Patents by Inventor Armand A. Gregoli

Armand A. Gregoli 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: 6016867
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the in situ conversion and recovery of heavy crude oils and natural bitumens from subsurface formations using either a continuous operation with one or more injection and production boreholes, which may include horizontal boreholes, or a cyclic operation whereby both injection and production occur in the same boreholes. A mixture of reducing gases, oxidizing gases, and steam are fed to downhole combustion devices located in the injection boreholes. Combustion of the reducing gas-oxidizing gas mixture is carried out to produce superheated steam and hot reducing gases for injection into the formation to convert and upgrade the heavy crude or bitumen into lighter hydrocarbons. Communication between the injection and production boreholes in the continuous operation and fluid mobility within the formation in the cyclic operation is induced by fracturing or related methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: World Energy Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Daniel P. Rimmer, Dennis J. Graue
  • Patent number: 6016868
    Abstract: An integrated process is disclosed for treating, at the surface, production fluids recovered from the application of in situ hydrovisbreaking to heavy crude oils and natural bitumens deposited in subsurface formations. The production fluids include virgin heavy hydrocarbons, heavy hydrocarbons converted via the hydrovisbreaking process to lighter liquid hydrocarbons, residual reducing gases, hydrocarbon gases, and other components. In the process of this invention, the hydrocarbons in the production fluids are separated into a synthetic-crude-oil product (a nominal butane to 975.degree. F. fraction with reduced sulfur, nitrogen, metals, and carbon residue) and a residuum stream (a nominal 975.degree. F.+ fraction). Partial oxidation of the residuum is carried out to produce clean reducing gas and fuel gas for steam generation, with the reducing gas and steam used in the in situ hydrovisbreaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: World Energy Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 5340467
    Abstract: A process for recovering a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon bearing sand comprising the steps of mixing a chemical additive with a chemical composition and with a hydrocarbon bearing sand containing hydrocarbon and residual solids including clay, at a temperature to form a slurry. The chemical composition comprises an aqueous phase and a minor amount of a chemical agent selected from the group consisting of at least one ethoxylated alkylphenol compound, at least one ethoxylated dialkylphenol compound, MIBC, SC-177, Petronate HL, Clacium Lignosulfonate and mixtures thereof. The slurry is aerated to produce essentially sludge-free tailings and a mixture of hydrocarbon, aqueous phase and residual solids including clay. The process further comprises the step of separating the mixture of the hydrocarbon, the aqueous phase and the residual solids including clay from the essentially sludge-free tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, John A. Hamshar, 3rd, Daniel P. Rimmer, Erdal Yildirim, Andrew M. Olah
  • Patent number: 5316664
    Abstract: A process suitable for operation at a mine site for recovering a hydrocarbon from a hydrocarbon bearing sand comprising the steps of mixing a chemical additive with a chemical composition and with a hydrocarbon bearing sand containing hydrocarbon and residual solids including clay, at a temperature to form a slurry. The chemical composition comprises an aqueous phase and a minor amount of a chemical agent selected from the group consisting of at least one ethoxylated alkylphenol compound, at least one ethoxylated dialkylphenol compound, MIBC, SC-177, Petronate HL, Calcium Lignosulfonate, NaOH and mixtures thereof. The slurry is conditioned and aerated to produce essentially sludge-free tailings and a mixture of hydrocarbon, aqueous phase and residual solids including clay. The process further comprises the step of separating in a short-residence time apparatus the mixture of the hydrocarbon, the aqueous phase and the residual solids including clay from the essentially sludge-free tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, John A. Hamshar, Daniel P. Rimmer, Erdal Yildirim
  • Patent number: 5283001
    Abstract: A process for preparing a water continuous emulsion from heavy crude fraction. A process for preparing a double emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Daniel P. Rimmer, John A. Hamshar
  • Patent number: 5263848
    Abstract: A process for preparing an oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion and removing contaminants from a contaminated hydrocarbon. The process comprises mixing a contaminated hydrocarbon with a reactant and an emulsifying composition. Contaminants are removed from the contaminated hydrocarbon either during the mixing, after the mixing, or during the combustion of the mixture, or after combustion of the mixture such as from combustion flue gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Andrew M. Olah, John A. Hamshar, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 5156652
    Abstract: Stable oil-in-water emulsions for pipeline transmission are formed at a temperature of from about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. preferably using at least one ethoxylated alkylphenol compound and a freezing point depressant for water to enable pipeline transmission at temperatures below the freezing point of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Andrew M. Olah
  • Patent number: 5110443
    Abstract: A process for converting heavy hydrocarbons into lighter hydrocarbons. The process comprises forming an oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion and feeding the formed emulsion into an ultrasonic reactor wherein heavy hydrocarbons are converted into lighter hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Andrew M. Olah, John A. Hamshar, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 5083613
