Patents Assigned to Conoco
  • Transfer and docking apparatus for use on variable draft marine vessels
    Patent number: 4292912
    Abstract: A transfer and docking apparatus for use on variable draft marine vessels. A plurality of parallel sloping fenders extend from above the maximum draft level of the vessel to below the minimum draft level of the vessel. A stairway is provided adjacent and parallel to at least one of the fenders and is mounted inboard of the fender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew F. Hunter
  • Processing high sulfur coal
    Patent number: 4292165
    Abstract: Coal is fed to a liquefaction process, and a resulting slurry of ash, unconverted coal, and liquids is fed to a delayed coker. Distillates are hydrotreated and stored or recycled, and the coke is calcined at high temperature to reduce the sulfur content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew C. Sooter
  • Selective alkylation of 2,5-xylenol in the presence of 2,4-xylenol
    Patent number: 4292450
    Abstract: A mixture of 2,4-/2,5-xylenol can be alkylated with a suitable alkylating agent over a strongly acidic divinylbenzene-styrene copolymer to afford a greater amount of 4-t-alkyl-2,5-xylenol than 6-t-alkyl-2,4-xylenol provided the alkylation is carried out at a suitably low temperature of 60.degree. C. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: John R. Dodd
  • Method for gasifying finely-divided coal in a fixed bed gasifier
    Patent number: 4290780
    Abstract: A process for gasifying finely-divided coal in a fixed bed gasifier, the process comprising: charging finely-divided coal to a stirred semi-fluidized carbonizer reaction zone where the coal is contacted with oxygen and agglomerated into coal derived particulate solids of a size suitable as a feedstock to a fixed bed gasifer and thereafter passed to a fixed bed gasifer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Dudt
  • Catalyst composition useful for preparing 2,6-xylenol
    Patent number: 4290924
    Abstract: A process for preparing 2,6-xylenol in high selectivity and a catalyst composition useful therein are disclosed. The process comprises reacting phenol, o-cresol or mixtures thereof with methanol in presence of water, hydrogen and a catalyst consisting essentially of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, SnO.sub.2, Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3, and K.sub.2 O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach
  • Method for producing solutions of drag reducing substances
    Patent number: 4289679
    Abstract: A method of producing ultra-high molecular weight polymers useful as drag reducing substances or antimist agents comprising;(1) polymerizing an alpha-olefin or olefins from 2 to 30 carbon atoms with a Ziegler catalyst in a light hydrocarbon solvent;(2) adding a heavy hydrocarbon diluent or a non-solvent suspending agent to the resulting polymer or copolymer mixture, and(3) removing substantially all of the light hydrocarbon component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark P. Mack
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4287902
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of a combination of an alkaryl sulfonate having a molecular weight of 415 to 470 and a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Gifford G. McClaflin, Charles R. Clark
  • Method of removing conduit from curved borehole
    Patent number: 4287953
    Abstract: A method for removing a conduit from a curved borehole by applying a compression load to the conduit to cause it to bend away from the inside of the borehole curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond L. Mazza
  • Underspoil slurry haulage
    Patent number: 4286822
    Abstract: An improved mining method for a surface mine has pairs of slurry and water pipes placed from a processing area on the surface to the floor of the mine beneath the mined out material, pairs of pipes (slurry and water) are spaced along the mining trench. A slurry haulage system is connected to the water and slurry pipes at the beginning of the mining operation. As the mining progresses and the haulage system reaches its maximum capabilities, it is disconnected and connected to the next set of pipes and the first set or pair of pipes is extended the width of the mined trench. The overburden is placed on top of the pipes as the mining progresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Doerr
  • Method for removal of water from activated carbon
    Patent number: 4287089
    Abstract: A method of removing water from activated carbon is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises (a) passing liquid 1,2-dichloroethane through a bed of activated carbon until a bulk water phase ceases to exit the bed or until from about 60 to about 80 weight percent of the water present in a water-saturated bed has been removed and (b) passing vapor phase 1,2-dichloroethane through the bed of activated carbon to remove substantially all of the remaining water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Convers, David P. Higley, James A. DeBernardi
  • Method for removal of water from activated carbon
    Patent number: 4286390
    Abstract: A method of removing water from activated carbon is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises (a) passing liquid 1,2-dichloroethane through a bed of activated carbon until a bulk water phase ceases to exit the bed or until from about 60 to about 80 weight percent of the water present in a water-saturated bed has been removed and (b) removing substantially all of the remainder of the water present by use of vacuum or by passing hot air or hot nitrogen through the activated carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Convers, James A. DeBernardi
  • Dioxane removal from ether sulfate
    Patent number: 4285881
