Patents by Inventor Adam M. Kortan

Adam M. Kortan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9856197
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that reforms flare gas or other raw natural gas source, using air without steam, to directly produce dimethyl ether (DME), a direct diesel substitute. The method first reforms an air-natural gas mixture at ambient atmospheric pressures, and then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to 100-2,000 psi, and feeds it through a combined reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into DME. The nitrogen is returned to the atmosphere. DME is an excellent diesel fuel, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based diesel fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring or other wasted natural gas. For example, the roughly 120 billion cubic feet per year that was flared in North Dakota in 2014 could be converted into over 3 million tons of DME using the disclosed method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L Henshaw, Adam M Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Patent number: 9725386
    Abstract: A mobile system and method that reform flare gas, methane, or natural gas, using air without steam, to directly produce methanol, a clean burning gasoline blend, component, and/or substitute are disclosed. The system first reforms the air-methane mixture at ambient atmospheric pressure, then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to about 600 psi, and feeds it through a methanol reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into methanol. The nitrogen is returned by the system back to the atmosphere. Methanol is a clean burning gasoline substitute, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring. For example, the over 120 billion cubic feet per year that was flared in North Dakota in 2014 could be converted into over 6 million tons of methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L Henshaw, Adam M Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Publication number: 20170174592
    Abstract: A mobile system and method that reform flare gas, methane, or natural gas, using air without steam, to directly produce methanol, a clean burning gasoline blend, component, and/or substitute are disclosed. The system first reforms the air-methane mixture at ambient atmospheric pressure, then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to about 600 psi, and feeds it through a methanol reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into methanol. The nitrogen is returned by the system back to the atmosphere. Methanol is a clean burning gasoline substitute, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring. For example, the over 120 billion cubic feet per year that was flared in North Dakota in 2014 could be converted into over 6 million tons of methanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L. Henshaw, Adam M. Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Publication number: 20170174599
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method that reforms flare gas or other raw natural gas source, using air without steam, to directly produce dimethyl ether (DME), a direct diesel substitute. The method first reforms an air-natural gas mixture at ambient atmospheric pressures, and then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to 100-2,000 psi, and feeds it through a combined reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into DME. The nitrogen is returned to the atmosphere. DME is an excellent diesel fuel, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based diesel fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring or other wasted natural gas. For example, the roughly 120 billion cubic feet per year that was flared in North Dakota in 2014 could be converted into over 3 million tons of DME using the disclosed method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L. Henshaw, Adam M. Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Patent number: 9643906
    Abstract: A unique design for a mobile system that reforms flare gas or natural gas, using air without steam, to directly produce dimethyl ether (DME), a diesel substitute, is disclosed. The system first reforms the air-methane mixture at ambient atmospheric pressures, and then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to up to 600 psi, and feeds it through a combined reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into dimethyl ether. The nitrogen is returned by the system back to the atmosphere. DME is an excellent diesel fuel, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based diesel fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring. For example, the over 120 billion cubic feet per year that is currently flared in North Dakota could be converted into over 3 million tons of DME.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L Henshaw, Adam M Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Patent number: 9637433
    Abstract: A mobile system and method that reform flare gas, methane, or natural gas, using air without steam, to directly produce methanol, a clean burning gasoline blend, component, and/or substitute are disclosed. The system first reforms the air-methane mixture at ambient atmospheric pressure, then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to 600 psi, and feeds it through a methanol reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into methanol. The nitrogen is returned by the system back to the atmosphere. Methanol is a clean burning gasoline substitute, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring. For example, the over 120 billion cubic feet per year that was flared in North Dakota in 2014 could be converted into over 6 million tons of methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L Henshaw, Adam M Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Publication number: 20160168477
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for converting synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons with comparable energy content to gasoline within mixed catalyst bed single reactor or double reactor systems. Varying catalyst composition and temperature profiles allow for significant tailoring of reaction conditions to the specific feedstocks or the desired products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Applicant: Pioneer Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Adam M Kortan, Michael T Kelly, Heather A Rose, Robert M Zubrin
  • Publication number: 20160159714
    Abstract: A mobile system and method that reform flare gas, methane, or natural gas, using air without steam, to directly produce methanol, a clean burning gasoline blend, component, and/or substitute are disclosed. The system first reforms the air-methane mixture at ambient atmospheric pressure, then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to 600 psi, and feeds it through a methanol reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into methanol. The nitrogen is returned by the system back to the atmosphere. Methanol is a clean burning gasoline substitute, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring. For example, the over 120 billion cubic feet per year that was flared in North Dakota in 2014 could be converted into over 6 million tons of methanol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L. Henshaw, Adam M. Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Publication number: 20160152537
    Abstract: A unique design for a mobile system that reforms flare gas or natural gas, using air without steam, to directly produce dimethyl ether (DME), a diesel substitute, is disclosed. The system first reforms the air-methane mixture at ambient atmospheric pressures, and then compresses the resulting CO-hydrogen-nitrogen gas mixture to up to 600 psi, and feeds it through a combined reactor which reacts the gas mixture directly into dimethyl ether. The nitrogen is returned by the system back to the atmosphere. DME is an excellent diesel fuel, and can be used to displace significantly costlier and dirtier petroleum-based diesel fuel, while solving a critical problem with flaring. For example, the over 120 billion cubic feet per year that is currently flared in North Dakota could be converted into over 3 million tons of DME.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Robert M. Zubrin, Boris Nizamov, Thomas L Henshaw, Adam M Kortan, James Siebarth, Colin Apke, Mark Berggren
  • Patent number: 9296665
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for converting methanol or synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons with comparable energy content to gasoline within a mixed bed single reactor or double reactor systems. Varying catalyst composition and temperature profiles allow for significant tailoring of reaction conditions to the specific feedstocks or the desired products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Pioneer Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Adam M Kortan, Michael T Kelly, Heather A Rose, Robert M Zubrin
  • Publication number: 20140171691
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system for converting methanol or synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons with comparable energy content to gasoline within a mixed bed single reactor or double reactor systems. Varying catalyst composition and temperature profiles allow for significant tailoring of reaction conditions to the specific feedstocks or the desired products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: PIONEER ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Adam M. Kortan, Michael T. Kelly, Heather A. Rose, Robert M. Zubrin