Patents by Inventor David Bertil Runbalk
David Bertil Runbalk 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: 8037694Abstract: A floating system for liquefying natural gas comprising a vessel provided with a plant for liquefying natural gas having an inlet for natural gas and an outlet for liquefied natural gas, a feed supply system for supplying natural gas to the inlet of the plant, one or more storage tanks for storing liquefied natural gas, and an off-loading system for transporting liquefied natural gas between the storage tank(s) and a tanker, which floating system further comprises a vaporization system having an inlet for liquefied gas and an outlet for vapor.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2002Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20110226007Abstract: A floating system for liquefying natural gas comprising a vessel provided with a plant for liquefying natural gas having an inlet for natural gas and an outlet for liquefied natural gas, a feed supply system for supplying natural gas to the inlet of the plant, one or more storage tanks for storing liquefied natural gas, and an off-loading system for transporting liquefied natural gas between the storage tank(s) and a tanker, which floating system further comprises a vaporization system having an inlet for liquefied gas and an outlet for vapour.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2011Publication date: September 22, 2011Applicant: SHELL OIL COMPANYInventor: David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20100319396Abstract: A method of cooling at least two hydrocarbon streams such as natural gas, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least first and second hydrocarbon streams (20, 20a); (b) passing the first hydrocarbon stream (20) through one or more first heat exchangers (12, 14) to provide a first cooled hydrocarbon stream (30); and (c) passing the second hydrocarbon stream (20a) through one or more second heat exchangers (12a, 14a) to provide a second cooled hydrocarbon stream (30a); wherein a refrigerant circuit (100) provides cooling to the first heat exchanger (s) (12, 14) and the second heat exchanger (s) (12a, 14a).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2007Publication date: December 23, 2010Inventors: Willem Dam, Ming Teck Kong, David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20100263406Abstract: Method of driving two or more refrigerant compressors in a hydrocarbon cooling process. In such a hydrocarbon cooling process a hydrocarbon feed stream (10) may be passed against partly evaporating refrigerant streams. The at least partly evaporated refrigerant streams (35a, 37a) are compressed through refrigerant compressors (34, 36). One or more gas turbines (54) are driven to provide electrical power (56) and hot gas. The hot gas (57) is passed through one or more steam heat exchangers (58) to provide steam power, which is used to drive one or more steam turbines (82) to drive at least one of the refrigerant compressors (34). The electrical power is used to drive (76) at least another one of the refrigerant compressors (36).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventors: Willem Dam, Peter Marie Paulus, Johan Jan Barend Pek, David Bertil Runbalk, Thor Frette
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Publication number: 20100206573Abstract: A method of cooling a gaseous hydrocarbon stream (10) such as natural gas comprising at least the steps of: (a) sourcing the gaseous hydrocarbon stream (10) in an underwater pipeline (12) to a hydrocarbon facility at sea (18); (b) cooling the gaseous hydrocarbon stream (10) against one or more cooling streams (40) to remove heat from the gaseous hydrocarbon stream (10), and so provide a cooler hydrocarbon stream (20) and one or more warmer cooling streams (30); (c) using the heat of at least one warmer cooling stream (30) to heat the gaseous hydrocarbon stream (10) being sourced in the pipeline (12).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2008Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventors: Peter Marie Paulus, David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20100000251Abstract: The present invention provides a method of liquefying a hydrocarbon stream such as natural gas, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a hydrocarbon stream (10) at a first location (2), wherein the first location is situated onshore; (b) treating the hydrocarbon stream (10) in the first location (2) thereby obtaining a treated hydrocarbon stream (20); (c) transporting the treated hydrocarbon stream (20) via a pipeline (4) over a distance of at least 2 km to a second location (3), wherein the second location is situated off-shore; (d), liquefying the treated, hydrocarbon stream (20) at the second location (3) thereby obtaining liquefied hydrocarbon product (50) at atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 7, 2010Inventors: Michiel Gijsbert Van Aken, Marcus Johannes Antonius Van Dongen, Peter Marie Paulus, Johan Jan Barend Pek, David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20090229276Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the regasification of liquefied natural gas, the method at least comprising the steps of: a) removing liquefied natural gas (10) from a storage tank (2) using a first pump unit (3); b) passing the removed liquefied natural gas (20) to and feeding it into a second pump unit (4) at an inlet pressure; c) increasing the pressure of the liquefied natural gas in the second pump unit (4) thereby obtaining pressurized liquefied natural gas (50); d) vaporizing the pressurized liquefied natural gas (50) thereby obtaining gaseous natural gas (60); wherein the second pump unit (4) discharges the pressurized liquefied natural gas (50) at a pre-selected pressure value, regardless of the inlet pressure at the second pump unit (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2007Publication date: September 17, 2009Inventors: Marc Alexander Rieder, David Bertil Runbalk, Alexander Emanuel Maria Straver
