Patents Assigned to Marathon Petroleum Company LP
  • Patent number: 11662750
    Abstract: Embodiments include systems and methods of in-line mixing of hydrocarbon liquids from a plurality of tanks into a single pipeline. According to an embodiment, a method of admixing hydrocarbon liquids from a plurality of tanks into a single pipeline to provide in-line mixing thereof includes determining a ratio of a second fluid flow to a first fluid flow based on signals received from a tank flow meter in fluid communication with the second fluid flow and a booster flow meter in fluid communication with a blended fluid flow. The blended fluid flow includes a blended flow of the first fluid flow and the second fluid flow. The method further includes comparing the determined ratio to a pre-selected set point ratio thereby to determine a modified flow of the second fluid flow to drive the ratio toward the pre-selected set point ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11655419
    Abstract: This alternative fuel is a reclaimed waste product which has a solid, particulate consistency at ambient temperature. The fuel comprises a composite of petroleum pitch and a powder coating. The powder coating penetrates into the surface of the pitch. The powder coating is recycled ash, pulverized coal, or pulverized petroleum coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Jeffrey Allen Nicholson
  • Patent number: 11655940
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for transporting fuel and carbon dioxide (CO2) in a dual-fluid vessel thereby minimizing transportation between locations are disclosed. In an embodiment, the dual-fluid vessel has an outer shell with two or more inner compartments, positioned within the outer shell, including a first inner compartment for storing CO2 and a second inner compartment for storing fuel. The dual-fluid vessel may connect or attach to a transportation vehicle to thereby allow transportation of the fuel and CO2. Insulation may provide temperature regulation for the fuel and CO2 when positioned in the respective first and second inner compartments. One or more ports having an opening in and through the outer shell and a fluid pathway to one or more of the first inner compartment or the second inner compartment may provide fluid communication through the opening and fluid pathway for loading/offloading the fuel and/or CO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Zachary D. Thobe
  • Patent number: 11655748
    Abstract: Scalable greenhouse gas capture systems and methods to allow a user to off-load exhaust captured in an on-board vehicle exhaust capture device and to allow for a delivery vehicle or other transportation mechanism to obtain and transport the exhaust. The systems and methods may involve one or more exhaust pumps, each with an exhaust nozzle corresponding to a vehicle exhaust port. Upon engagement with the vehicle exhaust port, the exhaust nozzle may create an air-tight seal between the exhaust nozzle and the vehicle exhaust port. A first pipe may be configured to transport captured exhaust therethrough from the exhaust nozzle to. The captured exhaust may be at least temporarily stored in an exhaust holding tank connected to and in fluid communication with the first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Zachary D. Thobe
  • Patent number: 11635735
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) transportation fuels through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and fuel product distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the transportation fuel below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the transportation fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: David Whikehart, Gregory Herold
  • Patent number: 11634647
    Abstract: A coke catching apparatus for use in hydrocarbon cracking to assist in the removal of coke and the prevention of coke build up in high coking hydrocarbon processing units. The apparatus includes a grid device for preventing large pieces of coke from entering the outlet of the process refining equipment while allowing small pieces of coke to pass through and be disposed of. The coke catching apparatus can be easily disassembled to be removed from the refining process equipment and cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cantley, Ross Vail, Kathleen Yaden, Ray Brooks
  • Publication number: 20230118319
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods to enhance control of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processing assembly associated with a refining operation, may include supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to one or more first processing units associated with the refining operation. The assemblies and methods also may include conditioning a hydrocarbon feedstock and unit material samples, and analyzing the samples via one or more spectroscopic analyzers. The assemblies and methods further may include prescriptively controlling, via one or more FCC process controllers based at least in part on the hydrocarbon feedstock properties and the unit material properties, the FCC processing assembly, so that the prescriptively controlling results in enhancing accuracy of target content of materials produced by the FCC processing assembly, thereby to more responsively control the FCC processing assembly to achieve material outputs that more accurately and responsively converge on target properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Sexton, Roy Roger Bledsoe, JR., Lance T. Campbell, Randy N. Ridge, Brian K. Wilt
