Patents by Inventor C. Earl St. Denis

C. Earl St. Denis 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).

  • Pipeline transportation of heavy crude oil
    Patent number: 4343323
    Abstract: Heavy crude oils are transported by pipeline from deposit location to a remote upgrading location by emulsifying the crude oil using deaerated sodium hydroxide solution, conveying the oil-in-water emulsion through the pipeline, and recovery of the oil from the oil-in-water emulsion by inverting the emulsion and dewatering the resulting water-in-oil emulsion. The emulsion inversion may be effected using slaked lime, resulting in recovery of a substantial proportion of the sodium hydroxide used in the initial emulsification. The sodium hydroxide solution may be recycled by a separate pipeline for reuse or treated for discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: Research Council of Alberta
    Inventors: Michael A. Kessick, C. Earl St. Denis