Patents by Inventor Dennis J. O'Rear

Dennis J. O'Rear 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).

  • Publication number: 20060074134
    Abstract: CO2 emissions from Fischer-Tropsch facilities are controlled by using multiple reactors. A process for the conversion of syngas using multiple Fischer-Tropsch reactors comprises reacting at least a portion of a first syngas in a first Fischer-Tropsch reactor to form a first hydrocarbonaceous product and a second syngas. The second syngas is mixed with a H2-containing stream to form an adjusted syngas. At least a portion of the adjusted syngas is reacted in a second Fischer-Tropsch reactor to form a second hydrocarbonaceous product and a third syngas. At least a portion of the first and second hydrocarbonaceous products are blended to obtain a blended hydrocarbonaceous product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Charles L. Kibby
  • Patent number: 7018525
    Abstract: This invention relates to processes of producing lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components that have optimized branching. The lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching have low amounts of branching with the branching concentrated toward the center of the lubricant base oil molecules. The lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching have low pour points and extremely high viscosity indexes. The invention further relates to processes of producing commercial lubricants comprising the lubricant base oils comprising paraffinic hydrocarbon components with optimized branching from waxy feeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Miller, Dennis J. O'Rear, John Rosenbaum
  • Patent number: 6992113
    Abstract: CO2 emissions from syngas conversion processes are reduced by use of a multi-stage Fischer-Tropsch reaction system. A process for the conversion of syngas using a Fischer-Tropsch reactor comprises forming a first syngas and reacting at least a portion of the first syngas in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to form a first hydrocarbonaceous product and a second syngas. The second syngas is mixed with a hydrogen-containing stream to provide an adjusted syngas, at least a portion of which is reacted in a dual functional syngas conversion reactor to form a second hydrocarbonaceous product and a third syngas comprising a reduced amount of CO2 than was present in the adjusted syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Charles L. Kibby
  • Patent number: 6992114
    Abstract: CO2 emissions from Fischer-Tropsch facilities are controlled by using multiple reactors. A process for the conversion of syngas using multiple Fischer-Tropsch reactors comprises reacting at least a portion of a first syngas in a first Fischer-Tropsch reactor to form a first hydrocarbonaceous product and a second syngas. The second syngas is mixed with a H2-containing stream to form an adjusted syngas. At least a portion of the adjusted syngas is reacted in a second Fischer-Tropsch reactor to form a second hydrocarbonaceous product and a third syngas. At least a portion of the first and second hydrocarbonaceous products are blended to obtain a blended hydrocarbonaceous product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Charles L. Kibby
  • Patent number: 6979755
    Abstract: Provided is a process for converting methane at a remote natural gas site into ethylene and other products. Methane is converted into syngas which is converted into a low-sulfur liquid hydrocarbon mixture containing less than 1 ppm sulfur via Fischer-Tropsch (FT) syntheses. The low-sulfur Fischer-Tropsch liquids are transferred from the remote site to an existing facility where a sulfur-containing compound or a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon mixture is added to avoid coking problems. The resultant blend of hydrocarbons which has a sulfur content of at least 1 ppm, is fed to a naphtha cracking unit and ethylene recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Gunther H. Dieckmann
  • Patent number: 6933323
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel blend component derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process and a process for producing this stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel blend component. The stable, low sulfur, olefinic distillate fuel comprises olefins in an amount of 2 to 80 weight percent, non-olefins in an amount of 20 to 98 weight percent wherein the non-olefins are predominantly paraffins, oxygenates in an amount of less than 1 weight percent, and sulfur in an amount of less than 10 ppm by weight. A distillate fuel comprising the above blend component forms less than 5 ppm peroxides after storage at 60° C. for four weeks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Guan Dao Lei
  • Patent number: 6924404
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products, containing minor amounts of aqueous liquids. The present invention also relates to rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous products containing an effective amount of a petroleum-derived hydrocarbonaceous product such that the rapidly biodegradable hydrocarbonaceous product resists visible growth of microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk T. O'Reilly, Michael E. Moir, Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6900366
    Abstract: A process for treating nitrogen-containing, substantially paraffinic product derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process. The substantially paraffinic product is purified in a purification process to lower the concentration of oxygen, nitrogen, and other impurities. The nitrogen content of the purified product is monitored, and the conditions of the purification step are adjusted to increase nitrogen removal if the nitrogen content of the purified product exceeds a preselected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Rosenbaum, Christopher A. Simmons, Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6900365
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrodealkylation/reforming process which comprises contacting a heavy hydrocarbon feedstream under catalytic hydrodealkylation/reforming conditions with a composition comprising borosilicate molecular sieves having a pore size greater than about 5.0 Angstroms and a Constraint Index smaller than about 1.0; further containing a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation component; wherein at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbon feedstream is converted to a product comprising benzene, toluene, xylenes and ethylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Cong-Yan Chen, Stacey I. Zones, Andrew Rainis, Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6896707
