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Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. has reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a formal Notice of Allowance for Patent # 8,721,898 which is a process patent for lowering the scaling tendencies in flowback water used in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas wells.
This notice of allowance marks the seventh patent issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 2010 for Ecosphere's patented Ozonix(R) water treatment technology.
Since 2008, Ecosphere's patented Ozonix(R) technology has been used to reduce the amount of chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing operations to release trapped oil and gas from unconventional shale formations. In 2013, the chemicals and equipment sub-markets of the global water and wastewater treatment market were estimated at over $25 billion and $50 billion, respectively, further validating the market demand for innovative chemical-free water treatment solutions.
Dennis McGuire, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere Technologies, stated, "The latest receipt of our seventh Ozonix(R) patent clearly demonstrates that the U.S. Patent Office has recognized our early position as being a leader in the development of emerging advanced oxidation technologies to replace chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing operations. Since 2008, Ecosphere Technologies has pioneered a unique and patented ozone based Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) to eliminate biocides and scale inhibiting chemicals from the hydraulic fracturing process. Our energy customers have experienced reduced chemical consumption, increased initial well productivity (IP), and reduced chemical costs to frac a well as compared to using traditional chemicals. Microbiologically Induced Corrosion (MIC) is a major concern in the energy business and is a leading expense item in refinery operations.
"When we met one of our first energy customers in 2009, they were injecting their produced water into deep underground Class II injection wells. We showed them how to recycle a major portion of that produced water rather than disposing of it. Ecosphere pioneered the concept of recycling produced and flowback water without using liquid chemicals or filtration technologies that leave behind a toxic waste stream that has to then be properly disposed of. One hundred percent of the produced water that is treated by our patented Ozonix(R) process can be used 'at the frac site' and at the flow rate of a frac (80-120 bbls per minute) to frac a well.
"The U.S. Patent Office has recognized our early position in the space of eliminating chemicals to control bacteria and scaling using an ozone based advanced oxidation process. We have and will continue to vigorously enforce our rights that the U.S. Patent Office has given to us to stop others from making, using, or selling a similar process."
Dean Becker, Director and Intellectual Property Strategist for Ecosphere Technologies, stated "Ecosphere's patent portfolio continues to expand and from an intellectual property standpoint, Ecosphere holds a dominant position in combining multiple advanced oxidation technologies to treat water across a wide range of industries and applications.
"We have been studying the various markets where access to and treatment of large volumes of water is most needed and continue to believe that seeking strategic partners in mining, agriculture, food and beverage, industrial, marine and municipal wastewater treatment will put Ecosphere in the best position to successfully deploy its patented and proven Ozonix(R)technology across the global water treatment market."