Patents Assigned to The British Petroleum Company Limited
  • Offshore structure and method
    Patent number: 4094163
    Abstract: Method of aligning members at an underwater location comprises attaching to one of the members a guide wire anchoring tool and attaching two guidewires thereto so that the latter extend to the surface, attaching to the other of the members a guide tool to engage the guide wires, the guide tool and the anchoring tool having co-operating means to align the members and bringing the members into alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: John William Ells, Ian David Parker, David Baird Langley Walker
  • Olefins production by steam cracking over manganese catalyst
    Patent number: 4087350
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing olefins by cracking atmospheric/vacuum residue boiling above 500.degree. C in the presence of steam over a fluidized manganese catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Alexander John Kolombos, Donald McNeice, Dennis Charles Wood
  • Polymerization catalyst
    Patent number: 4082692
    Abstract: Process for the production of a supported Ziegler catalyst comprising adding a halogen containing titanium compound to a fluidized bed of a magnesium-containing Ziegler support material and treating the product with an alcohol or phenol. Preferred titanium compound is titanium tetrachloride and preferred support material is magnesium oxide of the product of heating magnesium chloride with silica. The catalyst is activated using conventional Ziegler activators e.g. trialkyl aluminium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Brian Peter Forsyth Goldie
  • Solar energy collector
    Patent number: 4082082
    Abstract: Solar energy collector having a heat collecting zone which comprises an integrally formed strip of parallel transparent tubes which contains an energy absorbent particulate or fibrous material. The strip is preferably made by an extrusion process using polysulphone or polycarbonate resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Lawrence Harvey
  • Storage tank seal
    Patent number: 4079856
    Abstract: Liquid storage tank uses a collapsible bag of impermeable material which floats on the stored liquid and moves with the liquid, thus giving reduced vapor pressure above the liquid. In use, the collapsible bag has a tapered form so as to reduce the possibility of its contact with the tank side walls and hence reduce the sticking tendency of the bag to the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Paul Hammond Drake
  • Flarestack Coanda burners with self-adjusting slot at pressure outlet
    Patent number: 4073613
    Abstract: A Coanda unit has a Coanda surface and a gas supply line terminating in a slot adjacent to the Coanda surface. One side of the slot is contiguous with the Coanda surface and the other side is formed of a tongue of resilient material which flexes within defined limits in response to the pressure of the gas supply so as to vary the slot width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Denis H. Desty
  • Hydrocarbon separating process
    Patent number: 4069142
    Abstract: A cyclic, vapor-phase, pressure swing process for the separation of n-paraffins from a mixture with non-straight chain hydrocarbons comprises the steps of adsorption purge and desorption. Purge effluent is recycled through a bed of a 5 A molecular sieve in an adsorption stage and an effluent of reduced n-paraffin content is recovered. The bed is purged to remove surface adsorbed and interstitial matter by reducing the pressure in the bed by direct contact condensation with fresh feed introduced at or near ambient temperature. A purge effluent is recovered for recycle to stage (1). The bed is then desorbed to recover n-paraffins by further reducing the pressure in the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Brian Tait Lauder, John Robert Kenneth Rolfe
  • Flow monitoring devices
    Patent number: 4065675
    Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid flow monitoring device which uses a probe comprising an energy transmitter spaced apart from an energy receiver such that the bridging of the gap between the transmitter and receiver by flowing liquid emits a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Roy Charles Gold
  • Method for preparing desulfurization catalyst
    Patent number: 4062811
    Abstract: Desulfurization catalyst comprising an iron group metal and a Group VIB metal is modified by refluxing with an aqueous solution of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, or a transition metal. The pore size distribution of the catalyst is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: John David Hargrove, Geoffrey Charles Stevens
  • Separating hydrocarbons
    Patent number: 4059505
    Abstract: Molecular sieve pressure swing separating process is modified by stopping the feed before the end of the adsorption stage and passing a mixture richer in n-paraffins than the feed through the sieve bed. Suitable mixtures include purge effluent and desorpting effluent. This enhances the purity of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Colin William Cartwright, Donald Lamb
