Patents Assigned to Institut Français du Pétrole
  • Patent number: 7768870
    Abstract: The invention is a method for defining the development conditions of a hydrocarbon reservoir by updating a velocity model by means of log data. A first seismic depth image representative of the reservoir is established by using seismic data and a velocity model. A series of log data is acquired from wells. Differences between seismic reflector depths observed in the first seismic depth image and depths for these reflectors identified in the wells are measured. The velocity model is modified to minimize these errors, using a prestack kinematic inversion technique allowing constraints to be taken into account. A new seismic depth image from which the development conditions of the hydrocarbon reservoir are determined is deduced therefrom. The invention has application for hydrocarbon reservoir development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Karine Broto, Héry Rakotoarisoa
  • Patent number: 7762337
    Abstract: The invention relates to a riser pipe section comprising a main tube (2), at least one auxiliary line element (3) substantially parallel to said main tube (2) and at least two fastening means (7, 8) that connect the ends of said element (3) to main tube (2). The section is characterized in that fastening means (7, 8) allow longitudinal stresses to be transmitted from said element (3) to main tube (2) and in that at least one of fastening means (7, 8) allows at least a rotating motion of said element (3) in relation to said main tube (2), the rotating motion following an axis perpendicular to the plane passing through axis (4) of the main tube and through the axis of auxiliary line element (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Gérard Papon, Jean Guesnon
  • Patent number: 7757702
    Abstract: Heavy crude transportation optimization method wherein at least one solvent consisting of a petroleum cut is added to said crude. According to the method, the polar component ?p of the Hildebrand parameter of the solvent is increased, and the contribution of hydrogen bond ?h of the Hildebrand parameter of the solvent is controlled, by adding a predetermined amount of at least one specific additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Isabelle Henaut, Loïc Barre, Patrick Gateau, Jean-François Argillier
  • Patent number: 7758824
    Abstract: The present invention describes a novel type of internal exchanger for a gas-liquid-solid fluidized bed reactor employing a strongly thermal reaction. Said exchanger is modular in concept and comprises a central tube with separations allowing both supply of cooling fluid to the pins of the module and collection of partially vaporized fluid from said same pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Francois Hugues, Bertrand Szymkowiak, Jean-Christophe Viguie, Jean-Marc Schweitzer, Michel Munier, Dominique Chretien, Eric Caprani, Damien Douziech
  • Patent number: 7759534
    Abstract: Process for separating paraxylene with a purity that is at least equal to 99.5% by weight from an aromatic feedstock F in a single adsorption stage in a simulated moving bed (SMB), comprising different numbers of beds, allocated to a zone 1 between the supply of the desorbent D and the draw-off of the extract E; a zone 2 between the draw-off of the extract E and the supply of the feedstock F; a zone 3 between the supply of the feedstock and the draw-off of the raffinate R; a zone 4 between the draw-off of the raffinate R and the supply of the desorbent D, wherein an SMB of 12 adsorbent beds has bed configuration (2, 5, 3, 2), an SMB of 15 adsorbent beds has bed configuration (3, 6, 4 , 2), or an SMB of 19 adsorbent beds has bed configuration (4, 7, 6, 2), wherein the desorbent in this latter case is paradiethylbenzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Philibert Leflaive, Lue Wolff, Damien Leinekugel Le Cocq
  • Patent number: 7759528
    Abstract: An enhanced ether production process from an olefinic cut containing at least one iso-olefin and from an alcohol comprises a stage of removal of the acetonitrile present in the hydrocarbon feed by liquid-liquid extraction, the extraction solvent being a non-aqueous ionic liquid of general formula Q+A?, wherein Q+ is an ammonium, phosphonium and/or sulfonium cation, and A? an anion likely to form a liquid salt with said cation. Advantageously, the method according to the invention generally allows the amount of water at the etherification reactor inlet to be divided by at least two and thus the purity of the ether produced to be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Renaud Cadours, Alain Forestiere, Christophe Vallee
  • Patent number: 7754904
    Abstract: A process is described in which an unsaturated fat is reacted in a homometathesis reaction in the presence of at least one non-aqueous ionic liquid to produce both an olefinic fraction and a composition of monoalcohol diesters or diacids. Particular application to a mixture of esters of an oleic sunflower seed oil or an oleic rapeseed oil, the process producing both an olefinic fraction and a composition of monoalcohol diesters or diacids wherein, in general, more than half of its chains is constituted by unsaturated C18 chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Hélène Olivier-Bourbigou, Gérard Hillion, Christophe Vallee
