Patents by Inventor Scott K. Berkhous

Scott K. Berkhous 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: 11390820
    Abstract: Naphtha boiling range compositions are provided that are formed from crude oils with unexpected combinations of high naphthenes to aromatics weight and/or volume ratio and a low sulfur content. The resulting naphtha boiling range fractions can have a high naphthenes to aromatics weight ratio, a low but substantial content of aromatics, and a low sulfur content. In some aspects, the fractions can be used as fuels and/or fuel blending products after fractionation with minimal further refinery processing. In other aspects, the amount of additional refinery processing, such as hydrotreatment, catalytic reforming and/or isomerization, can be reduced or minimized. By reducing, minimizing, or avoiding the amount of hydroprocessing needed to meet fuel and/or fuel blending product specifications, the fractions derived from the high naphthenes to aromatics ratio and low sulfur crudes can provide fuels and/or fuel blending products having a reduced or minimized carbon intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Matthew H. Lindner, Scott K. Berkhous, Mike T. Noorman, Gregory K. Lilik, Shifang Luo, Ian J. Laurenzi, Jasmina Poturovic
  • Publication number: 20210363450
    Abstract: Naphtha boiling range compositions are provided that are formed from crude oils with unexpected combinations of high naphthenes to aromatics weight and/or volume ratio and a low sulfur content. The resulting naphtha boiling range fractions can have a high naphthenes to aromatics weight ratio, a low but substantial content of aromatics, and a low sulfur content. In some aspects, the fractions can be used as fuels and/or fuel blending products after fractionation with minimal further refinery processing. In other aspects, the amount of additional refinery processing, such as hydrotreatment, catalytic reforming and/or isomerization, can be reduced or minimized. By reducing, minimizing, or avoiding the amount of hydroprocessing needed to meet fuel and/or fuel blending product specifications, the fractions derived from the high naphthenes to aromatics ratio and low sulfur crudes can provide fuels and/or fuel blending products having a reduced or minimized carbon intensity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew H. Lindner, Scott K. Berkhous, Mike T. Noorman, Gregory K. Lilik, Shifang Luo, Ian J. Laurenzi, Jasmina Poturovic
  • Patent number: 11046903
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions and methods of making an additized fuel composition comprising a base fuel composition and a randomly branched nitrate composition. The randomly branched nitrate composition includes a plurality of primary nitrate molecules, each molecule therein having an empirical chemical formula of CnNO3, wherein Cn is a branched aliphatic moiety which may be the same or different for each molecule, n is an integer selected from the group consisting of 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, at least one carbon atom in the branched aliphatic moiety being bound to three or more carbon atoms, a branching index ranging from 1.8 to 2.2, and greater than 80% of the branches in the aliphatic moiety being in other than the alpha position. The additized fuel composition may be diesel fuel composition or a gasoline fuel composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Logan P. Renninger, Scott K. Berkhous, Donald J. Mattran, Geert W. Steenbeke, Dongil Kang, Kenneth C. H. Kar
  • Publication number: 20210054298
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to compositions and methods of making an additized fuel composition comprising a base fuel composition and a randomly branched nitrate composition. The randomly branched nitrate composition includes a plurality of primary nitrate molecules, each molecule therein having an empirical chemical formula of CnNO3, wherein Cn is a branched aliphatic moiety which may be the same or different for each molecule, n is an integer selected from the group consisting of 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, at least one carbon atom in the branched aliphatic moiety being bound to three or more carbon atoms, a branching index ranging from 1.8 to 2.2, and greater than 80% of the branches in the aliphatic moiety being in other than the alpha position. The additized fuel composition may be diesel fuel composition or a gasoline fuel composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Logan P. Renninger, Scott K. Berkhous, Donald J. Mattran, Geert W. Steenbeke, Dongil Kang, Kenneth C. H. Kar
  • Patent number: 10865354
    Abstract: Marine gas oil compositions corresponding to fuels and/or fuel blending components are provided that can provide improved friction properties within an engine. Addition of lubricant base stock to a marine gas oil composition can reduce frictional losses within an engine during operation. The benefits in reduction of frictional losses can be observed based on the difference between the indicated mean effective pressure and the actual work delivered by an engine, where the difference corresponds to the frictional mean effective pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Aditya S. Shetkar, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Scott K. Berkhous
