Patents Assigned to Shell Research Limited
  • Patent number: 6658891
    Abstract: Plant for liquefying natural gas comprising a main heat exchanger in which the natural gas is liquefied by means of indirect heat exchange with evaporating refrigerant, and a refrigerant circuit in which evaporated refrigerant is compressed and liquefied to produce liquid refrigerant that is used in the main heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a compressor train consisting of at least one compressor driven by an electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Duncan Peter Michael Reijnen, David Bertil Runbalk
  • Patent number: 6637238
    Abstract: An apparatus for compressing gaseous refrigerant for use in a refrigeration circuit of a liquefaction plant, which refrigeration circuit has an inlet, a first outlet for refrigerant at low pressure, a second outlet for refrigerant at intermediate pressure, a third outlet for refrigerant at high pressure and a fourth outlet for refrigerant at high-pressure, which apparatus comprises a first and a second compressor, wherein the first compressor has a main inlet connected to the first outlet, a side-inlet connected to the third outlet and an outlet connected to the inlet of the refrigeration circuit, and wherein the second compressor has a main inlet connected to the second outlet, a side-inlet connected to the fourth outlet and an outlet connected to the inlet of the refrigeration circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Hendrik Frans Grootjans
  • Patent number: 6612184
    Abstract: There is provided a method of testing a joint formed by bonding of two tubulars, which method comprises the steps of holding a first tubular; applying a force to displace a second tubular relative to the first tubular; and removing the force. The final position of the second tubular is then compared with the position which it occupied prior to the application of the force by means of a sensor mounted remotely from the second tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Jimmy Lawrence Hollingsworth, Bernd-Georg Pietras
  • Patent number: 6297413
    Abstract: Paraffinic oils which comprise in the range of from 45% to 100% basis mass per mass of one or more paraffinic hydrocarbon(s) and have an average molecular weight in the range of from 100-200 are useful as antifoam agents, especially in a surfactant-containing concentrate or an adjuvant concentrate for crop protection use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Peter Colson, Holger Weil
  • Patent number: 6288373
    Abstract: An apparatus for amorphous bonding of tubulars (110,111) comprises a double skin jacket (2,113,114) which can be placed around said tubulars (110,111) which skins define a sealed inner fluid space (11,121) which contains shield gas and a heating element (1,129) and a sealed outer fluid space (9,119) surrounding the inner fluid space (11,121) to reduce the risk of explosion during the amorphous bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Michael Jahn, Bernd-Georg Pietras
  • Patent number: 6272882
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of liquefying a gaseous, methane-rich feed to obtain a liquefied product by supplying the gaseous, methane-rich feed at elevated pressure to a first tube side of a main heat exchanger at its warm end, cooling, liquefying and sub-cooling the gaseous, methane-rich feed against evaporating refrigerant to get a liquefied stream, removing the liquefied stream from the main heat exchanger at its cold end and passing the liquefied stream to storage as liquefied product, removing evaporated refrigerant from the shell side of the main heat exchanger at its warm end, compressing in at least one refrigerant compressor the evaporated refrigerant to get high-pressure refrigerant, partly condensing the high-pressure refrigerant and separating the partly-condensed refrigerant into a liquid heavy refrigerant fraction and a gaseous light refrigerant fraction, sub-cooling the heavy refrigerant fraction in a second tube side of the main heat exchanger to get a sub-cooled heavy refriger
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Derek William Hodges, Hendrik Frans Grootjans, Jonathan Reynolds Dolby
  • Patent number: 6241029
    Abstract: A survey device for use in a borehole formed in an earth formation. The device includes a carrier body carrying earth formation survey apparatus and drilling device arranged at the front end of the device for drilling of the borehole, a device for progressing the carrier body through the borehole in correspondence with progress of drilling by the drilling device and a device for removing the rock particles resulting from the drilling process. The device for removing the rock particles comprises a device for transporting the rock particles to the rear end of the device and depositing the rock particles into the borehole behind the rear end of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Josef Guillaume Christoffel Coenen, Barend Jan Pestman
  • Patent number: 6202376
