Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7350571 | Methods of preparing and using coated particulates The present invention involves methods of preparing coated particulates and using such coated particulates in subterranean applications such as production enhancement and sand control. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of preparing coated par... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7316991 | Composition and process for oil extraction The invention relates to a composition for use in the extraction of oil and to a method of extracting oil using the composition. The composition comprises components A, B and C in which: A is a first solid hydrophobic material which is in-soluble in an organic solve... | 01/08/2008 |
| 7267291 | Additive for increasing the density of an oil-based fluid and fluid comprising such additive A wellbore fluid having an oleaginous phase and an additive for increasing the density of the wellbore fluid. The additive comprises solid colloidal particles coated with a dispersant during the comminution process of forming the particles. Exemplary starting materi... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7132389 | Acid-coated sand for gravel pack and filter cake clean-up A method of the preparation and utilization of polymerized alpha-hydroxycarboxylic-acid-coated proppants for gravel pack and removal of filter cake that was deposited by reservoir drilling fluid. In a preferred example, polyglycolic-acid-coated sand is used to repla... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7096944 | Well fluids and methods of use in subterranean formations The present invention relates to improved well fluids that include hollow particles, and to methods of using such improved well fluids in subterranean cementing operations. The present invention provides methods of cementing, methods of reducing annular pressure, an... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7033975 | Use of surface-modified nanoparticles for oil recovery The present invention provides the use of surface-modified nanoparticles in fluids used to recover hydrocarbon from underground formations. The use of surface-modified nanoparticles in such fluids provides foams that are stable under pressure yet have a shorter foam... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6906009 | Drilling fluid containing microspheres and use thereof The present invention provides a drilling fluid composition and a method of drilling comprising a drilling fluid, which may be oil- or water-based, and a composite microsphere component. The invention drilling fluid composition advantageously reduces the density of ... | 06/14/2005 |
| 6887833 | Oil based compositions and method for temporarily sealing subterranean zones The present invention provides oil based compositions and methods of using the compositions for temporarily sealing subterranean zones. The compositions are basically comprised of oil, a hydratable polymer, an organophilic clay, a water-swellable clay, and an acid s... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6884760 | Water based wellbore fluids The invention relates to water based wellbore fluids used during a hydrocarbon recovery process, such as drilling, fracturing, gravel packing and wellbore workover. According to the present invention, said wellbore fluid comprises a fluid loss additive and a bridgin... | 04/26/2005 |
| 6817414 | Acid coated sand for gravel pack and filter cake clean-up A method of the preparation and utilization of polymerized alpha-hydroxycarboxylic-acid-coated proppants for gravel pack and removal of filter cake that was deposited by reservoir drilling fluid. In a preferred example, polyglycolic-acid-coated sand is used to repla... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6764980 | Coated products and use thereof in oil fields An oil field production chemical, especially a scale inhibitor, is in the form of particles thereof carrying a coating e.g. of a dispersing agent. The coating may be polymeric such as an oligomeric polyacid polyester, a polymeric alkoxylated alcohol or a fatty acid ... | 07/20/2004 |
| 6762156 | Reactive cement compositions for sealing hydrocarbon containing subterranean zones and methods The present invention provides improved reactive cement compositions for sealing hydrocarbon containing subterranean zones and methods of using the cement compositions. The sealing compositions are basically comprised of water, a hydraulic cement, an organophillic c... | 07/13/2004 |
| 6569815 | Composition for aqueous viscosification The invention includes a composition of matter for increasing the viscosity of an aqueous fluid and for recovering oil from a subterranean formation. It also includes methods for making and using the composition.... | 05/27/2003 |
