Abstract: A composition including a polyalphaolefin and at least one alpha olefin monomer partitioning agent that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of the drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes the steps of contacting alpha olefin monomers with at least one catalyst in a reactant mixture to form a polyalphaolefin. The reactant mixture may include at least one alpha olefin partitioning agent or the at least one alpha olefin partitioning agent may be mixed with the polyalphaolefin after polymerization. The alpha olefin monomer partitioning agents are alpha olefin monomers that are solid at ambient temperatures. Preferably, the alpha olefin monomers are selected from the group consisting of C20-C60 alpha olefin monomers. A process for reducing drag in a conduit is also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 25, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 9, 2004
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Inventors:
Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Alan K. Ebert
Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved drag reducing agents and methods of forming improved drag reducing agents comprising the steps of isomerizing olefin monomers to form isomerized olefin monomers, polymerizing the isomerized olefin monomers in the presence of at least one catalyst to form a polyolefin drag reducing agent having unexpectedly superior drag reduction properties when combined with liquid hydrocarbons, such as viscous crude oil. Therefore, the drag reducing agents of the present invention may be introduced into conduits, such as pipelines, to increase the flow of the hydrocarbons through the conduit.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
May 4, 2004
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Inventors:
Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Alan K. Ebert, Robert J. Tipton, Eduardo Baralt
Abstract: A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst system, which includes a catalyst and an activator (co-catalyst) in a reactant mixture. The catalyst is a transition metal catalyst, preferably titanium trichloride, and the co-catalyst may include an alkylaluminoxane, alone or in combination, with a dialkylaluminum halide or a halohydrocarbon. The polymerization of the alpha olefin monomers produces a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 16, 2001
Date of Patent:
May 4, 2004
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Inventors:
Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Robert J. Tipton
Abstract: A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst system, which includes a catalyst and an activator (co-catalyst) in a reactant mixture. The catalyst is a transition metal catalyst, preferably titanium trichloride, and the co-catalyst may include an alkylaluminoxane, alone or in combination, with a dialkylaluminum halide or a halohydrocarbon. The polymerization of the alpha olefin monomers produces a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 1999
Date of Patent:
June 5, 2001
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Inventors:
Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Robert J. Tipton
Abstract: A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst system, which includes a catalyst and an activator (co-catalyst) in a reactant mixture. The catalyst is a transition metal catalyst, preferably titanium trichloride, and the co-catalyst may include an alkylaluminoxane, alone or in combination, with a dialkylaluminum halide or a halohydrocarbon. The polymerization of the alpha olefin monomers produces a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 15, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 19, 2000
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Inventors:
Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Robert J. Tipton
Abstract: A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst system, which includes a catalyst and an activator (co-catalyst) in a reactant mixture. The catalyst is a transition metal catalyst, preferably titanium trichloride, and the co-catalyst may include an alkylaluminoxane, alone or in combination, with a dialkylaluminum halide or a halohydrocarbon. The polymerization of the alpha olefin monomers produces a non-crystalline, ultra-high molecular weight polyalphaolefin having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 20, 1998
Date of Patent:
January 18, 2000
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Inventors:
Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Robert J. Tipton
Abstract: A composition for reducing odors comprising extract derived from the plants belonging to the Zingiberales order of plants is disclosed. The odor reducing composition includes a banana plant extract derived from plants belonging to the Musa genus of plants. A method of forming the odor reducing composition and a method of reducing the odor of a substrate are also disclosed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 2, 1998
Date of Patent:
September 14, 1999
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.
Abstract: A composition including polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents and a process for the preparation of polyalphaolefins that function as drag reducing agents are disclosed. The process includes contacting alphaolefin monomers with catalyst particles in a polymerization mixture that includes a hydrocarbon solvent. The polymerization of the alphaolefin monomers produces polyalphaolefin drag reducing agents having an inherent viscosity of at least 10 dL/g. During polymerization of the polyalphaolcfin monomers, localized micelles compromising high molecular weight polyalphaolefin polymer are formed in micellar zones around the catalyst particles. The polymerization is conducted in the presence of a viscosity reducing agent that includes a substantially hydrophobic dispersant. The viscosity reducing agent is present in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the reaction mixture and disperse the localized micelles.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 19, 1996
Date of Patent:
February 9, 1999
Assignee:
Energy & Environmental International, L.C.