Patents Assigned to Shell Oil Company
  • Process for the separation of glycols
    Patent number: 10266470
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a weight ratio of at least 10:1 (MEG:1,2-BDO), said process comprising the steps of; (i) providing the first mixture as a feed to a distillation column at a point in the range of from 20 to 80% of the column height; (ii) operating the distillation at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 190° C. and at a pressure in the range of from 5 kPa to atmospheric pressure; (iii) removing an MEG stream from the distillation column at a point below the point at which the first mixture is fed; (iv) removing an overheads stream comprising an azeotrope of MEG and 1,2-BDO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Pieter Huizenga, Kai Jürgen Fischer, Karin Bus, Waldo Eugene De Villiers, Carmelo Perez Golf
  • Multi-purpose reactor and process for the preparation of modified bitumen
    Patent number: 10260003
    Abstract: A reactor is provided for the preparation of modified bitumen, which reactor comprises a horizontal housing comprising a cylindrical wall and two side walls, wherein a bitumen inlet has been provided at or near one of the side walls of the housing and a bitumen product outlet has been provided at or near the opposite side wall of the housing, wherein a plurality of inlets for the provision of oxygen-containing gas has been provided in the cylindrical wall of the housing between the bitumen inlet and the bitumen product outlet, which multi-purpose reactor is further provided with a mixer arranged inside the housing comprising at least one rotor rotating within at least one stator having a plurality of openings. The reaction is used to prepare modified bitumen by contacting bitumen in the reactor with a modified elevated temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Roberto Bran, Cheluva Kumar, Sachin Raj, Daryl Scott
  • One-step production of furfural from biomass
    Patent number: 10253009
    Abstract: Methods and processes for the production of valuable organic products and alcohols from biomass using a single-step dehydration extraction process having numerous advantages over prior production methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Juben Nemchand Chheda, Jean Paul Andre Marie Joseph Ghislain Lange
  • Systems and methods for multi-dimensional geophysical data visualization
    Patent number: 10249080
    Abstract: Example of systems and methods are provided for visualization of multi-dimensional geophysical data visualization. Combining several attributes from multi-dimensional geophysical data or seismic data using color modeling techniques provide for the interpretation of data more efficiently by a user. A color space is defined and multi-dimensional geophysical data attributes are created along with blending filters, such as asymmetric blending filters. Blended multi-dimensional geophysical data attribute cubes are created from the blending filters and the geophysical data attributes. The blended multi-dimensional geophysical data attributes or cubes are displayed using the defined multi-dimensional color space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Donald Paul Griffith
  • Process for the separation of glycols using glycerol
    Patent number: 10246390
    Abstract: A process for the separation of monoethylene glycol (MEG) and 1,2-butanediol (1,2-BDO) from a first mixture including MEG and 1,2-BDO, the process including providing the first mixture of MEG and 1,2-BDO as a feed to a distillation column. The process also includes providing a feed comprising glycerol to the distillation column above the first mixture. The process also includes operating the distillation column at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 250° C. and a pressure in the range of from 0.1 to 400 kPa. The process also includes removing a stream comprising MEG and glycerol as a bottoms stream from the distillation column and removing a stream comprising 1,2-BDO above the point at which the feed comprising glycerol is provided to the distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Pieter Huizenga, Kai Jurgen Fischer
  • Method of monitoring an air operated heat exchanger and an air operated heat exchanger
    Patent number: 10240824
    Abstract: An air operated heat exchanger has a plurality of process tubes for process fluid, a plurality of rotating fans to move ambient air along an air stream path past the plurality of process tubes. At least one optical fiber is configured within the one or more air stream paths. At least one light pulse is passed into the at least one optical fiber, and at least one optical signal is detected from the at least one optical fiber in response to the at least one light pulse, to provide at least one signal profile. One or more air temperatures at a plurality of locations along the at least one optical fiber are determined from the at least one signal profile and evaluated against one or more comparison operational conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Leendert Johannes Arie Zoetemeijer, Paul Kinghorn, Paul Blackhurst, Willem Boevee
  • Process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene
    Patent number: 10239013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering methane from a gas stream comprising methane and ethylene, comprising a sorption step which comprises contacting the gas stream comprising methane and ethylene with a sorption agent which has a lower affinity for methane than for ethylene, resulting in sorption of ethylene and 0 to 90% of the methane by the sorption agent and in a gas stream comprising methane in an amount of 10 to 100% based on the amount of methane in the gas stream that is subjected to the sorption step; and a desorption step which comprises desorbing sorbed ethylene and optionally sorbed methane resulting in a gas stream comprising ethylene and optionally methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Sivakumar Sadasivan Vijayakumari, Charles-Edouard Sanders, Vatsal Mukundlal Shah
  • Method and system for monitoring fluid flow in a conduit
    Patent number: 10240455
    Abstract: A method for monitoring fluid flow in a conduit comprises: acoustically coupling an optical fiber to the conduit adjacent one or more flow restrictions (R1-R4) in the conduit; inducing a Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) assembly to measure an acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4) generated in the fiber by the fluid flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4); deriving the fluid flow rate of the fluid (QI, QI+II) flowing through each flow restriction (R1-R4) from the measured acoustic noise signature (SNR1-4); and displaying the derived fluid flow rate (QI, QI+II) at a fluid flow rate monitoring display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Petrus Hendrikus Maria Wilhemus In 'T Panhuis, Johannis Josephus Den Boer, Roel Marie Kusters, Dayeeta Roy, Daria Mustafina
  • Method and system for wireline intervention in a subsea well from a floating vessel
    Patent number: 10240407
    Abstract: A method for wireline intervention in a subsea well from a floating vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Colin James Innes Morris, Martin Buchan, David Russ Larimore, Nivea Boechat Dos Santos Gloria, Gustavo Dias De Castro Cervo, Scott Winfield Davis, Scott Alistair Gordon, Mark James Klein, Marc Gerard Paquette
  • Composition comprising titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide and use thereof
    Patent number: 10239994
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide, wherein the alkoxy group in the titanium or zirconium alkoxide is a group of formula R—O? wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the aryloxy group in the titanium or zirconium aryloxide is a group of formula Ar—O? wherein Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein the composition additionally comprises 0.1 to 50 wt. % of an organic carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Garo Garbis Vaporciyan, Kunquan Yu
  • Process for capturing CO2 from a gas stream
    Patent number: 10232307
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for capturing carbon dioxide from a gas stream. The gas stream is contacted with solid adsorbent particles in an adsorption zone. The adsorption zone has at least two beds of fluidized solid adsorbent particles, and the solid adsorbent particles are flowing downwards from bed to bed. The solid adsorbent particles comprise 15 to 75 weight % of organic amine compounds. The gas stream entering the adsorption zone has a dew point which is at least 5° C. below the forward flow temperature of the coolest cooling medium in the adsorption zone. Carbon dioxide enriched solid adsorbent particles are heated, and then regenerated. The desorption zone has at least two beds of fluidized solid adsorbent particles, and the stripping gas is steam. The regenerated particles are cooled and recycled to the adsorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerald Sprachmann, Gerardus Antonius Franciscus Van Mossel, Hendrik Dathe, Tobias Proell, Gerhard Schoeny
  • Blowout preventer including blind seal assembly
    Patent number: 10233716
    Abstract: A ram blowout preventer (“BOP”) may be used for sealing about an object positioned in a vertical bore extending through the BOP. The ram BOP includes a body comprising a vertical bore extending through the body and a ram cavity intersecting the bore, a ram assembly movable laterally into and out of the BOP vertical bore and comprising a ram body, and an opposing ram assembly movable laterally into and out of the BOP vertical bore and comprising a ram body and a seal body coupled to the ram body, wherein the seal body comprises a seal configured to seal the entirety of the BOP vertical bore. The seal can be located on the upper and/or lower portion of the seal body to provide for bi-directional sealing across the BOP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: Cameron International Corporation, Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Johannes van Wijk, Melvyn F. Whitby
  • Induced control excitation for enhanced reservoir flow characterization
    Patent number: 10233727
    Abstract: A system, method and a computer program product may be provided for characterizing natural resource subsurface attributes and compositions. The system prescribes alterations of one or more controls of a natural resource. The system applies the altered controls to the natural resource wells. The system collects measurement data of the natural resource wells that responds to the applied altered controls. The system determines, based on the collected measurement data, the natural resource subsurface attributes and compositions that pertain to the natural resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew R. Conn, Lior Horesh, Eduardo Antonio Jimenez Arismendi, Ulisses Mello, Gijs Van Essen
