Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Reynolds
Bruce E. Reynolds 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).
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Patent number: 9206361Abstract: A method to upgrade heavy oil feedstock using an ebullated bed reactor and a novel catalyst system is provided. The ebullated bed reactor system includes two different catalyst with different characteristics: an expanded catalyst zone containing particulate catalyst having a particle size of greater than 0.65 mm; and a slurry catalyst having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 300 ?m. The slurry catalyst is provided to the ebullated bed system containing the heavy oil feedstock, and entrained in the upflowing hydrocarbon liquid passing through the ebullated bed reaction zone. The slurry catalyst reduces the formation of sediment and coke precursors in the ebullating bed reactor system. The slurry catalyst is prepared from rework materials, which form a slurry catalyst in-situ upon mixing with the heavy oil feedstock.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. .Inc.Inventors: Julie Chabot, Bruce E. Reynolds, Erin Maris, Shuwu Yang
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Patent number: 9169449Abstract: A method to upgrade heavy oil feedstock using an ebullated bed reactor and a novel catalyst system is provided. The ebullated bed reactor system includes two different catalyst with different characteristics: an expanded catalyst zone containing particulate catalyst having a particle size of greater than 0.65 mm; and a slurry catalyst having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 300 ?m. The slurry catalyst is introduced to the ebullated bed system with the heavy oil feedstock, and entrained in the upflowing hydrocarbon liquid passing through the ebullated bed reaction zone. The slurry catalyst reduces the formation of sediment and coke precursors in the ebullating bed reactor system. The slurry catalyst is prepared from at least a water-soluble metal precursor and pre-sulfided prior to being introduced with the heavy oil feedstock to the reactor system, or sulfided in-situ in the ebullated bed reactor in another embodiment.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Julie Chabot, Erin Maris, Sean Solberg, Kaidong Chen
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Patent number: 8765622Abstract: A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. Filtering in the deoiling zone can comprise filtering the slurry and solvent through a cross-flow microfiltration unit, recovering a retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit, combining the retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit with solvent to form a combined retentate-solvent stream, and filtering the combined retentate-solvent stream through a cross-flow microfiltration unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Lalit S. Shah, Christopher A. Powers, James R. Stoy, Fred D. Brent, Bruce E. Reynolds, Andre R. Da Costa
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Publication number: 20120152806Abstract: A method to upgrade heavy oil feedstock using an ebullated bed reactor and a novel catalyst system is provided. The ebullated bed reactor system includes two different catalyst with different characteristics: an expanded catalyst zone containing particulate catalyst having a particle size of greater than 0.65 mm; and a slurry catalyst having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 300 ?m. The slurry catalyst is introduced to the ebullated bed system with the heavy oil feedstock, and entrained in the upflowing hydrocarbon liquid passing through the ebullated bed reaction zone. The slurry catalyst reduces the formation of sediment and coke precursors in the ebullating bed reactor system. The slurry catalyst is prepared from at least a water-soluble metal precursor and pre-sulfided prior to being introduced with the heavy oil feedstock to the reactor system, or sulfided in-situ in the ebullated bed reactor in another embodiment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Julie Chabot, Erin Maris, Sean Solberg, Kaidong Chen
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Publication number: 20120152805Abstract: A method to upgrade heavy oil feedstock using an ebullated bed reactor and a novel catalyst system is provided. The ebullated bed reactor system includes two different catalyst with different characteristics: an expanded catalyst zone containing particulate catalyst having a particle size of greater than 0.65 mm; and a slurry catalyst having an average particle size ranging from 1 to 300 ?m. The slurry catalyst is provided to the ebullated bed system containing the heavy oil feedstock, and entrained in the upflowing hydrocarbon liquid passing through the ebullated bed reaction zone. The slurry catalyst reduces the formation of sediment and coke precursors in the ebullating bed reactor system. The slurry catalyst is prepared from rework materials, which form a slurry catalyst in-situ upon mixing with the heavy oil feedstock.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Inventors: Julie Chabot, Bruce E. Reynolds, Erin Maris, Shuwu Yang
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Patent number: 7837864Abstract: An integrated process for extracting and refining bitumen comprises hydroconverting bitumen in a reactor to provide valuable products and light oil by-product; separating the light oil by-product from the valuable products; transporting the light oil to oil sands reserves; producing steam in steam generators at the oil sands reserves using a portion of the light oil transported to the oil sands reserves; extracting bitumen from the oil sands reserves using steam produced in the steam generators; blending bitumen extracted from the oil sands reserves and a portion of the light oil transported to the oil sands reserves to form a transport blend; and transporting the transport blend to the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Chevron U. S. A. Inc.Inventor: Bruce E. Reynolds
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Patent number: 7771584Abstract: A process for slurry hydroprocessing, which involves preconditioning a slurry catalyst for activity improvement in vacuum residuum hydroprocessing units Preconditioning the slurry catalyst raises its temperature, thereby reducing shock on the catalyst slurry as it enters the hydroprocessing reactor.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Axel Brait
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Patent number: 7737068Abstract: A process for recovering catalytic metals from fine catalyst slurried in heavy oil comprises pyrolizing fine catalyst slurried in heavy oil to provide one or more lighter oil products and a coke-like material and recovering catalytic metals from the coke-like material.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Powers, Donald H. Mohr, Bruce E. Reynolds, Jose Guitian Lopez
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Patent number: 7678732Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the preparation of a slurry catalyst composition. The slurry catalyst composition is prepared in a series of steps, involving mixing a Group VIB metal oxide and aqueous ammonia to form an aqueous mixture and sulfiding the mixture to form a slurry. The slurry is then promoted with a Group VIII metal. Subsequent steps involve mixing the slurry with a hydrocarbon oil, and combining the resulting mixture with hydrogen gas (under conditions which maintain the water in a liquid phase) to produce the active slurry catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Chevron USA Inc.Inventors: Kaidong Chen, Bruce E. Reynolds, Darush Farshid