| 6555507 | Sealing subterranean zones The present invention provides improved compositions and methods of using the compositions for sealing subterranean zones. The compositions are basically comprised of water, an aqueous rubber latex, an organophillic clay, sodium carbonate, an epoxy resin ... | 04/29/2003 |
| 6521678 | Process for the preparation of organoclays A method for preparing organoclays from smectites for use as rheological control agents and in the preparation of nanocomposites. Typically, the clay is dispersed in water, and a substantially monomolecular layer of a water soluble polymer is applied to t... | 02/18/2003 |
| 6462096 | Organophilic clay additives and oil well drilling fluids with less temperature dependent rheological properties containing said additives Conventional organophilic clays, when used as rheological additives in oil based invert muds, display marked viscosity loses in the mud when these muds are heated much above 350° F., whereas muds prepared according to the present invention are dramatical... | 10/08/2002 |
| 6271181 | Sealing subterranean zones The present invention provides improved compositions and methods of using the compositions for sealing subterranean zones. The compositions are basically comprised of water, an aqueous rubber latex, an organophillic clay, sodium carbonate, an epoxy resin ... | 08/07/2001 |
| 6172121 | Process for preparing organoclays for aqueous and polar-organic systems A process for preparing organoclays as thixotropic agents to control the rheology of water-based paints and other aqueous and polar-organic systems. The process relates to treating low-grade clay ores to achieve highly purified organoclays and/or to incor... | 01/09/2001 |
| 6167967 | Methods of sealing subterranean zones The present invention provides improved methods of sealing a subterranean zone to remedy the uncontrolled flow of fluids into and out of the zone. The methods basically comprise preparing a sealing composition and placing the composition into the zone to ... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6156808 | Defoaming compositions and methods The present invention provides improved defoaming compositions and methods. The compositions of the invention are basically comprised of polypropylene glycol, particulate hydrophobic silica and a liquid diluent.... | 12/05/2000 |
| 6130256 | Organoclay thickener compatible with system to be thickened An organophilic clay thickener for natural oil systems comprising the reaction product of a smectite-type clay and an organic cation in an amount of from about 75% to about 150% of the cation exchange capacity of the smectite-type clay. Said organophilic ... | 10/10/2000 |
| 6060434 | Oil based compositions for sealing subterranean zones and methods The present invention provides oil based compositions and methods of using the compositions for sealing subterranean zones. The compositions are basically comprised of oil, a hydratable polymer, an organophillic clay and a water-swellable clay.... | 05/09/2000 |
| 6024170 | Methods of treating subterranean formation using borate cross-linking compositions The present invention provides improved methods of treating subterranean formations using borate cross-linking compositions and borate cross-linked well treating fluids. The borate cross-linking compositions are basically comprised of a low viscosity hydr... | 02/15/2000 |
| 5939475 | Organic fluid systems containing clay/polyamide compositions A novel pourable organophilic clay polyamide composition useful as a rheological additive for organic fluid system comprising a) from about 5 to 15 weight percent of an organophilicly modified smectite-type clay, b) from about 25 to about 35 weight percent of ... | 08/17/1999 |
| 5913364 | Methods of sealing subterranean zones The present invention provides improved methods of sealing a subterranean zone to remedy the uncontrolled flow of fluids into and out of the zone. The methods basically comprise preparing a sealing composition and placing the composition into the zone to ... | 06/22/1999 |
| 5837654 | High temperature environmentally benign drilling fluid, and viscosifying additives for use therewith An oil base environmentally benign drilling fluid composition having a stable high viscosity and high gel strength at use temperatures of up to at least 450° F. The drilling fluid includes a low toxicity biodegradable oil vehicle, and as a viscosifying a... | 11/17/1998 |
| 5677267 | Thixotropic fluid for well insulation A thixotropic thermal insulating fluid includes a heavy hydrocarbon, water and oleophilic clay, wherein said heavy hydrocarbon is present in an amount of between about 75% to about 92% by volume of the fluid, said water is present in an amount of between ... | 10/14/1997 |
