Patents by Inventor Ramesh Varadaraj

Ramesh Varadaraj 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).

  • Stability enhanced water-in-oil emulsion and method for using same
    Patent number: 7186673
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the stability of a water-in-oil emulsion pretreating at least a portion of the oil prior to emulsification. The pretreatment step may consist of adding polymers to the oil, biotreating the oil, photochemically treating the oil, or combinations thereof. The emulsion may be used in various enhanced oil recovery methods including using the emulsion as a flooding agent to displace hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation, and using the emulsion as a barrier fluid for diverting flow of fluids in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, James R. Bragg, Dennis G. Peiffer, Chester W. Elspass
  • Method for water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion fuel cell reformer start-up
    Publication number: 20070033861
    Abstract: The present invention relates to water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkoxylated branched alkyl alcohol surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. A method to prepare a water in-hydrocarbon emulsion comprises preparing a first mixture of hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion and excess hydrocarbon, preparing a second mixture of water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion and excess water, adding the said first mixture of hydrocarbon-in-water emulsion and excess hydrocarbon to said second mixture of water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion and excess water and then mixing said first and second mixtures to form the water-in-hydrocarbon emulsion. The present invention utilizes substantially less surfactant and mixing times for the formation of the emulsion, a commercially important feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Paul Berlowitz
  • High performance asphalt using alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid asphaltene dispersants
    Patent number: 7150785
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high performance asphalt comprising a mixture of low to moderate performance asphalt with linear or branch chain alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid. The high performance asphalt is made by mixing the low to moderate performance asphalt with 1 to 10 wt % linear or branched chain C8–C48 alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid at a temperature of 175° C. and less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mary Josephine Gale, Lyle Edwin Moran, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Alkyl sorbitan emulsion compositions for fuel cell reformer start-up
    Patent number: 7132180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkyl sorbitan surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Paul Joseph Berlowitz
  • Solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing same
    Patent number: 7121339
    Abstract: A solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing the solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion is formed by combining oil, water, solid particles and a pH enhancing agent and mixing until the solid-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion is formed. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can be used to enhance production of oil from subterranean reservoirs. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can also be used to enhance the transportation of oil through a pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: James R. Bragg, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Method for determining viscosity of water-in-oil emulsions
    Patent number: 7117722
    Abstract: Method to determine the viscosity of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by an oil comprising organic acids when mixed with water comprising: determining the value of the expression: ? ( emul ) = K ? ? ? ( oil ) ? TAN - r ( 1 - ? ) 2.5 wherein ?(oil) is the viscosity the oil, TAN is the total acid number of the oil, ? is a number in the range of 0.1 to 0.8, r is a number in the range of about 0.5 to 2, and K is a number from about 1 to 20, said determined value, ?(emul) being the viscosity of the water-in-oil emulsion. The method is used to prepare water-in-oil emulsions of predetermined viscosity and to improve desalting of oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Oil desalting by forming unstable water-in-oil emulsions
    Patent number: 7108780
    Abstract: A method for determination for a given oil the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by that oil with water comprises measuring for the given oil the weight percent asphaltenes (A), total acid number (TAN), and ratio of the amount of naphthenic acids in the 450+ molecular weight to 450 molecular weight range (R); calculating an emulsion stability parameter, S=A+TAN*R; and determining whether the emulsion stability parameter, S, is greater than about 3; with a value above 3 being determinative of an emulsion more stable than one with a value less than 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Preparation of aromatic polysulfonic acid compositions from light cat cycle oil
    Publication number: 20060183950
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of a stream rich in aromatic polysulfonic acid compounds from light catalytic cycle oil. The preparation involves the polysulfonation of the light catalytic cycle oil using more than a stoichiometric amount of sulfuric acid. The aromatic polysulfonic acid compositions are preferably aromatic polynuclear compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Cornelius Brons
  • Alkoxylated triazine emulsion compositions for fuel cell reformer start-up
    Patent number: 7081143
    Abstract: The present invention relates to emulsion compositions for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system. In particular, the invention includes emulsion compositions comprising hydrocarbon fuel, water and alkoxylated triazine surfactants for starting a reformer of a fuel cell system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Paul Joseph Berlowitz
  • Solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing same
    Publication number: 20060084581
