Patents by Inventor W. Thomas Ballatine

W. Thomas Ballatine 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).

  • Method and apparatus for the injection disposal of solid and liquid waste materials into subpressured earth formations penetrated by a borehole
    Patent number: 5734988
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the disposal of solid particulate material in subterranean formations penetrated by a borehole are disclosed. The invention includes, but is not limited to, the disposal of oil field waste and therefore provides means and methods for the disposal of virtually any type of waste slurry stream. A slurry is formed at the surface of the earth by mixing the solid waste in particulate form with liquid and preferably a viscosifier thereby forming a slurry. A borehole is drilled into a selected injection formation and the slurry is pumped or flowed "on vacuum" from the surface through the borehole and into the injection formation. Some surface pretreating of the slurry may be required including sizing of the particulate solids, adding weighting material, removing excessive amounts of oil and grease and diluting to reduce the level of radioactivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Inventors: Albert H. D. Alexander, W. Thomas Ballatine, Leland D. Lakey, Frank L. Lyon, Stephen A. Marinello
  • Method and apparatus for the injection disposal of solid and liquid waste materials from the drilling and production of oil and gas wells
    Patent number: 5589603
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the disposal of solid particulate material in subterranean formations are disclosed. The invention is not limited to the disposal of oil field waste and therefore provides means and methods for the disposal of virtually any type of waste slurry stream. A slurry is formed at the surface of the earth by mixing the solid waste in particulate form with liquid and viscosifier thereby forming a slurry. A borehole is drilled into a selected injection formation and the slurry is pumped from the surface through the borehole and into the injection formation. Some surface pretreating of the slurry may be required including sizing of the particulate solids, adding weighting material, removing excessive amounts of oil and grease and diluting to reduce the level of radioactivity. The injection formation is preferably dipping in angle with respect to the horizontal and highly fractured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Newpark Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert H. D. Alexander, W. Thomas Ballatine, Leland D. Lakey, Frank L. Lyon