    Abstract: A sandwich structure has a core which comprises an array of core units (3) that are arranged in a staggered pattern between the walls (1,2) of the structure such that in a first direction (II—II) adjacent core units (3) are substantially aligned whereas in another direction (III—III) at least some adjacent core units (3) partly face each other and the core units (3) are arranged in said first direction (II—II) at generally larger mutual spacings (7) than in said second direction (III—III). The thus formed core is drapeable yet structural, so that it can conform to curved structures and the staggered mutual spacings (7) form no through-gaps in the core webs so that the risk of crack formation in the walls (1,2) and between walls and core is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Jeremy Lehardy Guiton
  • Patent number: 6114288
    Abstract: Lubricating oil composition for internal combustion engines having a high temperature shear viscosity of from 2.1 to less than 2.9 mPas wherein the lubricating base oil comprises 1) a zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, 2) a metallic detergent chosen from calcium alkylsalicylate and a mixture of calcium alkylsalicylate and magnesium alkylsalicylate and optionally 3) friction modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Fujitsu, Koichi Kubo, Mitsuhiro Nagakari
  • Patent number: 6078031
    Abstract: A method for joining well and other oilfield tubulars by amorphous bonding comprises the steps of positioning a body of amorphous material (16) between adjacent and surfaces of a pair of oilfield tubulars (3, 4) that are to be joined and using induction heating to melt the amorphous material and create on cooling a metallurgical bond between the tubulars (3, 4). Throughout the heating and bonding process the tubulars (3, 4) are fixed in axial alignment with each other using clamp means which include a mandrel (1) which is inserted into the interior of the tubulars (3, 4) so that the bonding process can be performed in a sealed chamber (17, 18) which is filled with an inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Alan Edgar John Bliault, Francis Alexander Cumming, Mark Seth Laws
  • Patent number: 6067725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a personal or communal drying cubicle (1), which comprises an outer wall (2) provided with an opening (3) which can be connected up to a duct for supplying drying air, and an inner wall (4) pierced with outlet orifices (7) for distributing the drying air inside the drying cubicle (1), the outer and inner walls (2, 4), which have the shape of a portion of a cylinder, are arranged one with respect to the other in such a way as to delimit between them an internal space (6) with a substantially crescent-shaped transverse section in order to obtain a uniform distribution of the drying air through the outlet orifices (7) with a minimum drop in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Michel Moser
  • Patent number: 6014869
    Abstract: Method of reducing the amount of components having low boiling points in liquefied natural gas comprising passing the liquefied natural gas at liquefaction pressure through the hot side of an external heat exchanger to obtain cooled liquefied natural gas, allowing the cooled liquefied natural gas to expand dynamically to an intermediate pressure and statically to a low pressure to obtain expanded fluid, and introducing expanded fluid into the upper part of a fractionation column provided with a contacting section arranged between the upper part and the lower part of the fractionation column; passing a direct side stream at low pressure through the cold side of the external heat exchanger to obtain heated two-phase fluid; introducing the heated two-phase fluid into the lower part of the fractionation column and allowing the vapor to flow upwards through the contacting section; allowing the liquid of the expanded fluid to flow downwards through the contacting section; and withdrawing from the lower part of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Wiveka Jacoba Elion, Robert Klein Nagelvoort, Jan Kornelis Vink
  • Patent number: 5921769
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device (100) employing catalytic combustion of gas, especially of petroleum gases, comprising:a flat combustion enclosure (110) delimited by two parallel large plane walls (111, 112), at least one of which is a heater plate made of a metallic material, the said combustion enclosure (110) being provided with at least one gas inlet (130a, 132a, 132b, 134a) and one outlet (111a, 111b),a gas circulation circuit, devised inside the said combustion enclosure (110) between each gas inlet and each outlet, the gas circulation circuit passing through at least one catalytic contact surface (121a, 122a, 123a, 124a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Georges Lorek
  • Patent number: 5904834
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of wax for food applications, which wax has a congealing point of more than 65.degree. C. and a Saybolt color of more than +25, which wax is obtainable by subjecting a wax prepared in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process to a hydrogenation treatment to prepare a hydrogenated wax containing less than 1.5% by weight of oxygenates, fractionating the hydrogenated wax to obtain a hydrogenated wax fraction having a desired congealing point, and subjecting the hydrogenated wax fraction to a hydrofinishing treatment. The present invention further relates a process for the preparation of a wax which comprises subjecting a wax prepared in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process to a hydrogenation treatment to prepare a hydrogenated wax containing less than 1.5% by weight of oxygenates, fractionating the hydrogenated wax to obtain a hydrogenated wax fraction having a desired congealing point, and subjecting the hydrogenated wax fraction to a hydrofinishing treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Joachim Ansorge, Arend Hoek, Willem Pieter Leenhouts, Robert Anthony John Priston
