Patents by Inventor Robert D. Denton
Robert D. Denton 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).
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Patent number: 11255603Abstract: A method of designing, constructing, and operating a hydrocarbon gas treatment plant is disclosed. A target hydrocarbon production range for a hydrocarbon gas meeting a required product specification is established. A cryogenic distillation column is designed and constructed with a vapor capacity to meet the target hydrocarbon production range. A variable feed refrigeration system is incorporated to cool an inlet feed of the hydrocarbon gas. The variable feed refrigeration system is designed to handle the target hydrocarbon production range and a wide range of contaminant concentrations in the inlet feed. A variable bottoms heating system is incorporated to handle heating duties associated with the wide range of contaminant concentrations in the inlet feed. A variable bottoms pumping system is incorporated to handle liquid flows associated with the wide range of contaminant concentrations in the inlet feed.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Jaime A. Valencia, Robert D. Denton, David W. Maher
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Patent number: 11110388Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing an input feed stream through two swing adsorption systems as a purge stream to remove contaminants, such as water, from the respective adsorbent bed units. The wet purge product stream is passed to a solvent based gas treating system, which forms a wet hydrocarbon rich stream and a wet acid gas stream. Then, the wet hydrocarbon rich stream and the wet acid gas stream are passed through one of the respective swing adsorption systems to remove some of the moisture from the respective wet streams.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Robert D. Denton, Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Bruce T. Kelley, Robert A. Johnson, Bennett D. Marshall
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Patent number: 11060791Abstract: Described herein are systems and processes to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) using liquefied nitrogen (LIN) as the refrigerant. Greenhouse gas contaminants are removed from the LIN using a greenhouse gas removal unit. The LNG is compressed prior to being cooled by the LIN.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Fritz Pierre, Jr., Parag A. Gupte, Richard A. Huntington, Robert D. Denton
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Patent number: 11000797Abstract: A method of separating impurities from a natural gas stream. The natural gas stream is cooled through heat exchange with one or more process streams to produce a chilled gas stream, which is contacted with a lean solvent stream in a contactor to separate hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from the chilled gas stream, thereby producing a rich solvent stream and a partially-treated gas stream. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and H2S are separated from the partially-treated gas stream in a membrane separation system, thereby creating a fully-treated gas stream and a permeate gas stream, the permeate gas stream being comprised primarily of H2S and CO2, and the fully-treated gas stream being comprised primarily of natural gas. The fully-treated gas stream and the permeate gas stream are at a lower temperature than the partially-treated gas stream. The fully-treated gas stream and the permeate gas stream comprise the one or more process streams.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: David W. Maher, Shwetha Ramkumar, P. Scott Northrop, Robert D. Denton
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Publication number: 20190381447Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing an input feed stream through two swing adsorption systems as a purge stream to remove contaminants, such as water, from the respective adsorbent bed units. The wet purge product stream is passed to a solvent based gas treating system, which forms a wet hydrocarbon rich stream and a wet acid gas stream. Then, the wet hydrocarbon rich stream and the wet acid gas stream are passed through one of the respective swing adsorption systems to remove some of the moisture from the respective wet streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2019Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Robert D. Denton, Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Bruce T. Kelley, Robert A. Johnson, Bennett D. Marshall
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Patent number: 10495379Abstract: A system for conditioning a sour gas feed stream for a cryogenic distillation tower. A dehydration unit separates the sour gas feed stream into a first stream including water and a feed stream. A sequential cooling assembly is coupled to both the dehydration unit and the cryogenic distillation tower. The sequential cooling assembly includes: a first stage that separates the feed stream into a partially cooled feed stream and a second stream including acid gas; a second stage that cools the partially cooled feed stream into a cooled feed stream and a third stream including acid gas; and a cooled feed stream header coupled to a cryogenic distillation tower feed inlet. The first stage, the second stage, or both send at least one of the second and third streams to a bottom section of the cryogenic distillation tower.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Ananda K. Nagavarapu, P. Scott Northrop, Robert D. Denton, James A. Valencia
