Patents by Inventor Taimur Malik

Taimur Malik 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: 20160122622
    Abstract: Embodiments of a polymer composition are disclosed for use in enhancing the production of oil from a formation. In one embodiment, the composition includes a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons suspended in a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 and selected from the group of surfactants, glycol ethers, alcohols, co-solvents, and mixtures thereof, at a weight ratio of powder polymer to water soluble solvent ranging from 20:80 to 80:20. The polymer composition is substantially anhydrous. The polymer composition is hydrated in an aqueous fluid for an injection solution in less than or equal to 4 hours containing a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm and having a filter ratio of less than or equal to 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 ?m filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Robert M. Dean, Do Hoon Kim, Dennis Arun Alexis, Sophany Thach, Taimur Malik, Anette Poulsen
  • Publication number: 20160122626
    Abstract: A method of enhancing oil recovery in a subterranean reservoir is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a wellbore and a polymer suspension. The polymer suspension comprises a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons suspended in a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 and selected from a group, at a weight ratio of 20:80 to 80:20. The method comprises providing an aqueous fluid, mixing a sufficient amount of the polymer suspension in the aqueous fluid for the polymer to be hydrated resulting an injection solution in less than or equal to 4 hours, and injecting the injection solution into the wellbore. The injection solution contains a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm and has a filter ratio of less than 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 ?m filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Robert M. Dean, Do Hoon Kim, Dennis Arun Alexis, Sophany Thach, Taimur Malik, Anette Poulsen
  • Publication number: 20160122623
    Abstract: A method for making a polymer suspension for use in enhancing the production of oil from a formation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises mixing a powder polymer having an average molecular weight of 0.5 to 30 Million Daltons into a water soluble solvent having an HLB of greater than or equal to 8 for less than or equal to 24 hours. The water soluble solvent is selected from a group, at a weight ratio from 20:80 to 80:20. The polymer suspension is stable, pumpable, and substantially anhydrous; and it is hydrated for an injection solution in less than or equal to 4 hours, containing a polymer concentration ranging from 100 ppm to 50,000 ppm and having a filter ratio of less than or equal to 1.5 at 15 psi using a 1.2 ?m filter, by mixing a sufficient amount of the polymer suspension in an aqueous fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Robert M. Dean, Do Hoon Kim, Dennis Arun Alexis, Sophany Thach, Taimur Malik, Anette Poulsen
  • Publication number: 20150376998
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides techniques for inline injection of water and chemicals for a dump flood. The techniques include collecting water from a source reservoir into a water collection zone of an adjacent water injection well, and injecting a chemical solution into the water injection well. The water and the chemical solution are then mixed downhole in a mixer, such as a static mixer. The mixed injection fluid is then directly injected into an adjacent target reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Dean, Varadarjan Dwarakanath, Taimur Malik, Will Sherman Slaughter, Dustin L. Walker
  • Publication number: 20140262275
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention relate to methods for enhancing the amount of oil recovered from subterranean reservoirs or reducing the amount of surfactant needed. The method includes injecting a first alkali-polymer slug through a wellbore into a reservoir, followed by injecting a alkali-polymer-surfactant slug through the wellbore into the reservoir, and then injecting a second alkali-polymer slug through the wellbore into the reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Dean, Dustin L. Walker, Will S. Slaughter, Taimur Malik, Varadarajan Dwarakanath
  • Publication number: 20140202927
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for enhancing the separation of oil-water micellar emulsion, such as those found in production fluid. Specifically, an embodiment of the invention is separating oil and water phases in recovered production fluid by adding an ionic salt such as sodium chloride, calcium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and/or a high-molecular weight alcohol, such as 2-ethyl hexanol or decanol, to the production fluid. The production fluid may include fluids produced from an enhanced oil recovery method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Fan-Sheng Teddy Tao, Ronald David Hobbs, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Taimur Malik, Sophany Thach
  • Publication number: 20130298644
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring the viscosity of a fluid. The apparatus typically includes an inlet line that is configured to receive a flow of the fluid, and at least one porous medium column that receives the flow of the fluid from the inlet line and resists the flow so that a pressure of the fluid at the outlet is less than a pressure of the fluid at the inlet. A pressure sensor is configured to measure a pressure differential between an inlet and outlet of the column, and the sensor is adapted to determine the viscosity of the fluid according to the pressure differential and the permeability of the porous medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Matthew Dean, Jack Berroteran, Sophany Thach, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Will S. Slaughter, Taimur Malik
