IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,359,538
Granted Patent B2
US 12,359,538 · App. 18/150,452 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

System and process for geological sequestration of carbon-containing materials

Inventors: Shaun Meehan (San Francisco, CA); Kelly Hering (San Francisco, CA); Peter Reinhardt (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Charm Industrial, Inc.
E21B41/0064B65G5/005E21B49/02E21B49/087
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,359,538
App. No.
18/150,452
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method and a system for sequestering carbon-containing materials in underground wells. An example method includes: obtaining a material comprising a carbon-containing liquid; optionally testing the material for compatibility with an underground well; optionally adjusting a property of the material to improve the compatibility; and providing the material for injection into the underground well.

Claims (26)

1. A method of sequestering carbon-containing materials, the method comprising:

obtaining a material comprising particles of biochar dispersed in a liquid, the liquid comprising at least one of bio-oil or brine; and

providing the material for injection into an underground well.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid further comprises at least one of biodiesel, ethanol, cooking oil, vegetable oil, plant-based oil, a solution containing microbes or algae, a biomass dispersion, biocrude, a biocrude byproduct, petroleum, crude oil, gasoline, or diesel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises the bio-oil.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid further comprises biocrude derived from hydrothermal liquefaction of a biomass, and wherein the biomass comprises at least one of agricultural waste, forestry residue, wood chips, sawdust, pulp, corn stover, bagasse, kelp, algae, food waste, human waste, or animal waste.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid further comprises biodiesel derived from transesterification of at least one of vegetable oil, cooking oil, or animal fat.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid further comprises ethanol derived from fermentation of at least one of biogenic sugars or cellulosic biomass-derived sugars.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material further comprises biomass particles dispersed in the liquid, and wherein the biomass particles comprise at least one of agricultural waste, forestry waste, soil, processed waste, algae, microbes, kelp, human waste, or animal waste.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the underground well comprises at least one of a commercial disposal well, a salt cavern, a Class II cavern, a depleted mine, an abandoned mine, a purpose-constructed mine, or a natural cavern.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material has been subjected to a test for compatibility with the underground well.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the test for compatibility comprises using a core sample for the underground well.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the test for compatibility measures at least one of pH, viscosity, specific gravity, microbial growth potential, solids loading, tendency to auto-polymerize, or flash point.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the test for compatibility determines a tendency for at least one of premature polymerization, auto-polymerization, phase separation, gas generation, or precipitation of solids.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein a property of the material has been adjusted to improve compatibility with the underground well.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the property comprises at least one of pH, viscosity, specific gravity, microbial growth potential, solids loading, tendency to auto-polymerize, or flash point.

15. A system for sequestering carbon-containing materials, the system comprising:

a source for a material comprising particles of biochar dispersed in a liquid, the liquid comprising at least one of bio-oil or brine; and

at least one of a container, a pump, or a pipe for injecting the material into an underground well.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the liquid further comprises at least one of biodiesel, ethanol, cooking oil, vegetable oil, plant-based oil, a solution containing microbes or algae, a biomass dispersion, biocrude, a biocrude byproduct, petroleum, crude oil, gasoline, or diesel.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the material has been subjected to a test for compatibility with the underground well.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the test for compatibility determines a tendency for at least one of premature polymerization, auto-polymerization, phase separation, gas generation, or precipitation of solids.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising at least one of a blender or a filter for adjusting a property of the material to improve compatibility with the underground well.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises the brine.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the liquid comprises the bio-oil.

22. The system of claim 15 , wherein the liquid comprises the brine.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2026
From: CHARM INDUSTRIAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 074129/0047 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2025
From: MEEHAN, SHAUN; HERING, KELLY; REINHARDT, PETER
To: CHARM INDUSTRIAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 071301/0138 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17879435 · Aug 2, 2022
Continuation 17319636 · May 13, 2021
Provisional Application 63122331 · Dec 7, 2020
Provisional Application 63024897 · May 14, 2020
Related Publication 20230160283A1 · May 25, 2023
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