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Patent number: 10480854Abstract: Described herein are systems and processes to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) using liquefied nitrogen (LIN) as the refrigerant. Greenhouse gas contaminants are removed from the LIN using a greenhouse gas removal unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2016Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Richard A. Huntington, Parag A. Gupte, Fritz Pierre, Jr., Robert D. Denton
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Patent number: 10434458Abstract: Provided are apparatus and systems for performing a swing adsorption process. This swing adsorption process may involve passing an input feed stream through two swing adsorption systems as a purge stream to remove contaminants, such as water, from the respective adsorbent bed units. The wet purge product stream is passed to a solvent based gas treating system, which forms a wet hydrocarbon rich stream and a wet acid gas stream. Then, the wet hydrocarbon rich stream and the wet acid gas stream are passed through one of the respective swing adsorption systems to remove some of the moisture from the respective wet streams.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Robert D. Denton, Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Bruce T. Kelley, Robert A. Johnson, Bennett D. Marshall
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Patent number: 10393015Abstract: Methods and systems for treating a compressed gas stream. The compressed gas stream is cooled and liquids are removed therefrom to form a dry gas stream, which is chilled in a first heat exchanger. Liquids are separated therefrom, thereby producing a cold vapor stream and a liquids stream. A first part of the cold vapor stream is expanded to produce a cold two-phase fluid stream, and a second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled to form a cooled reflux stream. Various streams are fed into a separation column to produce a cold fuel gas stream and a low temperature liquids stream. The second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled by the cold fuel gas stream, which becomes a warmed fuel gas stream that is compressed and used with the low-temperature liquids stream to chill the dry gas stream and to cool the compressed gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Donald J. Victory, Robert D. Denton
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Patent number: 10391445Abstract: Processes for forming and sequestering CO2 clathrates in a marine environment are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Matthew S. Mettler, Ashish B. Mhadeshwar, Jean W. Beeckman, Robert D. Denton, Jason W. Lachance, Rustom M. Billimoria
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Patent number: 10351974Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for forming carbon allotropes. An exemplary method includes forming a feedstock that includes at least about 10 mol % oxygen, at least about 10 mol % carbon, and at least about 20 mol % hydrogen. Carbon allotropes are formed from the feedstock in a reactor in a Bosch reaction at a temperature of at least about 500° C., and the carbon allotropes are separated from a reactor effluent stream.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignees: EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY, SOLID CARBON PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Robert D. Denton, Dallas B. Noyes, Russell J. Koveal, Jr., Terry A. Ring
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Patent number: 10343104Abstract: Systems and a method for removing carbon nanotubes from a continuous reactor effluent are provided herein. The method includes flowing the continuous reactor effluent through a separation vessel, separating carbon nanotubes from the continuous reactor effluent in the separation vessel, and generating a stream including gaseous components from the continuous reactor effluent.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2013Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignees: EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY, SOLID CARBON PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: Robert D. Denton, Dallas B. Noyes, Russell J. Koveal, Jr., Terry A. Ring
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Patent number: 10323495Abstract: Disclosed techniques include a method of obtaining an enhanced oil recovery fluid from a hydrocarbon reservoir, comprising producing a hydrocarbon stream from the hydrocarbon reservoir, separating an associated gas stream from the hydrocarbon stream, and condensing at least a portion of the associated gas stream to obtain an enriched hydrocarbon fluid suitable for injecting into a liquid layer of the hydrocarbon reservoir to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Jaime A. Valencia, David W. Maher, Robert D. Denton, Gary F. Teletzke, Michael W. Lin
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Patent number: 10315150Abstract: The present techniques are directed to a system and method for recovering carbon dioxide (CO2). The method includes recovering the CO2 from a gas mixture including the CO2 via a CO2 separation system. The CO2 separation system includes a rotating freezer/melter.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2018Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Richard A. Huntington, Robert D. Denton, Sulabh K. Dhanuka