  • Publication number: 20230111609
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods to enhance hydrotreating and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes associated with a refining operation, during the processes, may include supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to a cat feed hydrotreater (CFH) processing unit to produce CFH unit materials. The assemblies and methods also may include conditioning material samples, and analyzing the samples via one or more spectroscopic analyzers. The assemblies and methods further may include prescriptively controlling, via one or more FCC process controllers, based at least in part on the material properties, a FCC processing assembly, so that the prescriptively controlling results in causing the processes to produce CFH materials, intermediate materials, the unit materials, and/or the downstream materials having properties within selected ranges of target properties, thereby to cause the processes to achieve material outputs that more accurately and responsively converge on one or more of the target properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Sexton, Roy Roger Bledsoe, JR., Lance T. Campbell, Randy N. Ridge, Brian K. Wilt
  • Publication number: 20230114439
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide renewable transportation fuels for internal combustion engines by converting renewable feedstocks into two or more intermediate hydrocarbon blend stocks and blending at least two of the two or more intermediate hydrocarbon blend stocks to produce the renewable transportation fuel. Methods and/or processes may include selecting sugar from a sugar source and introducing the sugar into one or more reactors. The sugar may be converted into an intermediate renewable hydrocarbon blend stock and sent to a separation unit to separate out an intermediate renewable gasoline unit. The process may include selecting and converting a lipid from a lipid source into a renewable diesel product. The renewable diesel product may be sent to a second separation unit to separate out renewable diesel and a low-grade naphtha. The low-grade naphtha and intermediate renewable gasoline may be blended to define a finished renewable gasoline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Applicant: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Justin L. Womeldorff, Jeffrey A. Sexton, David Linington
  • Patent number: 11613715
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide renewable transportation fuels for internal combustion engines by converting renewable feedstocks into two or more intermediate hydrocarbon blend stocks and blending at least two of the two or more intermediate hydrocarbon blend stocks to produce the renewable transportation fuel. Methods and/or processes may include selecting sugar from a sugar source and introducing the sugar into one or more reactors. The sugar may be converted into an intermediate renewable hydrocarbon blend stock and sent to a separation unit to separate out an intermediate renewable gasoline unit. The process may include selecting and converting a lipid from a lipid source into a renewable diesel product. The renewable diesel product may be sent to a second separation unit to separate out renewable diesel and a low-grade naphtha. The low-grade naphtha and intermediate renewable gasoline may be blended to define a finished renewable gasoline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Justin L. Womeldorff, Jeffrey A. Sexton, David Linington
  • Publication number: 20230093452
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods to enhance a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) process associated with a refining operation, during the FCC process, may include supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to first processing units associated with the refining operation. The assemblies and methods also may include conditioning a hydrocarbon feedstock and unit material samples, and analyzing the samples via one or more spectroscopic analyzers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Sexton, Roy Roger Bledsoe, JR., Lance T. Campbell, Randy N. Ridge, Brian K. Wilt
  • Patent number: 11607654
    Abstract: Methods and systems of admixing hydrocarbon liquids from a plurality of tanks into a single pipeline thereof. The system may include two or more tanks positioned at a tank farm each containing a hydrocarbon liquid therein. The system may include two or more first main pipes, each connected to one of the tanks. The system may include two or more main valves, each connected to one of the first main pipes. The system may include two or more second main pipes each connected to a corresponding main valve. The system may include two or more mixing jumpers, each connected to a corresponding first main pipe, each mixing jumper to, when a corresponding main valve is closed, control hydrocarbon liquid. The system may include a mixing pipe, connected to the second main pipes and the mixing jumpers, configured to transport hydrocarbon liquid from one or more of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11596910
