Abstract: In an ebullated bed process for hydrotreating a distillate hydrocarbon feedstock it has been found that a catalyst addition slurry is made up with catalyst and feedstock. A control system provides for a constant distillate feedstock rate during intermittent catalyst addition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 19, 1992
Date of Patent:
November 14, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Robert M. Steinberg, John C. Strickland
Abstract: Propylene oxide adducts of oxyethylene glycols are used as extractive distillation agents in an extractive distillation column in the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water, acetone and methanol to obtain an overhead propylene oxide distillate fraction contaminated with reduced quantities of water, acetone and methanol, and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing substantially all of the extractive distillation agent, and acetone and some of the methanol and water introduced into the distillation column.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 1994
Date of Patent:
November 7, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Chemical Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Peters, William A. Smith, Mark A. Mueller, William K. Culbreth, III
Abstract: A process for simultaneous hydrodearomatization, hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation of a charge hydrocarbon oil containing undesired aromatic components, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, which comprises:maintaining a bed of a sulfided metal catalyst comprising one or more metals of non-noble Group VIII, at least one metal selected from tungsten and molybdenum on a novel "phosphorus treated carbon" support, the "phosphorus treated carbon" support being comprised of phosphorus bound to the carbon surface predominantly as polyphosphate species characterized by peaks between -5 and -30 ppm in the solid-state magic angle spinning .sup.31 P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum;passing a charge hydrocarbon feed in the presence of hydrogen into contact with said catalyst at hydrotreating conditions, thereby effecting hydrodearomatization, and simultaneously effecting hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 9, 1994
Date of Patent:
October 31, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Chakka Sudhakar, Frank Dolfinger, Jr., Max R. Cesar, Mahendra S. Patel, Paul O. Fritz
Abstract: Hydrodesulfurization of a cracked naphtha is effected in the presence of, as catalyst, an alkali metal, a metal of Group VIII, and a metal of Group VI-B on an alumina support containing a hydrotalcite-like composition.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 9, 1994
Date of Patent:
October 17, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Pei-Shing E. Dai, David E. Sherwood, Jr., Randall H. Petty
Abstract: A continuous method of in situ steam generation for steamflooding which comprises injecting a mixture of hydrocarbons to serve as fuel for in situ combustion and water to be converted into steam by the hot formation into an upper zone of the formation, while simultaneously injecting into the lower zone an oxidant causing at least a portion of the oxidant to contact and combust with the injected hydrocarbons.
Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing organic acids and derivatives thereof from a crude methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) stream of the type found in the feed to, or effluent from, a reactor for a one-step process for producing MTBE which comprises:contacting said crude MTBE stream in a treating zone over one or more beds of a solid base for a period of time sufficient to neutralize said organic acids and derivatives thereof; andwithdrawing a substantially organic acid-free crude MTBE product from said treating zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 23, 1993
Date of Patent:
October 10, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Chemical Inc.
Inventors:
John F. Knifton, Mark A. Mueller, Michael W. Peters
Abstract: An extractive distillation agent comprising a mixture of polyoxypropylene glycols is fed to an extractive distillation column used for the distillation of propylene oxide contaminated with water, acetone and methanol to obtain an overhead distillate anhydrous propylene oxide fraction contaminated with reduced quantities of methanol and a heavier bottoms distillation fraction containing the polyoxypropylene glycols, water and acetone and some of the methanol introduced into the distillation column.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 1994
Date of Patent:
September 26, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Chemical Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. Peters, William K. Culbreth, III, Mark A. Mueller
Abstract: A mild hydrocracking process for the hydrodemetallation (HDM), hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydroconversion (HC) of hydrocarbon feedstocks such as residuum feedstocks which provides increased conversion of the 1000.degree. F.+ hydrocarbon fraction to the 1000.degree. F.- fraction and increased yields of middle distillates is disclosed. The process utilizes a catalyst comprising about 2.0 to about 6.0 wt. % of an oxide of a Group VIII metal, about 12.0 to about 25.0 wt. % of an oxide of molybdenum and 0 to about 3.0 wt. % of an oxide of phosphorus supported on a porous alumina support containing about 4.0 to about 30 wt. % of silica.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 22, 1994
Date of Patent:
September 26, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Pei-Shing E. Dai, Charles N. Campbell, II, Bobby R. Martin, Randall H. Petty
Abstract: A pilot for a gas fuel burner assembly is controlled so that the pilot is extinguished when the burner is ignited and lit when the burner is extinguished.
Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for preparing ethyl t-butyl ether in one step which comprises reacting tertiary butanol and ethanol in the presence of a catalyst selected from zeolite beta and zeolite beta modified with multimetals selected from the group consisting of Groups IB, VB, VIB, VIIB or VIII of the Periodic Table at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and atmospheric pressure to about 1000 psig, wherein when the temperature is in the operating range above about 140.degree. C., the product comprises a two-phase mix of an ETBE-isobutylene and, optionally, diisobutylene product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous ethanol-rich phase.
