Patents by Inventor Cherish M. Hoffman
Cherish M. 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).
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Patent number: 9023197Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Julian Kift, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson
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Patent number: 8968556Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2011Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Shell Canada Energy Cheveron Canada LimitedInventors: Julian Kift, Mahendra Joshi, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson
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Patent number: 8877044Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The method can include the steps of adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, separating a first quantity of bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby creating first solvent-wet tailings, adding a quantity of second solvent to first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, and adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Shell Canada Energy Cheveron Canada LimitedInventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Mahendra Joshi, Julian Kift, Dominic J. Zelnik, Whip C. Thompson, Cherish M. Hoffman
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Patent number: 8864982Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a first solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2009Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Shell Canada Energy Cheveron Canada LimitedInventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Julian Kift, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson
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Publication number: 20130206647Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: August 15, 2013Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Julian Kift, Mahendra Joshi, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson
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Publication number: 20130026077Abstract: A bitumen extraction method can include the use of a two or more mixing drums aligned in series for spraying solvent over bituminous material and/or tailings loaded in the mixing drums while the mixing drums rotate. Such mixing can result in the dissolution of bitumen into the solvent, which then allows for the separation of a “dilbit” stream from the bituminous material.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Mahendra Joshi, Julian Kift, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson, Dominic J. Zelnik
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Publication number: 20130026076Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Julian Kift, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson
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Publication number: 20130026078Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The method can include the steps of adding a first quantity of solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, separating a first quantity of bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby creating solvent-wet tailings, and adding a quantity of water to the solvent-wet tailings to separate a solvent component from the solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The solvent used in the methods can include paraffinic solvent, such as pentane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Mahendra Joshi, Julian Kift, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson, Dominic J. Zelnik
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Publication number: 20120152809Abstract: Methods and system for extracting bitumen can include the use of a mixing drum for spraying solvent over bituminous material to help dissolve bitumen and create a bitumen-laden solvent phase that can be separated from the non-bituminous components of the bituminous material. The mixing drum can be rotating during the spraying step to help promote dissolution of bitumen. The mixing drum can also include an internal screen for separating bitumen-laden solvent from the non-bituminous material. In some embodiments, two or more mixing drums are used in series, with the non-bituminous material from the first mixing drum being sprayed with additional solvent in the second mixing drum and bitumen laden solvent from the second mixing drum being used as the solvent sprayed over bituminous material in the first mixing drum. Hydrocyclones can also be incorporated in the in system and methods for increased extraction efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2011Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Julian Kift, Mahendra Joshi, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson, Dominic J. Zelnik
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Publication number: 20120145603Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Julian Kift, Mahendra Joshi, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson
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Publication number: 20120145602Abstract: A process for separating bitumen from bitumen ore material includes extracting bitumen with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a bitumen-enriched solvent phase and tailings. The tailings are dried or stripped in a dryer to remove any remaining hydrocarbon solvent. The amount of solvent discharged in the tailings may be less than 4 bbl per 1000 bbl of recovered bitumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Inventors: Julian Kift, Mahendra Joshi, Whip C. Thompson, Cherish M. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20110180459Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The method can include the steps of adding a first quantity of first solvent to a bitumen material to form a first mixture, separating a first quantity of bitumen-enriched solvent from the first mixture and thereby creating first solvent-wet tailings, adding a quantity of second solvent to first solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of first solvent component from the first solvent-wet tailings and thereby producing second solvent-wet tailings, and adding a quantity of water to the second solvent-wet tailings to separate a first quantity of second solvent component from the second solvent-wet tailings and thereby forming solvent-dry, stackable tailings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Willem P.C. Duyvesteyn, Mahendra Joshi, Julian Kift, Dominic J. Zelnik, Whip C. Thompson, Cherish M. Hoffman
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Publication number: 20110155648Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from bituminous material. In some embodiments, the method may include loading a bitumen material in a column, followed by feeding a first quantity of first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting the bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column. A quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent may then be fed into the column. In some embodiments, the method may include simultaneously loading bitumen material and a first solvent in a column, followed by feeding additional first solvent into the column. The method may also include collecting bitumen-enriched solvent exiting the column, and feeding a quantity of the bitumen-enriched solvent into the column.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2009Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: MARATHON OIL CANADA CORPORATIONInventors: Willem P.C. Duyvesteyn, Julian Kift, Cherish M. Hoffman, Whip C. Thompson