IP Library Granted Patent US 12,576,430
Granted Patent B2
US 12,576,430 · App. 18/343,123 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Method of pretreating a pipeline or apparatus

Inventor: James A. Allred, Jr. (Alba, TX)
Assignee: Pig Sweep, LLC
B05D7/225B05D2254/04B05D2401/32B05D2601/22
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,576,430
App. No.
18/343,123
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of operating a pipeline or apparatus is carried out by subjecting a pretreated component of a pipeline or apparatus to electrochemical corrosion protection. The pretreated component has surfaces previously treated with a coating of a treatment composition of a colloidal particle dispersion having inorganic nanoparticles with an average particle size from 500 nm or less that exhibit properties of Brownian motion. At least some of the inorganic nanoparticles of the treatment composition are ionically charged nanoparticles. The surfaces of the pretreated component are fresh surfaces or surfaces where any residues or deposits that have been previously formed on the surfaces from prior material contact have been removed prior to being treated.

Claims (43)

1 . A method of operating a pipeline or apparatus, the method comprising:

subjecting at least one pretreated component of a pipeline or apparatus to electrochemical corrosion protection, the at least one pretreated component having surfaces previously treated with a coating of a treatment composition of a colloidal particle dispersion having inorganic nanoparticles with an average particle size from 500 nm or less that exhibit properties of Brownian motion, at least some of the inorganic nanoparticles being ionically charged nanoparticles, the surfaces being fresh surfaces or surfaces where any residues or deposits that have been previously formed on the surfaces from prior material contact have been removed prior to being treated.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are encapsulated in a surfactant.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the pipeline or apparatus or portions thereof are buried beneath a surface.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the ionically charged nanoparticles are cationic nanoparticles.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the ionically charged nanoparticles are anionic nanoparticles.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size from 300 nm or less.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size from 0.1 nm to 300 nm.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the pipeline comprises at least one of a gas pipeline and a liquid petroleum pipeline.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the surfaces are treated with a coating of the treatment composition having a thickness from 0.1 mil to 10 mils.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the treatment composition has a pH from 6 to 7.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the apparatus is at least one of a man-made body, a man-made structure, a tank, a storage tank, a vessel, a storage vessel, a mixing vessel, a container, a valve, a pipe, a drum, an aquatic vessel, a reactor, a combustor, a refrigeration unit, a cooling unit, a heat exchanger, a boiler, a radiator, a separator, an evaporator, a pump, a compressor, a tower, a column, a cooling tower, a filter, a filtration unit, a slug catcher, a Joule Thomson (JT) system, a cracking unit, a pyrolysis unit, a refining unit, a coalescer, a dehydrator, an amine unit, an amine treatment system, a chemical processing system, a food processing system, a gas processing system, a petroleum processing system, a biomatter processing system, and a water processing system.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are present in the treatment composition in an amount from 0.001 wt % to 60 wt % by total weight of the treatment composition.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles are present in the treatment composition in an amount from 0.01 wt % to 10 wt % inorganic nanoparticles by total weight of the treatment composition.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the treatment composition further comprises at least one of a surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an ionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, a cationic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, a drying agent, a glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, glutaraldehyde, a bacteria-reducing agent, a biocide, a pH adjuster, water, an alcohol, a solvent, a dispersant, a non-terpene oil-based moiety, a terpene, a terpenoid, and limonine.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the treatment composition is free of any tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC), tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS), methanol and ethanol.

16 . A method of pretreating a component of a pipeline or apparatus, the method comprising:

selecting a colloidal particle dispersion having inorganic nanoparticles with an average particle size from 500 nm or less that exhibit properties of Brownian motion, at least some of the inorganic nanoparticles being ionically charged nanoparticles;

selecting a component of a pipeline or apparatus configured to undergo electrochemical corrosion protection;

contacting the surfaces of the component of the pipeline or apparatus with a treatment composition comprising the colloidal particle dispersion, the surfaces of the pipeline or apparatus being surfaces of a fresh pipeline or apparatus and/or surfaces of a non-fresh pipeline or apparatus where any residues or deposits that have been previously formed on such surfaces of the non-fresh pipeline or apparatus from prior material contact have been removed; and