    Abstract: A process for producing bitumen employing a borehole that has been drilled into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir having a hydrocarbon. A void space is created at the bottom of the borehole. A bundle of spring-loaded guide tubes is inserted through the borehole and into the void space. Each guide tube is enclosed with a smaller diameter flexible tube that is connected to a source of an emulsifying composition comprising an aqueous phase and an emulsifying agent. The emulsifying agent comprises first and a second ethoxylated alkylphenol compounds wherein at least 1% by weight include more than 100 ethoxy groups. The emulsifying composition is released through the flexible tubes to form an oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion in the reservoir. The oil-in-aqueous emulsion is removed from the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Andrew M. Olah, John A. Hamshar, Daniel P. Rimmer, Erdal Yildirim
  • Patent number: 4983319
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of low-viscosity improved stable crude oil transport emulsions. The process comprises producing a hydrocarbon crude, and mixing the produced hydrocarbon crude with an emulsifying composition(s) which contains water and is capable of assisting the formation of an oil-in-water emulsion. The amount of the emulsifying composition(s) that is mixed with the produced hydrocarbon crude is sufficient to form an oil-in-water emulsion having water content of from about 10 percent to about 60 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for allowing the transport of the formulated oil-in-water emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Andrew M. Olah, John A. Hamshar, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 4978365
    Abstract: A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission. The process comprises producing a hydrocarbon crude, and mixing the produced hydrocarbon crude with an emulsifying composition(s) which contains water and is capable of assisting the formation of an oil-in-water emulsion when the temperature of the mixture of produced hydrocarbon crude and emulsifying composition(s) is from about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. The amount of the emulsifying composition(s) that is mixed with the produced hydrocarbon crude is sufficient to form an oil-in-water emulsion having water content of from about 15 percent to about 60 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transmission. The process additionally comprises shearing and mixing the mixture of produced hydrocarbon crude and emulsifying composition(s) when the mixture is at a temperature of from about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. to form an oil-in-water emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, John A. Hamshar, Andrew M. Olah, Christopher J. Riley, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 4966235
    Abstract: A process for recovering oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir having a hydrocarbon and penetrated by a wellbore. The process comprises injecting through the wellbore and into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir an emulsifying composition containing an aqueous phase and a minor amount of an emulsifying agent such that the emulsifying composition contacts at least a portion of the hydrocarbon to form an oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion within the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, Andrew M. Olah, John A. Hamshar, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 4725287
    Abstract: A process for the production of an oil-in-water emulsion for pipeline transmission. The process comprises producing a hydrocarbon crude, and mixing the produced hydrocarbon crude with an emulsifying composition(s) which contains water and is capable of assisting the formation of an oil-in-water emulsion when the temperature of the mixture of produced hydrocarbon crude and emulsifying composition(s) is from about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. The amount of the emulsifying composition(s) that is mixed with the produced hydrocarbon crude is sufficient to form an oil-in-water emulsion having water content of from about 15 percent to about 60 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for pipeline transmission. The process additionally comprises shearing and mixing the mixture of produced hydrocarbon crude and emulsifying composition(s) when the mixture is at a temperature of from about 100.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F. to form an oil-in-water emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd.
    Inventors: Armand A. Gregoli, John A. Hamshar, 3rd, Andrew M. Olah, Christopher J. Riley, Daniel P. Rimmer
  • Patent number: 4501445
    Abstract: In-situ hydrogenation of an underground coal formation is carried out by fracturing the formation and sealing it, to provide an in-situ reactor site. Then a liquid solvent stream and a gaseous hydrogen stream are introduced into the fractured formation, allowing reaction and conversion of the coal to lighter, hydrogenated components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Cities Service Company
    Inventor: Armand A. Gregoli
  • Patent number: 4075081
    Abstract: Oil shale, crushed to about 70 mesh size (300 microns or less), is slurried with a recycle stream from the processing of the reactor effluent. The slurry is then heated and charged, along with hydrogen, to an upflow, fluidized bed reactor. The kerogen in the shale undergoes hydroretorting, giving a C.sub.1 -650.degree. F. range of products. The spent shale is removed with and separated from the reactor overhead effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Cities Service Company
    Inventor: Armand A. Gregoli
  • Patent number: 3972801
    Abstract: Oil shale is retorted in a vertical reactor that is separated into discrete zones. Sensible heat from hot spent shale is used for the thermal decomposition of kerogen, which is done in the absence of air, thus liberating a maximum of desirable products, without loss of product by combustion, and avoiding the necessity of separating and removing gaseous combustion products from the volatilized kerogen. The carbonaceous residue on the retorted shale is combusted to furnish the sensible heat used in the various parts of the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: Cities Service Research & Development Co.
    Inventor: Armand A. Gregoli