  • Patent number: 10858602
    Abstract: Compositions corresponding to marine diesel fuels, fuel oils, jet fuels, and/or blending components thereof are provided that include at least a portion of a natural gas condensate fraction. Natural gas condensate fractions derived from a natural gas condensate with sufficiently low API gravity can provide a source of low sulfur, low pour point blend stock for formation of marine diesel and/or fuel oil fractions. Natural gas condensate fractions can provide these advantages and/or other advantages without requiring prior hydroprocessing and/or cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth C. H. Kar
  • Patent number: 10858603
    Abstract: Compositions corresponding to marine diesel fuels, fuel oils, jet fuels, and/or blending components thereof are provided that include at least a portion of a natural gas condensate fraction. Natural gas condensate fractions derived from a natural gas condensate with sufficiently low API gravity can provide a source of low sulfur, low pour point blend stock for formation of marine diesel and/or fuel oil fractions. Natural gas condensate fractions can provide these advantages and/or other advantages without requiring prior hydroprocessing and/or cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth C. H. Kar
  • Patent number: 10836970
    Abstract: Methods for making marine fuel oil compositions and/or marine gas oil compositions are provided. The fuel oil compositions can include a distillate fraction having a sulfur content of 0.40 wt % or more and a resid fraction having a sulfur content of 0.35 wt % or less. The distillate fraction can also have a suitable content of aromatics and/or suitable combined content of aromatics and naphthenes. The distillate fraction, optionally blended with a low sulfur distillate fraction, can be used as a gas oil fuel or fuel blending component. Using a distillate fraction with an elevated sulfur content and aromatics content as a blend component for forming a fuel oil can result in a marine fuel oil with improved compatibility for blending with other conventional marine fuel oil fractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Erin R. Fruchey, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel
  • Patent number: 10781391
    Abstract: Heavy hydrotreated gas oil compositions are provided, along with marine fuel oil compositions and marine gas oil compositions that include a substantial portion of a hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil. The hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil can correspond to a gas oil with a relatively low viscosity and an elevated paraffin content in a narrow boiling range which results in a relatively high cloud point and/or pour point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Erin R. Fruchey, Scott K. Berkhous, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Aditya S. Shetkar
  • Publication number: 20200291318
    Abstract: Marine gas oil compositions corresponding to fuels and/or fuel blending components are provided that can provide improved friction properties within an engine. Addition of lubricant base stock to a marine gas oil composition can reduce frictional losses within an engine during operation. The benefits in reduction of frictional losses can be observed based on the difference between the indicated mean effective pressure and the actual work delivered by an engine, where the difference corresponds to the frictional mean effective pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Aditya S. Shetkar, Kenneth C.H. Kar, Scott K. Berkhous
  • Patent number: 10774279
    Abstract: Compositions corresponding to marine diesel fuels, fuel oils, jet fuels, and/or blending components thereof are provided that include at least a portion of a natural gas condensate fraction. Natural gas condensate fractions derived from a natural gas condensate with sufficiently low API gravity can provide a source of low sulfur, low pour point blend stock for formation of marine diesel and/or fuel oil fractions. Natural gas condensate fractions can provide these advantages and/or other advantages without requiring prior hydroprocessing and/or cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Erin R. Fruchey
  • Patent number: 10760021
    Abstract: Compositions corresponding to marine diesel fuels, fuel oils, jet fuels, and/or blending components thereof are provided that include at least a portion of a natural gas condensate fraction. Natural gas condensate fractions derived from a natural gas condensate with sufficiently low API gravity can provide a source of low sulfur, low pour point blend stock for formation of marine diesel and/or fuel oil fractions. Natural gas condensate fractions can provide these advantages and/or other advantages without requiring prior hydroprocessing and/or cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Erin R. Fruchey
  • Patent number: 10760019