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Patent number: 7585404Abstract: This application discloses a process for decomposition of ammonium sulfates found in a stream comprising ammonium sulfate and slurry catalyst in oil. The ammonium sulfate is broken down into ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas. These gases have many uses throughout the refinery, including the preparation of slurry hydroprocessing catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2006Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Axel Brait
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Publication number: 20090159506Abstract: An integrated process for extracting and refining bitumen comprises hydroconverting bitumen in a reactor to provide valuable products and light oil by-product; separating the light oil by-product from the valuable products; transporting the light oil to oil sands reserves; producing steam in steam generators at the oil sands reserves using a portion of the light oil transported to the oil sands reserves; extracting bitumen from the oil sands reserves using steam produced in the steam generators; blending bitumen extracted from the oil sands reserves and a portion of the light oil transported to the oil sands reserves to form a transport blend; and transporting the transport blend to the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventor: Bruce E. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20090163352Abstract: A process for recovering catalytic metals from fine catalyst slurried in heavy oil comprises pyrolizing fine catalyst slurried in heavy oil to provide one or more lighter oil products and a coke-like material and recovering catalytic metals from the coke-like material.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Christopher A. Powers, Donald H. Mohr, Bruce E. Reynolds, Jose Guitian Lopez
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Publication number: 20090163347Abstract: A method of recovering unsupported fine catalyst from heavy oil comprises combining a slurry comprising unsupported fine catalyst in heavy oil with solvent to form a combined slurry-solvent stream. The combined slurry-solvent stream is filtered in a deoiling zone. A stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent is recovered from the deoiling zone. Unsupported fine catalyst is separated from the stream comprising unsupported fine catalyst and solvent. Filtering in the deoiling zone can comprise filtering the slurry and solvent through a cross-flow microfiltration unit, recovering a retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit, combining the retentate stream of the cross-flow microfiltration unit with solvent to form a combined retentate-solvent stream, and filtering the combined retentate-solvent stream through a cross-flow microfiltration unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Lalit S. Shah, Christopher A. Powers, James R. Stoy, Fred D. Brent, Bruce E. Reynolds, Andre R. Da Costa
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Publication number: 20080305947Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the preparation of a slurry catalyst composition. The slurry catalyst composition is prepared in a series of steps, involving mixing a Group VIB metal oxide and aqueous ammonia to form an aqueous mixture and sulfiding the mixture to form a slurry. The slurry is then promoted with a Group VIII metal. Subsequent steps involve mixing the slurry with a hydrocarbon oil, and combining the resulting mixture with hydrogen gas (under conditions which maintain the water in a liquid phase) to produce the active slurry catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Inventors: Kaidong Chen, Bruce E. Reynolds
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Patent number: 7410928Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the preparation of a catalyst composition suitable for the hydroconversion of heavy oils. The catalyst composition is prepared by a series of steps, involving mixing a Group VIB metal oxide particularly molybdenum oxide and aqueous ammonia to form an aqueous mixture, and sulfiding the mixture to form a slurry. The slurry is then promoted with a Group VIII metal. Subsequent steps involve mixing the slurry with a hydrocarbon oil and combining the resulting mixture with hydrogen gas and a second hydrocarbon oil having a lower viscosity than the first oil. An active catalyst composition is thereby formed.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Kaidong Chen, Pak C. Leung, Bruce E. Reynolds
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Patent number: 7396799Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the preparation of a slurry catalyst composition. The slurry catalyst composition is prepared in a series of steps, involving mixing a Group VIB metal oxide, particularly molybdenum and aqueous ammonia to form an aqueous mixture and sulfiding the mixture to form a slurry. The slurry is then promoted with a Group VIII metal. Subsequent steps involve mixing the slurry with a hydrocarbon oil, and combining the resulting mixture with hydrogen gas (under conditions which maintain the water in a liquid phase) to produce the active slurry catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2007Date of Patent: July 8, 2008Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Kaidong Chen, Bruce E. Reynolds
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Publication number: 20080135450Abstract: A process for slurry hydroprocessing, which involves preconditioning a slurry catalyst for activity improvement in vacuum residuum hydroprocessing units Preconditioning the slurry catalyst raises its temperature, thereby reducing shock on the catalyst slurry as it enters the hydroprocessing reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Axel Brait
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Publication number: 20080139379Abstract: This application discloses a process for decomposition of ammonium sulfates found in a stream comprising ammonium sulfate and slurry catalyst in oil. The ammonium sulfate is broken down into ammonia and hydrogen sulfide gas. These gases have many uses throughout the refinery, including the preparation of slurry hydroprocessing catalyst.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Axel Brait
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Publication number: 20080139380Abstract: This application discloses a process for concentration and deoiling of a slurry catalyst stream for ease of transport to a hydroprocessing unit. The slurry catalyst may then be diluted with oil for use.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Bruce E. Reynolds, Axel Brait
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Patent number: 7238273Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for upgrading heavy oils using a slurry composition. The slurry composition is prepared by a series of steps, involving mixing a Group VIB metal oxide and aqueous ammonia to form an aqueous mixture, and sulfiding the mixture to form a slurry. The slurry is then promoted with a Group VIII metal. Subsequent steps involve mixing the slurry with a hydrocarbon oil and combining the resulting mixture with hydrogen gas and a second hydrocarbon oil having a lower viscosity than the first oil. An active catalyst composition is thereby formed.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. IncInventors: Kaidong Chen, Pak C. Leung, Bruce E. Reynolds