Patents Represented by Attorney James F. Powers
  • Patent number: 4340252
    Abstract: Process for the in-situ leaching of uranium from a subterranean ore deposit comprising introducing into the deposit an aqueous lixiviant formulated from a dilute sulfuric acid solution which also contains carbon dioxide. The lixiviant has a pH within the range of 1.0-2.5. The lixiviant may also contain an alkali metal sulfate such as sodium sulfate. The process is particularly applicable to subterranean deposits containing uranium associated with carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Wilton F. Espenscheid, Tsoung-yuan Yan
  • Patent number: 4339152
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for mixing a gaseous oxidant (e.g., oxygen) and a lixiviant (e.g., an aqueous carbonate solution) at a downhole location before the oxygen-saturated lixiviant is injected into a formation to be leached. The invention involves establishing a mixing zone in the well by positioning a mixing means, comprising a housing, in the well at the downhole location. Lixiviant is flowed down the well and through a restrictive opening in the housing to substantially increase the flow velocity of the lixiviant. At the same time, gaseous oxidant is fed to the housing and is trapped therein by the increased velocity of the lixiviant and by packing material in said housing. The lixiviant flows through the trapped oxidant which, in turn, dissolves into the lixiviant to saturate same. Additional packing material is provided in the housing to remove undissolved oxidant from the saturated lixiviant before it is injected into a formation to be leached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Bert J. Warner, Melwyn L. Mathis, Warren F. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4337979
    Abstract: Process for the in-situ leaching of uranium from a subterranean ore deposit employing a lixiviant containing an oxidizing agent, sulfuric acid, and carbon dioxide. Prior to the injection of the lixiviant, an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid and oxidizing agent is injected into the deposit in an amount of at least 1 pore volume. The initially injected acid solution is substantially free of carbon dioxide. The process is particularly applicable to subterranean deposits containing uranium associated with carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tsoung-yuan Yan
  • Patent number: 4332347
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic bag, particularly suitable for sandwiches, comprising front and back side walls interconnected to one another at their side and bottom edges and defining between them a top opening which is closable by a fold-over cuff provided adjacent the top opening at the front of the bag. A tuck-in cuff is formed along a portion of the back wall and has a bottom opening permitting insertion of the user's fingers therein to facilitate the tucking in of the tuck-in cuff over an object in the bag prior to folding over the fold-over cuff to close the bag opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Clayton
  • Patent number: 4326427
    Abstract: A liquid-sampling gauge for obtaining a sample of liquid (e.g. water) from on or near the bottom of a liquid-filled container having one or more layers of liquid therein (e.g. a crude oil or other refined oil-filled cargo tank) and for determining the depth of the bottom layer (e.g. water) in the container. The gauge is comprised of a cylinder which is effectively open at its upper end and closed at its lower end. A spring-biased valve normally closes an inlet opening through the lower end of the cylinder. The sampling apparatus may be used with either the cylinder initially empty or filled with a fluid such as water. If the cylinder was initially empty it fills with fluid, e.g. oil, through its open upper end as it is lowered into the liquid-filled container. As the cylinder reaches bottom, a valve actuator on the cylinder engages the bottom of the container and continued downward movement of the cylinder opens the valve which allows displacement activity to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Hubert J. Ueberschaer
  • Patent number: 4322307
    Abstract: Process for treating a well penetrating a subterranean formation which is productive of sour gas in order to alleviate sulfur deposition. An alkyl naphthalene base sulfur solvent is circulated into the well and recovered from the well in admixture with the produced gas. The injected solvent comprises an alkyl naphthalene mixture containing C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl naphthalenes in an amount within the range of 70-90 weight percent and higher-boiling naphthalenes in an amount within the range of 5-15 weight percent. The sulfur solvent contains no more than a 10 weight percent of naphthalene and has an initial boiling point of at least 230.degree. C., a flash point greater than 101.degree. C., and a freezing point of less than 0.degree. C. The solvent mixture may be dissolved in a carrier oil for introduction into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Roland Kettner
  • Patent number: 4318298
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining the location of the liquid level in a well or borehole. A source of acoustic pressure pulses is coupled to the surface casing so that they are transmitted down the well and reflected by the gas-liquid interface. A transducer is also coupled to the well to produce an electrical signal in response to direct and reflected acoustic pulses occurring in the well. Gating circuitry responds to the transducer for starting and stopping the counting of clock pulses by a digital counter. A digital readout device is used to indicate the depth to the liquid level in the well. The acoustic pulse source is automatically actuated at predetermined times, and the depth to the liquid level and the time are automatically recorded. This produces a record of time and liquid depth which can extend over a period of several days.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Godbey, Billy G. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4318674
    Abstract: A source of acoustic pressure pulses is coupled to the surface casing of a well so that they are transmitted down the well and reflected by the gas-liquid interface. A transducer is also coupled to the well to produce an electrical signal in response to direct and reflected acoustic pulses occurring in the well. Gating circuitry responds to the transducer for starting and stopping the counting of clock pulses by a digital counter. The digital count controls a pump so that the liquid level in the well is precisely controlled between desired levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: John K. Godbey, Billy G. Ballard
  • Patent number: 4317893
    Abstract: A method for the recovery of oil from an oil-containing subterranean formation by waterflooding employing as an injection medium an aqueous solution of an anionic polymeric surfactant formed by reacting a polymer including succinic anhydride moieties with a primary amine to provide a polymeric reaction product in which at least 20 mol percent of the anhydride moieties have been converted, by reaction with said amine, to succinimide or succinamide groups. The polymeric anionic surfactants of the invention exhibit good physical and chemical stability, are shear stable, are effective in maintaining the salt stability of other surfactants (such as petroleum sulfonates) and also function as viscosifiers, even in the presence of significant concentrations of divalent metal ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Catherine S. H. Chen, Edward W. Sheppard
  • Patent number: 4312840
    Abstract: Process for the in-situ leaching of uranium employing an alkaline lixiviant and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hypochlorite as an oxidizing agent. The use of the hypochlorite oxidant results in significantly higher uranium recoveries and leaching rates than those attained by the use of conventional oxidants. The invention is particularly suitable for use in subterranean deposits in which the uranium mineral is associated with carbonaceous material which retards access to the uranium by the lixiviant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Edward T. Habib, Jr., Thomas C. Vogt, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4312838
    Abstract: Ion exchange process for the recovery of uranium from a pregnant carbonate lixiviant employed in uranium leaching operations in which the lixiviant is passed over a precipitation inducing anionic ion exchange resin under conditions to load the resin predominantly with non-exchangeable uranium. Non-exchangeable uranium is then recovered from the resin by eluting the resin with an aqueous acid solution having a pH no greater than 2. The process is useful in those applications in which the lixiviant contains chloride ions which inhibit the adsorption of uranyl ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tsoung-yuan Yan
  • Patent number: 4312839
    Abstract: A method for controlling calcium, e.g. calcite, build-up in the leach solution of a uranium and/or related values recovery operation wherein the leach solution is flowed through a value bearing ore to dissolve the desired values. A soluble fluoride, e.g. sodium fluoride, is added to the leach solution after it has passed through the ore to thereby precipitate calcium fluoride from the leach solution and lower the calcium content of the leach solution. The soluble fluoride may be added to the leach solution before the leach solution passes through the process equipment which is used to remove the values from the leach solution or the soluble fluoride may be added after the leach solution passes through the process equipment. If added before, it is preferable to also add a carbonate/bicarbonate solution along with the soluble fluoride to prevent coprecipitation of uranyl/desired value fluoride or to redissolve coprecipitated fluoride back into the leach solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1982
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: E. Thomas Habib, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4305688
    Abstract: This specification discloses a method of transporting particulate solid material as a slurry through a pipeline. A pumpable slurry is formed of the particulate solid material in a solution of alcohol and water as a carrier liquid having an additive therein to thicken it. The slurry is pumped through the pipeline to transport the particulate solid material to a desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph G. Savins
  • Patent number: 4304757
    Abstract: A method of controlling the molybdenum content of uranium yellowcake which is precipitated from an eluate of ammonium carbonate. The pH of the eluate is maintained at a relatively high value, i.e., never less than 9.3, while the eluate is heated to strip off ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water. Ammonia is added to the eluate during heating to keep the pH high and the molybdenum in solution in the eluate. Also, the precipitated uranium yellowcake may be treated by adding aqueous ammonia and heating to form an insoluble uranium salt and a soluble molybdenum salt which can be filtered to produce a uranium yellowcake having a reduced molybdenum content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Guenter H. Kuehl, Howard S. Sherry
  • Patent number: 4303710
    Abstract: Laminar thermoplastic film constructions comprising a layer of low density polyethylene bonded to a layer of a dissimilar polymer blend comprising high density polyethylene and polyethylene copolymers. In particular such copolymers comprise polyethylene copolymerized with another alpha olefin containing from about 3 up to about 15 carbon atoms. Such copolymers are also characterized by being linear, low density polymers having densities which are below about 0.94 grams/cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Edward M. Bullard, Gregory M. Smith
  • Patent number: 4303782
    Abstract: A method of polymerizing cyclic ethers especially tetrahydrofuran to form high molecular weight polymers using a zeolitic polymerization catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: William D. McHale, Joseph G. Bendoraitis
  • Patent number: 4302428
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of uranium by precipitation from a rich eluate by contacting the eluate with hydrogen peroxide to produce uranium peroxide yellowcake and reacting the yellowcake with a reducing agent to produce uranium trioxide. The reaction between the yellowcake and the reducing agent may be carried out at a temperature less than 100.degree. C. Subsequent to the reducing step, the uranium trioxide may be washed with water in order to remove water soluble salts present as impurities. Thereafter, the uranium trioxide is dried at a temperature less than 200.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Paul
  • Patent number: 4300860
    Abstract: An improved method of restoring a subterranean clay-containing formation having ammonium ions absorbed on the clay, wherein the formation is flushed with a halogenated restoration fluid having a halogen therein which reacts with the ammonium ion in the formation to decompose the ammonium ions is disclosed. The barren ammonia-containing restoration fluid, after it passes through the formation, is withdrawn, reconstituted and recycled as fresh restoration fluid back into the formation. The barren fluid is treated with an appropriate base to raise the pH to a highly alkaline level, the treated highly alkaline barren fluid is passed through an airstripping tower to strip substantially all the ammonia from the fluid, chlorine gas is added to the fluid from which the ammonia has been stripped, while controlling the amount of chlorine to produce a reconstituted restoration fluid of a predetermined pH level. Finally, the reconstituted restoration fluid is recycled back into the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tsoung-Yuan Yan
  • Patent number: 4298578
    Abstract: A method for recovering uranium and/or related values which include means for protecting ion-exchange resins in the recovery operation from oxidative degradation due to contact with hydrogen peroxide. A guard chamber is positioned in the elution circuit so that barren eluant, after it is stripped of its uranium and/or related values by treatment with hydrogen peroxide, will flow through the chamber. The guard chamber contains catalytic material, e.g. activated carbon, which decomposes hydrogen peroxide upon contact into water and oxygen. The barren eluant, after it passes through the catalytic material, is used to make up fresh eluant for reuse in the recovery method without the risk of the fresh eluant causing oxidative degradation of the resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Tsoung-yuan Yan, Raymond L. Lozano
  • Patent number: 4296075
    Abstract: A method for protecting an ion-exchange resin in a uranium and/or related values recovery operation from poisoning by polythionates contained in the leach solution. A guard chamber containing a catalytic material is positioned in the leaching circuit upstream of the resin so the leach solution will pass through the catalytic material before it contacts the resin. The catalytic material, e.g. activated carbon, converts the polythionates to non-poisoning thiosulfates, sulfites, and water which offer no poisoning threat to the resins. An oxidant, e.g. oxygen, is added to the leach solution before it passes through the catalytic material to speed up the catalytic reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Tsoung-yuan Yan