Patents Examined by Derek Mueller
  • Patent number: 9447335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of mercury from a mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed using specifically selected ionic liquids comprising, contacting the mercury-containing hydrocarbon fluid feed with an ionic liquid having the formula [Cat+][M+][X?] and separating from the ionic liquid a hydrocarbon fluid product having a reduced mercury content compared to the mercury-containing fluid feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: The Queen's University of Belfast
    Inventors: Mahpuzah Abai, Martin P. Atkins, Kuah Y. Cheun, John Holbrey, Peter Nockemann, Ken Seddon, Geetha Srinivasan, Yiran Zou
  • Patent number: 9441172
    Abstract: The mercury in crude oils is managed during the refining process to reduce its occurrence in refined petroleum products as well as in refinery emissions and wastes by converting the mercury, which may typically be present in the crude in elemental, ionic or combined organic (organomercury) forms, by operating the refinery on a blend of crudes comprising a mercury-containing crude of low sulfur content and a high sulfur crude. For optimal mercury control, the refinery should be operated in a high conversion regime, preferably with hydroprocessing (severe hydrotreating, hydrocracking) suitable for converting refractory, non-reactive sulfur compounds in the high sulfur crudes to more reactive forms including, for example, hydrogen sulfide, which will combine with the mercury present from the mercury-containing crude to form solid mercury sulfides which may be removed as solid waste by-products and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Bryan M. Knickerbocker, Robert James Falkiner
  • Patent number: 9434889
    Abstract: There is provided an additive and method for removal of calcium from crude oil or its blends containing calcium naphthenate at low pH as well as at high pH. Particularly, there is also provided an additive and method for removal of calcium from crude oil or its blends containing calcium naphthenate under basic or alkaline conditions and at low pH as well as at high pH varying from about 5 to 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Dorf Ketal Chemicals (India) Private Limited
    Inventor: Mahesh Subramaniyam
  • Patent number: 9421516
    Abstract: Alumina/NiO/ZnO and Alumina/ZnO are synthesized via a novel modified hydrothermal method and investigated for the desulfurization activities. Sulfur compounds such as thiophene, benzothiophene (BT) and dibenzothiophene (DBT) are tested for their removal from model diesel fuel. The prepared composite materials were examined by the means of N2-adsorption, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignees: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
    Inventors: Khalid R. Alhooshani, Abdullah A. Al Swat, Tawfik A. Saleh, Mohammad N. Siddiqui, Mohammed A. Gondal
  • Patent number: 9422487
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering cycle oil from FCC CSO is described. By feeding the additional cycle oil to a hydrocracking unit additional diesel, naphtha and petrochemical feedstock may be obtained. The additional cycle oil is obtained by vacuum separation of the CSO. The described process and apparatus can provide additional recovery for a refiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jibreel A. Qafisheh, Jill A. Bonucci, Xin X. Zhu, Boyd E. Cabanaw
  • Patent number: 9416323
    Abstract: A process for producing a gas oil fraction by hydrodesulfurizing a feedstock oil prepared by blending a straight-run gas oil and a light cycle oil, wherein the process is capable of maintaining the activity of the desulfurization catalyst over a long period, and is capable of producing a low-sulfur gas oil fraction having a low sulfur content and excellent color index. The process for producing a low-sulfur gas oil fraction includes hydrodesulfurizing a feedstock oil to a sulfur content of not more than 10 ppm by mass, wherein the feedstock oil is prepared by blending a straight-run gas oil with a light cycle oil having a 10 volume % distillation temperature of less than 220° C. and a 90 volume % distillation temperature of less than 325° C., such that the blend proportion of the light cycle oil is not more than 30% by volume. Further, a low-sulfur gas oil is obtained by blending the low-sulfur gas oil fraction with a kerosene fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: JX NIPPON OIL & ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Sahara, Kazuya Nasuno, Tsukasa Kousaka
  • Patent number: 9416324
    Abstract: A gas-liquid catalyzed reaction is performed by introducing at least a portion of the reactive gas into the catalyst as a cross-flow or radial-flow stream. Introducing at least a portion of the reactive gas as a radial flow stream allows the reactive gas to travel through the catalyst bed along a shorter path length. This reduces the pressure drop for the radial flow portion of the gas. The reactive gas can be introduced into the catalyst bed at various heights relative to the height of the catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Hans G. Korsten
  • Patent number: 9399742
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering cycle oil from FCC CSO is described. By feeding the additional cycle oil to a hydrocracking unit additional diesel, naphtha and petrochemical feedstock may be obtained. The additional cycle oil is obtained by vacuum separation of the CSO. The described process and apparatus can provide additional recovery for a refiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jibreel A. Qafisheh, Jill A. Bonucci, Xin X. Zhu, Boyd E. Cabanaw
  • Patent number: 9394496
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for recovering cycle oil from FCC CSO is described. By feeding the additional cycle oil to a hydrocracking unit additional diesel, naphtha and petrochemical feedstock may be obtained. The additional cycle oil is obtained by vacuum separation of the CSO. The described process and apparatus can provide additional recovery for a refiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Jibreel A. Qafisheh, Boyd E. Cabanaw, Xin X. Zhu
  • Patent number: 9394488
    Abstract: A method of improving the uniformity of the contacting of a heavy oil feed with FCC cracking catalyst in the feed zone of an FCC cracking riser in which the heavy oil feed is injected into the catalyst in the riser by means of feed injectors located around the riser, the method comprising minimizing the differences in the temperature profile in the oil/catalyst mixture across the feed zone by varying the oil feed rate to the injectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Bing Du, Alvin U. Chen, Christopher G. Smalley, Kentaro Kobayashi, Masaaki Sugita
  • Patent number: 9388346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of removing heteroaromatic sulfides from hydrocarbons (e.g. petroleum products such as gasoline and fuel oils), using polyoxometalate catalysts such as H5PV2Mo10O40 or solvates thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: YEDA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Ronny Neumann, Alexander Khenkin