  • Patent number: 5893274
    Abstract: A method is provided to liquefy and treat natural gas containing components having low boiling points, the method includes: liquefying natural gas in a main heat exchanger; cooling the liquefied gas in an external heat exchanger; allowing the cooled liquefied gas to expand dynamically; introducing the expanded fluid in the upper part of a fractionation column; allowing the liquid of the expanded fluid to flow downwards thorough contacting section; withdrawing a liquid recycle stream which is passed through the heat exchanger to obtain a heated two-phase fluid; introducing the two-phase fluid in fractionation column, and allowing the vapour to flow through the contacting section; collecting the liquid of the two-phase fluid in the lower part of the fractionation column; and withdrawing therefrom a liquid product stream having a reduced content of components having low boiling points; and withdrawing from the fractionation column a gaseous stream which is enriched in components having low boiling points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Robert Klein Nagelvoort, Kornelis Jan Vink
  • Patent number: 5884698
    Abstract: The whipstock assembly comprises an assembly casing (9) with preformed windows connected to production casing (7); a landing tube (21) is located within assembly casing (9) for receiving whipstock shaft; a key is located within tube (21) for cooperation with J-slot on whipstock shaft. The whipstock consists of upper (49) and lower (55) portion which are fixed against relative rotation by splines. The assembly casing (9) with landing tube (21) is positioned in the borehole using a gyro survey tool for correct orientation of the windows. After a first side hole has been drilled, upper portion (49) is raised and rotated to place wedge surface (51) for drilling a second side hole. Tube (21) is initially closed by a cap containing a marking fluid; after the cap has been drilled out the marking fluid indicates the removal of the cap. In a second embodiment two vertically spaced side holes are drilled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignees: Shell Research Limited, Canadian Fracmaster Limited
    Inventors: John Hughes, Michael Robert Konopczynski
  • Patent number: 5798068
    Abstract: A process of making a fiber-reinforced polymeric material comprises sliding a fiber bundle over an arcuate support surface (2) in the line of the arc, and injecting into the bundle a molten or liquid polymer through a plurality of slots (4) in the surface, each slot being transverse to the bundle. The process allows effective impregnation of materials, at relatively high production speed and low capital costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Marc Andrew Vlug
  • Patent number: 5756509
    Abstract: This invention relates to certain triazolopyrimidine derivatives of the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 represents an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkadienyl, cycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl or heterocyclyl group; R.sup.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 together with the interjacent nitrogen atom represent an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclic ring; R.sup.3 represents an optionally substituted cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl group; and R.sup.4 represents a hydrogen or halogen atom or a group --NR.sup.5 R.sup.6 where R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom or an amino, alkyl, cycloalkyl or bicycloalkyl group and R.sup.6 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group; processes for their preparation; compositions containing such compounds and their use as fungicides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventor: Klaus-Jurgen Pees
  • Patent number: 5726326
    Abstract: A method of preparing a thiophene comprises reacting an organic compound containing a chain of at least 4 C atoms linked by single or double bonds with a source of sulphur in the vapor phase, in the presence of a supported catalyst, the catalyst having the composition(Fe.sub.0-1 M.sub.1-0)O.sub.nwherein M is a metal of Group VA, VIA or VIIA; and n is an appropriate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Graham John Hutchings, Richard William Joyner, Barry William Luke Southward, Russel Andrew Stewart, Lance Svend Fuller
  • Patent number: 5723629
    Abstract: A method of preparing a thiophene comprises reacting an organic compound containing a chain of at least 4 C atoms linked by single or double bonds with a source of sulphur in the vapour phase, in the presence of a jarosite-type catalyst, having the compositionM(Fe.sub.0.8-1 Cr.sub.0.2-0)(OH).sub.6 X.sub.nwherein M is NH.sub.4 or an alkali metal; and X.sub.n represents one or more suitable anions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Shell Research Limited
    Inventors: Graham John Hutchings, Richard William Joyner, Barry William Luke Southward, Russel Andrew Stewart, Lance Svend Fuller