Patents Assigned to 1304338 Alberta Ltd.
  • Patent number: 11946355
    Abstract: A method to recover and process hydrocarbons from a gas flare system to produce natural gas liquids (NGL), cold compressed natural gas (CCNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquid natural gas (LNG). The method process provides the energy required to recover and process the hydrocarbon gas stream through compression and expansion of the various streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11866395
    Abstract: A method of producing petrochemicals using a hydrocarbon fuel cell includes the steps of operating the fuel cell to produce electricity, thermal energy, and one or more exhaust stream, the one or more exhaust stream comprising at least a carbon-containing gas and water, reacting at least a portion of the exhaust stream with the reactant stream of natural gas to produce one or more petrochemical streams in a reactor, and heating one or more reactants using at least a portion of at least one of the electricity and the thermal energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11692772
    Abstract: A method to recover hydrocarbonfractions from refineries gas streams involves a pre-cooled heat refinery fuel gas stream mixed with a pre-cooled and expanded supply of natural gas stream in an inline mixer to condense and recover at least C3+ fractions upstream of a fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator may be monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. The pre-cooled stream of high pressure natural gas is sufficiently cooled by flowing through a gas expander that, when mixed with the pre-cooled refinery fuel gas, the resulting temperature causes condensation of heavier hydrocarbon fractions before entering the fractionator. A further cooled, pressure expanded natural gas reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature may be controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, Mackenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11486636
    Abstract: A method to recover olefins and C2+ fractions from refineries gas streams. The traditional recovery methods employed at refineries are absorption with solvents and cryogenic technology using compression and expansion aided by external refrigeration systems. In contrast to known methods, there is provided first a pre-cooling heat exchanger on a feed line feeding the gas stream to a in-line mixer, secondly by injecting and mixing a stream of LNG to condense the C2+ fractions upstream of the fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator is monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. A LNG stream is temperature controlled to flow through the injection inlet and mix with the feed gas at a temperature which results in the condensation of the C2+ fractions before entering the fractionator. A LNG reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature is controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: 1304338 ALBERTA LTD, 1304342 ALBERTA LTD
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11473021
    Abstract: A method of upgrading oil using supercritical fluids generated by a fuel cell. The process uses supercritical carbon dioxide to control the specific gravity of the oil and supercritical water, the amount of which is controlled to achieve a desired oil/water ratio in processing oils to be upgraded. The process recovers the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust to produce supercritical fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: 1304338 ALBERTA LTD., 1304342 ALBERTA LTD.
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 11173445
    Abstract: A method to pre-treat an inlet natural gas stream at gas pressure reduction stations to produce LNG removes water and carbon dioxide from a natural gas stream. The energy required for the process is provided by recovering pressure energy in the inlet gas stream. The process eliminates the conventional gas pre-heating process at pressure reductions stations employing gas combustion heaters. The process provides a method to produce LNG at natural gas pressure reduction that meets product specifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11149531
    Abstract: A method of producing temperature and pressure conditioned fluids using a fuel cell. The fuel cell generates an anode exhaust stream of water vapour and carbon dioxide. The water in the exhaust stream is condensed and separated to produce a stream of water and a stream of carbon dioxide. A first portion of the stream of water is heated to produce a stream of steam, which is combined with the fuel to form the anode input stream. A stream of condensed carbon dioxide is obtained by condensing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide in the stream of carbon dioxide. At least one fluid is heated and compressed to a target temperature and pressure for each fluid, the at least one fluid comprising a second portion of the stream of water or at least a portion of the condensed carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignees: 1304342 Alberta Ltd., 1304338 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, Mackenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 11097220
    Abstract: A method of stripping carbon dioxide from a stream of natural gas to be used in the production of liquid natural gas (LNG) comprises the steps of: passing a stream of natural gas through a stripping column; injecting a stripping agent into the stripping column, the stripping agent stripping carbon dioxide from the stream of natural gas and exiting the stripping column as a liquid phase; passing the stripping agent exiting the stripping column through a regenerator column to generate a carbon dioxide gas stream and a recovered stripping agent stream; and cooling the recovered stripping agent stream using a cryogenic vapour generated in the production of LNG and injecting the cooled, recovered stripping agent stream into the stripping column as the stripping agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10968725
    Abstract: A method to extract methane from a coal bed seam with carbon dioxide produced and recovered from a fuel cell anode exhaust stream while simultaneously sequestering the carbon dioxide on the coal. The process produces methane to supply a fuel cell to generate electricity while reducing or eliminating GHG emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, Mackenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20200386475
    Abstract: A method to recover hydrocarbonfractions from refineries gas streams involves a pre-cooled heat refinery fuel gas stream mixed with a pre-cooled and expanded supply of natural gas stream in an inline mixer to condense and recover at least C3+ fractions upstream of a fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator may be monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. The pre-cooled stream of high pressure natural gas is sufficiently cooled by flowing through a gas expander that, when mixed with the pre-cooled refinery fuel gas, the resulting temperature causes condensation of heavier hydrocarbon fractions before entering the fractionator. A further cooled, pressure expanded natural gas reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature may be controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Applicants: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose LOURENCO, Mackenzie MILLAR
  • Patent number: 10852058
    Abstract: There is described a method to produce LNG at gas pressure letdown stations. A high pressure gas stream is pre-cooled, dewatered, and then divided into two streams: a diverted LNG production stream (LNG stream) and a gas to end users stream (User stream). Carbon dioxide is removed from the LNG stream and the LNG stream is compressed. The LNG stream is then precooled by passing through one or more heat exchangers. Hydrocarbon condensate is removed from the LNG steam by passing the LNG stream through a first Knock Out drum. The LNG stream is then depressured by passing through a JT valve to depressurize the gas vapour exiting the first Knock Out drum and discharge it into a second Knock Out drum where the LNG is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: MacKenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 10787891