  • Patent number: 7752022
    Abstract: The invention is a method, having applications for the development of reservoirs, for predicting the production of an underground reservoir, comprising generating and updating a parameterized geologic model from production data and seismic data and in particular 4D seismic data which may be used in development of oil reservoirs. According to the method, production data are simulated from the geologic model and a flow simulator, and a petro-elastic depth model is deduced therefrom. A depth/time conversion model is then defined, by means of which the petro-elastic model is converted into time. The model is adjusted by correcting the lag induced by the depth/time conversion and by recalibrating the model. The geologic model is optimized by comparing, through an objective function, the real measurements with the simulation responses (production responses and seismic attributes in time) by updating in particular the depth/time conversion model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Alexandre Fornel, Mokhles Mezghani, Jérôme Jaffre
  • Patent number: 7744748
    Abstract: A process for reducing the quantity of sulphur present in a hydrocarbon feed such as a gasoline or a gas oil, comprises: d) bringing said feed containing sulphur-containing compounds into contact with an adsorbent having a selectivity for sulphur-containing compounds under conditions for producing, at the outlet from the contact zone, a desulphurized effluent which is collected, said adsorption being carried out in the liquid phase or in the gas phase; e) gas phase desorption of the sulphur-containing compounds present on said adsorbent using a hydrogen-containing gaseous fluid derived from a hydrodesulphurization zone to obtain a gaseous effluent comprising hydrogen and desorbed sulphur-containing compounds; sending the gaseous effluent from step b) to said hydrodesulphurization zone and desulphurizing it therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Alexandre Nicolaos, Florent Picard
  • Patent number: 7741502
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composition of alcohol esters of linear monocarboxylic acids with 6 to 26 carbon atoms from a vegetable or animal oil, neutral or acid, virgin or recycled, with monoalcohols having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, in the presence of a phosphate type catalyst or of an organophosphorous compound of a metal selected from the group made up of zirconium, hafnium and titanium, allows to directly produce, in one or more stages, an ester that can be used as fuel and a pure glycerin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Vincent Lecocq, Sylvie Maury, Delphine Bazer-Bachi
  • Patent number: 7736492
    Abstract: A process for jointly carrying out selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated compounds into monounsaturated compounds contained in gasolines, and for transforming light sulphur-containing compounds into heavier compounds by reaction with unsaturated compounds, said process employing a supported catalyst comprising at least one metal from group VIB and at least one non-noble metal from group VIII used in the sulphurized form, deposited on a specific support comprising a metal aluminate of the MAl2O4 type with a metal M selected from the group constituted by nickel and cobalt, and comprising bringing the feed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature in the range of 80° C. to 220° C. at a liquid hourly space velocity in the range of 1 h?1 to 10 h?1 and at a pressure in the range of 0.5 to 5 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Christophe Bouchy, Florent Picard, Nathalie Marchal
  • Patent number: 7730874
    Abstract: A method for controlling a supercharged engine, that includes determining an overlap of valves by opening a supercharged non-fuel-containing air inlet valve and closing an exhaust valve before the exhaust phase of an engine cylinder and in the vicinity of the top dead center (TDC), actuating a blocking means for blocking a supercharged non-fuel-containing air intake means to admit supercharged air flowing in the supercharged non-fuel-containing air intake means into a chamber to scavenge residual burned gases when a pressure of the supercharged non-fuel-containing air is greater than a pressure of the exhaust gases, and actuating the blocking means to shut off the supercharged air flowing from the supercharged non-fuel-containing intake means into the chamber when pressure of the supercharged non-fuel-containing air is less than pressure of the exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Pierre Leduc, Gaétan Monnier
  • Patent number: 7731836
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the desulfurization of gasolines comprising a stage for fractionation of said gasoline into a light fraction that comprises thiophenic compounds such as thiophene or methylthiophenes, and a heavy fraction that concentrates the heaviest aromatic sulfur-containing compounds. The heavy fraction is treated by hydrodesulfurization, while the light fraction is brought into contact with a solid adsorbent that makes it possible to eliminate at least partially said light thiophenic compounds, whereby said adsorbent solid is regenerated by a flow internal to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Alexandre Nicolaos, Florent Picard
