Patents by Inventor David A. Coyle

David A. Coyle 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: 8973398
    Abstract: A method for vaporizing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and recovering heavier hydrocarbons from the LNG utilizing a heat transfer fluid is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: David A. Coyle
  • Patent number: 8381544
    Abstract: A method of altering the heating value of a liquefied natural gas by adding higher heating value components is disclosed. A portion of the liquefied natural gas is used to cool the higher heating value component stream prior to combining the higher heating value components with the liquefied natural gas to obtain a combined stream having a heating value greater than the liquefied natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventor: David A. Coyle
  • Publication number: 20100162755
    Abstract: Methods of reducing the concentration of low boiling point components in liquefied natural gas are disclosed. The methods involve dynamic decompression of the liquefied natural gas and one or more pre-fractionation vessels. Particular embodiments are suited for recovering helium and/or nitrogen enriched streams from a liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventors: Duffer Crawford, David A. Coyle, Bharthwaj Anantharaman
  • Publication number: 20100011663
    Abstract: A method of altering the heating value of a liquefied natural gas by adding higher heating value components is disclosed. A portion of the liquefied natural gas is used to cool the higher heating value component stream prior to combining the higher heating value components with the liquefied natural gas to obtain a combined stream having a heating value greater than the liquefied natural gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: KELLOGG BROWN & ROOT LLC
    Inventor: David A. Coyle
  • Publication number: 20090211263
    Abstract: A method for vaporizing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream and recovering heavier hydrocarbons from the LNG utilizing a heat transfer fluid is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventor: David A. Coyle
  • Publication number: 20080155996
    Abstract: A process for vaporizing liquefied gas is provided. Energy can be transferred within one or more first heat exchangers from a heat transfer medium at a first temperature to a liquefied gas. At least a portion of the liquefied gas can be vaporized within the one or more first heat exchangers to provide an at least partially vaporized liquid and a heat transfer medium at a second temperature. The heat transfer medium can be heated from the second temperature to a temperature at or near the first temperature with air within one or more second heat exchangers. The heat transfer medium from the one or more second heat exchangers can be directed to the one or more first heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Masroor S. Khan, David A. Coyle, Charles A. Durr
  • Patent number: 5505049
    Abstract: A process for removing nitrogen from liquefied natural gas (LNG) using an enhanced surface, reflux heat exchanger is disclosed. A relatively warm high pressure LNG stream is directed countercurrently in heat exchange with a cool low pressure LNG stream to chill the high pressure stream and partially vaporize the low pressure LNG stream in the reflux heat exchanger. Vapor produced thereby strips the low pressure LNG stream of nitrogen. The cool low pressure LNG stream is produced by expansion of the chilled high pressure LNG stream. Vapor produced by the expansion is combined with the vapor produced in the exchanger and withdrawn overhead. Product LNG which is lean in nitrogen is withdrawn from the bottom of the exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: David A. Coyle, Felix J. Fernandez de la Vega, Charles A. Durr, Ashutosh Rastogi