Patents Assigned to Conoco
  • Method for removing hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide from gaseous mixtures
    Patent number: 4314977
    Abstract: A method for removing hydrogen sulfide and nitric oxide from gaseous mixtures by adjusting the mol ratio of hydrogen sulfide to nitric oxide to a value from about 0.5 to about 1.1 and thereafter mixing a free oxygen containing gas with the gaseous mixture to provide a quantity of oxygen greater than about 0.5 mols of oxygen per mol of nitric oxide in the gaseous mixture. Either hydrogen sulfide or nitric oxide may be removed substantially completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Metro D. Kulik
  • Rapid phase transformation for poly(butene-1)
    Patent number: 4311571
    Abstract: Poly(butene-1) in type II form can be accelerated to its stable type I form by applying a volatile solvent such as an olefinic hydrocarbon and allowing the solvent to evaporate. The phase transformation can be accelerated by additional treatment with heat below the melt temperature of about 90.degree. C. and/or ultrasonic sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Mark P. Mack
  • Internally baffled, horizontal flow, vertical oil skimmer
    Patent number: 4308136
    Abstract: An internally baffled, horizontal flow, vertical oil separator or skimmer for the flotation and removal of oil from mixtures of oil and water has internal baffles that compel horizontal flow of a vertically elongated cross-section of fluid in the vertical vessel. The skimmer is of particular utility on offshore platforms where deck space is extremely expensive and limited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Warne, Jr.
  • Selsmic field recording technique
    Patent number: 4308597
    Abstract: A method for removing an undesired surface wave from a reflected wave in a method for seismic exploration is accomplished by placing first and second detector arrays at a location on the surface of the earth in the direction of movement of the surface wave. The array has a length less than the length of the shortest wave length of the interfering wave to be eliminated. Signals from both arrays are recorded and processed by first adding the received signals to form a first output, subtracting added signals to form a second output, shifting one of the output signals by 90.degree., adjusting its amplitude and subtracting the phase shifted and adjust signal from the remaining signal thereby removing the surface wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Harold A. Wilson
  • Use of chelating agents in the conversion of coal to low mineral content fuel
    Patent number: 4306959
    Abstract: An improvement in the production of low mineral content fuel by coal liquefaction processes which yield as a primary product a mixture of liquid and solids a part of which are suspended in the liquid whereby the separation of the suspended solids is facilitated by the addition of an effective amount of a suitable chelating agent to the mixture. The chelating agent is optionally added as a solution of the chelating agent in a suitable solvent and desirably is present in an amount from about 100 to about 150% of the stoichiometric amount required to react with the suspended solids in the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: William G. Gibson
  • Transducer carrier for ultrasonic testing
    Patent number: 4306459
    Abstract: A carrier for a plurality of transducers is disclosed. The carrier is useful in ultrasonic testing of furnace tubes. The carrier includes provision for positioning a plurality of transducers against the interior of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Albert S. Johnson, Bruce W. Pappan
  • Thrust actuated drill guidance device
    Patent number: 4305474
    Abstract: A device for providing directional control to a borehole being drilled. The device is used with a drilling system including a drill string, a downhole motor and a bit rotated by the downhole motor. The device exerts a deflecting force perpendicular to the axis of the drill string when a lower than normal thrust is imposed on the drill string, and exerts an opposite perpendicular force when a higher than normal thrust is imposed on the drill string. When normal thrust is being used, the device does not cause deflection in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Nathandale Farris, Hilbert D. Dahl
  • Strontium catalyzed alkoxylations
    Patent number: 4306093
    Abstract: Strontium-containing materials catalyze the alkoxylation of alcohols. Strontium produced alkoxylates have sharper alkoxylate distributions, lower free alcohols, lower pour points, and better detergency than alkoxylates obtained from alkali base catalysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Kang Yang, Gerald L. Nield, Paul H. Washecheck
  • Offshore platform having three decks
    Patent number: 4305466
    Abstract: An improved offshore platform, the platform including three decks in the wellbay area; a first lower deck adapted to provide a workspace for the positioning of equipment to be lowered to the ocean floor, a second middle deck, said middle deck being the main production deck from which production conduits from said wellbores are supported and from which production operations are conducted after completion of said wellbores and a third upper deck said third deck being adapted to support drilling, completion and workover equipment and to provide a protective barrier between said equipment and said second deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Riley G. Goldsmith
  • Method for drilling wellbores from an offshore platform
    Patent number: 4305468