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Publication number: 20190054416Abstract: A method of separating impurities from a natural gas stream. The natural gas stream is cooled through heat exchange with one or more process streams to produce a chilled gas stream, which is contacted with a lean solvent stream in a contactor to separate hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from the chilled gas stream, thereby producing a rich solvent stream and a partially-treated gas stream. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and H2S are separated from the partially-treated gas stream in a membrane separation system, thereby creating a fully-treated gas stream and a permeate gas stream, the permeate gas stream being comprised primarily of H2S and CO2, and the fully-treated gas stream being comprised primarily of natural gas. The fully-treated gas stream and the permeate gas stream are at a lower temperature than the partially-treated gas stream. The fully-treated gas stream and the permeate gas stream comprise the one or more process streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: David W. Maher, Shwetha Ramkumar, P. Scott Northrop, Robert D. Denton
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Publication number: 20190054415Abstract: A method of separating impurities from a natural gas stream. CO2 and H2S are separated from the natural gas stream in a membrane separation system, thereby creating a partially-treated gas stream and a permeate gas stream, both of which are at a lower temperature than the natural gas stream. The partially-treated gas stream is contacted with a first lean solvent stream in a first contactor to separate H2S from the partially-treated gas stream, thereby producing a first rich solvent stream and a fully-treated gas stream. The permeate gas stream is contacted with a second lean solvent stream in a second contactor to separate H2S therefrom to produce a second rich solvent stream and a CO2 gas stream. H2S and CO2 are removed from the first and second rich solvent streams, thereby producing the first and second lean solvent streams.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2018Publication date: February 21, 2019Inventors: David W. Maher, Shwetha Ramkumar, P. Scott Northrop, Robert D. Denton
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Patent number: 10099972Abstract: Systems and a method are provided for producing an aromatic hydrocarbon and generating electricity from a tail gas stream. The method includes feeding a first stream including a raw natural gas into a reactor. The method includes converting the first stream, at least in part, to a second stream including an aromatic hydrocarbon within the reactor. The method includes separating the second stream into a tail gas stream and a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon stream and combusting at least a portion of the tail gas stream to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2014Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Paul F. Keusenkothen, Timothy A. Barckholtz, J. Tim Cullinane, Robert D. Denton, Frank Hershkowitz, Ian J. Laurenzi
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Patent number: 10100613Abstract: The present disclosure provides a subwater heat exchanger that includes a duct, first coils, a first impeller and a second impeller. The duct is configured to receive a first fluid. The first coils are inside of the duct and are configured to receive a second fluid that is heated or cooled by the first fluid. The first impeller is inside of the duct that is configured to initiate flow of the first fluid around the first coils. The second impeller is inside of the duct and is substantially in line with the first impeller along a duct lateral axis of the duct.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2013Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Nicholas F. Urbanski, Robert D. Denton, Charles J. Mart, Tracy A. Fowler
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Publication number: 20180229178Abstract: Processes for forming and sequestering CO2 clathrates in a marine environment are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: August 16, 2018Inventors: Matthew S. METTLER, Ashish B. MHADESHWAR, Jean W. BEECKMAN, Robert D. DENTON, Jason W. LACHANCE, Rustom M. BILLIMORIA
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Patent number: 10006700Abstract: The disclosure includes techniques associated with a collector tray assembly for a cryogenic distillation tower disposed below a slurry mix zone and above a lower distillation zone, wherein the collector tray assembly comprises a deck at a lower end of the slurry mix zone, and wherein the deck comprises at least one vapor riser configured to pass the vapor from the lower distillation zone into the slurry mix zone, wherein the vapor riser comprises a substantially vertical heat transfer section configured to pass the vapor substantially upwards through the slurry mix zone, and a vapor outlet section comprising at least one vapor outlet, wherein the vapor outlet section is below the heat transfer section.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Nicholas F. Urbanski, Brandon Cassimere, Robert D. Denton, Wayne S. Pon