    Abstract: A solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing the solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion is formed by combining oil, water, solid particles and a pH enhancing agent and mixing until the solid-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion is formed. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can be used to enhance production of oil from subterranean reservoirs. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can also be used to enhance the transportation of oil through a pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 20, 2006
    Inventors: James Bragg, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • SOLIDS-STABILIZED OIL-IN-WATER EMULSION AND A METHOD FOR PREPARING SAME
    Publication number: 20060070736
    Abstract: A solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing the solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion is formed by combining oil, water, solid particles and a pH enhancing agent and mixing until the solid-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion is formed. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can be used to enhance production of oil from subterranean reservoirs. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can also be used to enhance the transportation of oil through a pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: James Bragg, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Demulsification of emulsions by socillatory mixing
    Patent number: 7014773
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, and mixtures of water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions by oscillatory mixing of the emulsions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Oil desalting and dewatering
    Patent number: 7008536
    Abstract: The invention includes a method for dewatering and/or desalting a water-in-oil emulsion comprising introducing a plurality of streams of the emulsion into the electrostatic field under opposed flow whereby the water coalescence is enhanced. The invention also includes an improved electrostatic apparatus for dewatering and/or desalting a water-in-oil emulsion comprising a plurality of horizontally directed nozzles positioned to introduce a plurality of streams of the emulsion into the electrostatic field under opposed flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Rutton D. Patel, Ramesh R. Hemrajani, Salvatore J. Rossetti, David W. Savage
  • Inhibitor enhanced thermal upgrading of heavy oils
    Publication number: 20060021907
    Abstract: A method for upgrading heavy oils by contacting the heavy oil with an inhibitor additive and then thermally treating the inhibitor additized heavy oil. The invention also relates to the upgraded product from the inhibitor enhanced thermal treatment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: February 2, 2006
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Christopher Eppig, Douglas Hissong, Robert Welch
  • Gel assisted separation method and dewatering/desalting hydrocarbon oils
    Publication number: 20060016727
    Abstract: A method for separating polar hydrocarbon compounds from a hydrocarbon oil containing polar hydrocarbon compounds comprising the steps of: a) forming a gel in the hydrocarbon oil, and thereafter b) separating the gel from the hydrocarbon oil to produce a separated gel and a separated hydrocarbon oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventor: Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing same
    Patent number: 6988550
    Abstract: A solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing the solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion is formed by combining oil, water, solid particles and a pH enhancing agent and mixing until the solid-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion is formed. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can be used to enhance production of oil from subterranean reservoirs. The low viscosity oil-in-water emulsion can also be used to enhance the transportation of oil through a pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: James R. Bragg, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Polar solvent-asphaltene dispersant method for upgrading heavy oils
    Publication number: 20060014654
    Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity and toluene equivalence of an oil containing asphaltenes comprises the steps of: a) mixing with the oil, a polar solvent, and an asphaltene dispersant additive wherein the weight ratio of oil : polar solvent is in the range of 10:0.1 to 10:5, the asphaltene dispersant additive is at a treat rate in the range of 0.025 to 5 weight percent based on the weight of the oil, and then, b) removing at least 90 wt % of the polar solvent from the mixture of oil, polar solvent and the asphaltene dispersant additive to provide upgraded oil with reduced viscosity and toluene equivalence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Cornelius Brons
  • High performance asphalt using alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid asphaltene dispersants
    Publication number: 20060011101
    Abstract: Disclosed is a high performance asphalt comprising a mixture of low to moderate performance asphalt with linear or branch chain alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid. The high performance asphalt is made by mixing the low to moderate performance asphalt with 1 to 10 wt % linear or branched chain C8-C48 alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid at a temperature of 175° C. and less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Mary Gale, Lyle Moran, Ramesh Varadaraj
  • Upgrading asphaltene containing oils
    Publication number: 20060000749
    Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity and surface wetting tendency of an oil containing hydrophilic asphaltenes comprises adding to said oil an amount of hydrophobic asphaltenes in the range of 1 to 80 wt % based on the weight of the hydrophilic asphaltenes of said oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Cornelius Brons
  • Delayed coking process for producing free-flowing coke using low molecular weight aromatic additives
    Publication number: 20050279672
    Abstract: A delayed coking process for making substantially free-flowing coke, preferably shot coke. A coker feedstock, such as a vacuum residuum, is heated in a heating zone to coking temperatures then conducted to a coking zone wherein volatiles are collected overhead and coke is formed. A low molecular weight additive is added to the feedstock prior to it being heated in the heating zone, prior to its being conducted to the coking zone, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Michael Siskin, Leo Brown, Christopher Eppig, Cornelius Brons