Patents Assigned to Institut Francais du Petrole
  • Patent number: 7874276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for control of fuel injection for an internal combustion engine, in particular with direct fuel injection, comprising at least one cylinder (10), one piston (30) running in said cylinder, with a projection (34) arranged in a concave bowl (32), a fuel injector (22) and a combustion chamber (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Alain Ranini, Sébastien Potteau
  • Patent number: 7867741
    Abstract: The invention concerns an isolated or purified polypeptide having an activity in the MTBE degradation path, and/or at least one of the catabolic intermediates of MTBE, preferably selected from the group consisting of tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), 2-methyl 1,2-propanediol (2-M1, 2-PD), hydroxyisobutyraldehyde, hydroxyiso-butyric acid (HIBA), said polypeptide being selected from the group consisting of: a) a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:8 or SEQ ID NO:10; b) a polypeptide comprising a sequence of amino acids having at least 70% identity, preferably 75%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 99% with the sequence of amino acids of a polypeptide as defined in a); a polypeptide as defined in a) or b) whereof the sequence of amino acids comprises a substitution, deletion, insertion, addition or mutation of one or several amino acids over its entire length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Conseil National de Recherches du Canada
    Inventors: Nicolas Lopes Ferreira, Diane Labbe, Héléna Maciel, Françoise Fayolle-Guichard, Frédéric Monot, Charles W. Greer
  • Patent number: 7858564
    Abstract: A well drilling, completion or workover fluid has a continuous phase of the fluid essentially consists of a liquid fluorinated compound. In a variant, the liquid fluorinated compound is a perfluorinated compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: David Pasquier, Alain Driancourt, Annie Audibert
  • Patent number: 7853440
    Abstract: Method for modeling acidification within a porous medium as a result of the injection of an acid. A dual-medium model is constructed, considering a first sub-medium favorable to dissolution breakthroughs and a second sub-medium not favorable to dissolution breakthroughs. For each one of these sub-media, a metric-scale description of the acid transport, of the sub-medium and acid mass conservation and of the acid transfer from one sub-medium to the other sub-medium is achieved. This dual-medium model is then initialized from experimental calibrations. Finally, acidification of the medium is modelled by means of this dual-medium model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Charles Edouard Cohen, Didier Ding, Brigitte Bazin, Michel Quintard
  • Patent number: 7820727
    Abstract: Process for the running of a reactor in which reactions take place in multiphase systems, wherein a gaseous phase prevalently consisting of CO and H2 is bubbled into a suspension of a solid in the form of particles (catalyst) in a liquid (prevalently reaction product), according to the Fischer-Tropsch technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole, Enitecnologie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cristina Maretto, Giovanni Pederzani
  • Patent number: 7811538
    Abstract: The method allows to remove mercaptans contained in a gaseous feed comprising hydrocarbons by carrying out the following stages: a) contacting, in a reactor R1, gaseous feed 1 with a liquid stream 13 comprising olefins, in the presence of a first acid catalyst so that the mercaptans react with the olefins so as to form sulfides, b) discharging an effluent 3 from reactor R1 and separating the effluent into a gas phase and a liquid phase so as to obtain a mercaptan-depleted treated gas 4 and a sulfide-laden liquid, c) separating the sulfide-laden liquid into a first fraction 6 and a second fraction 5, the volume flow rate of first fraction 6 being at least three times higher than the volume flow rate of second fraction 5, d) recycling first fraction 6 to stage a) as a first portion of said liquid stream to be fed into said reactor R1, e) regenerating second fraction 5 by cracking so as to obtain a sulfide-depleted second fraction 2 that is recycled to stage a) as a second portion of said liquid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Renaud Cadours, Eric Lemaire, Julia Magne-Drisch
  • Patent number: 7803271
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of extracting the hydrogen sulfide contained in a gas comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the following stages are carried out: a) contacting said gas with an absorbent solution so as to obtain a gas depleted in hydrogen sulfide and an absorbent solution laden with hydrogen sulfide, b) heating and expanding the hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution to a predetermined temperature and pressure so as to release a gaseous fraction comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and to obtain an absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbons, said temperature and pressure being so selected that said gaseous fraction comprises at least 50% of the aromatic hydrocarbons and at most 35% hydrogen sulfide contained in said hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution, c) thermally regenerating the absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbon compounds so as to release a hydrogen sulfide-rich gaseous effluent and to obtain a regenerated absorbent solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Total SA
