IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,644,361
Granted Patent B2
US 12,644,361 · App. 19/097,295 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

System and process for geological sequestration of carbon-containing materials

Inventors: Shaun Kinetic (San Francisco, CA); Kelly Kinetic (San Francisco, CA); Peter Reinhardt (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee: Charm Industrial, Inc.
E21B41/0064B65G5/005E21B49/02E21B49/087
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 12,644,361
App. No.
19/097,295
Granted
Jun 2, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure relates to methods and systems for injecting and/or sequestering carbon-containing materials in underground wells, and, in some examples, for using the carbon-containing materials for enhanced oil recovery and well abandonment. An example method includes: obtaining a mixture including biochar particles and a liquid; and providing the mixture for injection into an underground well.

Claims (22)

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

obtaining a mixture comprising a liquid and biomass particles;

providing the mixture for injection into an underground well, 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, and wherein the underground well is at least one hundred meters beneath a surface of the Earth; and

reducing a microbial growth potential of the mixture.

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

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the liquid comprises water.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomass particles comprise at least one of agricultural waste, forestry waste, soil, processed waste, algae, microbes, kelp, human waste, or animal waste.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture further comprises biochar particles.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the mixture for injection comprises injecting the mixture into the underground well.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the microbial growth potential comprises using a biocide.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein using the biocide comprises adding the biocide to the mixture.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein reducing the microbial growth potential reduces a growth of microbes that produce methane in the underground well.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising measuring the microbial growth potential of the mixture.

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

a mixture comprising a liquid and biomass particles; and

at least one of a container, a pump, or a pipe for injecting the mixture into an underground well and reducing a microbial growth potential of the mixture, 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, and wherein the underground well is at least one hundred meters beneath a surface of the Earth.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the liquid comprises bio-oil.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the mixture further comprises biochar particles.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the container, the pump, or the pipe are configured to reduce the microbial growth potential by using a biocide.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein using the biocide comprises adding the biocide to the mixture.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein reducing the microbial growth potential reduces a growth of microbes that produce methane in the underground well.

17 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising measuring the microbial growth potential of the mixture.