    Abstract: Novel methods of providing fuels to a gas-to-liquids facility are disclosed. A gas-to-liquids facility typically operates in a remote location and therefore must supply its own energy needs. These facilities are often sustained by fuels having different heating values, and for smooth operation while transitioning from one fuel to another, (such as during startup, shut down, and emergencies) the Wobble Indices of the two fuels cannot greatly vary from one another. According to embodiments of the present invention, the Wobble Index of either or both of the fuels is adjusted such that their ratio is less than or equal to about 3. The fuel having the higher Wobble Index may be natural gas, and materials such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide and flue gas may be added to lower its Wobble Index. The fuel having the lower Wobble Index may be the tail gas of a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and materials such as methane, ethane, LPG, or natural gas may be added to raise its Wobble Index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, André Peter Steynberg, Roger Van Gelder
  • Patent number: 6890423
    Abstract: The invention provides distillate fuel blend components with improved seal swell and lubricity properties obtained from Fischer Tropsch products. The blends contain a highly paraffinic distillate fuel component and distillate-boiling alkylcycloparaffins and/or distillate-boiling alkylaromatics. The invention further provides processes for obtaining such blends using the products of Fischer Tropsch processes. Finally, the invention provides methods for improving seal swell and lubricity properties for distillate fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6890962
    Abstract: CO2 emissions Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) facilities such as, for example, Fischer-Tropsch facilities, are minimized by using recovered hydrogen as a fuel in at least one furnace in the GTL facility. A process for manufacturing hydrocarbonaceous products from a methane-containing feedstock in a GTL facility comprising at least one furnace generating reduced CO2 emissions comprises forming syngas from a methane-containing feedstock by means of a partial oxidation reaction. A hydrogen rich fuel is used in at least one furnace in the GTL facility to reduce CO2 emissions generated by the facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Nicholas Brancaccio
  • Patent number: 6881760
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the solids content in a Fischer-Tropsch product to allow subsequent changes in the Fischer-Tropsch process to prevent downstream problems. The method comprises irradiating the Fischer-Tropsch product with light and measuring the light transmitted through the Fischer-Tropsch product to determine the solids content in the Fisher-Tropsch product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Smith, Richard Aviani, Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6878854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of antioxidants in Fischer Tropsch derived products. The antioxidants of the present invention are preferably temporary antioxidants that may be removed after the period in which oxidation is expected by techniques such as simple distillation. The temporary antioxidants of the present invention are typically sulfur-containing compounds generated from sweetening light hydrocarbon streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6872752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an olefinic naphtha and a process for producing lower olefinc from this naphtha. In the process of the present invention for producing lower olefins, preferably ethylene, at least a portion of a hydrocarbon asset is converted to synthesis gas and at least a portion of the synthesis gas is converted to an olefinic naphtha by a Fischer-Tropsch process. At least a portion of the olefinic naphtha is converted in a naphtha cracker to a product stream comprising lower olefins, and at least a portion of the lower olefins from the product stream of the cracker are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Guan Dao Lei
  • Patent number: 6864398
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing high value products, including for example distillate fuel, from syngas is disclosed. The integrated process of the present invention produces high value products from a Fischer Tropsch with minimal production of low value products, including methane. In a process of the present invention, syngas is reacted under low temperature Fischer-Tropsch reaction conditions to provide a hydrcarbon product stream comprising substantially waxy products. The waxy products are subjected to an olefin-selective paraffin cracking process, preferably in a Paragon reactor to form olefins. The resulting olefins are then subjected to oligomerization conditions to form iso-olefins. In the processes of the present invention, the hydrocarbon product stream from the Fischer Tropsch reaction comprises desirable low levels of methane, preferably below 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6863802
    Abstract: A process for upgrading at least one of a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha and a Fischer-Tropsch distillate to produce at least one of a gasoline component, a distillate fuel or a lube base feedstock component. The process includes reforming a Fischer-Tropsch naphtha to produce hydrogen by-product and a gasoline component with a research octane rating of at least about 80. The process further includes upgrading a Fischer-Tropsch distillate using the hydrogen by-product to produce a distillate fuel and/or a lube base feedstock component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Lawrence W. Jossens
  • Patent number: 6849664
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of deactivatable biocides in cooling water systems of industrial processes that require dissipation of heat. The present invention relates to methods of inhibiting growth and reproduction of microorganisms in the cooling water comprising adding the deactivatable biocides to the cooling water and irreversibly deactivating the deactivatable biocides before or upon disposal of the cooling water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Kirk T. O'Reilly, Michael E. Moir, Dennis J. O'Rear, Richard O. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6846404
    Abstract: Provided is a process for converting CO2-rich natural gas into liquid fuel. The process includes introducing a CO2-rich natural gas feed stream into a synthesis gas formation reactor and then forming a synthesis gas. At least a portion of the synthesis gas is then introduced into a Fischer-Tropsch reactor. A Fischer-Tropsch process is conducted generating a Fischer-Tropsch product. A naphtha is separated from the Fischer-Tropsch product and introduced into a naphtha reformer. Hydrogen by-product is generated by reforming the naphtha to obtain a C6-C10 product having a hydrogen to carbon ratio less than about 2.0. At least a portion of the hydrogen by-product is recirculated and mixed with the CO2-rich natural gas feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis J. O'Rear
  • Patent number: 6846402
    Abstract: A stable distillate fuel blend useful as a fuel or as a blending component of a fuel that is suitable for use in turbine engine, said fuel blend prepared from at least one highly paraffinic distillate fuel component having low to moderate branching and at least one conventional petroleum-derived distillate fuel component and a process for preparing same involving the blending of at least two components having antagonistic properties with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Hemighaus, Dennis J. O'Rear