    Inventors: Julia Magne-Drisch, Anne-Claire Lucquin, Christina Streicher, Jean Elgue, Jean-Paul Cousin, Gauthier Perdu, Damien Roquet, Viep Hoang Dinh
  • Publication number: 20100237290
    Abstract: The process that is the object of the invention describes a process whose purpose is to produce a purified synthesis gas from lignocellulosic biomass that includes a pyrolysis stage, a purification stage placed upstream from the partial oxidation stage, and a cooling stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicants: INSTITUT FRANCAIS DU PETROLE, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventors: Matthieu Rolland, Eric Lemarie, Nicolas Boudet, Jean-Marie Seiler, Sylvie Rouge
  • Patent number: 7789050
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for varying a compression ratio in an internal combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder (10) provided with a combustion chamber (20), a movable element provided with a piston (14) which is translationally displaceable by means of a connecting rod (16) connectable thereto by an axis (24) and to the crank pin (34) of a crankshaft (36). The piston moves between a top dead center and a lower dead center allowing a dead volume (40, 118) at the top dead center of the piston. The invention also comprises a rotatable towed cam (42) which makes possible varying the compression ratio and means (32, 78a, 78b) for controlling the cam displacement. According to the invention, the control means comprises a fluid actuator (76) provided with a sliding block (54) arranged in a receiver (56) which is formed in a support (58) and limits two fluid chambers (75a, 75b) connected to at least one closed circuit (77; 78a, 78b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventor: Michel Alain Léon Marchisseau
  • Patent number: 7788074
    Abstract: The invention stimulates production of an oil reservoir by determining a flow simulator from physical data measured in the oil reservoir; determining a first analytical model relating the production of the reservoir as a function of time by accounting for parameters which provides adjustment to production values closest to the production of the reservoir, the first model providing adjustment to the production values closest to a production values provided from the flow simulator; selecting at least one new production value, which is obtained from the reservoir simulator; and determining a second model by adjusting the first model so that the second model interpolates the new production value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Céline Scheidt, Isabelle Zabalza-Mezghani, Dominique Collombier, Mathieu Feraille
  • Patent number: 7781621
    Abstract: In a method for hydroformylating olefinically unsaturated compounds by means of a cobalt-based catalyst, used in a non-aqueous ionic liquid, liquid at a temperature below 100° C. and comprising at least one cation Q+ and at least one anion A?, said method comprising at least a stage of reaction under pressure and at least a stage of separation of the phases by decantation, recycling of the catalyst is improved: through the use of a ligand selected from among the Lewis bases, more particularly pyridine derivatives, and simultaneously through the addition of this ligand in a post-reaction stage. At the end of this process, the organic phase containing the reaction products can be recovered and the ionic liquid phase containing the catalyst can be recycled to the hydroformylation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Helene Olivier-Bourbigou, Lucien Saussine, Lionel Magna, David Proriol
  • Patent number: 7781629
    Abstract: A hydrotreating method uses two catalyst beds with the introduction, on the last catalyst bed, of oils of animal or vegetable origin for co-treating a mixture made up of oils of vegetable or animal origin and of petroleum cuts (gas oil cuts (GO) and middle distillates) in order to produce gas oil effluents meeting specifications with an improved cetane number. The first catalyst bed is dedicated to only the deep desulfurization reactions (HDS1) of a petroleum type feed. The effluents of the first catalyst bed having an effluent sulfur content below or equal to 50 mg/kg are separated into two streams. The first stream, which is predominant, is sent to the gas oil pool. The second stream is mixed with oils of vegetable or animal origin. The resultant oil-petroleum cut mixture is then subjected to a milder hydrotreatment (HDT2). The effluents obtained at the outlet of the second catalyst bed can optionally be mixed with the predominant stream from the first bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Karin Marchand, Fabrice Bertoncini
  • Publication number: 20100210740
    Abstract: Modular reactor for exothermic/endothermic chemical reactions which take place in three-phase systems, comprising a series of modules, superimposed with respect to each other, fixed to each other by means of coupling flanges, each module consisting of an external cylindrical body and a series of tube bundles, for the circulation of a thermal-exchange fluid, positioned inside said body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicants: ENI S.p.A., INSTITUT FRANCAIS DU PETROLE
    Inventors: Vincenzo PICCOLO, Susi BONOMI, Marzio PIAZZA
