Patents by Inventor William B. Walton

William B. Walton 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: 6220352
    Abstract: A process for restoring the injectivity or productivity of a well penetrating a subterranean formation by injecting a micelle treating fluid into the subterranean formation via the well with the micelle treating fluid containing a 2% potassium chloride water solution and a mutual solvent containing alcohol, aromatic hydrocarbon and an alkyl or alkylaryl polyoxyalkylene phosphate ester surfactant, thereafter displacing the micelle treating fluid into the formation by injecting a gas into the well and contacting accumulated asphaltene precipitate and a low-gravity, high-viscosity, asphaltene-based crude in the subterranean formation with the micelle treating fluid to disperse the accumulation of asphaltene and to reduce the viscosity of the low-gravity, high-viscosity, asphaltene-based crude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: ETechMM
    Inventor: William B. Walton
  • Patent number: 6064344
    Abstract: A system for preventing the interruption of satellite communications between an earth antenna and a satellite during inclement weather. The system is comprised of a cover that is adapted to be positioned on the opening of the satellite cover so as to reduce the likelihood of liquid water accumulating on the front reflecting surface of the antenna. The cover and the front reflecting surface further define a space and an air circulation system circulates air in the space. The circulating air increases the air pressure in the space relative to the surrounding atmosphere and pressurized air then travels through the cover and blows water accumulating on the outer surface of the cover off of the outer surface to further reduce the likelihood that accumulations of water on the outer surface of the cover will result in interruptions to satellite communications with the earth based satellite antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: William B. Walton
  • Patent number: 5798735
    Abstract: A system for preventing the interruption of satellite communications between an earth antenna and a satellite during inclement weather. The system is comprised of a cover, which covers the antenna and substantially prevent the accumulation of snow and precipitation on the antenna, and a heating system which provides heated air to a space between the cover and the antenna to inhibit snow from sticking to the cover and also to inhibit the formation of frozen moisture on the cover during freezing rain and freezing fog conditions. In one embodiment, the system has an electric heater and a blower system which draws air from the space between the cover and the antenna, heats this air and then recirculates the heated air back to the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: William B. Walton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5729238
    Abstract: A system for preventing the interruption of satellite communications between an earth antenna and a satellite during inclement weather. The system is comprised of a cover, which covers the antenna and substantially prevents the accumulation of snow and precipitation on the antenna, and a heating system which provides heated air to a space between the cover and the antenna to inhibit snow from sticking to the cover and also to inhibit the formation of frozen moisture on the cover during freezing rain and freezing fog conditions. In one embodiment, the system has an electric, gas or oil heater and a blower system which draws air from the space between the cover and the antenna, heats this air and then recirculates the heated air back to the space. Further, the heating system is equipped with a temperature and moisture sensor unit and a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: William B. Walton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4886609
    Abstract: A method for the removal of scale from the interior of producing oil and gas wells is disclosed. The method comprises introducing a mixture of an aqueous mineral acid, a mutual solvent, and an alkyl or aralkyl polyoxyalkylene phosphate ester to the interior of the well. The phosphate ester maintains the acid and mutual solvent in a micellar emulsion state. The mixture is retained in the well to allow the acid to solubilize the mineral deposits and then the mixture and solubilized mineral deposits are removed from the well interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: GAF Corporation
    Inventor: William B. Walton
  • Patent number: 4813482
    Abstract: A method for removing paraffin from a producing oil well comprising (a) contacting a mixture of a paraffin-dispersing effective amount of an alkyl or aralkyl polyoxyalkylene phosphate ester surfactant in the free acid form, or in the form of the alkali metal, amine, or ammonium salt, a mutual solvent and water, said mixture having a temperature of from about 30.degree. to 40.degree. F. higher than the melting point of the paraffin to be removed, with the interior of the oil well for a period of time sufficient to disperse paraffin within the well into the mixture; and (b)removing the mixture and the paraffin dispersed therein from the interior of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: GAF Corporation
    Inventor: William B. Walton
  • Patent number: 4541483
    Abstract: Crude oil and gas production wells, which no longer produce oil or gas utilizing conventional primary and secondary means of recovery, can be returned to production by treatment comprising addition of a non-aqueous solution of certain phosphate ester surfactants followed by successive treatment with water or a hydrocarbon. Increased production also can be obtained in low-producing oil and gas wells by similar treatment with certain phosphate ester surfactants. Subsequent to treatment of a producer well, the phosphate ester surfactant is forced into the formation utilizing water or a hydrocarbon and said surfactant is allowed to remain in the producing well, for an effective period of at least 12 hours. Thereafter, pumping and/or conventional fluid drive means are then utilized to recover oil or gas from the subterranean oil or gas formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Walton
  • Patent number: 4393935
    Abstract: Gas production wells, which no longer produce gas utilizing conventional primary and secondary means of recovery, can be returned to production by treatment comprising addition of an aqueous solution of certain phosphate ester surfactants followed by successive treatment with water. Increased production also can be obtained in low-producing gas wells by similar treatment with certain phosphate ester surfactants. Subsequent to treatment of a producer well, said phosphate ester surfactant aqueous solution is forced into the formation utilizing water and said surfactant and water mixture is allowed to remain in the producing well, for an effective period of time ranging from not less than 24 hours to one month. Thereafter, conventional fluid drive means are then utilized to recover gas from the subterranean gas formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: BASF Wyandotte Corporation
    Inventor: William B. Walton
  • Patent number: 4368471
    Abstract: Apparatus for cooperation with an associated antenna for prevention of the formation of ice and/or removal of accumulated ice which includes apparatus for enclosing a substantial portion of the convex face of the antenna to define a plenum chamber and apparatus for burning a fuel to create heat. The apparatus for burning is disposed at the plenum chamber. Apparatus is also provided for distributing heated air to the geometric extent of the plenum chamber. The associated antenna may be generally dish shaped and may have a truss supporting frame. The apparatus for enclosing may include a plurality of discrete panels dimensioned and configured for engagement with the truss work of the associated antenna. The invention also includes a bracket that includes a generally U-shaped bracket and a generally planar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1983
    Inventor: William B. Walton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4278129
    Abstract: Crude oil and gas production wells, which no longer produce oil or gas utilizing conventional primary and secondary means of recovery, can be returned to production by treatment comprising addition of an aqueous solution of certain phosphate ester surfactants followed by successive treatment with a hydrocarbon. Increased production also can be obtained in low-producing oil and gas wells by similar treatment with certain phosphate ester surfactants. Subsequent to treatment of a producer well, the phosphate ester surfactant is forced into the formation utilizing a hydrocarbon and said surfactant and hydrocarbon mixture is allowed to remain in the producing well, for an effective period of time ranging from not less than 24 hours to one month. Thereafter, pumping and/or conventional fluid drive means are then utilized to recover oil or gas from the subterranean oil or gas formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: BASF Wyandotte Corporation
    Inventor: William B. Walton