    Abstract: A method to enhance the production of oil from underground oil deposits recovers the anode exhaust stream components and thermal energy from a fuel cell for injection in a well pipeline to heat, displace and flow oil into a production well pipeline at optimal reservoir pressure and operating conditions. The process recovers and injects the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust stream into an oil reservoir to increase oil production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 10634426
    Abstract: A method for production of liquid natural gas (LNG) at natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery plants that maximizes NGLs recovery by producing LNG and using the produced LNG as an external cooling source to control the operation of a de-methanizer column at the NLG recovery facility. In at least one embodiment, LNG is added from an LNG overhead receiver by direct mixing to control the temperature profile in the NGL de-methanizer column. The temperature in an overhead product of the de-methanizer column is controlled by controlling addition of LNG as a reflux stream. The temperature in an expanded feed gas to the de-methanizer column is controlled by controlling addition of LNG as a tempering gas, while stripping of carbon dioxide from an NGL product stream is controlled by controlling the addition of LNG as stripping gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd, 1304342 Alberta Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10571187
    Abstract: A method for liquefying gas involving pre-treating the gas stream in a pre-treater to remove impurities, and then passing the gas stream through a first flow path of a first heat exchanger to lower a temperature of the gas stream. The gas stream is then passed through the gas expansion turbine to lower a pressure of the gas stream and further decrease the temperature of the gas stream. The gas stream is then passed into a primary separator to separate the gas stream into a liquid stream and a cold gas stream. The liquid stream is collected. Selected quantities of the cold gas stream are passed through a second flow path of the first heat exchanger whereby a heat exchange takes place to cool the gas stream flowing through the first flow path to maintain the temperature of the gas stream entering the gas expansion turbine at a temperature which promotes the production of liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd, 1304342 Alberta Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10288347
    Abstract: A method is described for removing carbon dioxide during Liquid Natural Gas production from natural gas at gas pressure letdown stations. The above method removes carbon dioxide from a Liquid Natural Gas production stream by using hydrocarbon fractions taken from a gas for consumption stream as a carbon dioxide stripping adsorption agent for a stripping column used to remove carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Publication number: 20190046921
    Abstract: A method to pre-treat an inlet natural gas stream at gas pressure reduction stations to produce LNG removes water and carbon dioxide from a natural gas stream. The energy required for the process is provided by recovering pressure energy in the inlet gas stream. The process eliminates the conventional gas pre-heating process at pressure reductions stations employing gas combustion heaters. The process provides a method to produce LNG at natural gas pressure reduction that meets product specifications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicants: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose LOURENCO, MacKenzie MILLAR
  • Publication number: 20180265795
    Abstract: A method of stripping carbon dioxide from a stream of natural gas to be used in the production of liquid natural gas (LNG) comprises the steps of: passing a stream of natural gas through a stripping column; injecting a stripping agent into the stripping column, the stripping agent stripping carbon dioxide from the stream of natural gas and exiting the stripping column as a liquid phase; passing the stripping agent exiting the stripping column through a regenerator column to generate a carbon dioxide gas stream and a recovered stripping agent stream; and cooling the recovered stripping agent stream using a cryogenic vapour generated in the production of LNG and injecting the cooled, recovered stripping agent stream into the stripping column as the stripping agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicants: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar
  • Patent number: 10077937
    Abstract: A method to produce LNG at straddle plants. In contrast to known methods, there is provided a slipstream of a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas stream to a straddle LNG plant section. The slipstream is further cooled, and processed in a high pressure column to a methane content of 85% or 85 plus by mole. The processed stream is further treated to remove carbon dioxide. The de-carbonated high pressure stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger by a counter-current vapor fraction of the expanded gas before entering an expander apparatus. The processed, treated and cooled gas is expanded into a separator. The produced LNG fraction is pumped to storage. A portion of the LNG fraction is used as a reflux stream to the high pressure column. The cold vapor fraction from the separator flows through counter-current heat exchangers, giving up its coolth energy before being re-compressed into the high pressure transmission gas pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: MacKenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 10006695
    Abstract: A method for producing liquid natural gas (LNG) includes the following steps. Compressor stations forming part of existing natural-gas distribution network are identified. Compressor stations that are geographically suited for localized distribution of LNG are selected. Natural gas flowing through the selected compressor stations is diverted to provide a high pressure first natural gas stream and a high pressure second natural gas stream. A pressure of the first natural gas stream is lowered to produce cold temperatures through pressure let-down gas expansion and then the first natural gas stream is consumed as a fuel gas for an engine driving a compressor at the compressor station. The second natural gas stream is first cooled with the cold temperatures generated by the first natural gas stream, and then expanded to a lower pressure, thus producing LNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd., 1304342 Alberta Ltd.
    Inventors: Mackenzie Millar, Jose Lourenco
  • Patent number: 9844748
    Abstract: A method to condense and recover CO2 from CO2 containing streams. A first step involve providing at more than one heat exchanger, with each heat exchanger having a first flow path for passage of a first fluid and a second flow path for passage of a second fluid. A second step involves passing a stream of very cold natural gas sequentially along the second flow path of each heat exchanger until it is heated for distribution and concurrently passing a CO2 containing stream sequentially along the first flow path of each heat exchanger, allowing the water vapor portion of the CO2 containing stream to condense and precipitate on the condensing heat exchangers. A third step involves passing a water vapor free CO2 containing stream to a cryogenic heat exchanger to condense, precipitate and recover CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignees: 1304338 Alberta Ltd, 1304342 Alberta Ltd
    Inventors: Jose Lourenco, MacKenzie Millar