    Abstract: Dioxane impurities in ether sulfates are removed by using a novel steam stripping technique in which water is neither added to nor removed from ether sulfate. This is possible because the chemical potential of water in the vapor phase is kept at the same value as that of water in the solution phase. In this way, thickening and foaming are avoided while dioxane levels can be reduced to below 10 parts per million by weight in a single pass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Kang Yang
  • Corrosion resistant tension leg cables
    Patent number: 4285615
    Abstract: A tension leg cable is connected between a floating structure and a seafloor anchor means. The cable is a multi-strand cable having voids between adjacent strands. A fluid tight vulcanized rubber sheath is provided covering an outer surface of the cable. A fluid tight corrosion resistant tubular member surrounds said sheath so as to define an annular space between the tubular member and the sheath. Means is provided for supplying an inert gas under pressure to said voids and said annular space. Means is provided for monitoring the pressure of said inert gas in said voids and said annular space to detect changes in said pressure so as to indicate a leak in either said sheath or said tubular member. Methods of construction of said tension leg cable are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick J. Radd
  • Method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4285356
    Abstract: An improvement in the method of transporting viscous hydrocarbons through pipes is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises adding water containing an effective amount of (a) an anionic alkyl polyether ethoxylated sulfate or (b) a combination of this material with an alcohol ether sulfate. The resulting oil-in-water dispersion has a lower viscosity and is more easily transported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Sifferman
  • Process for stimulating and upgrading the oil production from a heavy oil reservoir
    Patent number: 4284139
    Abstract: A process for thermally stimulating and upgrading oil production from a heavy oil reservoir wherein the heavy oil produced from the reservoir is combined with a hydrogen donor diluent and the mixture is subjected to thermal cracking to upgrade the heavy oil into more valuable hydrocarbon products. The cracked products are fractionated into a light end vapor fraction, an intermediate liquid fraction, a gas oil fraction and a pitch fraction, and at least a portion of the gas oil fraction is hydrogenated by contacting it with a hydrogen-containing gas stream to produce the hydrogen donor diluent combined with the heavy oil. The pitch fraction is subjected to partial oxidation to produce the hydrogen-containing gas stream and a by-product gas stream containing steam which is combined with additional steam and injected into the heavy oil reservoir to enhance the mobility of heavy oil contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Sweany
  • Laser geophone
    Patent number: 4284350
    Abstract: A method for measuring the velocity of earth surface motion utilizing coherent light energy which comprises steps of generating and directing a coherent light beam toward a selected earth surface position, reflecting said beam from a stationary reflector located at the earth surface position, and simultaneously reflecting said beam from a reflector at said earth surface position which moves with earth surface motion; and, detecting the reflected beam, including both the reflection path components, to derive an instantaneous difference frequency that is proportional to the velocity of the earth surface motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian B. Coon, Bobby J. Thomas, William L. Chapman, James C. Fowler
  • Synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor
    Patent number: 4284528
    Abstract: A synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor consisting essentially of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of calcium oxide and calcium carbonate supported in a refractory carrier matrix, the carrier having the general formula Ca.sub.5 (SiO.sub.4).sub.2 CO.sub.3. A method for producing the synthetic CO.sub.2 acceptor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Lancet, George P. Curran
  • High temperature pressure gauge
    Patent number: 4283954
    Abstract: A high temperature pressure gauge comprising a pressure gauge positioned in fluid communication with one end of a conduit which has a diaphragm mounted in its other end. The conduit is filled with a low melting metal alloy above the diaphragm for a portion of its length with a high temperature fluid being positioned in the remaining length of the conduit and in the pressure gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: J. Paul Echtler, Roy O. Scandrol
  • Pretreatment for fracturing coal seams
    Patent number: 4283089
    Abstract: A pretreatment for use in fracturing coal seams to increase gas permeability of the seams. The pretreatment involves injecting a material capable of swelling coal into a coal seam prior to fracturing the coal seam. The pretreatment material swells the coal and closes the natural cleats therein, enhancing the effectiveness of the subsequent fracturing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond L. Mazza, H. Douglas Dahl, Ronald W. Umphrey
  • Process for the synthesis of 2,6-xylenol and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol
    Patent number: 4283574
    Abstract: Phenol is methylated over an alumina catalyst using methanol, and the reaction product therefrom is combined with additional methanol over a promoted magnesium oxide catalyst. Major reaction products are ortho-cresol, 2,6-xylenol and 2,3,6-trimethylphenol. The promoted magnesium oxide catalyst contains metal promoters selected from the group consisting of titanium, chromium, and uranium together with sulfate ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: Conoco, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce E. Leach