Patents by Inventor Errico De Francesco
Errico De Francesco 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: 8479814Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.Inventor: Errico De Francesco
-
Publication number: 20120273204Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.Inventor: Errico DE FRANCESCO
-
Patent number: 8210259Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.Inventor: Errico De Francesco
-
Patent number: 7866389Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas, oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas, injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons, purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas, and injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Errico De Francesco, Pietro Di Zanno, Denis Cieutat, Guillaume De-Smedt
-
Patent number: 7703519Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen and extracting heavy oil from underground reserves is provided. This method includes providing a carbon monoxide source stream and a water vapor stream to a first reactor, wherein the first reactor comprises a water shift reactor and a membrane-type separation device. This method also includes separating the products of the water shift reactor, thereby producing at least a hydrogen-rich stream, and a high pressure off-gas stream. This method also includes providing the high pressure off-gas stream and an oxidant stream to a combustion chamber. This method also includes combusting the oxidant stream and the high pressure off-gas stream as at least part of a combustion cycle thereby producing a hot injection gas stream. This method also includes combining the hot injection gas stream with a liquid water stream, wherein the combined stream may be used to heat the underground reserve sufficiently to release petroleum hydrocarbons therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Errico De Francesco
-
Publication number: 20090266540Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.Inventor: Errico De Francesco
-
Publication number: 20090194278Abstract: An in situ combustion process is utilized to extract hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil formation. The process includes injecting a foaming agent solution into the formation via an injection well that penetrates the oil formation, injecting an oxygen containing gas into the formation via the injection well and facilitating a combustion reaction between oxygen and hydrocarbons within the formation. The combustion gases formed by the combustion reaction force the flow of hydrocarbons within the formation. Hydrocarbons that are displaced within the formation are extracted from the formation via a production well that penetrates the formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et l'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Errico De Francesco
-
Publication number: 20080289820Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen and extracting heavy oil from underground reserves is provided. This method includes providing a carbon monoxide source stream and a water vapor stream to a first reactor, wherein the first reactor comprises a water shift reactor and a membrane-type separation device. This method also includes separating the products of the water shift reactor, thereby producing at least a hydrogen-rich stream, and a high pressure off-gas stream. This method also includes providing the high pressure off-gas stream and an oxidant stream to a combustion chamber. This method also includes combusting the oxidant stream and the high pressure off-gas stream as at least part of a combustion cycle thereby producing a hot injection gas stream. This method also includes combining the hot injection gas stream with a liquid water stream, wherein the combined stream may be used to heat the underground reserve sufficiently to release petroleum hydrocarbons therefrom.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exloitation Des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventor: Errico De Francesco
-
Publication number: 20080257543Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas, oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas, injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons, purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas, and injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: October 23, 2008Inventors: Errico De Francesco, Pietro Di Zanno, Denis Cieutat, Guillaume De-Smedt