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 Mar 6, 2026
From: KINETIC, SHAUN; KINETIC, KELLY; REINHARDT, PETER
To: CHARM INDUSTRIAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 073991/0737 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 18738645 · Jun 10, 2024
Continuation 18594511 · Mar 4, 2024
Continuation In Part 18360317 · Jul 27, 2023
Continuation In Part 18150452 · Jan 5, 2023
Continuation 17879435 · Aug 2, 2022
Continuation 17319636 · May 13, 2021
Provisional Application 63122331 · Dec 7, 2020
Provisional Application 63024897 · May 14, 2020
Related Publication 20250230732A1 · Jul 17, 2025
References Cited (90)
US 4344770A · Capener et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 5115084A · Himmelblau · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 6287248B1 · Bruno et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 7137945B2 · Hughes · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7458999B2 · Schenck et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 8308911B2 · Cheiky · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8430937B2 · Cheiky et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 9260666B2 · Aelion et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9359268B2 · Cheiky et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9493379B2 · Cheiky et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9963650B2 · Cheiky et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10457882B2 · Brown et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10851037B2 · Brown et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10876057B1 · Geinoz et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11168339B1 · Stepany · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 11679424B1 · Briggs et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20060036123A1 · Hughes · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20090220303A1 · Dickinson, III et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100129155A1 · Kearney · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100178231A1 · Turney et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100205960A1 · McBride et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100218507A1 · Cherson · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110244554A1 · Alsop · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110313218A1 · Dana · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120017494A1 · Traynor et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120118586A1 · Kameyama et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120302470A1 · Pollard · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130040349A1 · Heichberger · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130064604A1 · Han et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130137783A1 · Kumar et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130331620A1 · Abhari · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140109638A1 · Aelion et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150176381A1 · Chakrabarty · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160138456A1 · Wattenburg · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160222774A1 · Rhodes et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160304787A1 · Aelion et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170137332A1 · Jarand et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170321140A1 · Brown et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180118644A1 · Brown et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20210285017A1 · Feldmann et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210324258A1 · Allen, III · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20230243240A1 · Murdoch et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230366297A1 · Anderson et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240174541A1 · Eidem et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CA 2536937A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
CA 2998025A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
GB 2519521A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 20180025649A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
NL 1033754C2 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011115966A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013188174A1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015042315A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018045445A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2018232419A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019173920A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021231716A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2022027138A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2022082125A2 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2023092138A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2023225467A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2023225486A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2023225487A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2024026263A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2024137707A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2024196712A2 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2024196715A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
“Class I Industrial and Municipal Waste Disposal Wells,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, available at: <https://www.epa.gov/uic/class-i-industrial-and-municipal-waste-disposal-wells>, downloaded Jul. 29, 2021. [cited by applicant]
“Class V Wells for Injection of Non-Hazardous Fluids into or Above Underground Sources of Drinking Water,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, available at: <https://www.epa.gov/uic/class-v-wells-injection-non-hazardo… [cited by applicant]
“Task 34: Direct Thermochemical Liquefaction,” IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme, available at: <https://task34.ieabioenergy.com/>, downloaded Jul. 29, 2021. [cited by applicant]
“UIC Class I Permit No. CA10500002: California Specialty Cheeses, Manteca, CA,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, available at: <https://www.epa.gov/uic/uic-class-i-permit-no-ca10500002-california-specialty-cheeses-… [cited by applicant]
“For Operators—Well Stimulation,” available at: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/calgem/Pages/WSTChecklistForOperators.aspx, accessed Jul. 12, 2024. [cited by applicant]
“Well Stimulation Treatment Permitting Phase-Out Regulations,” Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), available at: https://www.conservation.ca.gov/calgem/Documents/3.%20WST%20Initial%… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2021/032233, dated May 13, 2021 (14 pages). [cited by applicant]
Pandey, J. S., et al., “A Novel Equipment-Friendly and Environment-Friendly Well Stimulation Fluid for Carbonate Reservoirs: Better Wormholes and Lower Corrosion at Reservoir Conditions,” SPE International Conference an… [cited by applicant]
Diebold, J. P., “A Review of the Chemical and Physical Mechanisms of the Storage Stability of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oils,” National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), NREL/SR-570-27613, Jan. 2000. [cited by applicant]
Sandalow, David, et al., “Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) Roadmap,” Innovation for Cool Earth Forum, Jan. 2021, 63 pages. [cited by applicant]
Schmidt, Hans-Peter, et al., “Pyrogenic Carbon Capture and Storage,” GCB Bioenergy, Nov. 2019:573-591. [cited by applicant]
Sieminski, A., “Implications of the U.S. Shale Revolution,” US-Canada Energy Summit, Oct. 17, 2014 (23 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/039351, dated Dec. 17, 2024 (14 pages). [cited by applicant]
Chen et al: “Hydrothermal liquefaction of mixed-culture algal biomass from wastewater treatment system into bio-crude oil”, Bioresource Technology, vol. 152, Nov. 7, 2013, pp. 130-139. [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Autothermal Fast Pyrolysis of Birch Bark with Partial Oxidation in a Fluidized Bed Reactor,” Fuel 121:27-38 (2014). [cited by applicant]
Mesa-Pérez et al., “Fast Oxidative Pyrolysis of Sugar Cane Straw in a Fluidized Bed Reactor,” Applied Thermal Engineering 56:167-175 (2013). [cited by applicant]
Protests Filed Against Canadian Patent Application No. 3,177,544, dated Oct. 30, 2024 (21 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Minister's Approval Under the Oil and Gas Conservation Regulations, 1985, to Operate a Waste Processing Facility,” Approval No. WPF 2006-02, Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources, dated Mar. 10, 2015 (14 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Response to MRO 238-18, Tervita Unity Cavern Facility, Approval No. WPF 2005-05 (V2494, IW2496),” Dec. 19, 2018 (69 pages). [cited by applicant]
“Directive 058—Oilfield Waste Management Requirements for the Upstream Petroleum Industry,” Alberta Energy and Utilities Board, Nov. 1996 (230 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for International Patent Application No. PCT/US2025/018160, dated May 21, 2025 (13 pages). [cited by applicant]
Diebold, J., et al., “Additives To Lower and Stabilize the Viscosity of Pyrolysis Oils during Storage,” Nov. 1997:1081-1091. [cited by applicant]
Park et al., “PH Neutralization of Aqueous Bio-Oil from Switchgrass Intermediate Pyrolysis Using Process Intensification Devices,” Energy and Fuels, 2017, 31:9455-9464. [cited by applicant]
Werner, C., et al. Biogeochemical Potential of Biomass Pyrolysis Systems for Limiting Global Warming to 1.5 Degrees C, Environ. Res. Lett. 13, 044036, 2018. [cited by applicant]