Patents Represented by Attorney Kenneth R. Priem
  • Patent number: 5399259
    Abstract: Heavy oils may be hydrotreated in the presence of a porous alumina support bearing metals of Group VIII and VI-B and optionally phosphorus, the catalyst having a Total Surface Area of 165-230 m.sup.2 /g, a Total Pore Volume of 0.5-0.8 cc.g, and a Pore Diameter Distribution whereby less than about 5% of the Total Pore Volume is present as primary micropores of diameter less than 80.ANG., and secondary micropores of diameter of .+-.20.ANG. of a Pore Mode of 100-135.ANG. are present in amount of at least about 65% of the micropore volume having pores with diameter less than 250.ANG., and 22-29% of the Total Pore Volume is present as macropores of diameter >250.ANG.. The process of the instant invention is particularly effective in achieving desired levels of hydrodemetallation, hydrodesulfurization, and hydrocracking of asphaltenes in the fraction of hydrotreated/hydrocracked petroleum resid product having a boiling point greater than 1000.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Shing E. Dai, Gerald V. Nelson, Govanon Nongbri, Roy E. Pratt, David E. Sherwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5400137
    Abstract: Turbidity and fluorescence measurements are taken simultaneously from a waste water sample in a stabilized pool of water in order to determine both the amount of solids and the amount of fluorescent material contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Winslow, Dale F. Brost, Judith A. Newton
  • Patent number: 5399794
    Abstract: A method for preparing tertiary butyl alcohol wherein a feedstock comprising a solvent solution of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide in tertiary butyl alcohol or a mixture of tertiary butyl alcohol with isobutane is charged to a hydroperoxide decomposition reaction zone containing a catalytically effective amount of a hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst consisting essentially of alumina having gold-promoted palladium deposited thereon and is brought into contact with the catalyst in liquid phase with agitation under hydroperoxide decomposition reaction conditions to convert the tertiary butyl hydroperoxide to decomposition products, principally tertiary butyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5399777
    Abstract: In the non-catalytic liquid phase oxidation of isobutane, it has been found that the reaction is initiated with 0.05 wt % to 0.08 wt % tertiary butyl hydroperoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 5396807
    Abstract: The gas flow rate and liquid flow rate of a two phase fluid flow are determined by passing the fluid flow down an inclined pipe to stratify the flow. The fluid pressure, temperature and density are measured along with the liquid density. The differential pressure is measured to determine the dynamic head of the fluid. These measurements are used together to determine the gas flow rate and the liquid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Earl L. Dowty, Gregory J. Hatton
  • Patent number: 5397456
    Abstract: Heavy oils may be hydrotreated in the presence of a porous alumina support bearing metals of Group VIII and VI-B and optionally phosphorus, the catalyst having a Total Surface Area of 240-310 m.sup.2 /g, a Total Pore Volume of 0.5-0.75 cc/g, and a Pore Diameter Distribution whereby 63-78% of the Total Pore Volume is present as micropores of diameter 55-115A and 11-18% of the Total Pore Volume is present as macropores of diameter greater than 250A. The heavy oils and hydrogen are contacted with the catalyst such that the catalyst is maintained at isothermal conditions and is exposed to a uniform quality of feed. The process is particularly effective in achieving desired levels of hydroconversion of feedstock components having a boiling point greater than 1000.degree. F. to products having a boiling point less than 1000.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Shing E. Dai, David E. Sherwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5396955
    Abstract: A method for selectively affecting the permeability of reservoirs to enhance fluid flow therein includes placing a plurality of acoustical wave generator means in a patterned array with respect to the reservoir and energizing them to create acoustic nodes at targeted areas of the reservoir. The acoustic wave generator means can be located solely on the surface, only below surface or in combination above and below surface. The acoustic wave generator means can be selectively simultaneously or sequentially energized to create nodes at targeted areas of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Donald L. Howlett
  • Patent number: 5396960
    Abstract: A flame extinguishing apparatus cooperates with a flare boom conductor discharge port to vent a stream of combustible gas into the atmosphere. The apparatus includes a nozzle, positioned in and adjacent to the flare boom conductor gas discharge port, directing a shaped stream of a flame impeding fluid toward the discharge port. The fluid stream thus forms a gas penetrable quasi-barrier which extinguishes the flame and concurrently dilutes the vent gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Marcott, Loyd Guimbellot
  • Patent number: 5395982
    Abstract: An impure methyl tertiary butyl ether product contaminated with isobutylene, methanol and water is purified by continuous counter-current contact with water and isobutylene in a counter-current contact extraction tower to provide an overhead extract comprising isobutylene, methyl tertiary butyl ether and water and a raffinate comprising methanol, water and a minor amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether, the overhead raffinate being separated in a methyl tertiary butyl ether purification distillation zone into a lighter distillation fraction comprising isobutylene and water and a heavier distillation fraction consisting essentially of methyl tertiary butyl ether, the lighter distillation fraction being decanted to remove water and to provide a distillate isobutylene fraction that is charged to a surge drum from which isobutylene is returned to the contact tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Company
    Inventors: John R. Cassata, Stuart J. Parker, Rei-Yu J. Hwan, Catherine J. Conkwright
  • Patent number: 5395512
