Patents by Inventor Christopher Alan Powers

Christopher Alan Powers 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: 9290826
    Abstract: A process to upgrade heavy oil and convert the heavy oil into lower boiling hydrocarbon products is provided. The process employs a catalyst slurry comprising catalyst particles with an average particle size ranging from 1 to 20 microns. In the upgrade process, spent slurry catalyst in heavy oil is generated as an effluent stream, which is subsequently recovered/separated from the heavy oil via membrane filtration. In one embodiment, dynamic filtration is used for the separation of the heavy oil from the catalyst particles. Valuable metals can be recovered from catalyst particles for subsequent re-use in a catalyst synthesis unit, generating a fresh slurry catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Andre R. Da Costa, Christopher Alan Powers, Bruce Reynolds, Oluwaseyi Abiodun Odueyungbo
  • Patent number: 8080155
    Abstract: A process to upgrade heavy oil and convert the heavy oil into lower boiling hydrocarbon products is provided. The process employs a catalyst slurry comprising catalyst particles with an average particle size ranging from 1 to 20 microns. In the upgrade process, spent slurry catalyst in heavy oil is generated as an effluent stream, which is subsequently recovered/separated from the heavy oil via a filtration assembly. The filtration assembly has a least a filtration unit employing at least a membrane for separating heavy oil from the catalyst particles. Valuable metals can be recovered from catalyst particles for subsequent re-use in a catalyst synthesis unit, generating a fresh slurry catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Andre R. Da Costa, Christopher Alan Powers, Bruce Reynolds, Seyi A. Odueyungbo
  • Patent number: 8048292
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydroprocessing a heavy oil feedstock, the system employs a plurality of contacting zones and separation zones and a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit for providing at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the deasphalted oil, forming upgraded products of lower boiling hydrocarbons. In the separation zones which operates at a temperature within 20° F. and a pressure within 10 psi of the pressure in the contacting zones, upgraded products are removed overhead and optionally, further treated in an in-line hydrotreater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Powers, Bruce Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20090057195
    Abstract: Systems and methods for hydroprocessing a heavy oil feedstock, the system employs a plurality of contacting zones and separation zones and a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit for providing at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the deasphalted oil, forming upgraded products of lower boiling hydrocarbons. In the separation zones which operates at a temperature within 20° F. and a pressure within 10 psi of the pressure in the contacting zones, upgraded products are removed overhead and optionally, further treated in an in-line hydrotreater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Powers, Bruce Reynolds