Patents by Inventor Donald J. Victory
Donald J. Victory 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: 11229874Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively removing hydrogen sulfide from a feed gas stream. The systems include an absorber-heat exchanger (ABHEX) assembly configured to exchange thermal energy between a mixed stream and a thermal management fluid stream. The ABHEX assembly defines a mixed stream volume and a thermal management fluid stream volume. The ABHEX assembly includes an isolation structure that maintains fluid separation between the mixed stream and the thermal management fluid stream and facilitates thermal communication between the mixed stream and the thermal management fluid stream. The ABHEX assembly is configured to receive and to mix the feed gas stream and a lean solvent stream to generate the mixed stream, to separate the mixed stream into a product gas stream and a rich solvent stream, and to cool the mixed stream. The methods include methods of operating the systems.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Donald J. Victory, Suhas P. Mondkar, P. Scott Northrop, Jenny P. Seagraves
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Patent number: 11105553Abstract: A drive system for liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. A standardized machinery string consisting of a multi-shaft gas turbine with no more than three compressor bodies, where the compressor bodies are applied to one or more refrigerant compressors employed in one or more refrigerant cycles (e.g., single mixed refrigerant, propane precooled mixed refrigerant, dual mixed refrigerant). The standardized machinery strings and associated standardized refrigerators are designed for a generic range of feed gas composition and ambient temperature conditions and are installed in opportunistic liquefaction plants without substantial reengineering and modifications. The approach captures D1BM (“Design 1 Build Many) cost and schedule efficiencies by allowing for broader variability in liquefaction efficiency with location and feed gas composition.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Donald J. Victory, Sorin T. Lupascu, Kary E. Saleeby, O. Angus Sites
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Patent number: 10551117Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). A natural gas stream is transported to a liquefaction vessel. The natural gas stream is liquefied on the liquefaction vessel using at least one heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the natural gas stream and a liquid nitrogen stream to at least partially vaporize the liquefied nitrogen stream, thereby forming a warmed nitrogen gas stream and an at least partially condensed natural gas stream comprising LNG. The liquefaction vessel includes at least one tank that only stores liquid nitrogen and at least one tank that only stores LNG.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Fritz Pierre, Jr., Donald J. Victory
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Publication number: 20200023302Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively removing hydrogen sulfide from a feed gas stream. The systems include an absorber-heat exchanger (ABHEX) assembly configured to exchange thermal energy between a mixed stream and a thermal management fluid stream. The ABHEX assembly defines a mixed stream volume and a thermal management fluid stream volume. The ABHEX assembly includes an isolation structure that maintains fluid separation between the mixed stream and the thermal management fluid stream and facilitates thermal communication between the mixed stream and the thermal management fluid stream. The ABHEX assembly is configured to receive and to mix the feed gas stream and a lean solvent stream to generate the mixed stream, to separate the mixed stream into a product gas stream and a rich solvent stream, and to cool the mixed stream. The methods include methods of operating the systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: Donald J. VICTORY, Suhas P. MONDKAR, P. Scott NORTHROP, Jenny P. SEAGRAVES
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Patent number: 10393015Abstract: Methods and systems for treating a compressed gas stream. The compressed gas stream is cooled and liquids are removed therefrom to form a dry gas stream, which is chilled in a first heat exchanger. Liquids are separated therefrom, thereby producing a cold vapor stream and a liquids stream. A first part of the cold vapor stream is expanded to produce a cold two-phase fluid stream, and a second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled to form a cooled reflux stream. Various streams are fed into a separation column to produce a cold fuel gas stream and a low temperature liquids stream. The second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled by the cold fuel gas stream, which becomes a warmed fuel gas stream that is compressed and used with the low-temperature liquids stream to chill the dry gas stream and to cool the compressed gas stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Donald J. Victory, Robert D. Denton
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Publication number: 20190063825Abstract: A drive system for liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. A standardized machinery string consisting of a multi-shaft gas turbine with no more than three compressor bodies, where the compressor bodies are applied to one or more refrigerant compressors employed in one or more refrigerant cycles (e.g., single mixed refrigerant, propane precooled mixed refrigerant, dual mixed refrigerant). The standardized machinery strings and associated standardized refrigerators are designed for a generic range of feed gas composition and ambient temperature conditions and are installed in opportunistic liquefaction plants without substantial reengineering and modifications. The approach captures D1BM (“Design 1 Build Many) cost and schedule efficiencies by allowing for broader variability in liquefaction efficiency with location and feed gas composition.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Donald J. Victory, Sorin T. Lupascu, Kary E. Saleeby, O. Angus Sites
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Publication number: 20180016977Abstract: Methods and systems for treating a compressed gas stream. The compressed gas stream is cooled and liquids are removed therefrom to form a dry gas stream, which is chilled in a first heat exchanger. Liquids are separated therefrom, thereby producing a cold vapor stream and a liquids stream. A first part of the cold vapor stream is expanded to produce a cold two-phase fluid stream, and a second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled to form a cooled reflux stream. Various streams are fed into a separation column to produce a cold fuel gas stream and a low temperature liquids stream. The second part of the cold vapor stream is cooled by the cold fuel gas stream, which becomes a warmed fuel gas stream that is compressed and used with the low-temperature liquids stream to chill the dry gas stream and to cool the compressed gas stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Ananda K. Nagavarapu, Donald J. Victory, Robert D. Denton
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Publication number: 20170167787Abstract: A method for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). A natural gas stream is transported to a liquefaction vessel. The natural gas stream is liquefied on the liquefaction vessel using at least one heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the natural gas stream and a liquid nitrogen stream to at least partially vaporize the liquefied nitrogen stream, thereby forming a warmed nitrogen gas stream and an at least partially condensed natural gas stream comprising LNG. The liquefaction vessel includes at least one tank that only stores liquid nitrogen and at least one tank that only stores LNG.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2016Publication date: June 15, 2017Inventors: Fritz PIERRE, JR., Donald J. Victory
