Patents by Inventor Thomas Paul Lockhart
Thomas Paul Lockhart 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: 9884299Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 6, 2018Assignees: ENI S.p.A., POLIMERI EUROPA S.p.A.Inventors: Lucilla Del Gaudio, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alessandra Belloni, Rossella Bortolo, Roberto Tassinari
-
Patent number: 8709982Abstract: The invention relates to the use of quaternary polyamines having formula (I) for the recovery of oil from reservoirs formula (I), wherein n>=1 R1 represents H, CH3, CH2CH3, CnH2n+1 R2 represents H2CHOHCH2, CH2, CH2CH?CH2 R3 represents CH3, CH2CH3, CnH2n+1 R4 represents CH2, CH2CH?CH2 when R2 and R4 are allyl group, they can jointly form aliphatic cyclic structures, the ratio between the carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms (C/N) ranges from 2 to 30.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2008Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: ENI S.p.A.Inventors: Lucilla Del Gaudio, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Emanuele Vignati
-
Publication number: 20130209527Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface--active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2013Publication date: August 15, 2013Inventors: Lucilla DEL GAUDIO, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alessandra Belloni, Rossella Bortolo, Roberto Tassinari
-
Patent number: 8431620Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: April 30, 2013Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Polimeri Europa S.p.A.Inventors: Lucilla Del Gaudio, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alessandra Belloni, Rossella Bortolo, Roberto Tassinari
-
Patent number: 8381752Abstract: For reducing the restart pressure of streams selected from waxy crude oils, water-in-crude emulsions and dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates, at least partially structured, a mechanic disturbance is applied, in flow-stop conditions, on the streams. The temperatures are lower than the WAT (Wax Appearance Temperature) for the waxy crude oils and water-in-crude emulsions. The temperatures are also lower than the forming temperatures of the hydrates and pressures higher than the forming pressure of the hydrates, for the dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: ENI S.p.A.Inventors: Paolo D'Antona, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alberto Di Lullo
-
Publication number: 20110162722Abstract: For reducing the restart pressure of streams selected from waxy crude oils, water-in-crude emulsions and dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates, at least partially structured, a mechanic disturbance is applied, in flow-stop conditions, on the streams, The temperatures are lower than the WAT (Wax Appearance Temperature) for the waxy crude oils and water-in-crude emulsions. The temperatures are laso lower than the forming temperatures of said hydrates and pressures higher than the forming pressure of said hydrates, for the dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: July 7, 2011Applicant: ENI S.P. A.Inventors: Paolo D'ANTONA, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alberto Di Lullo
-
Patent number: 7896020Abstract: A process for reducing the restart pressure of streams selected from waxy crude oils, water-in-crude emulsions and dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates, at least partially structured. A mechanic disturbance is applied, in flow-stop conditions, on the streams, having: temperatures lower than the WAT (Wax Appearance Temperature) for the waxy crude oils and water-in-crude emulsions; temperatures lower than the forming temperatures of the hydrates and pressures higher than the forming pressure of the hydrates, for the dispersions of hydrocarbon hydrates.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: ENI S.p.A.Inventors: Paolo D'Antona, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alberto Di Lullo
-
Publication number: 20100120638Abstract: The invention relates to the use of quaternary polyamines having formula (I) for the recovery of oil from reservoirs formula (I), wherein n>=1 R1 represents H, CH3, CH2CH3, CnH2n+1 R2 represents H2CHOHCH2, CH2, CH2CH?CH2 R3 represents CH3, CH2CH3, CnH2n+1 R4 represents CH2, CH2CH?CH2 when R2 and R4 are allyl group, they can jointly form aliphatic cyclic structures, the ratio between the carbon atoms and nitrogen atoms (C/N) ranges from 2 to 30.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2008Publication date: May 13, 2010Applicant: ENI S.P.A.Inventors: Lucilla Del Gaudio, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Emanuele Vignati
-
Patent number: 7588527Abstract: Process for the disposal of sulfur in the liquid state which comprises: a) transforming elemental sulfur into sulfanes having the general formula H2Sn+1, wherein n is a number from 1 to 7; b) optionally mixing elemental sulfur in powder form with the liquid sulfanes, up to such a concentration as to guarantee the pumpability of the mixture; c) injecting the sulfanes liquid at room temperature into geological formations having a temperature lower than 150° C.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2004Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignees: ENI S.p.A., ENITECNOLOGIE S.p.A.Inventors: Alberto De Angelis, Paolo Pollesel, Giuseppe Bellussi, Thomas Paul Lockhart