    Abstract: Fuel compositions for advanced combustion engines that include a naphtha boiling range portion are provided, where the fuel compositions can have a reduced ignition delay and/or an improved derived cetane number. The improved combustion properties can be achieved by adding a portion of a light naphtha (boiling range) composition to a heavy naphtha boiling range composition. The addition of up to about 10 vol % of a light naphtha composition to a heavy naphtha composition can result in a mixture having a reduced ignition delay relative to the heavy naphtha composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Krystal B. Wrigley, Matthew I. Watkins
  • Publication number: 20200165535
    Abstract: Heavy hydrotreated gas oil compositions are provided, along with marine fuel oil compositions and marine gas oil compositions that include a substantial portion of a hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil. The hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil can correspond to a gas oil with a relatively low viscosity and an elevated paraffin content in a narrow boiling range which results in a relatively high cloud point and/or pour point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Erin R. Fruchey, Scott K. Berkhous, Kenneth C.H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Aditya S. Shetkar
  • Patent number: 10597594
    Abstract: Heavy hydrotreated gas oil compositions are provided, along with marine fuel oil compositions and marine gas oil compositions that include a substantial portion of a hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil. The hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil can correspond to a gas oil with a relatively low viscosity and an elevated paraffin content in a narrow boiling range which results in a relatively high cloud point and/or pour point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Erin R. Fruchey, Scott K. Berkhous, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Aditya S. Shetkar
  • Patent number: 10597596
    Abstract: Compositions corresponding to marine diesel fuels, fuel oils, jet fuels, and/or blending components thereof are provided that include at least a portion of a natural gas condensate fraction. Natural gas condensate fractions derived from a natural gas condensate with sufficiently low API gravity can provide a source of low sulfur, low pour point blend stock for formation of marine diesel and/or fuel oil fractions. Natural gas condensate fractions can provide these advantages and/or other advantages without requiring prior hydroprocessing and/or cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMoil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Erin R. Fruchey
  • Patent number: 10550345
    Abstract: Compositions corresponding to marine diesel fuels, fuel oils, jet fuels, and/or blending components thereof are provided that include at least a portion of a natural gas condensate fraction. Natural gas condensate fractions derived from a natural gas condensate with sufficiently low API gravity can provide a source of low sulfur, low pour point blend stock for formation of marine diesel and/or fuel oil fractions. Natural gas condensate fractions can provide these advantages and/or other advantages without requiring prior hydroprocessing and/or cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Erin R. Fruchey
  • Patent number: 10494579
    Abstract: Naphthene-containing distillate compositions are provided herein. Methods of improving fuel compositions and blends using the naphthene-containing distillate compositions are also provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Krystal B. Wrigley, Alexander S. Freer, Scott K. Berkhous, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Mike T. Noorman
  • Patent number: 10443006
    Abstract: Heavy hydrotreated gas oil compositions are provided, along with marine fuel oil compositions and marine gas oil compositions that include a substantial portion of a hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil. The hydrotreated heavy atmospheric gas oil can correspond to a gas oil with a relatively low viscosity and an elevated paraffin content in a narrow boiling range which results in a relatively high cloud point and/or pour point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Erin R. Fruchey, Scott K. Berkhous, Kenneth C. H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Aditya S. Shetkar
  • Publication number: 20190185772
    Abstract: Methods for making marine fuel oil compositions and/or marine gas oil compositions are provided. The fuel oil compositions can include a distillate fraction having a sulfur content of 0.40 wt % or more and a resid fraction having a sulfur content of 0.35 wt % or less. The distillate fraction can also have a suitable content of aromatics and/or suitable combined content of aromatics and naphthenes. The distillate fraction, optionally blended with a low sulfur distillate fraction, can be used as a gas oil fuel or fuel blending component. Using a distillate fraction with an elevated sulfur content and aromatics content as a blend component for forming a fuel oil can result in a marine fuel oil with improved compatibility for blending with other conventional marine fuel oil fractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Scott K. Berkhous, Erin R. Fruchey, Kenneth C.H. Kar, Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel