Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Jeffrey R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6617556
    Abstract: A novel system for inductively heating a fluid conduit using an electrical cable located proximate the fluid conduit. Electricity is conducted to the cable in either a powering mode, in which a powered system is electrically coupled to the cable and substantially no inductive heating of the fluid conduit is provided, or a heating mode, in which the powered system is electrically decoupled from the cable and inductive heating of the fluid conduit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Michael W. Wedel
  • Patent number: 6610196
    Abstract: A substantially water-free hydrocarbon feed is charged to a reformer reactor operated under reforming conditions; thereafter, a chlorine-containing additive is introduced, without the simultaneous introduction of water, into the substantially water-free hydrocarbon feed being charged to the reformer reactor in an amount and for a time period that are effective to inhibit deactivation of the reformer catalyst; thereafter, the introduction of the chlorine-containing additive is terminated and the charging of the substantially water-free hydrocarbon feed to the reformer reactor is continued.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Fan-Nan Lin, John S. Parsons
  • Patent number: 6593264
    Abstract: A reforming catalyst containing a Group VIII metal, or a Group VII B metal, or tin, or germanium, or copper, or selenium or combinations of any two or more metals or oxides thereof is activated by: a) continuously flowing a reducing gas over the catalyst for contact with the catalyst; (b) during step a), flowing a halogen-containing compound over the catalyst for contact with the catalyst for a first time period, wherein the first time period is greater than about 1 minute, and wherein the first time period is less than about 60 minutes; and (c) following step b), and during step a), substantially discontinuing the flow of the halogen-containing compound over the catalyst for a second time period, wherein the second time period is greater than about 1 minute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Fan-Nan Lin, John S. Parsons, Donald H. Macahan, Brian H. Limoges
  • Patent number: 6573416
    Abstract: A process for disproportionating isoparaffins and paraffins in the presence of at least one initiator is disclosed. The product from the disproportionation contains a gasoline range material having a higher octane-rating than the isoparaffins and paraffins in the feed and a diesel range material having a higher cetane number than the isoparaffins and paraffins in the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Bruce B. Randolph
  • Patent number: 6562231
    Abstract: A composition comprises silicon, aluminum, zirconium, and boron. A process for producing the composition comprises contacting a silicon compound, an aluminum compound, a zirconium compound, and a boron compound under a condition sufficient to effect the production of a composition comprising silicon, aluminum, zirconium, and boron. Also disclosed is a process for catalytically cracking a hydrocarbon-containing fluid which comprises contacting said hydrocarbon-containing fluid with a catalyst composition which comprises silicon, aluminum, zirconium, and boron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Lyle R. Kallenbach, Dwayne R. Senn
  • Patent number: 6558646
    Abstract: A method is provided for increasing the lifetime of Stretford solution by reducing or eliminating the generation of undesirable thiosulfate salts. The method has three major aspects. First, thiocyanate is added to the Stretford solution. Second, the concentration of sodium sulfate in the solution is maintained at a level below about 100 g/l. Third, the solution should contain little or no thiosulfate at the start of operations. It has been found that little or no thiosulfate is generated when the Stretford unit is operated under these conditions. The concentration of sodium sulfate in the solution is maintained at a level below about 100 g/l by removing sodium sulfate from the solution by cooling a slipstream of the solution to precipitate the sodium sulfate as Glauber's salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Tosco Corporation
    Inventors: Marlea Harmon, Ronald C. Brinkman
  • Patent number: 6558532
    Abstract: While a substantially water-free hydrocarbon feed is being charged to a catalytic reformer reactor, an organic chloride is contacted with the reformer catalyst in an amount and for a time period that are effective to restore at least a portion of the activity of the reformer catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Fan-Nan Lin, John S. Parsons
  • Patent number: 6552241
    Abstract: A system and/or process for removing water from an alkylation catalyst mixture of an alkylation process is disclosed. The process includes passing an alkylation reaction zone effluent to a settler for separation into a hydrocarbon phase and a catalyst mixture phase; passing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon phase, as a settler effluent stream containing alkylate, water, HF and volatility reducing additive, to a first separator; removing and condensing a first overhead stream from the first separator thereby forming an HF/water stream; passing the HF/water stream to a second separator for separation into a modified HF stream containing HF and volatility reducing additive and into an HF/water azeotrope stream containing HF and water; using the modified HF stream as a part of the alkylation catalyst mixture and; removing water from the system by removing the HF/water azeotrope stream from the second separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Curtis B. Wood, Martyn E. Pfile
  • Patent number: 6503465
    Abstract: A process and/or system is provided for isomerizing a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising saturated C6 hydrocarbons by contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock, in the presence of hydrogen and optionally a chloride, with a first isomerization catalyst composition in a first isomerization reactor defining a first reaction zone operated at a first reaction temperature, withdrawing a first intermediate stream comprising cyclohexane and n-hexane from the first reaction zone, separating the first intermediate stream, via a first separator, into a first product stream comprising cyclohexane and a second intermediate stream comprising n-hexane, contacting the second intermediate stream, in the presence of hydrogen and optionally a chloride, with a second isomerization catalyst composition in a second isomerization reactor defining a second reaction zone operated at a second reaction temperature greater than the first reaction temperature, and withdrawing from the second reaction zone a second product stream comprising isoh
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Fan-nan Lin, Edgar Durand Davis
  • Patent number: 6491887
    Abstract: A solid combination of elemental sulfur and an inorganic support material prepared in an inert atmosphere to provide a composition for absorbing trialkyl arsines. The composition prepared thereby and the method for absorbing trialkyl arsines using the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Tin-Tack Peter Cheung, Donald H. Kubicek, David E. Legg