Abstract: The invention is a method for mixing feedstock with fluidized catalyst in a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) riser reactor. A dispersed catalyst suspension is passed upwardly at a velocity of 0.5 to 4 ft/sec. Atomized feedstock is injected downwardly at a velocity of -30 to -1000 ft./sec to produce a turbulently mixed reaction suspension. Vaporizing feedstock rapidly accelerates the reaction suspension in approximately plug flow. The slip factor between catalyst and hydrocarbon in the reaction suspension defining the departure from ideal plug flow is thereby reduced.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 20, 1993
Date of Patent:
September 12, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Michael M. Dach, Henry C. Chan, Ting Y. Chan
Abstract: A batch method of in situ steam generation for steamflooding which comprises injecting hydrocarbons into an upper zone of the formation to serve as fuel for in situ combustion, injecting oxidant into the lower zone causing at least a portion of the oxidant to contact and combust with the injected hydrocarbons, injecting water into the upper zone to be converted into steam by the hot formation, followed by ceasing oxidant injection, injecting a non-oxidant material into the lower zone so that the combustion zone does not approach the wellbore, and generating a steam front to drive formation hydrocarbons towards at least one production well.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 23, 1994
Date of Patent:
September 12, 1995
Assignees:
Texaco Inc., The University of Calgary
Inventors:
Robert L. Horton, Sudarshan A. Mehta, Robert G. Moore, Matthew G. Ursenbach
Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step process for the generation of isopropyl t-butyl ether from a crude by-product acetone stream which comprises:a) Hydrogenating said crude acetone over a bulk metal, nickel-rich catalyst to give an isopropanol-rich effluent;b) subjecting said isopropanol-rich intermediate to etherification conditions in the presence of a strong acid catalyst selected from:(1) a cationic resin;(2) a .beta.-zeolite;(3) dealuminized Y-zeolites; and(4) metal-modified .beta.-zeolites.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 30, 1993
Date of Patent:
September 12, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Chemical Inc.
Inventors:
John F. Knifton, Ernest L. Yeakey, Pei-Shing E. Dai
Abstract: A used lubricating oil comprising lube oil additives, including zinc dithiophosphate is reconstituted. Zinc dithiophosphate is thermally decomposed at a temperature of 400.degree. F. (204.degree. C.) to 1000.degree. F. (538.degree. C.) for a residence time of 10 to 120 minutes. The resulting oil is subjected to vacuum distillation. A zinc-free (i.e. ash free by ASTM D-482) oil is stabilized by catalytic hydrogenation or clay treating to produce a lubricating oil blending stock. About 5 to 25 vol % is recovered as a metal containing bottoms product, useful as asphalt extender. The process is carried out in the absence of chemical demetallizing.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 1993
Date of Patent:
September 5, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Charles W. Harrison, Arthur G. Gorneau, Robert M. Steinberg, Bruce R. Bond
Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting hydrocarbon gas from drilling fluid samples utilizes microwave energy as the source for heating a sample, containing water, sufficiently to cause the extraction of the hydrocarbon gases therefrom. Either a batch or a continuous operation can be realized using this method.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 27, 1993
Date of Patent:
September 5, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Patrick L. Delaune, Scott A. Hanson, Howard L. McKinzie, Alan C. Wright
Abstract: A method for airborne surveying is disclosed to acquire, process and calculate the apparent thermal inertia of earth surface materials during flight and by post-flight processing. Two separate airborne surveys are conducted during a diurnal solar cycle to determine the maximum and the minimum radiant temperatures of the earth surface materials. The albedo of the earth material is determined and is used to calculate the apparent thermal inertia of the earth surface materials. Spatial rectification of the two surveys is accomplished by use of differential global positioning.
Abstract: Spent or inactive alumina-supported catalysts removed from a catalytic hydrotreating process and having carbonaceous and metallic deposits thereon are reactivated. After a solvent wash to remove process oils, the spent catalyst is contacted with steam at a temperature of 1000.degree. to about 1250.degree. F. for a period of about 2 to about 5 hours to form a reactivated catalyst suitable for reuse in a catalytic hydrotreating process. Optionally, the steam-treated catalyst can be regenerated by contact with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature of about 700.degree. to about 900.degree. F. to remove carbon deposits from the catalyst, or, alternatively, the steam-treated catalyst can be acid-leached to remove undesired metals and then contacted with an oxygen-containing gas at an elevated temperature to remove carbon deposits.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 18, 1994
Date of Patent:
August 29, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
David E. Sherwood, Jr., Johnnie R. Hardee, Jr.
Abstract: Hydrodesulfurization of a cracked naphtha is effected in the presence of, as catalyst, a non-noble metal of Group VIII and a metal of Group VI-B on an alumina support containing a hydrotalcite-like composition. The process of the instant invention gives high levels of hydrodesulfurization compared to prior art magnesia-containing catalysts and lower levels of olefin saturation, and less octane reduction in the desulfurized gasoline.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 12, 1993
Date of Patent:
August 15, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco, Inc.
Inventors:
Eugene P.-S. Dai, David E. Sherwood, Jr., Bobby R. Martin, Randall H. Petty
Abstract: Disclosed is a reforming process for the production of gasoline having an increased isoparaffin yield, reduced aromatics content and a constant octane level which comprises passing the gasoline precursor containing greater than 20 vol% aromatics over a reforming catalyst comprising one or more metals from Group VIII and IVA of the Periodic Table on an oxide support, having a total pore volume of about 0.300 to 0.600 cc/g and greater than 85% of the pore volume in pores of diameter less than 100.ANG..
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 10, 1994
Date of Patent:
August 1, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Versie T. Cuthbert, Ooriapadical C. Abraham
Abstract: A method of enhancing the activity of a catalyst for the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons, comprising:(a) applying a modifying element dissolved in a solvent onto the surface of a finished catalyst;(b) drying said modified finished catalyst to remove all free solvent from said catalyst;(c) optionally, heating said dried, modified finished finished catalyst at a temperature of about 120.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. at a rate of 1.degree.-20.degree. C. per minute, and holding said dried catalyst at a temperature of about 120.degree. C. to about 1000.degree. C. up to 48 hours to provide an enhanced finished catalyst; and(d) recovering said enhanced finished catalyst.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 15, 1993
Date of Patent:
August 1, 1995
Assignee:
Texaco Inc.
Inventors:
Jeffrey G. Weissman, Elaine C. DeCanio, Thomas G. C. Nelson, Denise C. Tebbens