  • Patent number: 7727311
    Abstract: Installation for gas treatment by a liquid phase comprising a) a column (C) that comprises means (1) for introducing gas at one end of said column, means (9) for drawing off gas from the other end of column (C) and, from upstream to downstream in the direction of circulation of the liquid phase: a first internal (2) that comprises means for distribution of a liquid phase, a first bed (6) that comprises a packing or catalytic particles, a second internal (3) that comprises means for separating liquid/gas mixture (19, 20) that is obtained from first bed (6), first means (32, 4) for collecting and evacuating the separated liquid phase, means (100) for passing through internal (3) of the treated gas, and distribution means (31, 101) of a liquid phase with said gas, a second bed (8), second means (10) for collecting and evacuating the liquid phase at the lower outlet of column (C), b) Means for recycling the collected liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ludovic Raynal, Eric Lemaire, Jean-Louis Ambrosino
  • Patent number: 7720658
    Abstract: The invention is a method for calculating the inter-cell absolute permeability values associated with a reservoir model at the scale of the flow simulations representative of the porous medium from the absolute permeability values associated with a geologic model representative of the same porous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Ludovic Ricard, Mickaële Le Ravalec-Dupin
  • Patent number: 7718050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for FCC pretreatment by mild hydrocracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock that comprises a vacuum distillate fraction or a deasphalted oil or else a mixture of these two fractions, said primary feedstock, to produce gas oil and an effluent having an initial boiling point of more than 320° C., said effluent (FCC feedstock) then being subjected to a catalytic cracking, process in which at least 85% by weight of said primary feedstock ends above 375° C. and at least 95% by weight of said primary feedstock ends below 650° C., whereby the mild hydrocracking is performed under an absolute pressure of 2 to 12 MPa and at a temperature of between 300 and 500° C., characterized in that the hydrocarbon feedstock also comprises a lighter hydrocarbon fraction, a so-called secondary feedstock, of which at least 50% by weight ends below 375° C. and at least 80% ends above 200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Christophe Gueret, Thierry Chapus, Damien Hudebine
  • Patent number: 7718053
    Abstract: A process for jointly carrying out selective hydrogenation of polyunsaturated compounds into monounsaturated compounds contained in gasolines, and for transforming light sulphur-containing compounds into heavier compounds by reaction with unsaturated compounds employing a supported catalyst, comprising at least one metal from group VIB and at least one non-noble metal from group VIII used in the sulphurized form deposited on a support and having a controlled porosity, and comprising bringing the feed into contact with the catalyst at a temperature in the range of 80° C. to 220° C. at a liquid hourly space velocity in the range of 1 h?1 to 10 h?1 and at a pressure in the range of 0.5 to 5 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Christophe Bouchy, Florent Picard, Nathalie Marchal
  • Patent number: 7718842
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for separating meta-xylene from a hydrocarbon feed comprising isomers containing 8 carbon atoms, comprising: a step for bringing said feed into contact with a faujasite type zeolite adsorbant, the percentage of water in the adsorbant being in the range 0 to 8% by weight and the adsorption temperature being from 25° C. to 250° C.; a desorption step employing a solvent selected from tetraline and its alkylated derivatives; a step for separating meta-xylene from the desorbant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Philibert Leflaive, Karin Barthelet
  • Patent number: 7718159
    Abstract: The invention describes a process for co-production of electricity and a hydrogen-rich gas by steam reforming of a hydrocarbon fraction with input of calories by combustion with the hydrogen that is produced inside the steam reforming reactor-exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Béatrice Fisciier, Fabrice Giroudiere, Anthony Arnaud
  • Patent number: 7713489
    Abstract: The invention relates to an original experimental device for the study and the validation of processes in a reactive simulated moving bed, as well as the method that makes possible the exploitation of the results obtained from said device. This device consists of one or two columns and a number of storage tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Luc Wolff, Damien Leinekugel Le Cocq