| 5646092 | Pretreated clays, their preparation and use in formulation drilling muds not aggressive to layer clays Disclosed is a process for preparing aqueous, clay-based muds, not aggressive to layer clays, which process comprises a first step in which clay is treated with an aqueous solution containing the necessary amount of dispersant to fluidify the mud; a secon... | 07/08/1997 |
| 5376629 | Oil-based drilling muds comprising a weighting agent having a siloxane or silane coating thereon An oil based drilling mud comprises (a) a base oil, (b) about 1 to about 170 parts by weight of an aqueous phase per 100 parts by weight of the oil, (c) about 0.25-40 g/l of at least one viscosifier, and (d) a hydrophobic weighting agent in amount suffici... | 12/27/1994 |
| 4888120 | Water-based drilling and well-servicing fluids with swellable, synthetic layer silicates Synthetic swellable layer silicates corresponding to the following formula MgO.aMA.bAl2 O3.cSiO.sub.2.nH.sub.2 O (I) in which M is Na+ and Li+ having an Na:Li ratio of at least 1; A is F-, OH- ... | 12/19/1989 |
| 4843048 | Organophilic clay compositions Organophilic clays which are effective fluid loss control additives for oil base well-working fluids are prepared from a swelling smectite clay and one or more phosphatides. Preferred phosphatides are phosphoglycerides obtained from vegetable oils, most p... | 06/27/1989 |
| 4790954 | Mixed metal hydroxide-clay adducts as thickeners for water and other hydrophylic fluids Novel compositions useful as fluid gelling agents, especially for use in subterranean applications such as drilling fluids, are prepared by reacting an aqueous dispersion of a clay, such as bentonite, with an aqueous gel of a monodispersed mixed metal lay... | 12/13/1988 |
| 4767549 | Dispersant coated mineral fiber in a drilling fluid An oil well drilling fluid containing mineral fibers which have been coated individually with a dispersant is better able to plug voids and fractures in the rock being drilled than those of the prior art because the mineral fibers are thoroughly dispersed... | 08/30/1988 |
| 4670164 | Liquid polymer containing compositions for thickening aqueous systems A liquid polymer containing composition, useful as a thickening agent for aqueous systems, containing hydroxyethyl cellulose, a hydrophobic liquid medium in which the hydroxyethyl cellulose is substantially non-swellable and a gelling agent for thickening... | 06/02/1987 |
| 4664820 | Preactivated organophilic clay gellant lubricating grease thickened with preactivated organophilic clay gellant and process for preparing preactivated organophilic clay gellants A preactivated organophilic clay gellant that may be used to thicken organic compositions, especially, lubricating greases without the presence of a polar activator. The preactivated organophilic clay gellant may be prepared using certain process paramete... | 05/12/1987 |
| 4664843 | Mixed metal layered hydroxide-clay adducts as thickeners for water and other hydrophylic fluids Novel compositions useful as fluid gelling agents, especially for use in subterranean applications such as drilling fluids, are prepared by reacting an aqueous dispersion of a clay, such as bentonite, with an aqueous gel of a monodispersed mixed metal lay... | 05/12/1987 |
| 4622153 | Liquid polymer containing compositions for thickening aqueous systems A liquid polymer containing composition, useful as a thickening agent for aqueous systems, containing hydroxyethyl cellulose, a hydrophobic liquid medium in which the hydroxyethyl cellulose is substantially non-swellable and a gelling agent for thickening... | 11/11/1986 |
| 4528104 | Oil based packer fluids An oil base packer fluid for use in completing oil and gas wells comprising: (a) a liquid oleaginous medium; (b) an organophilic clay comprising the reaction product of an organic onium compound and a smectite clay; (c) a polar dispersant for said clay; and (d... | 07/09/1985 |
| 4517112 | Modified organophilic clay complexes, their preparation and non-aqueous systems containing them An organophilic clay gellant useful for gelling organic liquids is disclosed which comprises the reaction product of (a) a smectite-type clay having a cation exchange capacity of at least 75 milliequivalents per 100 grams of said clay; (b) a primary anion... | 05/14/1985 |
| 4508628 | Fast drilling invert emulsion drilling fluids Disclosed are invert oil emulsion drilling fluids containing a non-toxic, biodegradable oil having a viscosity at 25° C. of less than 1.5 centipoise, a flash point of at least 60° C., an aniline point of at least 80° C., and a content of aromatic hydro... | 04/02/1985 |
