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).

  • Publication number: 20150252247
    Abstract: The present invention includes a high active or neat, flowable surfactant composition and methods of making and using the same for enhanced oil recovery 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, the neat sulfonate, or the neat sulfate is a solid or a viscous liquid at ambient temperature; and 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.
    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
  • Patent number: 9127210
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions including a surfactant and a novel compound useful in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions and methods provided herein may be 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: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Taminco US Inc.
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Robin Matton, John Mitchell, Peter Roose
  • Patent number: 9109152
    Abstract: The present invention describes the method of making an ether sulfate surfactant solution hydrolytically stable by adding one or more alkalinity generating agents at levels greater than 0.05%. The surfactant solutions of the present invention have half-lives >8 months at 100° C. and find uses in EOR applications, environmental cleanups, detergent industry, and any other surfactant based high temperature applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Quoc P. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20150197684
    Abstract: Provided herein, inter alia, are methods and compositions useful for heavy crude oil recovery. The emulsion compositions and non-surfactant aqueous compositions provided herein may be particularly useful for the recovery of heavy crude oils under a broad range of reservoir conditions (e.g. high to low temperatures, high to low salinity, highly viscous oils).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20150105301
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20150048007
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions and methods for enhanced oil recovery in the presence of multivalent mineral cations. The aqueous and emulsion compositions provided herein include a boron oxygenate and may be useful for the recovery of unrefined petroleum materials from mineral-bearing reservoirs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Kishore Mohanty, Himanshu Sharma
  • Publication number: 20140364347
    Abstract: The present invention describes the synthesis and use of cleavable di-functional anionic surfactants for enhanced oil recovery applications and/or the use of sacrificial surfactants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
    Inventors: GARY A. POPE, UPALI P. WEERASOORIYA, QUOC P. NGUYEN, LARRY N. BRITTON
  • Publication number: 20140317999
    Abstract: Provided herein, inter alia, are methods and compositions useful for heavy crude oil recovery. The emulsion compositions and non-surfactant aqueous compositions provided herein may be particularly useful for the recovery of heavy crude oils under a broad range of reservoir conditions (e.g. high to low temperatures, high to low salinity, highly viscous oils).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20140323369
    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: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Nabijan Nizamidin, Karasinghe A.N. Upamali, Dharmika S.P. Lansakara-P
  • Publication number: 20140319026
    Abstract: Provided herein are, inter alia, compositions including a surfactant and a novel compound useful in enhanced oil recovery. The compositions and methods provided herein may be 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: April 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Robin Matton, John Mitchell, Peter Roose
  • Patent number: 8841241
    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: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, BASF SE
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Christian Bittner, Guenter Oetter, Jack F. Tinsley, Christian Spindler, Gabriela Alvarez-Jurgenson, Sophie Maitro-Vogel
  • Patent number: 8822391
    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: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20140238679
    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: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Gary A. Pope, Upali P. Weerasooriya, Nabijan Nizamidin
  • Publication number: 20140238671
    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, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20140182851
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: BASF SE, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Christian Bittner, Gunter Oetter, Jack F. Tinsley, Christian Spindler, Gabriela Alvarez Jurgenson, Sophie Vogel
  • Publication number: 20130277276
    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: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Kishore Mohanty
  • Publication number: 20130281327
    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: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope
  • Publication number: 20130252855
    Abstract: Aqueous compositions including a mild alkaline agent (i.e. compound of formula (I) or (V)) and a surfactant are provided. The compositions and methods of using the same are particularly useful in the field of enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope, Mojdeh Delshad
  • Patent number: 8459360
    Abstract: The present invention describes the synthesis and use of cleavable di-functional anionic surfactants for enhanced oil recovery applications and/or the use of sacrificial surfactants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Gary A. Pope, Upali P. Weerasooriya, Quoc P. Nguyen, Larry N. Britton
  • Patent number: 8372788
    Abstract: A method of making a styryl phenol alkoxylate sulfate surfactant by alkoxylation of a styryl phenol using propylene oxide (PO) and/or ethylene oxide (EO) followed by a sulfation reaction. The styrylphenol alkoxylate sulfate surfactant of the present invention is made by a facile and inexpensive method. The large hydrophobe surfactants of the present invention find uses in EOR applications where it is used for solubilization and mobilization of oil optionally containing asphaltene, and for environmental cleanup. Further, the unsulfated version of the large hydrophobe styrylphenol alkoxylate surfactant of the present invention can be used as an ultra-high molecular weight non-ionic surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Upali P. Weerasooriya, Gary A. Pope