Patents Examined by John C Douglas
  • Patent number: 7744748
    Abstract: A process for reducing the quantity of sulphur present in a hydrocarbon feed such as a gasoline or a gas oil, comprises: d) bringing said feed containing sulphur-containing compounds into contact with an adsorbent having a selectivity for sulphur-containing compounds under conditions for producing, at the outlet from the contact zone, a desulphurized effluent which is collected, said adsorption being carried out in the liquid phase or in the gas phase; e) gas phase desorption of the sulphur-containing compounds present on said adsorbent using a hydrogen-containing gaseous fluid derived from a hydrodesulphurization zone to obtain a gaseous effluent comprising hydrogen and desorbed sulphur-containing compounds; sending the gaseous effluent from step b) to said hydrodesulphurization zone and desulphurizing it therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Alexandre Nicolaos, Florent Picard
  • Patent number: 7666298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream wherein desulfurization is enhanced by improving the contacting of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream and sulfur-sorbing solid particulates in a fluidized bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Paul F. Meier, Edward L. Sughrue, Jan W. Wells, Douglas W. Hausler, Max W. Thompson, Amos A. Avidan
  • Patent number: 7513989
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrocracking process for hydrocracking petroleum and chemical feedstocks using bulk Group VIII/VIB catalysts. Preferred catalysts include those comprised of Ni—Mo—W.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stuart Leon Soled, Kenneth Lloyd Riley, Gary P. Schleicher, Richard A. Demmin, Darlene Schuette, legal representative, Ian Alfred Cody, William L. Schuette
  • Patent number: 7507326
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for hydroprocessing Fischer-Tropsch products. The invention in particular relates to an integrated method for producing liquid fuels from a hydrocarbon stream provided by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The method involves separating the Fischer-Tropsch products into a light fraction (FT condensate) and a heavy fraction. The heavy fraction is subjected to hydrocracking conditions, preferably through multiple catalyst beds, to reduce the chain length. The products of the hydrocracking reaction following the last catalyst bed are subjected to a separation step. The lighter material is combined with the Fischer-Tropsch condensate and hydrotreated. The hydrotreatment conditions hydrogenate double bonds, reduce oxygenates to paraffins, and desulfurize and denitrify the products. The heavier material from the separation step is sent to the lube plant for hydroisomerization, or is subjected to subsequent fraction steps to produce fuels and middle distillates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Darush Farshid, Richard O. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7449104
    Abstract: An integrated fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and desulfurization system for processing hydrocarbon-containing fluids. The integrated system employs a cracking/desulfurization unit having a reactor, a regenerator, and a reducer. A mixture of solid FCC catalyst particulates and solid sulfur sorbent particulates are circulated through the reactor, regenerator, and reducer to provide for substantially continuous cracking and desulfurization of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid, as well as substantially continuous regeneration of both the FCC catalyst and the sulfur sorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: ConocoPhilips Company
    Inventors: Edward L. Sughrue, Gil J. Greenwood
  • Patent number: 7435333
    Abstract: A method for reducing the viscosity and surface wetting tendency of an oil containing hydrophilic aspaltenes comprises adding to said oil an amount of hydrophobic asphaltenes in the range of 1 to 80 wt % based on weight of the hydrophilic asphaltense of said oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Cornelius Hendrick Brons
  • Patent number: 7431825
    Abstract: The present invention describes novel methods for reducing sulfur in gasoline with hydrotalcite like compound additives, calcined hydrotalcite like compounds, and/or mixed metal oxide solution solutions. The additives can optionally further comprise one or more metallic oxidants and/or supports. The invention is also directed to methods for reducing gasoline sulfur comprising contacting a catalytic cracking feedstock with a mixed metal oxide compound comprising magnesium and aluminum and having an X-ray diffraction pattern displaying a reflection at least at a two theta peak position at about 43 degrees and about 62 degrees, wherein the ratio of magnesium to aluminum in the compound is from about 1:1 to about 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Intercat, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert A. Vierheilig, Bruce Keener