subjecting the component of the pipeline or apparatus to electrochemical protection.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the ionically charged nanoparticles are at least one of cationic nanoparticles and anionic nanoparticles.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the inorganic nanoparticles have an average particle size from 0.1 nm to 300 nm.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one component is treated with a coating of the treatment composition having a thickness from 0.1 mil to 10 mils.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein:

the apparatus is at least one of a man-made body, a man-made structure, a tank, a storage tank, a vessel, a storage vessel, a mixing vessel, a container, a valve, a pipe, a drum, an aquatic vessel, a reactor, a combustor, a refrigeration unit, a cooling unit, a heat exchanger, a boiler, a radiator, a separator, an evaporator, a pump, a compressor, a tower, a column, a cooling tower, a filter, a filtration unit, a slug catcher, a Joule Thomson (JT) system, a cracking unit, a pyrolysis unit, a refining unit, a coalescer, a dehydrator, an amine unit, an amine treatment system, a chemical processing system, a food processing system, a gas processing system, a petroleum processing system, a biomatter processing system, and a water processing system.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2024
From: RIDDLE’S DEHI & CHEMICAL SERVICES CO., LLC, D/B/A E&P SERVICES GROUP
To: PIG SWEEP, LLC
Reel/Frame 066391/0352 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2023
From: ALLRED, JAMES A., JR.
To: RIDDLE'S DEHI & CHEMICAL SERVICES CO., LLC D/B/A E&P SERVICES GROUP
Reel/Frame 064108/0304 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 17655648 · Mar 21, 2022
Related Publication 20230338988A1 · Oct 26, 2023
References Cited (47)
US 4425385A · Coulter et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4579596A · Murzyn · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 5012868A · Bridges · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 6986358B2 · Mattox et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7544726B2 · Greenwood · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 11059079B1 · Allred, Jr. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11077474B1 · Allred, Jr. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11692126B1 · Allred, Jr. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20100096139A1 · Holcomb et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110165331A1 · Barth et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120168165A1 · Holcomb et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140072653A1 · Buschmann et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140290692A1 · Hall et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140374095A1 · Ladva et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150065398A1 · Gartland et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150368809A1 · Atkins et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160017204A1 · Hill et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170088767A1 · Talley · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180291255A1 · Southwell · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180291261A1 · Southwell · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180298299A1 · Yu et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190078015A1 · Southwell et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190093462A1 · Watts et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190136123A1 · Holcomb et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190225871A1 · Southwell · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210213495A1 · Allred, Jr. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210355367A1 · Allred, Jr. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220106519A1 · Allred, Jr. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
EP 1304189A2 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010070354A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010096381A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2016082876A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019067406A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2020251573A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021146135A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021247554A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Vert et al., Terminology for biorelated polymers and applications (IUPAC Recommendations 2012), Pure and Applied Chemistry, Jan. 11, 2012, pp. 377-410, pp. 377-379, 393, vol. 84, No. 2. [cited by applicant]
Ding et al., The excellent anti-wear and friction reduction properties of silica nanoparticles as ceramic water lubricant additives, Ceramics International, Apr. 25, 2018, pp. 14901-14906, vol. 44. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 3, 2023 in counterpart International PCT Application No. PCT/US2023/063896. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Jan. 10, 2024 in related European Application No. EP21741814.4. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 23, 2024 in U.S. Appl. No. 18/344,647, pp. 1-33. [cited by applicant]
Nissan Chemical America Corporation, nanoActiv® Product Information Sheet, 2019, pp. 1-4. [cited by applicant]
Plaintiff's Original Complaint in Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-01784 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, May 13, 2024, part 1 of 3 (beginning through Exhibit E), pp. 1-69. [cited by applicant]
Plaintiff's Original Complaint in Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-01784 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, May 13, 2024, part 2 of 3 (Exhibits F-H), pp. 1-45. [cited by applicant]
Plaintiff's Original Complaint in Civil Action No. 4:24-cv-01784 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, May 13, 2024, part 3 of 3 (Exhibit I to end), pp. 1-43. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Nov. 15, 2024 in counterpart International PCT Application No. PCT/US2024/035707, pp. 1-14. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report for related European Patent Application No. EP23775787.7 dated Sep. 16, 2025, pp. 1-9. [cited by applicant]