Patents by Inventor Subhash Ayirala

Subhash Ayirala 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: 20250115496
    Abstract: Methods for forming a treated water may comprise: obtaining a produced water comprising at least a divalent metal ion from a subterranean formation; introducing an accelerator into the produced water; wherein the accelerator comprises a zwitterionic compound; introducing a carbon dioxide gas into the produced water; allowing the carbon dioxide gas to react with the divalent metal ion in the presence of the accelerator to form a carbonate salt of the divalent metal ion; and removing the carbonate salt of the divalent metal ion from the produced water to form a treated water having a lower divalent metal ion concentration than the produced water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ali A. AL-YOUSEF, Hasmukh A. PATEL, Subhash AYIRALA
  • Publication number: 20250066213
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide may be stored by mineralization. An example method thereof may include: providing a first solution including a first aqueous fluid having dispersed therein a metal salt and a metal catalyst; dispersing carbon dioxide gas in a second solution including a second aqueous fluid, wherein the carbon dioxide gas forms dissolved carbon dioxide; introducing an electrical current to the second solution; generating, using the electrical current, nanobubble carbon dioxide; combining at least a portion of the first solution and at least a portion of the second solution to form a combined solution; and generating mineralized carbon dioxide from the dissolved carbon dioxide and the nanobubble carbon dioxide, wherein the generating at least partially comprises catalytically reacting, using the metal catalyst, the metal salt and one or more of the dissolved carbon dioxide and the nanobubble carbon dioxide, thereby forming the mineralized carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Pramod Dhanaji PATIL, Abdulaziz S. QASIM, Subhash AYIRALA, Ali A. YOUSEF
  • Publication number: 20240394315
    Abstract: A system includes a core flood apparatus, a laboratory computing device configured to collect laboratory data when performing a core flooding test using the core flood apparatus, and a data control and data monitor server communicatively interfacing with the laboratory computing device and configured to receive the laboratory data, and send instructions to the laboratory computing device. The system further includes a data management and analysis facility that is physically separate from the laboratory computing device and the core flood apparatus, and configured to receive the laboratory data from the data control and data monitor server and store the laboratory data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Hamoud A. Alqahtani, Salah Hamad Al-Saleh, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef
  • Publication number: 20240217844
    Abstract: Systems and methods including a pretreatment component for pretreating a produced water obtained from a subterranean formation operation to remove at least a portion of dispersed hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide therein, thereby producing a high salinity produced water; a desalination component for desalinating of the high salinity produced water to remove at least one or more salts therein, thereby producing a desalinated water and a saturated saline water; and a mineral recovery component for treating the saturated saline water to recover mineral salts therein, thereby producing the recovered mineral salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Subhash AYIRALA, Salah H. ALSALEH, Ali A. AL-YOUSEF
  • Patent number: 11993746
    Abstract: Provided are methods of increasing the production of a hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation by waterflooding with injection solutions containing dihydrogen phosphate ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Moataz Abu Al Saud, Salem Khaled Al-Shammari, Hussain Habib Al Saleem, Salah Hamad Al-Saleh, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef
  • Publication number: 20240110092
    Abstract: Provided are methods of increasing the production of a hydrocarbon from a subterranean formation by waterflooding with injection solutions containing dihydrogen phosphate ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Moataz Abu Al Saud, Salem Khaled Al-Shammari, Hussain Habib Al Saleem, Salah Hamad Al-Saleh, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef
  • Patent number: 11867038
    Abstract: A method and a system for oil recovery are provided. An exemplary method includes injecting thickened carbon dioxide (CO2) into the top of a reservoir containing oil. An interface is formed between the thickened CO2 and the oil. The oil is mobilized by the thickened CO2. The mobilized oil is recovered with a recovery well drilled below the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Zuhair Al-Yousif, Subhash Ayirala, Muhammad Majid Almajid, Dong Kyu Cha, Ming Han
  • Patent number: 11867036
    Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation includes introducing a first solution having a first salt into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. A second solution is also introduced into the hydrocarbon bearing formation, wherein the second solution has a second salt and a foaming agent. The first salt and the second salt produces a nitrogen gas, and the nitrogen gas and the foaming agent produces a foam formed in-situ within the formation. The foam forms a foam barrier, and carbon dioxide is introduced into the formation to form a gas cap, wherein the carbon dioxide gas cap has a gas front that is separated from the hydrocarbons by the foam barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Zuhair AlYousef, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Abdullah Altaq, Muhammad Majid Almajid, Dong Kyu Cha
  • Patent number: 11814937
    Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing formation. The method may include determining the hydrocarbon-containing formation pressure, temperature, and other properties such as the total acid number and total base number of the hydrocarbons, rock type, and brine ionic composition. The method may also include determining a desired amount of wettability alteration of the formation and modeling the formation. Modeling the formation may be based on the determined pressure, temperature, total acid number and total base number of the hydrocarbons, rock type, and brine ionic composition. The method may also include preparing an aqueous wellbore fluid based on the estimated wellbore fluid composition and injecting the aqueous wellbore fluid into the hydrocarbon-containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Moataz Abu AlSaud, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef
  • Patent number: 11739620
    Abstract: A method to improve the efficiency of a gravity drainage CO2 gas injection process includes the steps of: (a) injecting a slug proximate to an underground reservoir, wherein the slug comprises a polymer component and an inorganic metal ion type crosslinking agent that are configured to form an in situ weak gel in the reservoir to block high permeability channels in a pay zone of the reservoir; and (b) continuously injecting CO2 gas at a top of the pay zone to form a gas cap at the top of the reservoir and to cause the gas cap to advance rapidly towards a producing well located below to provide a uniform sweep of the gas cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Subhash Ayirala, Zuhair AlYousef, Dong Kyu Cha, Muhammad Almajid, Ming Han, Ali AlYousef
  • Publication number: 20230265749
    Abstract: A method to improve the efficiency of a gravity drainage CO2 gas injection process includes the steps of: (a) injecting a slug proximate to an underground reservoir, wherein the slug comprises a polymer component and an inorganic metal ion type crosslinking agent that are configured to form an in situ weak gel in the reservoir to block high permeability channels in a pay zone of the reservoir; and (b) continuously injecting CO2 gas at a top of the pay zone to form a gas cap at the top of the reservoir and to cause the gas cap to advance rapidly towards a producing well located below to provide a uniform sweep of the gas cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Subhash Ayirala, Zuhair AlYousef, Dong Kyu Cha, Muhammad Almajid, Ming Han, Ali AlYousef
  • Publication number: 20230175366
    Abstract: A method and a system for oil recovery are provided. An exemplary method includes injecting thickened carbon dioxide (CO2) into the top of a reservoir containing oil. An interface is formed between the thickened CO2 and the oil. The oil is mobilized by the thickened CO2. The mobilized oil is recovered with a recovery well drilled below the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Zuhair Al-Yousif, Subhash Ayirala, Muhammad Majid Almajid, Dong Kyu Cha, Ming Han
  • Patent number: 11668171
    Abstract: Described is a method for treating hydrocarbons in a reservoir. A foaming surfactant solution and a foaming gas are introduced into the upper portion of a reservoir such that barrier foam bubbles form. Then, super/critical carbon dioxide is introduced such that a CO2 cap forms. The CO2 cap is formed above a foam barrier of aggregated barrier foam bubbles positioned at an interface between hydrocarbons to be treated in the reservoir and the CO2 cap. The super/critical carbon dioxide is introduced into the reservoir at an injection rate that is greater than a pre-treatment critical gas injection rate. Hydrocarbons are recovered from a lower portion of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Subhash Ayirala, Zuhair AlYousef, Dong Kyu Cha, Muhammad Almajid
  • Publication number: 20230064753
    Abstract: A method for treating hydrocarbons in a reservoir is provided. The method includes the steps of introducing a foaming surfactant solution and a foaming gas into the upper portion of a reservoir such that barrier foam bubbles form. The method includes introducing super/critical carbon dioxide such that a CO2 cap forms. The CO2 cap forms above a foam barrier positioned at an interface between the hydrocarbons to be treated in the reservoir and the CO2 cap. The foam barrier comprises aggregated barrier foam bubbles. The super/critical carbon dioxide is introduced into the reservoir at an injection rate that is greater than a pre-treatment critical gas injection rate. Hydrocarbons are recovered from a lower portion of the reservoir. The barrier foam bubbles that form are comprised of a foaming gas that has diminished solubility in aqueous solutions as compared with other gases, such as carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Subhash Ayirala, Zuhair AlYousef, Dong Kyu Cha, Muhammad Almajid
