Patents by Inventor Alan K. Ebert

Alan K. Ebert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7012046
    Abstract: A composition including a polyalphaolefin and at least one alfol alcohol that function as drag reducing agent slurries and a process for the preparation of the drag reducing agent slurries are disclosed. The process includes contacting alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst in a reactant mixture to form a polyalphaolefin. The polyalphaolefin is combined with at least one alfol alcohol to form a drag reducing agent slurry. A process for reducing drag in a conduit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Alan K. Ebert
  • Patent number: 6989357
    Abstract: A composition including an alcohol absorbed polyalphaolefin that functions as a drag reducing agent and a process for the preparation of the drag reducing agent 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 polyalphaolefin is then contacted with at least one water insoluble alcohol for a period of time to provide an alcohol absorbed polyalphaolefin that is used as an improved drag reducing agent. Processes for reducing drag in a conduit are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Alan K. Ebert
  • Patent number: 6815011
    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
  • Publication number: 20040198619
    Abstract: A composition including an alcohol absorbed polyalphaolefin that functions as a drag reducing agent and a process for the preparation of the drag reducing agent 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 polyalphaolefin is then contacted with at least one water insoluble alcohol for a period of time to provide an alcohol absorbed polyalphaolefin that is used as an improved drag reducing agent. Processes for reducing drag in a conduit are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Alan K. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20040162400
    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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Alan K. Ebert, Robert J. Tipton, Eduardo Baralt
  • Publication number: 20040116630
    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: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Alan K. Ebert
  • Patent number: 6730750
    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
  • Publication number: 20040052690
    Abstract: A polymerization reactant injection system having a monomer conduit, a co-catalyst conduit, and a catalyst conduit, in fluid communication with each other such that a polymerization reactant mixture may be formed without mechanical mixers or agitators. The polymerization reactant injection systems of the present invention permit large amounts of polymerization reactant mixtures to be formed without the increased costs associated with additional mechanical equipment. Methods for forming polymerization reactant mixtures are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Alan K. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20020198116
    Abstract: A composition including a polyalphaolefin and at least one alfol alcohol that function as drag reducing agent slurries and a process for the preparation of the drag reducing agent slurries are disclosed. The process includes contacting alpha olefin monomers with a catalyst in a reactant mixture to form a polyalphaolefin. The polyalphaolefin is combined with at least one alfol alcohol to form a drag reducing agent slurry. A process for reducing drag in a conduit is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Alan K. Ebert
  • Publication number: 20020173600
    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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Alan K. Ebert, Robert J. Tipton, Eduardo Baralt
  • Publication number: 20020065202
    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: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Gerald B. Eaton, Michael J. Monahan, Alan K. Ebert