Patents by Inventor Vittoria Balsamo de Hernandez

Vittoria Balsamo de Hernandez 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).

  • Drilling fluids and methods of use
    Patent number: 11124686
    Abstract: Drilling fluid compositions and methods of using them are described. The drilling fluid compositions comprise nanocomposites comprising core-shell morphology, wherein the core material comprises a nanoparticle having an average particle size of about 5 nm to 100 nm, and the shell material comprises a crosslinked polymer comprising acrylamide repeat units. The nanocomposites are effective fluid loss control agents when the drilling fluids are employed in mud drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: ChampionX USA Inc.
    Inventors: Mario Roberto Rojas, Vittoria Balsamo de Hernandez
  • Heavy oil rheology modifiers for flow improvement during production and transportation operations
    Patent number: 10407611
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for enhancing production and transportation of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil and for reducing the growth of asphaltene flocculants or hindering their formation, the methods comprising contacting an oil-soluble composition that comprises polyetheramines, tallow amines, tallow diamines, alkylphenol-formaldehyde resins, reaction products of alpha-olefin, maleic anhydride and pentaerythritol, or a combination thereof, with the heavy or extra-heavy crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, John J. Ibagon, Vittoria Balsamo De Hernandez, Tyler D. Boyd, Joseph Paul Bailey
  • Reverse emulsion breaker copolymers
    Patent number: 10190055
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for resolving water and oil emulsions in the produced fluid of an oil production system comprising adding a structured copolymer reverse emulsion breaker to the produced fluid of the crude oil production system in an amount effective for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion. In particular, these methods for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion can be used in separation processes where the oil and solids in the produced fluid are separated from the produced water in the produced fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Vittoria Balsamo De Hernandez, Jenny L. Phan, Pious Kurian
  • REVERSE EMULSION BREAKER COPOLYMERS
    Publication number: 20170240815
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for resolving water and oil emulsions in the produced fluid of an oil production system comprising adding a structured copolymer reverse emulsion breaker to the produced fluid of the crude oil production system in an amount effective for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion. In particular, these methods for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion can be used in separation processes where the oil and solids in the produced fluid are separated from the produced water in the produced fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Vittoria Balsamo De Hernandez, Jenny L. Phan, Pious Kurian
  • HEAVY OIL RHEOLOGY MODIFIERS FOR FLOW IMPROVEMENT DURING PRODUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS
    Publication number: 20170198204
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for enhancing production and transportation of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil and for reducing the growth of asphaltene flocculants or hindering their formation, the methods comprising contacting an oil-soluble composition that comprises polyetheramines, tallow amines, tallow diamines, alkylphenol-formaldehyde resins, reaction products of alpha-olefin, maleic anhydride and pentaerythritol, or a combination thereof, with the heavy or extra-heavy crude oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Duy T. Nguyen, John J. Ibagon, Vittoria Balsamo De Hernandez, Tyler D. Boyd, Joseph Paul Bailey
  • REVERSE EMULSION BREAKER COPOLYMERS
    Publication number: 20160369170
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for resolving water and oil emulsions in the produced fluid of an oil production system comprising adding a structured copolymer reverse emulsion breaker to the produced fluid of the crude oil production system in an amount effective for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion. In particular, these methods for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion can be used in separation processes where the oil and solids in the produced fluid are separated from the produced water in the produced fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Vittoria Balsamo De Hernandez, Jenny L. Phan, Pious Kurian
  • DRILLING FLUIDS AND METHODS OF USE
    Publication number: 20160362594
    Abstract: Drilling fluid compositions methods of using them are described. The drilling fluid compositions comprise nanocomposites comprising core-shell morphology, wherein the core material comprises a nanoparticle having an average particle size of about 5 nm to 100 nm, and the shell material comprises a crosslinked polymer comprising acrylamide repeat units. The nanocomposites are effective fluid loss control agents when the drilling fluids are employed in mud drilling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Mario Roberto Rojas, Vittoria Balsamo de Hernandez