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon feedstock is catalytically cracked at an elevated temperature in a cracking zone with a zeolite cracking catalyst. The cracking catalyst employed comprises a crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite catalyst and a hybrid [Al,B]-zeolite catalyst. In this process the hydrocarbon feedstock is contacted with the zeolite catalyst in, for example, a fluidized bed catalytic cracking unit to yield cracked products containing increased amounts of C.sub.3 /C.sub.8 olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Hui Hsing, Roy E. Pratt, Chih-Hao M. Tsang, Chi-Lin O'Young
  • Patent number: 5395980
    Abstract: In the non-catalytic liquid phase oxidation of isobutane, it has been found that the reaction is initiated with 0.05 wt % to 0.08 wt % ditertiary butyl peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Mueller, John R. Sanderson
  • Patent number: 5391286
    Abstract: A process for catalytic hydrodewaxing hydrocarbon feedstocks is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a surface-modified crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite, such as ZSM-5 type zeolite in a matrix or binder, such as alumina, having a specified metals content. The process is especially useful for dewaxing lubricating oil basestocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Pei-Shing E. Dai, Robert J. Taylor, Jr., Randall H. Petty, Joseph A. Durkin
  • Patent number: 5390740
    Abstract: In a steam flood enhanced oil recovery operation, vapor and liquid in the casing annulus of the production wells is forwarded through a liquid separator with the thus separated vapor being forwarded to an eductor at the injection well where the vapor is mixed with incoming steam for injection and circulation through the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Edward A. Woerheide
  • Patent number: 5389241
    Abstract: A method of selectively hydrodenitrogenating various raw hydrocarbon oils such as various petroleum feedstocks, coal liquids, shale oils and sand oils, which method comprises passing the raw hydrocarbon oil along with hydrogen (H.sub.2) over sulfided carbon supported Fe--Mo catalysts, whereby the raw hydrocarbon oil is hydrodenitrogenated with a selectivity significantly higher than that is possible with conventional alumina supported hydrotreating catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Chakka Sudhakar, Gerald G. Sandford, Frank Dolfinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5389239
    Abstract: In a direct-coupled cyclone system, the riser cyclone is positioned external to a containment vessel. The riser cyclone separator discharges separated catalyst to a catalyst stripper internal to the containment vessel. Means is provided for withdrawing stripping gas from the catalyst stripper and passing it under pressure control to the riser cyclone separator. The riser cyclone separator is inherently pressure stable relative to the catalyst stripper. The invention is particularly useful for retrofitting a direct-coupled cyclone separator to a preexisting containment vessel with limited free volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Leonce F. Castagnos, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5389276
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ethylene glycol based deicing/anti-icing composition which contains a thickener comprising a polyacrylic acid having a molecular weight of from about 90,000 to 100,000 and a wetting agent from the group consisting of nonylphenol ethoxylates, alkarylsulfonates, polyoxyethylene phosphates and tetrafunctional block copolymers of EO/PO on an ethylene diamine backbone and demonstrates improvement in anti-icing ability as measured by holdover time while not adversely effecting aerodynamic performance or Newtonian rheology of the deicer measured by passing the minimum requirements of the AMS test for Type I fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Coffey, Edward C. Y. Nieh, Richard A. Armstrong
  • Patent number: 5389592
    Abstract: A method of enhancing the activity of a regenerated catalyst for the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbons comprising:(a) applying a modifying element dissolved in a solvent onto the surface of a regenerated catalyst;(b) drying said modified regenerated catalyst to remove all free solvent from said catalyst;(c) optionally, heating said dried modified regenerated catalyst at 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 regenerated catalyst; and(d) recovering said enhanced regenerated catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Weissman, Elaine C. Decanio, Max R. Cesar
  • Patent number: 5389238
    Abstract: In an ebullated bed process the feedstock conduit is provided with at least 50 psi (4.4 atm) head in excess of a liquid-vapor separation pressure. The excess head is used in combination with an eductor to recycle a reactor effluent liquid. The expanded catalyst bed is thereby maintained at 110 vol % to vol % of a settled catalyst volume. A separate pump to expand (ebullate) the catalyst bed is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Edward K. Liu, John C. Strickland, Ting Y. Chan
  • Patent number: 5387721
    Abstract: Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is formed by reaction of methanol with tertiary butyl ether in two catalyst beds. A feedstock mixture comprising methanol and tertiary butyl alcohol in a molar ratio of 2 to 3 moles of methanol per mole of tertiary butyl alcohol is reacted in a first etherification reaction zone at a liquid hourly space velocity of 1 to 10 volumes of feedstock mixture per volume of catalyst per hour. A first reaction product mixture is fractionated to remove unreacted methanol, isobutylene and MTBE overhead. This isobutylene is passed to a second etherification reaction zone at a liquid hourly space velocity of 1 to 10. A second reaction product mixture is fractionated to recover additional MTBE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Charles J. Kruse, Kyle L. Preston, Brian L. Benac
  • Patent number: 5387723
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers which comprises reacting t-butanol with an alkanol in the presence of a catalyst which exhibits extended life comprising .beta.-zeolite modified with one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Group IA and Group IIIB of the Periodic Table and continuously contacting said alkanol and t-butanol in a molar amount from about 10:1 to 1:10 over said zeolite catalyst at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Knifton, Pei-Shing E. Dai