  • Patent number: 7429318
    Abstract: A process for preparing high VI lubricating oil basestocks comprising hydrotreating, hydrodewaxing and optionally hydrofinishing. The hydrotreated feedstock is hydrodewaxed using a dewaxing catalyst that has been selectively activated by oxygenate treatment. The hydrodewaxed product may then be hydrofinished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ian A. Cody, William J. Murphy, Sylvain Hantzer, David W. Larkin, John E. Gallagher, Jr., Jeenok T. Kim
  • Patent number: 7427348
    Abstract: A process with an increased efficiency for the preparation of middle distillates with excellent properties at low temperatures and substantially without oxygenated organic compounds, starting from a synthetic mixture of hydrocarbons at least partly waxy, containing a fraction of alcohols, comprising the separation of the mixture into a low-boiling fraction and a high-boiling fraction; the subsequent hydrogenation of the low-boiling fraction under such conditions as to avoid any substantial variation in its average molecular weight; the joining of at least a part of the hydrogenated fraction with said high-boiling fraction, and the subsequent catalytic hydrocracking treatment of the mixture of hydrocarbons thug formed, to obtain a substantial conversion of the waxy part into middle distillate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., Enitecnologie S.p.A., Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Vincenzo Calemma, Silvia Guanziroli, Silvia Pavoni, Roberto Giardino
  • Patent number: 7425258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for selectively producing C3 olefins from a catalytically cracked or thermally cracked naphtha stream. The process is practiced by recycling a C6 rich fraction of the catalytic naphtha product to the riser upstream the feed injection point, to a parallel riser, to the spent catalyst stripper, and/or to the reactor dilute phase immediately above the stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Tan Jen Chen, Brian Erik Henry, Paul F Keusenkothen, Philip A. Ruziska
  • Patent number: 7410566
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for hydroprocessing of hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur and/or nitrogen contaminants, said process comprising first contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of at least one first group VIII metal on a first acidic support catalyst, and thereafter contacting the feedstock with hydrogen in the presence of at least one second group VIII metal catalyst on a less acidic support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Catalysts LLC
    Inventors: Marius Vaarkamp, Chung-Ming Chi, Hubertus Adrianus Duijndam
  • Patent number: 7402715
    Abstract: A fluid for traction drives for automobiles which comprises (A) a hydrocarbon compound having two bridged rings selected from bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane ring, bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring, bicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring and bicyclo[2.2.2]octane ring and (B) a hydrocarbon compound having at least one structure selected from quaternary carbon atom and ring structures and having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of 10 mm2/s or smaller, and has a viscosity at ?40° C. of 40,000 Pa·s or smaller and a flash point of 140° C. or higher, is provided. This fluid exhibits a great traction coefficient at high temperatures and very small viscosity at low temperatures. A fluid for traction drives which comprises a specific bicyclo[2,2,1]heptane derivative having 14 to 17 carbon atoms and having a viscosity index of 0 or greater is also provided. This fluid exhibits improved viscosity-temperature characteristics, decreased viscosity and improved fluidity at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Yoshida, Toshiyuki Tsubouchi, Motohisa Ido, Hidetoshi Koga
  • Patent number: 7393991