    Abstract: Methods and systems of admixing hydrocarbon liquids from a plurality of tanks into a single pipeline thereof. The system may include two or more tanks positioned at a tank farm each containing a hydrocarbon liquid therein. The system may include two or more first main pipes, each connected to one of the tanks. The system may include two or more main valves, each connected to one of the first main pipes. The system may include two or more second main pipes each connected to a corresponding main valve. The system may include two or more mixing jumpers, each connected to a corresponding first main pipe, each mixing jumper to, when a corresponding main valve is closed, control hydrocarbon liquid. The system may include a mixing pipe, connected to the second main pipes and the mixing jumpers, configured to transport hydrocarbon liquid from one or more of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11578836
    Abstract: Scalable greenhouse gas capture systems and methods to allow a user to off-load exhaust captured in an on-board vehicle exhaust capture device and to allow for a delivery vehicle or other transportation mechanism to obtain and transport the exhaust. The systems and methods may involve one or more exhaust pumps, each with a multi-function nozzle assembly including an exhaust nozzle corresponding to a vehicle exhaust port and a fuel nozzle for supplying fuel to a vehicle fuel tank. Upon engagement with the vehicle exhaust port, the exhaust nozzle may create an air-tight seal between the exhaust nozzle and the vehicle exhaust port. An exhaust conduit may be configured to transport captured exhaust therethrough from the exhaust nozzle to an exhaust holding tank connected to and in fluid communication with the exhaust conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Zachary D. Thobe
  • Patent number: 11578638
    Abstract: Scalable greenhouse gas capture systems and methods to allow a user to off-load exhaust captured in an on-board vehicle exhaust capture device and to allow for a delivery vehicle or other transportation mechanism to obtain and transport the exhaust. The systems and methods may involve one or more exhaust pumps, each with an exhaust nozzle corresponding to a vehicle exhaust port. Upon engagement with the vehicle exhaust port, the exhaust nozzle may create an air-tight seal between the exhaust nozzle and the vehicle exhaust port. A first pipe may be configured to transport captured exhaust therethrough from the exhaust nozzle to. The captured exhaust may be at least temporarily stored in an exhaust holding tank connected to and in fluid communication with the first pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Zachary D. Thobe
  • Patent number: 11565221
    Abstract: Methods and systems of operating a pump at an efficiency point during an in-line blending operation. In an embodiment, such a method may include transporting a fluid from a tank to a pump through a first pipe. The method may include discharging, via the pump, the fluid at a specified flow rate through a second pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the first portion of the fluid flowing from the main control valve through the mixing pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the second portion of the fluid flowing through the spillback loop. The method may include determining a current pump efficiency point and operating the pump within a range of percentages of the best efficiency point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11559774
    Abstract: Methods and systems of operating a pump at an efficiency point during an in-line blending operation. In an embodiment, such a method may include transporting a fluid from a tank to a pump through a first pipe. The method may include discharging, via the pump, the fluid at a specified flow rate through a second pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the first portion of the fluid flowing from the main control valve through the mixing pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the second portion of the fluid flowing through the spillback loop. The method may include determining a current pump efficiency point and operating the pump within a range of percentages of the best efficiency point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventor: Kyle E. Miller
  • Patent number: 11550273
    Abstract: Systems and methods to provide low carbon intensity (CI) transportation fuels through one or more targeted reductions of carbon emissions based upon an analysis of carbon emissions associated with a combination of various options for feedstock procurement, feedstock refining, processing, or transformation, and fuel product distribution pathways to end users. Such options are selected to maintain the total CI (carbon emissions per unit energy) of the transportation fuel below a pre-selected threshold that defines an upper limit of CI for the transportation fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: David Whikehart, Gregory Herold
  • Patent number: 11542441
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved system for separation technology intended to reduce unwanted catalyst/thermal reactions by minimizing contact of the hydrocarbons and the catalyst within the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Nikolas Larsen, Jeff Sexton
  • Patent number: RE49447
    Abstract: This invention involves the addition of ester bottoms to an asphalt paving composition to improve the usable temperature range (UTR). The ester bottoms are a byproduct of refining a feedstock containing all or a portion of vegetable oil or animal fat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Stormy Brewster, Steve Jones, Dennis Keppers