Patents Examined by Renee E Robinson
  • Patent number: 8202413
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydrocarbon products including the steps of (a) providing a stream containing oxygenates; (b) mixing the stream with a recycle stream to form a gasoline feed stream; (c) contacting the gasoline feed stream with one or more gasoline synthesis catalysts to obtain an effluent stream with higher hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range; (d) withdrawing from step (c) the effluent stream; and (e) splitting a part of the effluent stream to form the recycle stream which is optionally further reduced in content of water or enriched in hydrogen, then pressurized and recycled to step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Finn Joensen, Bodil Voss, Niels Christian Schiødt
  • Patent number: 8187456
    Abstract: An improved process for hydrocracking heavy petroleum feedstocks wherein hydrogen-containing streams associated with a hydrocracker are subjected to rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption having a cycle time of less than 30 S.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: John W. Viets, Narasimhan Sundaram, Bal K. Kaul, David L. Stern
  • Patent number: 8182672
    Abstract: A process for preparing basestocks having superior low temperature properties at high viscosity index (VI). More particularly, a waxy feedstock is contacted with a first dewaxing catalyst having a refined constraint index (CI*) 2.0 or less followed by contacting with a second dewaxing catalyst having a refined constraint index greater than 2.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michel Daage, David W. Larkin, William J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8177964
    Abstract: A process of delayed coking with modified feedstock is described maximising the volume of diesel oil and minimising the volume of coke produced by means of feedstock which comprises, in a first embodiment of the invention: the bottom product (8) of the vacuum distillation tower (6), known in the prior art as vacuum residuum, and a fraction (7?) of heavy vacuum gas oil (7) obtained in the aforesaid vacuum distillation. In a second embodiment of the present invention the bottom residuum (5) proceeding from the atmospheric distillation tower (2), known in the prior art as atmospheric residuum, is employed as feedstock of a Delayed Coking Unit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.—Petrobras
    Inventors: Gloria Maria Gomes Soares, Natalie Jorge Goncalves, Francisco Carlos Da Costa Barros, Sergio Cunha De Lucena, Aline Voigt Nadolni, Sergio Nunes Da Costa
  • Patent number: 8152994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbon feedstocks can be selectively separated to provide one or more light deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the light deasphalted oil can be hydrocracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Anand Subramanian, Raymond Floyd, Odette Eng
  • Patent number: 8152993
    Abstract: Methods are provided for decoking the radiant coils in an ethylene cracking plant. The decoking process is controlled by monitoring the coil outlet temperature to control the rate of burning of coke in the radiant coils. Air flow rates, steam flow rates and coil outlet temperatures are controlled during the decoking process to prevent tube damage, minimize decoking time and maximize coke removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen De Haan, Barbara Stancato, Brian K. Sullivan, Charles E. Nagy, Frank McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8147682
    Abstract: A process and process line is provided for recovering heat in the form of cleaned warm water and residual bitumen from oil sand tailings produced during an oil sands extraction process. The process includes removing at least a portion of the coarse solids from the oil sand tailings to produce a reduced solids tailings fraction; separating at least a portion of the bitumen from the reduced solids tailings fraction to produce a bitumen fraction and a warm water and fines fraction; and removing at least a portion of the fines from the warm water and fines fraction to produce cleaned warm water and a concentrated fines fraction. The cleaned warm water can then be reused in the oil sands extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Rick Lahaie, Simon Yuan, Jim Lorentz, Christian Matte, Kamal Hammad
  • Patent number: 8148285
    Abstract: A catalytic composition for hydrotreating of hydrocarbons is made in which a metallic component for hydrogenation is carried on a carrier formed of zeolite Y with aluminum and titanium inserted therein and a porous inorganic oxide. The zeolite Y has: unit cell dimension in a range from 24.25 to 24.60 ?, crystallinity of 95% or more, specific surface area of 500 m2/g or more, total pore volume of a group of pores each having a diameter of 600 ? or below in a range from 0.45 to 0.70 ml/g, pore volume of a group of pores each having a diameter in a range from 100 to 600 ? in a range from 0.10 to 0.40 ml/g, and pore volume of a group of pores each having a diameter in a range from 35 to 50 ? in a range 0.03 to 0.15 ml/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Petroleum Energy Center, JGC Catalysts and Chemicals Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Kuroda, Masaru Ushio
  • Patent number: 8142648
    Abstract: Controlled RVP C5+ products are produced from feed gas in configurations and methods in which a heavier portion of the feed gas is fractionated into several streams having distinct RVP and in which a C5+ stream is produced from the lighter portion of the feed gas. The so formed streams are then combined to produce C5+ products with controlled RVP. Thus, RVP control is achieved without the need for external products for blending process streams derived from the feed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John Mak
  • Patent number: 8142645
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons containing polynuclear aromatics, such as cycle oil and pyrolysis fuel oil (PFO), are upgraded using an catalyst complex that selectively cracks the polynuclear aromatic compounds to form higher value mono-aromatic compounds, such as benzene toluene, xylenes and ethyl benzene (i.e., BTX). The catalyst complexes include a catalytic metal center and a plurality of organic ligands. During the hydrocracking procedure, the organic ligand preserves one of the aromatic rings of the polynuclear aromatic compounds while the catalytic metal breaks the other aromatic rings thereby yielding a monoaromatic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Headwaters Technology Innovation, LLC
    Inventors: Bing Zhou, Zhenhua Zhou, Zhihua Wu
  • Patent number: 8137631
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The fluid catalytic cracking unit can include a first riser, a second riser, and a disengagement zone. The first riser can be adapted to receive a first feed terminating at a first reaction vessel having a first volume. The second riser may be adapted to receive a second feed terminating at a second reaction vessel having a second volume. Generally, the first volume is greater than the second volume. What is more, the disengagement zone can be for receiving a first mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the first reaction vessel, and a second mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the second reaction vessel. Typically, the first mixture is isolated from the second mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert L. Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 8137445
