Did You Know...
...that one person who claimed to be the inventor of the television is Russian emigre Vladimir Zworykin? In 1929 David Sarnoff, founder of RCA, asked Zworykin what it would take to develop TV for commercial use. He said: a year and a half and $100,000. In reality, it took 20 years and $50 million! Before his death in 1982 at the age of 92, Zworykin said of his invention: "The technique is wonderful. It is beyond my expectations. But the programs! I would never let my children even come close to this thing."
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8132628 | Methods for increasing oil production A method of recovering petroleum from dormant oil wells or increasing the production of oil wells. An alkali or alkali earth carbonate is introduced into a water layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir and/or an explosive composition is introduced i... | 03/13/2012 |
| 7338924 | Oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion An oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion (O/W/O) comprising a first oil-in-water emulsion dispersed in a second oil, and a method of preparing the same. The O/W/O emulsion can be used as a drive fluid in an enhanced oil recovery process. The O/W/O emulsion of this invention ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7287586 | Compositions and methods for plugging and sealing a subterranean formation The invention provides for a composition for treating a subterranean formation, the composition comprising a water-swellable agent and a sealing agent. Preferably, the water-swellable agent: i) absorbs greater than 100 weight % of water; and ii) swells to greater th... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284604 | Methods for measurement of a dimensional characteristic and methods of predictive modeling related thereto A method of optically determining a change in magnitude of at least one dimensional characteristic of a sample in response to a selected chamber environment. A magnitude of at least one dimension of the at least one sample may be optically determined subsequent to a... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7256160 | Fracturing fluids for delayed flow back operations It has been discovered that certain fracturing fluid compositions can be used to fracture a subterranean formation and be permitted to stay within the formation for a relatively extended period of time, for example 28 days or more, before being flowed back or produc... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7243720 | Inhibiting breakthrough of driving fluid via a permeable geological layer into an oil production well A method for selectively reducing the permeability of one or more relatively permeable geological layers of an oil-bearing formation, to inhibit breakthrough of driving fluid from a driving fluid injection well via at least one of said layers into an oil production ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7201221 | Wellbores utilizing fiber optic-based sensors and operating devices This invention provides a method for controlling production operations using fiber optic devices. An optical fiber carrying fiber-optic sensors is deployed downhole to provide information about downhole conditions. Parameters related to the chemicals being used for ... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7188673 | Process for reducing the production of water in oil wells A process is described for reducing the production of water in oil wells which comprises the injection into the formation around the well of an aqueous solution of one or more polymers selected from those having general formula (I), wherein: n ranges from 0.70 to 0.... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185702 | Methods and compositions for the in-situ thermal stimulation of hydrocarbons using peroxide-generating compounds One embodiment provides a method for stimulating hydrocarbon production in a subterranean formation, comprising: introducing a peroxide-generating compound into a desired location in a subterranean formation, wherein the peroxide-generating compound is substantially... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7186673 | Stability enhanced water-in-oil emulsion and method for using same A method for enhancing the stability of a water-in-oil emulsion pretreating at least a portion of the oil prior to emulsification. The pretreatment step may consist of adding polymers to the oil, biotreating the oil, photochemically treating the oil, or combinations... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7147057 | Loop systems and methods of using the same for conveying and distributing thermal energy into a wellbore Systems and methods are provided for treating a wellbore using a loop system to heat oil in a subterranean formation contacted by the wellbore. The loop system comprises a loop that conveys a fluid (e.g., steam) down the wellbore via a injection conduit and returns ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7128150 | Acid gas disposal method This invention is method of recovering gas from a gas-bearing subterranean formation in which gas is produced from an upper portion of the formation and a waste gas is injected into a lower portion of the formation to dispose of the waste gas. The waste gas is injec... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7121339 | Solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing same A solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing the solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion is formed by combining oil, water, solid particles and a pH enhancing agent and mixing until the solid-stabilized oil-in-water... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7084094 | Process for altering the relative permeability if a hydrocarbon-bearing formation A process for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation having at least one hydrocarbon bearing zone and at least one water bearing zone wherein the ratio of the permeability of the hydrocarbon bearing zone(s) to the permeability of the water bearing zone(s) is in th... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7004253 | Process for reducing the production of water in oil wells A process is described for reducing the production of water in oil wells, with temperatures of up to (90° C.), which comprises the injection in the formation around the well of an aqueous solution of one or more polymers selected from those having general formula (... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6994166 | Composition and method for diversion agents for acid stimulation of subterranean formations It has been discovered that solid, particulate dicarboxylic acids are useful as diverting agents in methods for acidizing subterranean formations to improve the uniformity of the acid treatments (acid displacement) by diverting acid to intervals of relatively less p... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6992048 | Methods of generating gas in well treating fluids The present invention relates to methods of generating gas in and foaming well treating fluids during pumping of the treating fluids or after the treating fluids are placed in a subterranean zone, or both. A method of the present invention provides a method of makin... | 01/31/2006 |
| 6951248 | Method of separating oil from geological formations A method for separating oil from geological formations by application of an aqueous oxidant. The oxidant breaks the interfacial attraction between the oil phase and the geological formation and also produces ketone moieties which assist in separating the oil phase f... | 10/04/2005 |
