ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 10 -- United States Patent no. 12,291,673, issued on May 6, was assigned to STEPAN COMPANY (Northfield, Ill.).
"Polyester diverting agents for low-temperature oil wells" was invented by Douglas Kip Hillshafer (Western Springs, Ill.) and Sarah Wolek (Arlington Heights, Ill.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A hydraulic fracturing method for recovering oil from a low-temperature subterranean oil formation is disclosed. Before, during, or after inducing hydraulic fracturing within the formation, a particulate, degradable polyester diverting agent is introduced into the formation in an amount effective to improve oil production from the formation. The diverting agent is allowed...