Patents by Inventor Barry E. Hoffman

Barry E. Hoffman 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: 5209913
    Abstract: A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. The treatment of the gaseous fraction includes treatment with a carbonate solution which, upon regeneration, yields an acid gas. A portion of the acid gas is mixed with the liquid fraction, the mixture is then filtered, passed over a substance capable of adsorbing hydrogen sulfide, and separated into a stream comprising a natural gas condensate and at least one other stream comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons and/or other gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman, Garry W. Kirker
  • Patent number: 5190908
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a desiccant bed with means for removing residual mercury from a gas, such as a natural gas stream. The desiccant bed includes a silver and/or gold-containing layer and a protective layer of pellets having an active compound comprising at least one of copper hydroxide, copper oxide and copper sulfide. The active compound provides the desiccant bed with the additional advantage of removing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 as well as mercury from the gaseous stream. The desiccant bed removes the mercury, H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 without incurring the pressure loss inherent in utilizing a separate downstream adsorbent bed for removing Hg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5141724
    Abstract: Mercury is removed from a gaseous hydrocarbon stream by passing the stream through an in-line mixer which includes mixing elements which have gas-contacting surfaces of an amalgam-forming metal. Preferred amalgam-forming metals are gold, silver or a combination thereof. A specific in-line mixer has static mixing elements which are disposed along the length of the mixer, preferably, the mixing elements are helically disposed along the length of the mixer. Other contaminants such as water and residual H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 are removed from the gas stream by a gas purification system which includes the in-line mixer and a desiccant bed modified for removing mercury and other contaminants. The modifications to the desiccant bed include a porous gold and/or silver containing layer, i.e., a gold and/or silver wire screen or packed gold and/or silver wool, and a protective layer of alumina pellets having an active compound such as copper hydroxide, copper oxide and copper sulfide impregnated therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5130108
    Abstract: A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is first separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. The treatment of the gaseous fraction includes treatment with a carbonate solution which, upon regeneration, yields an acid gas which is mixed with the liquid fraction. The mixture is then separated from gaseous components and filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 5120515
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a conventional dessicant bed with means for removing residual mercury, H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from a gas, such as a natural gas stream, by replacing an inert protective layer of pellets with an active compound comprising at least one of copper hydroxide, copper oxide and copper sulfide. The active compound provides the dessicant bed with the additional advantage of removing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 as well as mercury from the gaseous fraction without incurring the pressure loss inherent in utilizing a separate downstream adsorbent bed for removing Hg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1992
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4983277
    Abstract: A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. A portion of the gaseous fraction is mixed with the liquid fraction, the mixture is then filtered, passed over a substance capable of adsorbing hydrogen sulfide, and separated into a stream comprising a natural gas condensate and at least one other stream comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons and/or other gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman, Garry W. Kirker
  • Patent number: 4981577
    Abstract: A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. A portion of the gaseous fraction is mixed with the liquid fraction, the mixture is then separated into a stream comprising a natural gas condensate and at least one other stream comprising lower hydrocarbons and/or other gases. The natural gas condensate stream is then filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Costandi A. Audeh, Barry E. Hoffman