Clarence J Miller

US Patent:

6695055, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Nov 15, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/999292

Inventors:

George J. Hirasaki - Bellaire TX
Clarence A. Miller - Houston TX

Assignee:

Wm. Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4326

US Classification:

166294, 166281

Abstract:

Methods of reducing the water permeability of a water producing zone in a subterranean formation are provided. The methods basically comprise introducing a polymeric surfactant and an inert gas into the water producing zone to thereby form a water permeability reducing foam therein. The polymeric surfactant has the property of facilitating the formation of the foam and the additional property of stabilizing the foam in the presence of flowing formation water.

US Patent:

20100243534, Sep 30, 2010

Filed:

Mar 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/411793

Inventors:

YIN MING SAMSON NG - Sherwood Park, CA
BRIAN ALLEN KNAPPER - Edmonton, CA
KEVIN MORAN - Edmonton, CA
GEORGE JIRO HIRASAKI - Bellaire TX, US
CLARENCE A. MILLER - Houston TX, US
TIANMIN JIANG - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

C10G 1/04

US Classification:

208390

Abstract:

A method for processing a bitumen froth comprising bitumen, water and solids including fine solids for reducing the solids concentration in diluted bitumen is provided comprising diluting the bitumen froth with a hydrocarbon diluent to form a dilfroth; adding a sufficient amount of a silicate to the dilfroth to cause a substantial amount of fine solids to associate with the water instead of the diluted bitumen; and allowing the diluted bitumen to separate from the water containing the substantial amount of fine solids to produce a dilbit having less than 3 percent by weight solids.

US Patent:

20110247966, Oct 13, 2011

Filed:

Apr 8, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/757008

Inventors:

Olina G. Raney - Houston TX, US
John Hera, JR. - Sugar Land TX, US
Duy T. Nguyen - Houston TX, US
Michael K. Poindexter - Sugar Land TX, US
George J. Hirasaki - Bellaire TX, US
Clarence A. Miller - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

NALCO COMPANY - Naperville IL
WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY - Houston TX

International Classification:

C10G 33/04
C07C 229/06
C07C 211/03
C07C 239/00
B01D 17/05
C07C 211/04

US Classification:

208188, 516143, 564291, 564289, 564301, 562575

Abstract:

A composition and method demulsify a produced emulsion from anionic surfactants and polymer (SP) and alkali, surfactants, and polymer (ASP). The produced emulsion is demulsified into oil and water. In one embodiment, the composition includes a surfactant. The surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combinations thereof.

US Patent:

20130196886, Aug 1, 2013

Filed:

Feb 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/578638

Inventors:

Julian Richard Barnes - HW Amsterdam, NL
George J. Hirasaki - Bellaire TX, US
Clarence A. Miller - Houston TX, US
Maura Puerto - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

C09K 8/584

US Classification:

507255

Abstract:

The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a combination of an internal olefin sulfonate and an alkoxy glycidyl sulfonate, more specifically a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising surfactant and water, wherein the surfactant comprises a combination of an internal olefin sulfonate with a chain length of greater than C20 and an alkoxy glycidyl sulfonate selected from an ethoxylated glycidyl sulfonate and a propoxylated glycidyl sulfonate. Further, the invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises a blend of an internal olefin sulfonate and an alkoxy glycidyl sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

US Patent:

20160230079, Aug 11, 2016

Filed:

Sep 24, 2014

Appl. No.:

15/024374

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
George Jiro HIRASAKI - Bellaire TX, US
Clarence Alphonso MILLER - Houston TX, US
Maura Camps PUERTO - Houston TX, US
Carmen Geraldine REZNIK - Friendswood TX, US

International Classification:

C09K 8/584

Abstract:

The invention relates to a hydrocarbon recovery composition, which composition contains: a) a first propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate; and b) a second propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate, and the first and second propoxylated primary alcohol sulfate are different. Further, the invention relates to an injectable liquid containing the hydrocarbon recovery composition and a method for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation.

US Patent:

20150267104, Sep 24, 2015

Filed:

Mar 20, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/664324

Inventors:

Maura Puerto - Houston TX, US
José Luis López Salinas - Houston TX, US
Clarence A. Miller - Houston TX, US
George Hirasaki - Bellaire TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

C09K 8/584
E21B 43/16

Abstract:

In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to compositions for enhanced oil recovery. In some embodiments, such compositions include: (1) a first agent, wherein the first agent acts as a foam booster; (2) a second agent, wherein the second agent includes a sulfonated or sulfated anionic surfactant; a (3) a third agent, wherein the third agent includes an alkoxylated and anionic surfactant; and (4) a base liquid. In some embodiments, the compositions of the present disclosure further include a gas, such as nitrogen. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of formulating the aforementioned compositions for enhanced oil recovery. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of recovering oil from a reservoir by utilizing the aforementioned compositions.

US Patent:

20150050741, Feb 19, 2015

Filed:

Mar 25, 2013

Appl. No.:

14/387291

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Wei Lu - Houston TX, US
Mason B. Tomson - Houston TX, US
Amy Kan - Houston TX, US
Lu Wang - Houston TX, US
Michael S. Wong - Houston TX, US
Gautam Kini - Houston TX, US
George J. Hirasaki - Bellaire TX, US
Clarence Miller - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

William Marsh Rice University - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01N 33/24

US Classification:

436 27, 422 73, 2524081

Abstract:

Various embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to nanocomposites for detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure. In some embodiments, the nanocomposites include: a core particle; a polymer associated with the core particle; a sulfur-based moiety associated with the polymer; and a releasable probe molecule associated with the core particle, where the releasable probe molecule is releasable from the core particle upon exposure to hydrocarbons. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of detecting hydrocarbons in a geological structure by utilizing the nanocomposites of the present disclosure.