IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,227,694
Granted Patent B2
US 12,227,694 · App. 17/882,138 · Granted Feb 18, 2025

Microbial products and uses thereof to improve oil recovery

Inventors: Sean Farmer (Ft. Lauderdale, FL); Ken Alibek (Solon, OH); Sharmistha Mazumder (Copley, OH); Kent Adams (Oro Valley, AZ); Tyler Dixon (Madison, OH); Yajie Chen (Solon, OH); Maja Milovanovic (North Royalton, OH)
Assignee: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
C09K8/582C09K8/584C09K8/588
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,227,694
App. No.
17/882,138
Granted
Feb 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This invention relates to compositions and methods of microbial enhanced oil recovery using biochemical-producing microbes. In specific embodiments, the methods of the subject invention comprise applying a biosurfactant-producing bacteria and/or a growth by-product thereof to an oil-producing site. In preferred embodiments, the bacteria is a strain of Bacillus in spore form. In some embodiments, the methods further comprise applying the bacteria with a yeast fermentation product, an alkaline compound, a polymer, a non-biological surfactant, and/or one or more chelating agents. Advantageously, the subject invention can be useful for stimulating the flow of oil from a well, as well as dissolving scale present in an oil-bearing formation.

Claims (3)

1. A method for stimulating the flow of oil from an oil-bearing formation, wherein the method comprises applying to the formation a sophorolipid biosurfactant produced by Starmerella bombicola and a fermentation medium in which the sophorolipid was produced, said fermentation medium comprising inactive yeast cellular components; wherein said method further comprises applying to the formation ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a chelating agent; at least one solvent that is isopropyl alcohol or ethanol; and a C8-C18 ethoxylated alcohol.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying one or more non-biological surfactants to the formation in addition to the ethoxylated alcohol.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying citric acid and/or sodium citrate as chelating agents.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 18, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS MANAGEMENT GP, INC.; LOCUS MANAGEMENT, LLC; LOCUS IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS OIL HOLDING, LLC,; LOCUS BIO-ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE HOLDING, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC,; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPHOLDCO, LLC; LOCUS CONSUMER BRANDS HOLDING, LLC; ARCTIVA WELLNESS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069386/0272 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2024
From: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069333/0911 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 30, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 069273/0361 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2023
From: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065836/0868 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 065615/0778 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: LOCUS SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS MANAGEMENT GP, INC.; LOCUS MANAGEMENT, LLC; LOCUS IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS OIL HOLDING, LLC; LOCUS BIO-ENERGY SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE HOLDING, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURAL SOLUTIONS, LLC; LOCUS AGRICULTURE IP COMPANY, LLC; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC; LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPHOLDCO, LLC; LOCUS CONSUMER BRANDS HOLDING, LLC; ARCTIVA WELLNESS, LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 062079/0829 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 15, 2022
From: LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC
To: LOCUS SOLUTIONS IPCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 061770/0855 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2022
From: FARMER, SEAN; ALIBEK, KEN; MAZUMDER, SHARMISTHA; ADAMS, KENT; DIXON, TYLER; CHEN, YAJIE; MILOVANOVIC, MAJA
To: LOCUS OIL IP COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 060752/0825 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16490187
Provisional Application 62483425 · Apr 9, 2017
Related Publication 20220389303A1 · Dec 8, 2022
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