-
Patent number: 7550132Abstract: Process for the production of sulfur, obtained in pure form, and possibly easily disposable even at ambient temperature, starting from hydrogen sulphide contained in natural gas, which includes: a) oxidizing a portion of hydrogen sulphide to sulfur dioxide; b) dissolving in water the sulfur dioxide obtained in step (a); c) carrying out the reaction (I): 2H2S+SO2?3S+2H2O (I) making the remaining hydrogen sulphide to react with the solution prepared in step (b); and d) using the thus obtained sulfur suspension for the production sulfur or, alternatively, to use it for the disposal of the sulfur itself in a site reserved for such purpose.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: ENI S.p.A.Inventors: Alberto De Angelis, Mauro Palazzina, Paolo Pollesel, Sandra Cobianco, Thomas Paul Lockhart
-
Publication number: 20090118380Abstract: Process for the preparation of a water-in-oil or oil-in-water nanoemulsion wherein the dispersed phase is distributed in the dispersing phase in the form of droplets having a diameter ranging from 1 to 500 nm, comprising: 1) the preparation of a homogeneous water/oil blend (I) characterized by an interface tension lower than 1 mN/m, comprising water in an amount of 30 to 70% by weight, at least two surface-active agents having a different HLB, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, said surface-active agents being present in such a quantity as to make the blend homogeneous; 2) the dilution of the blend (I) in a dispersing phase consisting of oil or water with the addition of a surface-active agent, selected from non-ionic, anionic, polymeric surface-active agents, the quantity of the dispersing phase and surface-active agent being such as to obtain a nanoemulsion having a HLB different from that of the blend (I).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicants: ENI S.P.A., POLIMERI EUROPA S.P.A.Inventors: Lucilla Del Gaudio, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alessandra Belloni, Rossella Bortolo, Roberto Tassinari
-
Patent number: 7188673Abstract: A process is described for reducing the production of water in oil wells which comprises the injection into the formation around the well of an aqueous solution of one or more polymers selected from those having general formula (I), wherein: n ranges from 0.70 to 0.98; m ranges from 0.30 to 0.02; n+m=1; X1 and X2, the same or different, are selected from H and CH3; R1, R2, R3, the same or different, are selected from C1–C10 monofunctional hydrocarbyl groups; and x ranges from 2 to 5.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2006Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignees: Eni S.p.A., Enitechnologie S.p.A.Inventors: Luisa Chiappa, Maria Andrei, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Giovanni Burrafato, Giuseppe Maddinelli
-
Patent number: 7004253Abstract: A process is described for reducing the production of water in oil wells, with temperatures of up to (90° C.), which comprises the injection in the formation around the well of an aqueous solution of one or more polymers selected from those having general formula (I) wherein: n ranges from (0.40) to (0.70), preferably from (0.5) to (0.65); m ranges from (0.15) to (0.65), preferably from (0.3) to (0.5); p ranges from (0.02) to (0.20), preferably from (0.05) to (0.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignees: Eni S.p.A., Enitecnologie S.p.A.Inventors: Luisa Chiappa, Maria Andrei, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Giovanni Burrafato, Giuseppe Maddinelli
-
Publication number: 20040144542Abstract: A process is described for reducing the production of water in oil wells, with temperatures of up to (90° C.), which comprises the injection in the formation around the well of an aqueous solution of one or more polymers selected from those having general formula (I) wherein: n ranges from (0.40) to (0.70), preferably from (0.5) to (0.65); m ranges from (0.15) to (0.65), preferably from (0.3) to (0.5); p ranges from (0.02) to (0.20), preferably from (0.05) to (0.10); n+m+p=1; x1 is selected from H and CH3; R1, R2 the same or different, are selected from C1-C10 monofunctional hydrocarbyl groups.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Luisa Chiappa, Maria Andrei, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Giovanni Burrafato, Giuseppe Maddinelli
-
Patent number: 6499539Abstract: Process for reducing the adsorption of hydrosoluble polymers onto rock matrix, which comprises putting the rock matrix in contact with an aqueous solution of polymers containing sacrificial agents, preferably selected from ionic and non-ionic oligomeric surface-active agents. In the preferred embodiment the surface-active agents are non-ionic.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2000Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Enitechnologie S.p.A.Inventors: Sandra Cobianco, Thomas Paul Lockhart, Alessandro Lezzi, Alberto Guarneri