  • Patent number: 9387449
    Abstract: Disclosed are a catalytic cracking method and an apparatus for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Inventor: Baozhen Shi
  • Patent number: 9382486
    Abstract: A process is provided that is directed to a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a hydrotreating zone and a solvent deasphalting zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics. The integrated hydrotreating, solvent deasphalting and steam pyrolysis process comprises charging the crude oil to a hydroprocessing zone to produce a hydroprocessed effluent; charging the hydroprocessed effluent to a solvent deasphalting zone to produce a deasphalted and demetalized oil stream and a bottom asphalt phase; thermally cracking the deasphalted and demetalized oil stream in the presence of steam to produce a mixed product stream; separating the mixed product stream; purifying hydrogen recovered from the mixed product stream and recycling it to the hydroprocessing zone; recovering olefins and aromatics from the separated mixed product stream; and recovering pyrolysis fuel oil from the separated mixed product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdennour Bourane, Raheel Shafi, Essam Sayed, Ibrahim A. Abba, Abdul Rahman Zafer Akhras
  • Patent number: 9381487
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a plate for distributing a polyphase mixture in a reactor operating in trickle bed mode constituted by at least one gas phase and at least one liquid phase, the plate (10) being located above a bed of catalytic particles, comprising a plurality of chimneys (3), characterized in that a portion of the chimneys of the plate located near to the wall of the chamber of the reactor, those termed the peripheral chimneys, have an upper portion which is inclined at an angle with respect to the vertical. The invention also concerns the use of the plate in a reactor with a view to carrying out hydrotreatment, hydrogenation or oxidation reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Frederic Bazer-Bachi, Frederic Augier, Yacine Haroun, Christophe Boyer
  • Patent number: 9376630
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for extracting bitumen from an oil sand stream, the method including the steps of: (a) providing an oil sand stream; (b) contacting the oil sand stream with a liquid comprising a solvent thereby obtaining a solvent-diluted oil sand slurry; (c) separating the solvent-diluted oil sand slurry, thereby obtaining a first solids-depleted stream and a first solids-enriched stream; (d) filtering the first solids-enriched stream obtained in step (c), thereby obtaining bitumen-depleted sand and at least a first filtrate; (e) separating at least a part of the first filtrate thereby obtaining a second solids-depleted stream and a second solids-enriched stream; and (f) reusing at least a part of the second solids-enriched stream as obtained in step (e) in the contacting of step (b) or the separating of step (c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Gerhardus Willem Colenbrander, Ingmar Hubertus Josephina Ploemen
  • Patent number: 9371496
    Abstract: A hydroconversion catalyst comprising a Group VIB metal component, a Group VIII metal component and a carrier material is disclosed wherein said catalyst has a total surface area of 240 to 360 m2/g; a total pore volume of 0.5 to 0.9 cc/g; and a pore volume distribution such that greater than 60% of pore volume are in pores present as micropores of diameter between 55 and 115 ?, less than 0.12 cc/g of pore volume are in pores present at pores of diameter greater than 160 ? and less than 10% of pore volume are in pores present as macropores of diameters greater than 250 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: John George Kester, David Andrew Komar, David Edward Sherwood
  • Patent number: 9365777
    Abstract: A method of reducing residual hydrocarbon accumulation during processing can comprise forming a permeable body (608) of a comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material within an enclosure (602). A primary liquid collection system (610) is located in a lower portion of the permeable body. The primary liquid collection system (610) has an upper surface for collecting and removing liquids. Comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material below the primary liquid collection system (610) forms a non-production zone (616). At least a portion of the permeable body (608) is heated to a bulk temperature above a production temperature sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom within a production zone (614), where conditions in the non-production zone (616) are maintained below the production temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Red Leaf Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Patten
  • Patent number: 9359561
    Abstract: Process for hydrotreating a heavy hydrocarbon fraction using a system of switchable fixed bed guard zones each containing at least one catalyst bed including at least one step during which the flow of feed supplied to the first guard zone brought into contact with the feed is partly displaced to the next guard zone downstream, preferably progressively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Frederic Bazer-Bachi, Mathieu Digne, Jan Verstraete, Nicolas Marchal, Cecile Plain
  • Patent number: 9354183
    Abstract: System to detect coking in at least one component of refinery equipment is provided. The system includes a fiber optic assembly having at least one optical fiber operably coupled with the component, the fiber optic assembly further including a light source to transmit light having a known parameter through the optical fiber and a receiver to receive the light from the optical fiber, and a processor in communication with the fiber optic assembly to identify a shift in the parameter received by the receiver, the shift corresponding to an operating characteristic of the component. Method also provided for detecting coking using the system to detect coking disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Chimenti, Brian D. Albert, Berne K. Stober, Christopher J. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 9315742
    Abstract: The invention provides a process to prepare very low sulphur, very low aromatic hydrocarbon fluids having a boiling range in the range of from 100 to 400° C. and a boiling range of not more than 80° C., comprising at least the two successive steps of —deep hydrodesulphurating of middle distillate down to less than 10 ppm sulphur, and —catalytic hydrogenating the desulphurized middle distillates of preceding step at a temperature from 80 to 180° C. and at a pressure from 60 to 160 bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Total Marketing Services
    Inventors: Christine Aubry, Joelle Nokerman