George Jiro Hirasaki

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:

20020094684, Jul 18, 2002

Filed:

Nov 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/995044

Inventors:

George Hirasaki - Bellaire TX, US
Daniel Pham - Austin TX, US

International Classification:

H01L021/302
H01L021/461

US Classification:

438/689000, 438/691000, 438/693000

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for cleaning semiconductor wafers during the fabrication process. In the method, a foam is passed over the wafer surfaces in order to remove particulate matter. Viscosity, electrical charge and recipe of the foam may be varied to enhance wafer cleaning. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a number of wafers are situated vertically in a cleaning chamber and allowed to rotate between a number of axially rotatable rollers, with at least one roller also being a drive roller, while foam is passed across the wafer surfaces.

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:

40869644, May 2, 1978

Filed:

May 27, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/801271

Inventors:

Richard E. Dilgren - Houston TX
George J. Hirasaki - Houston TX
Harold J. Hill - Houston TX
Derrill G. Whitten - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166272

Abstract:

In a viscous oil reservoir in which the stratification of the rock permeability is insufficient to confine steam within the most permeable strata, oil can be produced by forming and expanding a steam channel through which steam is flowed and oil is produced. Steam is injected and fluid is produced at rates causing a steam channel to be extended between locations that are horizontally separated. A foam-forming mixture of steam, noncondensable gas and surfactant is then injected into the steam channel to provide foam and a relatively high pressure gradient within the channel, without plugging the channel. A flow of steam-containing fluid through the steam channel is continued in a manner such that the magnitudes of the pressure gradient, the rate of oil production, and the rate of steam channel expansion exceed those which could be provided by steam alone.

US Patent:

45707111, Feb 18, 1986

Filed:

Aug 9, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/639157

Inventors:

Andrew H. Falls - Sugarland TX
Jimmie B. Lawson - Houston TX
George J. Hirasaki - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166272

Abstract:

In a process for injecting a steam-foam-forming mixture into a subterranean reservoir to displace oil, injecting a mixture containing only as much noncondensible gas as required for substantially reducing the mobility of an injected steam-foam-forming mixture containing a given kind and amount of surfactant and electrolyte, which amount of noncondensible gas to add is calculated from a specified equation interrelating the reservoir temperature and pore size.

US Patent:

45974420, Jul 1, 1986

Filed:

Feb 26, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/705773

Inventors:

Richard E. Dilgren - Houston TX
Hon C. Lau - Houston TX
George J. Hirasaki - Houston TX

Assignee:

Shell Oil Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4322
E21B 4324

US Classification:

166272

Abstract:

In a process in which steam and steam-foaming surfactant are injected into a subterranean reservoir having significant cation-exchange capacity, the rate of transport of the steam-foaming surfactant is increased by a prior injection of an aqueous liquid solution of surfactant and monovalent cation salt.