Patents by Inventor Sivaram Pradhan

Sivaram Pradhan 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).

  • Viscosity reduction of crude oil through structure determination of asphaltene molecule
    Patent number: 10982155
    Abstract: Asphaltene may be effectively broken into smaller molecules by first elucidating the structure of the asphaltene and then developing a catalyst system based on the elucidated structure. The structure may be determined based on a series of analytical techniques including NMR, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and LDI. The most probable structure is determined using computational methods based on quantum mechanics and classical molecular dynamics and the catalyst system is developed for the most probable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: Manjusha Verma, Pradeep Venkataraman, Sivaram Pradhan, Houman Michael Shammai, Wilbur Edward Billups, Scott Wellington
  • Method for decomposing asphaltene using a supported catalyst
    Patent number: 10876035
    Abstract: Asphaltene produced during the production of hydrocarbons in an underground reservoir may be reduced and decomposed by introducing into the underground reservoir a fluid having a catalyst of from about 3 to about 7% Ni with a magnesium oxide support or a catalyst of from about 15 to about 25% tungsten oxide with a zirconium oxide support or a mixture thereof. The viscosity of heavy oil within the underground reservoir is reduced in the presence of the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Sivaram Pradhan, Scott Wellington, Houman Shammai, Michael Wong
  • VISCOSITY REDUCTION OF CRUDE OIL THROUGH STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF ASPHALTENE MOLECULE
    Publication number: 20200032147
    Abstract: Asphaltene may be effectively broken into smaller molecules by first elucidating the structure of the asphaltene and then developing a catalyst system based on the elucidated structure. The structure may be determined based on a series of analytical techniques including NMR, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and LDI. The most probable structure is determined using computational methods based on quantum mechanics and classical molecular dynamics and the catalyst system is developed for the most probable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Applicants: NEXTSTREAM HEAVY OIL, LLC, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: MANJUSHA VERMA, PRADEEP VENKATARAMAN, SIVARAM PRADHAN, HOUMAN MICHAEL SHAMMAI, SCOTT WELLINGTON, WILBUR EDWARD BILLUPS
  • Viscosity reduction of crude oil through structure determination of asphaltene molecule
    Patent number: 10287510
    Abstract: Asphaltene may be effectively broken into smaller molecules by first elucidating the structure of the asphaltene and then developing a catalyst system based on the elucidated structure. The structure may be determined based on a series of analytical techniques including NMR, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and LDI. The most probable structure is determined using computational methods based on quantum mechanics and classical molecular dynamics and the catalyst system is developed for the most probable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: NextStream Heavy Oil, LLC, William Marsh Rice University
    Inventors: Manjusha Verma, Pradeep Venkataraman, Sivaram Pradhan, Houman Michael Shammai, Wilbur Edward Billups, Scott Wellington
  • VISCOSITY REDUCTION OF CRUDE OIL THROUGH STRUCTURE DETERMINATION OF ASPHALTENE MOLECULE
    Publication number: 20180155634
    Abstract: Asphaltene may be effectively broken into smaller molecules by first elucidating the structure of the asphaltene and then developing a catalyst system based on the elucidated structure. The structure may be determined based on a series of analytical techniques including NMR, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, and LDI. The most probable structure is determined using computational methods based on quantum mechanics and classical molecular dynamics and the catalyst system is developed for the most probable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: MANJUSHA VERMA, Pradeep Venkataraman, Sivaram Pradhan, Houman Michael Shammai, Wilbur Edward Billups, Scott Wellington
  • Method of Decreasing the Viscosity of Heavy Oil Downhole
    Publication number: 20170349808
    Abstract: Asphaltene produced during the production of hydrocarbons in an underground reservoir may be reduced and decomposed by introducing into the underground reservoir a fluid having a catalyst of from about 3 to about 7% Ni with a magnesium oxide support or a catalyst of from about 15 to about 25% tungsten oxide with a zirconium oxide support or a mixture thereof. The viscosity of heavy oil within the underground reservoir is reduced in the presence of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Sivaram Pradhan, Scott Wellington, Houman Shammai, Michael Wong