    Abstract: A method for drilling wellbores from an offshore platform to penetrate a subterranean formation using a combination of surface drilling techniques and subsea drilling techniques to achieve an improved effectiveness by avoiding the necessity for large conduits communicating the ocean floor and the offshore platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Riley G. Goldsmith
  • Constraint factor for structural monitoring
    Patent number: 4304135
    Abstract: A dual element strain gauge is placed near a welded or otherwise constrained joint on a structural member so as to provide a constraint factor. The location for the strain gauge must be selected to provide constraint factor that is preferably near either maximum or minimum value. The strain gauge is monitored to detect a change in the initial constraint factor, which indicates failure has begun or is imminent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Peterson, Norman W. Hein, Jr., Donald H. Oertle, Steven E. Hawkins
  • Degasification of coal seams
    Patent number: 4303274
    Abstract: Mineable coal seams which are in proximity to an overlying or underlying coal seam are degasified in advance of and during mining by drilling a generally horizontal borehole in the overlying or underlying coal seam and producing gas therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Pramod C. Thakur
  • Traction fluid
    Patent number: 4302618
    Abstract: A traction fluid is disclosed. The traction fluid is the product obtained by hydrogenation of a hydrocarbon composition containing at least 40 weight percent diphenylalkanes containing 22 to 34 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Paul H. Washecheck
  • Inorganic catalyst for alkoxylation of alcohols
    Patent number: 4302613
    Abstract: Strontium and barium-based catalyzed alkoxylation of alcohols of all classes is carried out more rapidly and produces a more peaked reaction product when carried out in the presence of co-catalysts such as calcium oxide, calcium carbide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium metal, magnesium hydroxides, zinc oxide, and aluminum metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Kang Yang, Gerald L. Nield, Paul H. Washecheck
  • Acoustic emission for detection and monitoring of crack initiation and propagation in materials
    Patent number: 4297885
    Abstract: Initiation and propagation of cracks in materials is detected and monitored by (a) adhering an acoustical emitter to the area of the material to be monitored, and (b) monitoring for acoustical signals emitted by the adhered emitter, said signals produced by cracks in the material initiating in or propagating into the acoustical emitter. An acoustical emitter such as brittle plastic, glass rods or strips and metal such as tin or cadmium can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Norman W. Hein, Jr., Donald H. Oertle
  • Method for thermally insulating wellbores
    Patent number: 4296814
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for insulating a well bore to reduce heat transfer between fluids flowing through the well bore and surrounding formations wherein a heat activated gel-forming fluid having heat insulating properties when gelled is introduced into the annular space between the well bore and the tubing string contained therein and caused to be gelled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Stalder, William L. Martin
  • Pressure seal for pumping instruments through drill rod
    Patent number: 4295536
    Abstract: A device for placement between a rotary drill motor and a drill rod for use in pumping instruments down the drill rod. The device has pressure seals at each end and an opening for an instrument cable which slides through the opening as the instruments are pumped down the drill rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Emrys H. Jones, Jr., Stephen D. Lauer
  • Waterflood method
    Patent number: 4295980
    Abstract: An improvement is disclosed in the method of recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation by use of an aqueous mixture containing an alkali metal hydrocarbon sulfonate and a solubilizing agent (e.g. isobutanol). Briefly, the improvement comprises using as the sulfonate an alkali metal C.sub.20 -C.sub.24 alkane sulfonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Kaye L. Motz
  • Method of making alumina fibers
    Patent number: 4296057
    Abstract: Alumina fibers are prepared by a method comprising(a) forming aluminum methoxide from aluminum alkoxides using methanol;(b) recovering aluminum methoxide as a solid precipitate phase, washing to remove higher alcohols and drying to recover a powder;(c) reacting the recovered powdered aluminum methoxide with dilute hydrochloric acid to form aluminum chlorohydrate; then(d) concentrating the aluminum chlorohydrate solution under vacuum to desired viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Ziegenhain
  • Electrode prospecting method providing calculable electromagnetic coupling for the indirect detection of hydrocarbon reservoirs
    Patent number: 4295096
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for electromagnetic hydrocarbon exploration which is accomplished by implanting at least two pairs of electrodes into the ground. One pair transmits a signal into the earth, and the other pair receives the signal. With proper processing the polarization and resistivity of the ground can be calculated. The components are arranged in a manner to insure that the electromagnetic coupling can be determined and can be removed from the measurements. Electrode spacing can be varied to focus on the anomalous stratum. If an anomalous stratum is discovered, it is cored to determine the nature of the material creating the anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben K. Sternberg, Dale E. Miller, Dhari S. Bahjat