  • Patent number: 6478952
    Abstract: Deactivation of a reformer catalyst is inhibited by charging a hydrocarbon feed having a concentration of an organic aluminum halide compound to a reformer reactor operating under reforming conditions and containing a reformer catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Fan-Nan Lin
  • Patent number: 6472340
    Abstract: Catalyst activation of a platinum reforming catalyst system contained in a multiple reactor system by simultaneously reducing the catalyst with hydrogen while introducing a nonmetallic chlorine-containing compound into a reactor of the multiple reactor system in an amount to add from about 0.05 to about 0.3 weight percent chlorine to the catalyst and thereafter purging the system with about 100 to about 50,000 cubic feet of hydrogen per cubic foot of catalyst resulting in a reforming system having increased activity and providing enhanced RON values with reduced cracking of feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Fan-Nan Lin
  • Patent number: 6458266
    Abstract: A substantially water-free hydrocarbon feed is charged to a multiple-reactor reformer system being operated under reforming conditions and comprising at least two reformer reactors serially connected in fluid-flow communication and each containing a reformer catalyst; and, simultaneously with the charging step, a chloriding agent is sequentially introduced, without simultaneously introducing water, immediately upstream from the inlets of all the reformer reactors in an amount and for a period of time that are effective to inhibit the deactivation of the reformer catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Fan-Nan Lin, John S. Parsons
  • Patent number: 6455461
    Abstract: A composition comprises a hydrogenation catalyst supported on an inorganic support which comprises aluminum, zirconium, and a borate. A process for producing the composition comprises the steps of (1) contacting an aluminum salt, a zirconium salt, and an acidic boron compound under a condition sufficient to effect the production of a solid material comprising aluminum, zirconium, and borate; and (2) combining a hydrogenation catalyst with the inorganic support. Also disclosed is a process for reducing aromatic compounds content in a hydrocarbon-containing fluid which comprises contacting a hydrocarbon-containing fluid, in the presence of a catalyst composition, with hydrogen wherein said catalyst composition comprises a hydrogenation catalyst and an inorganic support wherein said support comprises aluminum, zirconium and a borate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Lyle R. Kallenbach
  • Patent number: 6451173
    Abstract: An improved apparatus useful in a process for separating a liquid stream (which can be an HF catalyst mixture) having a first liquid component (which can be HF), a second liquid component (which can be light ASO) and a third liquid component (which can be heavy ASO) is disclosed. The apparatus includes a closed vessel including an upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion, and above a bottom tray contained therein having a downcomer extending downwardly therefrom. The apparatus also includes a conduit located within the downcomer and opening below the level of the bottom tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Hovis, Richard L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6426441
    Abstract: A system and/or process for decreasing the level of at least one organic fluoride present in a hydrocarbon mixture by first passing the hydrocarbon mixture to an eductor and educting into the hydrocarbon mixture a catalyst comprising a volatility reducing additive and hydrofluoric acid to produce a hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture, permitting the hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture to undergo a phase separation to produce a hydrocarbon phase having a lower concentration of at least one organic fluoride than the hydrocarbon mixture and to produce a catalyst phase, and withdrawing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon phase to thereby form a hydrocarbon product stream, are disclosed. In an alternative embodiment, a system and/or process for controlling the concentration of at least one organic fluoride and/or the RON of the hydrocarbon mixture by adjusting the amount of volatility reducing additive present in the catalyst are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Kenneth Charles Hoover
  • Patent number: 6423880
    Abstract: A novel i-pentane disproportionation process is provided and includes contacting i-pentane with an acidic disproportionation catalyst in the presence of a lower paraffin co-feed and, optionally, in the presence of an initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Kenneth C. Hoover, Martyn E. Pfile
  • Patent number: 6423211
    Abstract: A system and/or process for decreasing the level of at least one organic fluoride present in a hydrocarbon mixture by first passing the hydrocarbon mixture to an eductor and educting into the hydrocarbon mixture a catalyst comprising a volatility reducing additive and hydrofluoric acid to produce a hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture, permitting the hydrocarbon-catalyst mixture to undergo a phase separation to produce a hydrocarbon phase having a lower concentration of at least one organic fluoride than the hydrocarbon mixture and to produce a catalyst phase, and withdrawing at least a portion of the hydrocarbon phase to thereby form a hydrocarbon product stream, are disclosed. In an alternative embodiment, a system and/or process for controlling the concentration of at least one organic fluoride and/or the RON of the hydrocarbon mixture by adjusting the amount of volatility reducing additive present in the catalyst are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Kenneth Charles Hoover
  • Patent number: 6415649
    Abstract: An effective laboratory method for developing complete capillary pressure curves involves directly measuring an oil/water saturation profile within a cylindrical porous rock core plug. The saturation profile, which includes a free water level, is established under a known pressure gradient induced by centrifuging and is measured using image mapping techniques. The free-water level is established at a desired position within the length of the core plug and provides a reference position of zero capillary pressure to facilitate measurement of both positive and negative capillary pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Eugene A. Spinler, Bernard A. Baldwin, David Mitchell Chancellor
  • Patent number: 6413897
    Abstract: Disclosed is an alkylation process which utilizes a catalyst containing hydrogen fluoride, and, optionally, a volatility reducing additive, as an alkylation catalyst. The process provides for the regeneration of an alkylation catalyst having ASO, and, optionally, a volatility reducing additive, therein by separating HF from the ASO and the optional volatility reducing additive components using an upwardly flowing gas containing an isoparaffin and/or an olefin. Where a volatility reducing additive is used, the ASO and volatility reducing additive are thereafter separated to provide a volatility reducing additive which is substantially free of ASO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Bruce B. Randolph, Marvin M. Johnson