  • Process to prepare paraffins and waxes
    Patent number: 10227533
    Abstract: Paraffins and waxes are produced from a gaseous feed stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor using a fixed bed of reduced Fischer-Tropsch catalyst having cobalt as catalytically active metal. A nitrogen-containing compound is added to the gaseous feed stream in a concentration of up to 10 ppmV and the mixture if fed to the reactor to obtain paraffins having from 5 to 300 carbon atoms. The product is subjected to a hydrogenation step, to obtain a hydrogenated fraction comprising 5 to 300 carbon atoms. The hydrogenated product is separated into C5-C9, C10-C17, and C18-300 fractions. The C18-C300 fraction is separated to obtain one or more first light waxes having a congealing point in the range of 30 to 75° C. and a second heavy wax having a congealing point in the range of 75 to 120° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Gerrit Leendert Bezemer, Harold Boerrigter, Hai Ming Tan
  • Process for preparing hydrocracking catalyst compositions
    Patent number: 10226766
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a naphtha-selective hydrocracking catalyst comprising of from 3 to 4.8% wt of molybdenum, calculated as metal, and of from 1.5 to 3% wt of nickel, calculated as metal, which comprises loading a refractory oxide support comprising an alumina binder component and a zeolite Y component in a content of from 65 to 75 wt % based on the total weight of the catalyst, with nickel and molybdenum in the presence of citric acid, wherein the zeolite Y component has a unit cell size in the range of from 24.42 to 24.52 ?, a SAR in the range of from 8 to 15, and a surface area of from 850 to 1020 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Wiebe Sjoerd Kijlstra, Ferry Winter
  • Chelant and polar additive containing composition useful in the hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstocks and method of making and use thereof
    Patent number: 10226764
    Abstract: A hydroprocessing catalyst composition that comprises a chelant treated metal containing support material having incorporated therein a polar additive. The catalyst composition is prepared by incorporating at least one metal component into a support material followed by treating the metal incorporated support with a chelating agent and thereafter incorporating a polar additive into the chelant treated composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Alexei Grigorievich Gabrielov, Ed Ganja, Salvatore Philip Torrisi
  • Biomass conversion process to hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 10221362
    Abstract: A process for the production of a higher hydrocarbon useful as gasoline component from solid biomass is provided. The process provides for longer ZSM-5 condensation catalyst life by contacting the stable oxygenated hydrocarbon intermediate containing diols produced from digestion and hydrodoxygenation of the solid biomass to an amorphous silica alumina catalyst to reduce the diols content, and optionally removing water, prior to contacting with the ZSM-5 condensation catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Kimberly Ann Johnson, Joseph Broun Powell
  • Catalyst and its use for the selective hydrodesulfurization of an olefin containing hydrocarbon feedstock
    Patent number: 10220379
    Abstract: A catalyst and its use for selectively desulfurizing sulfur compounds present in an olefin-containing hydrocarbon feedstock to very low levels with minimal hydrogenation of olefins. The catalyst comprises an inorganic oxide substrate containing a nickel compound, a molybdenum compound and optionally a phosphorus compound, that is overlaid with a molybdenum compound and a cobalt compound. The catalyst is further characterized as having a bimodal pore size distribution with a large portion of its total pore volume contained in pores having a diameter less than 250 angstroms and in pores having a diameter greater than 1000 angstroms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Opinder Kishan Bhan, David Andrew Komar
  • Activation of a self-activating hydroprocessing catalyst with steam
    Patent number: 10220374
    Abstract: A self-activating hydroprocessing catalyst for treating heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks is further activated by contacting the self-activating catalyst with steam. The steam may be added to the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock prior to contacting with the self-activating catalyst or may be added to a reactor vessel containing the self-activating catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventor: Opinder Kishan Bhan
  • Method of separating lignin derived compounds from pyrolysis oil
    Patent number: 10221370
    Abstract: A novel method of separating bio oil (pyrolysis oil) into oxygenated rich species and lignin/phenolic based species in a highly efficient manner is provided. Lignin and phenolic fractions can be separated from light oxygenates from bio oil by use of reversible ?-hydroxysulfonic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Pen-Chung Wang, Paul Richard Weider, Robert Lawrence Blackbourn