Patents by Inventor Upali P. Weerasooriya

Upali P. Weerasooriya 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: 10899693
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In particular, provided herein are co-solvents, as well as aqueous compositions comprising these co-solvents, that can be used for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Patent number: 10876038
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In particular, the short hydrophobe anionic surfactants as well as aqueous compositions comprising these surfactants are provided that can be used for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Patent number: 10190035
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions including a surfactant and a phenol-alkoxylate co-solvent useful in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for oil recovery under a broad range of reservoir conditions (e.g. high to low temperatures, high to low salinity, highly viscous oils).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Patent number: 10167421
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions including a surfactant and a phenol-alkoxylate co-solvent useful in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for oil recovery under a broad range of reservoir conditions (e.g. high to low temperatures, high to low salinity, highly viscous oils).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Patent number: 10106725
    Abstract: Provided herein are inter alia non-surfactant aqueous compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, non-surfactant compositions including light co-solvents and an alkali agent presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Patent number: 9988346
    Abstract: Provided herein are inter alia novel compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, the large hydrophobe compounds and mixtures thereof presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Harcros Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Peter Radford, Howard Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9862877
    Abstract: Provided herein are inter alia novel compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, the short hydrophobe compounds and mixtures thereof presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20170334840
    Abstract: Provided herein are inter alia novel compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, the large hydrophobe compounds and mixtures thereof presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Peter Radford, Howard Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9783729
    Abstract: Provided herein are inter alia novel compositions and methods having application in a variety of fields including the field of enhanced oil recovery, the cleaning industry as well as groundwater remediation. In particular, the alkoxy carboxylate compounds and mixtures thereof presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas Systems
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20170166802
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions including a surfactant and a phenol-alkoxylate co-solvent useful in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for oil recovery under a broad range of reservoir conditions (e.g. high to low temperatures, high to low salinity, highly viscous oils).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20170145293
    Abstract: Provided herein are inter alia non-surfactant aqueous compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, non-surfactant compositions including light co-solvents and an alkali agent presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20160311744
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In particular, provided herein are co-solvents, as well as aqueous compositions comprising these co-solvents, that can be used for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20160264847
    Abstract: Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery (EOR). In particular, the short hydrophobe anionic surfactants as well as aqueous compositions comprising these surfactants are provided that can be used for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Patent number: 9296942
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of synthesis of anionic surfactants by alkoxylation of a Guerbet alcohol (GA) having 12 to 36 carbon atoms using butylene oxide, and optionally propylene oxide and/or ethylene oxide followed by the incorporation of a terminal anionic group are described herein. The GA of the present invention is made by a facile and inexpensive method that involves high temperature base catalyzed dimerization of alcohols with 6 to 18 carbon atoms. The large hydrophobe ether surfactants of the present invention find uses in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications where it is used for solubilization and mobilization of oil and for environmental cleanup. Further, the hydrophobe alkoxylated GA without anionic terminal group can be used as an ultra-high molecular weight non-ionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM, BASF SE
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Christian Bittner, Gunter Oetter, Jack F. Tinsley, Christian Spindler, Gabriela Alvarez Jurgenson, Sophie Vogel
  • Publication number: 20160069168
    Abstract: Provided herein, inter alia, are novel compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, the quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures thereof presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Kishore Mohanty
  • Publication number: 20150361324
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, heavy crude oil emulsion compositions and methods of making the same. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for the transport of heavy crude oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Gary A. Pope, Upali P. Weerasooriya, Nabijan Nizamidin
  • Patent number: 9206347
    Abstract: Provided herein, inter alia, are novel compositions and methods having application in the field of enhanced oil recovery. In particular, the quaternary ammonium compounds and mixtures thereof presented herein can be used, inter alia, for the recovery of a large range of crude oil compositions from challenging reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Kishore Mohanty
  • Patent number: 9175207
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for oil recovery using a surfactant-less alkaline-polymer system in hard water or hard brine is described in the instant invention. The formulation further includes a chelating agent, an alkaline agent (which can be the same as the chelating agent), and a co-solvent. The formulations as disclosed herein are capable of forming a surfactant in-situ resulting in Winsor Type III micro-emulsions of low interfacial tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20150267870
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, heavy crude oil emulsion compositions and methods of making the same. The compositions and methods provided herein are particularly useful for the transport of heavy crude oils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Nabijan Nizamidin, Karasinghe A.N. Upamali, Dharmika S.P. Lansakara-P
  • Publication number: 20150252294
    Abstract: The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using a neat or high active fluid detergent composition comprising: at least one of a neat carboxylate, a neat sulfonate, or a neat sulfate heated to 30° C. or greater, wherein the neat carboxylate (or acid thereof), the neat sulfonate (or acid thereof), or the neat sulfate (or acid thereof) is a solid or a viscous liquid at ambient temperature; a surfactant mixed with the neat carboxylate, neat sulfonate, or neat sulfate, wherein when the mixed composition is reduced to 5° C. to 40° C. it is flowable; and one or more ingredients selected from at least one of one or more buffers, salts, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Gayani W.P. Pinnawala-Arachchilage, Gayani Weerasooriya Kennedy, Pathma Jith Liyanage