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Publication number: 20090205365Abstract: The present invention provides a method of natural gas, the method at least comprising the steps of: (a) providing a natural gas stream (10) at a first location (2); (b) treating the natural gas stream (10) in the first location (2) thereby obtaining a treated natural gas stream (20), wherein the treated natural gas stream comprises in the range of from 70 to 100 mole % of methane; (c) transporting the treated natural gas stream (20) via a pipeline (4) over a distance of at least 2 km to a second location (3); (d) liquefying the treated natural gas stream (20) at the second location (3) thereby obtaining liquefied hydrocarbon product (50) at atmospheric pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2007Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: Michiel Gijsbert Van Aken, Marcus Johannes Antonius Van Dongen, Peter Marie Paulus, Johan Jan Barend Pek, David Bertil Runbalk
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Patent number: 7568363Abstract: A process for treating a crude containing natural gas comprising supplying the crude to a stabilization unit to obtain a gaseous stream and crude oil; supplying a compressed, gaseous stream at a low temperature to the bottom of a first column; partly condensing the first gaseous overhead stream, returning the liquid phase to the first column and supplying the methane-rich stream to a liquefaction plant; supplying an expanded bottom stream at a low temperature to the top of a second column; removing from the top of the second column a second gaseous overhead stream, and removing from the bottom of the second column a liquid bottom stream; vaporizing part of the bottom stream and introducing the vapor into the bottom of the second column; and introducing the remainder of the bottom stream into a crude oil stream at an appropriate point in or upstream of the stabilization unit, wherein the amount of heat removed from the first gaseous overhead stream is so adjusted that the concentration of C5+ in the first gaseType: GrantFiled: November 19, 2007Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: David Bertil Runbalk
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Patent number: 7309417Abstract: A process for treating a crude containing natural gas comprising supplying the crude to a stabilization unit to obtain a gaseous stream and crude oil; supplying a compressed, gaseous stream at a low temperature to the bottom of a first column; partly condensing the first gaseous overhead stream, returning the liquid phase to the first column and supplying the methane-rich stream to a liquefaction plant; supplying an expanded bottom stream at a low temperature to the top of a second column; removing from the top of the second column second gaseous overhead stream, and removing from the bottom of the second column a liquid bottom stream; vaporizing part of the bottom stream and introducing the vapor into the bottom of the second column; and introducing the remainder of the bottom stream into a crude oil stream at an appropriate point in or upstream of the stabilization unit, wherein the amount of heat removed from the first gaseous overhead stream is so adjusted that the concentration of C5+ in the first gaseouType: GrantFiled: September 13, 2002Date of Patent: December 18, 2007Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20040238412Abstract: A process for treating a crude containing natural gas comprising supplying the crude to a stabilization unit to obtain a gaseous stream and crude oil; supplying a compressed, gaseous stream at a low temperature to the bottom of a first column; partly condensing the first gaseous overhead stream, returning the liquid phase to the first column and supplying the methane-rich stream to a liquefaction plant; supplying an expanded bottom stream at a low temperature to the top of a second column; removing from the top of the second column second gaseous overhead stream, and removing from the bottom of the second column a liquid bottom stream; vaporizing part of the bottom stream and introducing the vapour into the bottom of the second column; and introducing the remainder of the bottom stream into a crude oil stream at an appropriate point in or upstream of the stabilization unit, wherein the amount of heat removed from the first gaseous overhead stream is so adjusted that the concentration of C5+ in the firstType: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventor: David Bertil Runbalk
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Patent number: 6658891Abstract: Plant for liquefying natural gas comprising a main heat exchanger in which the natural gas is liquefied by means of indirect heat exchange with evaporating refrigerant, and a refrigerant circuit in which evaporated refrigerant is compressed and liquefied to produce liquid refrigerant that is used in the main heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a compressor train consisting of at least one compressor driven by an electric motor.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Shell Research LimitedInventors: Duncan Peter Michael Reijnen, David Bertil Runbalk
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Publication number: 20020170312Abstract: Plant (1) for liquefying natural gas comprising a main heat exchanger (10) in which the natural gas (5) is liquefied by means of indirect heat exchange with evaporating refrigerant, and a refrigerant circuit (20) in which evaporated refrigerant is compressed (23a, 23b) and liquefied to produce liquid refrigerant that is used in the main heat exchanger (10), wherein the refrigerant circuit (20) includes a compressor train (23a, 23b) consisting of at least one compressor (65a-67b) driven by an electric motor (83a, 83b).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2002Publication date: November 21, 2002Inventors: Duncan Peter Michael Reijnen, David Bertil Runbalk