Patents Assigned to Shell Mining Company
  • In-situ coal drying
    Patent number: 4793656
    Abstract: A method for upgrading coal in-situ is disclosed in which a treatment zone is established around an energy source placed in a cavity within a coal seam and the pore structure of the coal substantially irreversibly collapses as moisture is driven off. The energy source provides either evaporative energy such as heat or a combination of heat and pressure in-situ. Resorption of water returning to the treatment zone during cooling of the coal prior to mining is limited due to the pore collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Shell Mining Company
    Inventors: Mark A. Siddoway, Timothy S. Westby
  • Silo cleaning process
    Patent number: 4764221
    Abstract: A silo which is impeded by a mass of cohering particles is cleaned by extending at least one flexible tube connected to a mace into the silo to near the coherent mass and flowing gas through the tube and mace at a rate and pressure causing swinging and writhing movements by the mace and tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Shell Mining Company
    Inventors: Wesley D. Hartwigsen, Alan D. Johnson, Jeffrey C. Beckham, Kenneth L. White
  • Cooling of dried coal
    Patent number: 4750913
    Abstract: Wet coal is processed in a dryer, producing dry, hot coal. More wet coal is blended with the dry, hot coal and the mixture is processed in a cooler, resulting in a cool, blended dry coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Shell Mining Company
    Inventor: Mark A. Siddoway
  • Slurry viscometer
    Patent number: 4612800
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for measuring apparent viscosities of conventional as well as unconventional slurries. In particular, slurries which utilize supercritical liquid CO.sub.2 as a carrier fluid can be tested at a variety of concentrations and particle size distributions. The method is capable of forming the slurry mixture and maintaining the solids in relatively uniform suspension. A sensing element, which is a vibrating-rod, is used as a viscosity detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Assignee: Shell Mining Company
    Inventor: Fadel F. Erian