  • Publication number: 20220412197
    Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation includes introducing a first solution having a first salt into the hydrocarbon bearing formation. A second solution is also introduced into the hydrocarbon bearing formation, wherein the second solution has a second salt and a foaming agent. The first salt and the second salt produces a nitrogen gas, and the nitrogen gas and the foaming agent produces a foam formed in-situ within the formation. The foam forms a foam barrier, and carbon dioxide is introduced into the formation to form a gas cap, wherein the carbon dioxide gas cap has a gas front that is separated from the hydrocarbons by the foam barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Zuhair AlYousef, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Abdullah Altaq, Muhammad Majid Almajid, Dong Kyu Cha
  • Patent number: 11525345
    Abstract: A method for modeling hydrocarbon recovery workflow is disclosed. The method involves obtaining, by a computer processor, stimulation data and reservoir data regarding a region of interest, wherein the stimulation data describe a water flooding process performed in the reservoir region of interest by one or more enhanced-recovery wells. The method may include determining, by the computer processor, a multi-phase Darcy model for the reservoir region of interest using the reservoir data and the stimulation data. The multi-phase Darcy model determines a fluid phase flow rate using a pressure gradient, an absolute permeability value, and a relative permeability value. The method may include determining, by the computer processor, a plurality of relative permeability values for the reservoir region of interest based on a plurality of fluid-fluid interface correlations and an interpolating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Moataz Abu AlSaud, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef
  • Publication number: 20220298901
    Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing formation. The method may include determining the hydrocarbon-containing formation pressure, temperature, and other properties such as the total acid number and total base number of the hydrocarbons, rock type, and brine ionic composition. The method may also include determining a desired amount of wettability alteration of the formation and modeling the formation. Modeling the formation may be based on the determined pressure, temperature, total acid number and total base number of the hydrocarbons, rock type, and brine ionic composition. The method may also include preparing an aqueous wellbore fluid based on the estimated wellbore fluid composition and injecting the aqueous wellbore fluid into the hydrocarbon-containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Moataz Abu AlSaud, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef
  • Patent number: 11421148
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating a subterranean formation. The compositions can include positively and negatively charged divalent ions and a total dissolved solids concentration between 2000 and 3000 ppm. In some implementations, the composition includes calcium and magnesium ions. In some implementations, the composition includes sodium, chloride, and bicarbonate ions. In some implementations, the composition includes iodide, phosphate, or borate ions, or any combination thereof. Methods for treating the subterranean formation can include flowing a first aqueous solution that includes sodium ions into the subterranean formation and flowing a second aqueous solution that has a lower salinity than the first aqueous solution into the subterranean formation, where the second aqueous solution includes positively charged divalent ions, negatively charged divalent ions, and a total dissolved solids concentration between 2000 and 30000 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Zuhair Al-Yousif, Muhammad Majid Almajid, Subhash Ayirala
  • Patent number: 11359133
    Abstract: A method for selecting a surfactant solution for use in an enhanced oil recovery process may include contacting a surfactant solution with crude oil to produce a crude/surfactant mixture, compressing the interface between the crude oil and the surfactant solution in a Langmuir trough to obtain an interface pressure versus surface area isotherm, calculating an interface compression energy of the interface between the crude oil and the surfactant solution by integrating the interface pressure versus surface area isotherm, and selecting the surfactant solution for use in an enhanced oil recovery process if the interface compression energy of the interface between the crude oil and the surfactant solution is at most 100 Ergs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Subhash Ayirala, Abdulkareem M. AlSofi
  • Patent number: 11352867
    Abstract: A method includes alternating between (a) applying an electric current to a subterranean formation and (b) flowing an enhanced oil recovery (EOR) treatment fluid into a wellbore formed in the subterranean formation. The method includes flowing an aqueous salt solution into the wellbore to mobilize hydrocarbons within the subterranean formation after alternating between (a) and (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdulaziz S. Al-Qasim, Subhash Ayirala, Ali Yousef