Ian William Cottrell
  • Patent number: 5614475
    Abstract: A novel fracturing fluid composition comprising:(1) a carboxyalkyl derivatized polygalactomannan having a degree of substitution of between about 0.01 and about 3.0;(2) a zirconium salt crosslinking agent;(3) one or more thermal stabilizing agents;(4) one or more pH buffers; and(5) water;wherein said fluid is capable of maintaining at least 10 percent of its original cross-linked viscosity after three hours at a temperature greater to or equal to 250.degree. F. is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Rhone-Poulenc Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Moorhouse, Ian W. Cottrell
  • Patent number: 4238255
    Abstract: Heteropolysaccharide S-7, either in the regular or low-calcium form, is used at levels from about 0.1 to 10%, preferably 0.1 to 3%, most preferably 0.2 to 2%, in aqueous ammonium nitrate solutions to provide explosive compositions which rapidly develop viscosity and can be easily adapted to field use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Merck & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Moorhouse, Jaewon L. Shim