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing an internal olefin, wherein an ?-olefin containing 50 ppm water or less according to a Karl Fischer test method is contacted with a zeolite catalyst and/or a montmorillonite catalyst for the isomerization thereof and provides an industrially advantageous method for the selective internal isomerization of the raw material ?-olefin using a inexpensive catalyst while preventing catalyst deterioration and side reactions such as skeletal isomerization, oligomerization and cracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuo Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7390393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating heavy petroleum feedstocks for producing a gas oil fraction that has a sulfur content of less than 50 ppm and most often 10 ppm that includes the following stages: a) ebulliated-bed catalytic hydrocracking, b) separation from hydrogen sulfide of a distillate fraction that includes a gas oil fraction and a heavier fraction than the gas oil, c) hydrotreatment of said distillate fraction, and d) separation of a gas oil fraction with less than 50 ppm of sulfur. Make-up hydrogen, preferably all make-up hydrogen, is to stage c). Advantageously, the heavier fraction from step (b) is subjected to catalytic cracking. The invention also relates to an installation that can be used for implementing this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Institute Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Christophe Gueret, Pierre Marion, Cecile Plain, Jerome Bonnardot, Eric Benazzi, Olivier Martin
  • Patent number: 7384542
    Abstract: A process for the production of low sulfur diesel and high octane naphtha.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Vasant P. Thakkar, Richard K. Hoehn
  • Patent number: 7384541
    Abstract: After passing into reaction section R, the hydrocarbon feedstock C mixed with hydrogen H is expanded in device D. The expansion is brought about by a single-phase turbine until a gas volume ratio of 5% is reached, then expansion is brought about in a two-phase turbine of the rotodynamic type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Yves Charron, Béatrice Fischer
  • Patent number: 7332072
    Abstract: A process to prepare a waxy raffinate product by (a) hydrocracking/hydroisomerizing a Fischer-Tropsch derived feed, wherein weight ratio of compounds having at least 60 or more carbon atoms and compounds having at least 30 carbon atoms in the Fischer-Tropsch product is at least 0.2 and wherein at least 30 wt % of compounds in the Fischer-Tropsch derived feed have at least 30 carbon atoms; and, (b) isolating from the product of step (a) a waxy raffinate product having a T10 wt % boiling point of between 200° C. and 450° C. and a T90 wt % boiling point of between 400° C. and 650° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Gilbert Robert Bernard Germaine, David John Wedlock
  • Patent number: 7285206
    Abstract: A process to prepare a lubricating base oil and a gas oil by (a) hydrocracking/hydroisomerizing a Fischer-Tropsch product, wherein weight ratio of compounds having at least 60 or more carbon atoms and compounds having at least 30 carbon atoms in the Fischer-Tropsch product is at least 0.2, and, wherein at least 30 wt % of compounds in the Fischer-Tropsch product have at least 30 carbon atoms; (b) separating the product of step (a) into one or more gas oil fractions, a base oil precursor fraction and a higher boiling fraction; and (c) performing a pour point reducing step to the base oil precursor fraction obtained in step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Gilbert Robert Bernard Germaine
  • Patent number: 7279090
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel integrated method for economically processing vacuum residue from heavy crude oils. This is accomplished by utilizing a solvent deasphalter (SDA) in the first step of the process with a C3/C4/C5 solvent such that the DAO product can thereafter be processed in a classic fixed-bed hydrotreater or hydrocracker. The SDA feed also includes recycled stripper bottoms containing unconverted residue/asphaltenes from a downstream steam stripper unit. The asphaltenes from the SDA are sent to an ebullated-bed reactor for conversion of the residue and asphaltenes. Residue conversion in the range of 60-80% is achieved and asphaltene conversion is in the range of 50-70%. The overall residue conversion, with the DAO product considered non-residue, is in the range of 80 W %-90 W % and significantly higher than could be achieved without utilizing the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Pe'trole
    Inventors: James J. Colyar, Stéphane Kressmann, Christophe Gueret
  • Patent number: 7232516
    Abstract: A desulfurization system employing a system of fluidizable and circulatable solid particles to desulfurize a hydrocarbon-containing fluid in a fluidized bed reactor. The solid particulate system includes solid sorbent particles operable to remove sulfur from the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream and solid catalyst particles operable to enhance the octane of the resulting desulfurized hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream. The solid particulate system can be circulated between a reactor, regenerator, and reducer, to thereby allow for substantially continuous desulfurization in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Edward L. Sughure, II., Bobby G. Cockrell, Glenn W. Dodwell, Brent J. Bertus