Patents by Inventor Todd R. Thomas

Todd R. Thomas 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: 5846915
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon fracturing fluids are made by combining organic phosphate esters with polyvalent metal salts in hydrocarbon carriers to form gels; breaking of the gel is retarded or otherwise controlled over a wide range of water concentrations through the use of slowly soluble alkaline earth metal compounds, preferably hard burned magnesium oxide, which may be added along with the gel component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5807812
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon fracturing fluids are made by combining organic phosphate esters with polyvalent metal salts in hydrocarbon carriers to form gels; breaking of the gel is retarded or otherwise controlled over a wide range of water concentrations, through the use of slowly soluble alkaline earth metal compounds, preferably hard burned magnesium oxide, which may be added along with the gel component. The slowly soluble alkaline earth metal compound is employed together with an oily acid breaker retarding agent such as tall oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5766309
    Abstract: Solid gas-drying forms are made by heating drying salts with a polar solvent to form a saturated solution, then cooling, freezing and forming. Preferred salts are combinations of calcium and lithium bromides and chlorides in particularly effective molar ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5733841
    Abstract: Solid gas-drying forms are made by heating drying salts with a polar solvent to form a saturated solution, then cooling, freezing and forming. Preferred salts are combinations of calcium and lithium bromides and chlorides in particularly effective molar ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5607902
    Abstract: Swelling and migration of subterranean clay is inhibited during drilling for and stimulation of the production of hydrocarbon fluids, and preparation therefor, by treating said formations with a copolymer of about 5% to about 50% of an anionic monomer such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, or 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid and the balance a cationic monomer selected from dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, or acryloxy or methacryloxy ethyl, propyl or 3-methyl butyl trimethyl ammonium chlorides or methosulfates. Permeability damage to the formation is reduced in the presence of the copolymer; it is particularly effective in spite of the presence of a foaming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: ClearWater, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Smith, Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5591701
    Abstract: In the removal of particulates from a wellbore, such as in air drilling for hydrocarbon recovery, a mixture of an amphoteric foaming agent and, typically, an anionic surfactant is employed. An aqueous solution thereof having a pH of at least 9.5 is used to generate a foam for removing the particulates; then the foam is collapsed by the introduction of acid to reduce the pH below about 4, the particles are removed mechanically, the pH is restored to greater than 9.5, and the foaming solution is returned to the wellbore. The solution may be used several times; partial losses of foaming agent in the process may be easily replenished with each cycle. Cationic surfactants may be used instead of anionic, with foaming and foam collapse being controlled at opposite pH's. Savings are realized in water, drilling chemicals, and settling pits and the like for removing particulates from the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5385206
    Abstract: In the removal of particulates from a wellbore, such as in air drilling for hydrocarbon recovery, a mixture of an amphoteric foaming agent and, typically, an anionic surfactant is employed. An aqueous solution thereof having a pH of at least 9.5 is used to generate a foam for removing the particulates; then the foam is collapsed by the introduction of acid to reduce the pH below about 4, the particles are removed mechanically, the pH is restored to greater than 9.5, and the foaming solution is returned to the wellbore. The solution may be used several times; partial losses of foaming agent in the process may be easily replenished with each cycle. Cationic surfactants may be used instead of anionic, with foaming and foam collapse being controlled at opposite pH's. Savings are realized in water, drilling chemicals, and settling pits and the like for removing particulates from the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd R. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5211239
    Abstract: Moulding and migration of subterranean clay is inhibited during stimulation of the production of hydrocarbon fluids, and preparation therefor, by treating said formations with a compound of the formula (CH.sub.2 .dbd.CH-CH.sub.2).sub.n N+(CH.sub.3).sub.4-n X.sup.- where X may be any anion which does not adversely react with the formation or treatment fluid and n is an integer from 1 to 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd R. Thomas, Kevin W. Smith