  • Patent number: 8573299
    Abstract: A method for enhancing oil recovery is disclosed. The method includes providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin and a wellbore in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir. A solution for injection into the reservoir is formed by mixing a composition with at least one non-ionic chemical, at least one polymer, and at least one alkali. The non-ionic chemical can be alcohol alkoxylates such as alkylaryl alkoxy alcohols or alkyl alkoxy alcohols. The solution is solution is clear and aqueous stable when mixed. The solution is injected through the wellbore into the subsurface reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Taimur Malik, Adam Christopher Jackson, Ping Zhao, Oya A. Karazincir, Sophany Thach
  • Publication number: 20120322699
    Abstract: A method for preventing scale formation during an alkaline hydrocarbon recovery process is disclosed. An aqueous solution (e.g., recovered sea water, water produced from the subterranean reservoir, or a combination thereof) having a concentration of metal cations (e.g., calcium, magnesium) is provided. A stoichiometric amount of an organic complexing agent relative to the concentration of metal cations is introduced into the aqueous solution such that the organic complexing agent forms aqueous soluble cation-ligand complexes with the metal cations. At least one alkaline is introduced into the aqueous solution to form an injection fluid having a pH value of at least 10. The cation-ligand complexes remain soluble in the injection fluid such that scale formation is prevented when the injection fluid is injected into a subterranean reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Oya A. Karazincir, Sophany Thach, Wei Wei, Gabriel Prukop, Taimur Malik, Varadarajan Dwarakanath
  • Publication number: 20120097389
    Abstract: A method for enhancing oil recovery is disclosed. The method includes providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin and a wellbore in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir. A solution for injection into the reservoir is formed by mixing a composition with at least one non-ionic chemical, at least one polymer, and at least one alkali. The non-ionic chemical can be alcohol alkoxylates such as alkylaryl alkoxy alcohols or alkyl alkoxy alcohols. The solution is solution is clear and aqueous stable when mixed. The solution is injected through the wellbore into the subsurface reservoir.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Varadarajan DWARAKANATH, Taimur Malik, Adam Christopher Jackson, Ping Zhao, Oya A. Karazincir, Sophany Thach
  • Patent number: 8163678
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enhanced oil recovery formulation which comprises: (a) an alkylaromatic sulfonate; (b) an isomerized olefin sulfonate (c) a solvent; (d) a passivator; and (e) a polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Chevron Oronite Company, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis B. Campbell, Theresa A. Denslow, Gabriel Prukop, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Adam C. Jackson, Taimur Malik, Tanmay Chaturvedi
  • Patent number: 7770641
    Abstract: A method for enhancing oil recovery includes the step of providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin. A wellbore is provided in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir. A surfactant-polymer solution is formed for injection into the reservoir. The surfactant-polymer solution is formed by mixing a composition with at least one surfactant, at least one polymer, and at least one co-solvent or co-surfactant such that the surfactant-polymer solution is clear and aqueous stable. The surfactant-polymer solution is injected through the wellbore into the reservoir. A chaser solution is formed for injection into the reservoir. The chaser solution has an additional predetermined quantity of the co-solvent or co-surfactant. The chaser solution is injected through the injection wellbore into the reservoir to increase the production of hydrocarbons from the reservoir while maintaining the clear and aqueous stability of the surfactant-polymer solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Curtis Bay Campbell, Tanmay Chaturvedi, Theresa Ann Denslow, Adam Jackson, Taimur Malik, Gabriel Prukop, Sophany Thach
  • Publication number: 20090151941
    Abstract: A method for enhancing oil recovery includes the step of providing a subsurface reservoir containing hydrocarbons therewithin. A wellbore is provided in fluid communication with the subsurface reservoir. A surfactant-polymer solution is formed for injection into the reservoir. The surfactant-polymer solution is formed by mixing a composition with at least one surfactant, at least one polymer, and at least one co-solvent or co-surfactant such that the surfactant-polymer solution is clear and aqueous stable. The surfactant-polymer solution is injected through the wellbore into the reservoir. A chaser solution is formed for injection into the reservoir. The chaser solution has an additional predetermined quantity of the co-solvent or co-surfactant. The chaser solution is injected through the injection wellbore into the reservoir to increase the production of hydrocarbons from the reservoir while maintaining the clear and aqueous stability of the surfactant-polymer solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Curtis Bay Campbell, Tanmay Chaturvedi, Theresa Ann Denslow, Adam Jackson, Taimur Malik, Gabriel Prukop, Sophany Thach
  • Publication number: 20090111717
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enhanced oil recovery formulation which comprises: (a) an alkylaromatic sulfonate; (b) an isomerized olefin sulfonate (c) a solvent; (d) a passivator; and (e) a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicants: CHEVRON ORONITE COMPANY LLC, CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Curtis Bay Campbell, Theresa A. Denslow, Gabriel Prukop, Varadarajan Dwarakanath, Adam C. Jackson, Taimur Malik, Tanmay Chaturvedi