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating natural gas comprises a contactor having a manifold for spreading gas in the contactor vessel, a plurality of perforated plates above the manifold, a spray system for spraying a treating liquid into an upwardly rising column of gas and a liquid level controller for maintaining the treating liquid above the perforated plates. Gas and liquid from the contactor pass through a cooler and are then separated. A treating liquid regeneration system receives the treating liquid and flashes the liquid at low pressure to separate hydrocarbon gases, hydrocarbon liquid and treating liquid. The treating liquid is regenerated by heating and flashing off contaminant gases and is ultimately redelivered to the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventors: Edwin W. Cash, Thomas J. Bradley
  • Patent number: 8137532
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing middle distillates from a paraffinic feed produced by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, using a hydrocracking/hydroisomerization catalyst which comprises 0.2% to 2.5% by weight of an oxide of a doping element selected from boron, phosphorus, silicon, at least one hydrodehydrogenating element selected from the group formed by noble elements from group VIII of the periodic table, a non-zeolitic support based on silica-alumina containing more than 5% by weight and 95% by weight or less of silica (SiO2), specifically defined pore characteristics, a BET specific surface area in the range 100 to 550 m2/g, and with an X ray diffraction diagram which contains at least the characteristic principal peaks of at least one of the transition aluminas included in the group composed of alpha, rho, khi, eta, gamma, kappa, theta and delta aluminas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Patrick Euzen, Christophe Gueret
  • Patent number: 8128807
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for fluid catalytic cracking, including, fluidizing a hydrocarbon stream in a riser, cracking the hydrocarbon stream with catalyst in the riser to produce a cracked stream and spent catalyst, separating the cracked stream and the spent catalyst in a primary separator to obtain a cracked stream with a first concentration of spent catalyst, and transporting the cracked stream with the first concentration of spent catalyst through a conduit to a multi-cyclone separator comprising multiple cyclones extending through a tube sheet to obtain a cracked stream with a second concentration of spent catalyst. The invention is also directed to an apparatus for catalytic cracking including a riser, a primary separator, a disengagement vessel surrounding the primary separator to collect the catalyst, a gas conduit having a first end in fluid connection with the disengagement vessel, and a multi-cyclone separator comprising a plurality of cyclones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Kelly D. Seibert, Todd P. Mitchell, Mindy B. Kuhn
  • Patent number: 8114273
    Abstract: An improved hydrotreating process for removing sulfur from distillate boiling range feedstreams. This improved process utilizes a two stage hydrotreating process scheme, each stage associated with an acid gas removal zone wherein one of the stages utilizes a rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption zone to increase the concentration of hydrogen in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Benoit Touffait, Herve Innocenti, Jamil Zaari, Bal K. Kaul, Narasimhan Sundaram
  • Patent number: 8110091
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the treatment of heavy petroleum feedstocks in order to produce a gas oil fraction having a sulphur content of less than 50 ppm and generally 10 ppm which comprises the following stages: e) mild hydrocracking in a catalyst fixed bed, f) separation of the hydrogen sulphide, of a distillate cut including a gas oil fraction and of a fraction which is heavier than the gas oil, g) hydrotreating, by contact with at least one catalyst, of at least a portion of the distillate cut obtained in stage b) including the gas oil fraction, as a mixture with a feedstock resulting from a crude or refined renewable source, h) separation of a gas oil cut comprising less than 50 ppm of sulphur. Advantageously, the heavy fraction is sent for catalytic cracking. Preferably, the process is carried out with makeup hydrogen introduced in stage c) and very advantageously all the makeup hydrogen for the process is introduced in stage c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Thierry Chapus, Karin Marchand
  • Patent number: 8105480
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil which comprises subjecting a heavy oil to cavitation to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. The treated heavy oil, which has a reduced viscosity and specific gravity, thus is more pumpable and transportable, which facilitates further processing. The treated heavy oil also can be fractionated with less severity than untreated heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fractal Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Patent number: 8101066
    Abstract: An improved fluidized coking process wherein an effective amount of a basic material, preferably an alkali or alkaline-earth metal-containing compound, is added to the coking zone to mitigate agglomeration of the coke during the coking of a heavy hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to produce lower boiling products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael Siskin, Simon R. Kelemen, Christopher P. Eppig
  • Patent number: 8101067
    Abstract: Methods for obtaining bitumen from bituminous material. The methods may include a dissolution step where a first solvent is added to material comprising bitumen to dissolve the bitumen contained therein. The majority of the dissolved bitumen is then removed from the mixture of first solvent and material comprising bitumen by filtering or settling the mixture of first solvent and material comprising bitumen. Any residual dissolved bitumen is then removed from the mixture of first solvent and material comprising bitumen by adding additional first solvent to the mixture to displace the residual dissolved bitumen from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Julian Kift
  • Patent number: 8092672
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for catalytic hydroconversion processing of less volatile carbonaceous material to volatile liquid products is disclosed. The process is carried out in a plug-flow reactor system using nanosize metallic catalyst particles dispersed in the reactant slurry with compressed hydrogen/hydrogen-sulfide at a temperature between about 275° C. and 525° C. at a pressure of between about 800 psi and 6000 psi and a residence time in the reactors between about 1 minute and 4 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Energy Catalysis Incorporated
    Inventors: Partha S. Ganguli, Alfred G. Comolli