| 6911418 | Method for treating a subterranean formation A method for increasing the permeability of a subterranean formation is disclosed in which an amount of an aqueous mixture, sufficient to increase the permeability of the formation, comprising specified aminopolycarboxylic anionic species, and specified cationic spe... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6889766 | Methods for passing a swelling agent into a reservoir to block undesirable flow paths during oil production A method for recovering oil from a reservoir is provided. This method comprises passing a swelling agent into a permeable zone of the reservoir that allows fluid to flow between an injection well and a producing well. An aqueous solution is passed into the reservoir... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6828280 | Methods for stimulating hydrocarbon production Methods are provided for stimulation of hydrocarbon production from low permeability formations by hydraulic fracturing, acid fracturing, and hydraulic fracturing followed by gravel packing in a single operation. The methods use a first injected viscous pad made wit... | 12/07/2004 |
| 6782946 | Method and apparatus for injecting one or more fluids into a borehole A method and an apparatus for injecting a fluid into a borehole. The method includes the step of injecting an injection fluid into a primary injection zone in a borehole at an injection fluid pressure. The primary injection zone is bounded by a proximal injection zo... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6637512 | Soap stick launcher and method for launching soap sticks A stick launcher and method for launching soap sticks into a gas or oil well. The stick launcher comprises a containment vessel adapted to house the soap sticks, the containment vessel comprising a contiguous wall and a top and a bottom. A turret-style se... | 10/28/2003 |
| 6492305 | Method of controlling loss of a subterranean treatment fluid Selectively cross-linked starches are disclosed that are useful as fluid loss control additives in subterranean treatment fluids comprising starches that cross-linked to a Brabender peak viscosity of about 800 to about 1250 Brabender units after about 40 ... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6474413 | Process for the reduction of the relative permeability to water in oil-bearing formations A process for the selective and controlled reduction of permeability to water in oil-bearing formations made up of sandstone or limestone, the process comprising the injection of a slug of polymer aqueous solutions having a polarity opposite to the polari... | 11/05/2002 |
| 6387278 | Increasing subterranean mobilization of organic contaminants and petroleum by aqueous thermal oxidation In situ hydrous pyrolysis/partial oxidation of organics at the site of the organics constrained in an subsurface reservoir produces surfactants that can form an oil/water emulsion that is effectively removed from an underground formation. The removal of t... | 05/14/2002 |
| 6354381 | Method of generating heat and vibration in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation A method for recovering oil in a reservoir by generating chemical microexplosions in the reservoir. The invention treats the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir by decomposing in situ at least one imidazolidone derivative, thereby generating heat, shock, and CO... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6230814 | Process for enhancing hydrocarbon mobility using a steam additive A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprises injecting steam and an additive into the formation. The additive has at least one nonaqueous fluid, which is selected so that the evaporation temperature of the additive is within... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6227296 | Method to reduce water saturation in near-well region This invention provides a method for reducing the water saturation in the near-well region. Along with various well treatment possibilities, one application of this invention increases the injectivity rate of a substantially nonaqueous fluid into a subter... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6068054 | Oil recovery method using an emulsion The disclosed invention provides a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation by injecting an emulsion, comprising oil and water, into the formation. More specifically, the emulsion is stabilized using undissolved solid particles, wh... | 05/30/2000 |
| 5911276 | Use of unmodified kraft lignin, an amine and a water-soluble sulfonate composition in enhanced oil recovery A method for the enhanced recovery of oil comprises injecting into an oil-containing formation an aqueous surfactant system having at least (1) a blend containing an unmodified Kraft lignin, an oil-soluble amine and a water-soluble sulfonate, and (2) wate... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5638902 | Water flow obstruction process The present invention provides a method for restricting a fluid flow path in subterranean geological formations to facilitate the removal of hydrocarbons from the subterranean geological formation during enhanced oil recovery techniques. The method includ... | 06/17/1997 |
| 5609206 | Plant derived catechol complexes and processes Plant derived catechol complexes are useful in a wide variety of applications and compositions, particularly, processes for the recovery of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs, the recovery of precious metals from difficult to process ores an... | 03/11/1997 |
| 5575334 | Copper and zinc recovery process from sulfide ores A process for recovering at least one of copper or zinc metal from an ore containing metal sulfide material is disclosed. The process involves the use of promoting amounts of certain plant derived ortho-quinone and/or catechol iron complexes containing co... | 11/19/1996 |
| 5368101 | Method for reducing retention of a displacement agent and application to assisted recovery of hydrocarbons A method for reducing retention of a polymer based displacement agent injected into a hydrocarbon containing rock matrix involves treating the matrix with an adsorbent solution containing alkali metal phosphates after the rock matrix comprising clays has ... | 11/29/1994 |
| 5363913 | Injection of sequestering agents for subterranean microbial processes A novel process for sustaining microbial activity in subterranean formations which comprises introducing in addition to microbial nutrients, a sequestering anion. This process may include the sequential injection of sources of individual nutrient componen... | 11/15/1994 |
| 5360064 | Injection of organic phosphates for subterranean microbial processes The present invention provides a process for sustaining microbial activity in subterranean formations which comprises introducing as a microbial nutrient, an organic phosphate, This process may include the sequential injection of sources of individual nut... | 11/01/1994 |
| 5337820 | Injection of scale inhibitors for subterranean microbial processes A novel process for sustaining microbial activity in subterranean formations which comprises introducing as a microbial nutrient, a scale inhibitor. This process may include the sequential injection of sources of individual nutrient components which are d... | 08/16/1994 |
| 5327967 | Utilization of phosphite salts as nutrients for subterranean microbial processes A novel process for sustaining microbial activity in subterranean formations which comprises introducing as a microbial nutrient, a phosphite salt. This process may include the sequential injection of sources of individual nutrient components which are de... | 07/12/1994 |
| 5297625 | Biochemically enhanced oil recovery and oil treatment This invention relates to the preparation of new, modified organisms, through challenge growth processes, that are viable in the extreme temperature, pressure and pH conditions and salt concentrations of an oil reservoir and that are suitable for use in m... | 03/29/1994 |