  • Patent number: 7776287
    Abstract: This present invention describes a novel type of internal exchanger intended to carry out Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. This exchanger has a modular design and comprises a central tube with partitions allowing at the same time the supply of coolant to the hairpins of the module and the recovery of the partially vaporized fluid from these same hairpins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Francois Hugues, Bertrand Szymkowiak, Jean-Christophe Viguie, Jean-Marc Schweitzer, Michel Munier, Dominique Chretien, Eric Caprani, Damien Douziech
  • Patent number: 7776932
    Abstract: A process for the production of liquid hydrocarbons by the Fischer-Tropsch process comprises a step a) for generating a synthesis gas, a step b) for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, a step c) for condensing the gaseous effluent obtained during step b), a step d) for separating the effluent condensed during step c) to obtain a gaseous effluent enriched in carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and a step e) for recycling at least a portion of the enriched gaseous effluent obtained during step d) to the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis step b), characterized in that: 1) two molar ratio of concentrations, A1 and A2, are determined between the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide (H2/Co), A1 being the value of said ratio in the supply to the synthesis step b), and A2 being the value of said ratio in any one of the gaseous effluents obtained during steps b) to e); 2) comparing ratios A1 and A2; and 3) adjusting the concentrations of hydrogen and/or carbon monoxide in the synthesis gas to keep the difference between the two ratios A1 and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, ENI S.p.A.
    Inventors: Marie-Claire Marion, Eric Lemajre, Jean-Marc Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 7777015
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cytochrome P-450 gene cluster involved in the cleavage of ether fuel additives. More especially, the present invention pertains to the nucleic add sequence of genes responsible for the biodegradation of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) in Rhodococcus ruber, and to several applications ensuing from the knowledge of this sequence, such as probes and biosensors for detecting a pollution by an ether fuel, and for assessing the potential of a contaminated soil to cleave said ether fuel. The invention also pertains to methods for rendering a cell able to cleave ether fuel additives, and to recombinant bacteria useful for ether fuel depollution of a contaminated effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Sylvie Chauvaux, Isabelle Miras, Pierre Beguin
  • Patent number: 7778810
    Abstract: A method for evaluating fluid flows within a heterogeneous formation, crossed by one or more geometric discontinuities, comprising generating a hybrid grid from a CPG type grid and from structured grids having application, for example, in simulation of hydrocarbon reservoirs. The first stage locally deforms a CPG type grid into a non-uniform Cartesian grid. These local grid cell deformations correspond to the change from a so-called “CPG” frame of reference to a so-called “Cartesian” frame of reference defined by the deformation. These deformations are then quantified and applied to the structured grids so as to shift to the “Cartesian” frame. A hybrid grid is then generated in the “Cartesian” frame from the two thus deformed grids. Finally, the hybrid grid is deformed to return to the “CPG” frame, prior to improving the grid quality, by optimization under quality control in the numerical scheme sense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Nicolas Flandrin, Chakib Bennis, Houman Borouchaki, Patrick Lemonnier
  • Patent number: 7772004
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method allowing to determine at least one petroleum characteristic of a geologic sediment sample, wherein the sample is heated in an oxidizing atmosphere, its temperature being successively raised to a first, then to a second value, said first value below 200° C. being reached very quickly, then maintained substantially constant for a certain time, said second value ranging between 600° C. and 850° C. being reached with a temperature gradient ranging between 1 and 30° C./min, from said first value. According to the invention, the amount of SO2 contained by the effluent resulting from said oxidizing heating is measured continuously, every moment of the heating period of said sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: François Lorant
  • Patent number: 7771703
    Abstract: The invention concerns a crystalline solid designated IZM-1, which has the X ray diffraction diagram given below. Said solid has a chemical composition, expressed as the anhydrous base in terms of moles of oxides by the formula XO2: aY2O3; bM2/nO where X represents at least one tetravalent element, Y represents at least one trivalent element and M is an alkali metal and/or an alkaline-earth metal with valency n, a and b respectively representing the number of moles of Y2O3 and M2/nO; a is in the range 0 to 0.02 and b is in the range 0 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Emmanuelle Guillon, Johan Mariens, Nicolas Bais, Antoine Fecant
  • 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