  • Pipelines
    Patent number: 4057082
    Abstract: A leak repair apparatus for use on an underwater pipeline has a compressible sealing element and a clamp which by means of screws and chains (passing around the pipeline) applies pressure to the sealing element to seal the leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Robert Paul King
  • Chemical process making aromatic hydrocarbons over gallium catalyst
    Patent number: 4056575
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for aromatizing unsaturated hydrocarbons in the presence of a supported gallium catalyst. Xylenes may be prepared from C.sub.4 feedstock by this route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Reginald Gregory, Alexander John Kolombos
  • Chemical process over gallium catalyst converting saturated hydrocarbons to olefins
    Patent number: 4056576
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for producing unsaturated hydrocarbons by dehydrogenating saturated hydrocarbons in the presence of a gallium catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Reginald Gregory, Alexander John Kolombos
  • Method for preparing graphite containing carbon
    Patent number: 4055628
    Abstract: Graphite-containing carbon is prepared by subjecting carbon to the steps of (1) an initial heat treatment in an inert atmosphere, (2) an oxidation stage and (3) a further heat treatment in an inert atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: John James McCarroll, John Trevor Kent Clark, Stephen Robert Tennison
  • Gasoline composition
    Patent number: 4055402
    Abstract: Polybutene polyamine alcohols are prepared by reacting a halogenated polybutene with a polyamino alcohol. They have good properties as carburetor detergents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: John Battersby, Eric Simon Forbes, Angus Joseph Dickson Reid
  • Method and apparatus for determining strain data during piling
    Patent number: 4052884
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining strain data during piling in which a strain gauge transducer mounted to the pile is excited with alternating current signals. The output of the transducer is sensed, amplified and demodulated to produce signals proportional to strain. The demodulated signals are used to control a voltage controlled oscillator whose output is transmitted by a telemetry transmitter via an antenna mounted to the pile. The signals are received at a remote location, converted back to strain proportional signals and recorded. An accelerometer mounted to the pile may be used to remotely turn on the equipment for a predetermined period. The arrangement is particularly suitable for use when piling offshore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Lionel John Milberger, Richard Allen Zimmer
  • Offshore structure and method
    Patent number: 4051688
    Abstract: Method of joining two pipelines underwater by, for example, flanges, involves supporting a first of the pipelines in a frame having supports for holding a second pipeline in alignment with the first pipeline and moving the end of the first pipeline (which is conveniently near an elbow in the pipeline) longitudinally into contact with the second pipeline and joining together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: John William Ells, Ian David Parker
  • Pipeline laying method
    Patent number: 4051687
    Abstract: The free ends of two pipelines lying on the sea bed are joined by raising both ends to above the surface and supporting them on a barge, bringing them into axial alignment and welding them together by inserting a spool piece if necessary. The welded line is then lowered back to the sea bed and the barge moved sideways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1977
    Assignees: The British Petroleum Company Limited, Saipem S.p.A.
    Inventor: John William Ells
  • Method and apparatus for launching pipeline clearing spheres
    Patent number: 4050955
    Abstract: Pipeline tool for closing an open end of a pipeline and which is suitable for use with a pipeline clearing sphere for clearing a pipeline has a tubular member for holding one or two spheres side by side and an aperture in the wall of the tubular member to release gas trapped therein and pipes for supplying compressed air to launch the spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Donald Alan Southgate
  • Reduction of platinum group metal catalysts
    Patent number: 4046671
    Abstract: A method for reducing catalysts of a platinum group metal on a support comprises contacting the catalyst with a moist flowing stream of hydrogen at elevated temperature. The catalyst is brought to a reducing temperature of at least 300.degree. C in a non-reducing wet atmosphere, before the introduction of the hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventors: Bernard Whiting Burbidge, Terence John Cook, Roger Crowson