US 12,449,412 B2
Analysis of release-resistant water in materials and related devices and methods
Michael Smith, Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed by Michael Smith, Tulsa, OK (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/751,277.
Application 18/751,277 is a continuation of application No. 17/374,912, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, granted, now 12,055,534.
Application 17/374,912 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/US2020/013261, filed on Jan. 12, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/791,879, filed on Jan. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0345059 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01N 33/24 (2006.01); E21B 49/08 (2006.01); G01L 9/00 (2006.01); G01N 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/246 (2013.01) [E21B 49/081 (2013.01); G01L 9/0095 (2013.01); G01N 1/286 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for analyzing a material containing release-resistant water comprising:
(a) applying a condition to remove at least about 99% of any extraneous water present in the material, wherein the applied condition is at least as effective as removing the extraneous water from the material by subjecting the material to at least 100 degrees Celsius at normal atmospheric pressure for a sufficient period of time to convert any such extraneous water to water vapor, to establish the material as at least essentially free of extraneous water but still containing at least a detectable amount of release-resistant water, wherein release-resistant water is water that is not removable by the applied condition;
(b) applying an additional extraction condition to the material in the state resulting from step (a) of the method to extract a detectable amount of the release-resistant water contained in the material without causing the release of more than 1% of any water contained in crystalline mineral compounds in the material;
(c) using capacitance manometry to measure the amount of release-resistant water obtained in step (b) of the method; and
(d) using the measured amount of release-resistant water identified in step (c) of the method to assess one or more characteristics of the material.