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Publication number: 20160186549Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are disclosed herein for separating well fluids into gaseous and liquid components using a single vessel that achieves multiple stages of separation. In one example embodiment, a system for separating a fluid mixture into different components is disclosed. The system comprises a separator. The separator comprises a first inlet configured to receive a stream of the fluid mixture, a first stage separation section configured to provide a first stage of separation to separate the stream into a first liquid, a second liquid, and a gas at a first temperature, and a second stage separation section in fluid communication with the first stage separation section such that the first stage and the second stage separation sections operate at substantially the same pressure. The second stage separation section is configured to provide a second stage of separation to further separate the second liquid at a second temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2015Publication date: June 30, 2016Inventors: Donald J. VICTORY, Nicholas F. Urbanski
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Patent number: 7350359Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fueling gas turbines from natural gas reserves with relatively low methane concentrations. The invention uses such reserves to generate electric power. The invention permits the use of these reserves at significantly lower cost than by producing pipeline natural gas to fuel gas turbines to generate electric power. These reserves currently generally are used only after the removal of impurities to produce pipeline natural gas quality turbine fuel. The latter current technology is capital intensive, and at current natural gas prices, economically unattractive. The process of the invention can remove the impurities from the gas from the natural gas reserve necessary for protection of the environment and leaves inert gasses in the fuel in an amount which will increase the output of a gas turbine for the generation of power by about 5 to about 20%.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory
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Patent number: 6907737Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fueling gas turbines from natural gas reserves with relatively low methane concentrations. The invention uses such reserves to generate electric power. The invention permits the use of these reserves at significantly lower cost than by producing pipeline natural gas to fuel gas turbines to generate electric power. These reserves currently generally are used only after the removal of impurities to produce pipeline natural gas quality turbine fuel. The latter current technology is capital intensive, and at current natural gas prices, economically unattractive. The process of the invention can remove the impurities from the gas from the natural gas reserve necessary for protection of the environment, and leaves inert gasses in the fuel in an amount which will increase the output of a gas turbine for the generation of power by about 5 to about 20%.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2003Date of Patent: June 21, 2005Assignee: Exxon Mobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory
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Publication number: 20040206065Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fueling gas turbines from natural gas reserves with relatively low methane concentrations. The invention uses such reserves to generate electric power. The invention permits the use of these reserves at significantly lower cost than by producing pipeline natural gas to fuel gas turbines to generate electric power. These reserves currently generally are used only after the removal of impurities to produce pipeline natural gas quality turbine fuel. The latter current technology is capital intensive, and at current natural gas prices, economically unattractive. The process of the invention can remove the impurities from the gas from the natural gas reserve necessary for protection of the environment, and leaves inert gasses in the fuel in an amount which will increase the output of a gas turbine for the generation of power by about 5 to about 20%.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2003Publication date: October 21, 2004Inventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory
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Patent number: 6755251Abstract: The invention is a method and system of separating a multi-component fluid in a wellbore. At least one fluid separation membrane comprising a feed side and a permeate side is incorporated in the wellbore. A flowing stream of the multi-component fluid obtained from a subterranean zone being in fluid communication with the wellbore is passed across the feed side of the membrane at a first pressure. A retentate stream depleted in at least one component compared to the multi-component fluid is withdrawn from the feed side of the membrane and passed to the earth's surface. A permeate stream at a second pressure is withdrawn from the permeate side, in which the permeate stream is enriched in at least one component compared with the multi-component fluid. The second pressure is controlled to maintain the second pressure below the first pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Eugene R. Thomas, Thomas A. Paulley, Donald J. Victory, Harry W. Deckman
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Patent number: 6684644Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fueling gas turbines from natural gas reserves with relatively low methane concentrations. The invention uses such reserves to generate electric power. The invention permits the use of these reserves at significantly lower cost than by producing pipeline natural gas to fuel gas turbines to generate electric power. These reserves currently generally are used only after the removal of impurities to produce pipeline natural gas quality turbine fuel. The latter current technology is capital intensive, and at current natural gas prices, economically unattractive. The process of the invention can remove the impurities from the gas from the natural gas reserve necessary for protection of the environment, and leaves inert gasses in the fuel in an amount which will increase the output of a gas turbine for the generation of power by about 5 to about 20%.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory
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Patent number: 6632266Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating one or more components from a multi-component gas stream comprising at least one non-acid gas component and at least one acid gas component. A multi-component gas stream at a pressure above 1,200 psia (82.8 bar) and a temperature above 120° F. (48.9° C.) with the concentration of at least one acid gas component in the gas stream being at least 20 mole percent is passed to a membrane system that selectively separates at least one acid gas component from the multi-component gas stream as a permeate stream. The permeate stream has a pressure at least 20% of the pressure of the feed pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2002Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research CompanyInventors: Eugene R. Thomas, Harry W. Deckman, Donald J. Victory, Ronald R. Chance, Russell H. Oelfke
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Publication number: 20030131726Abstract: The invention relates to a method of separating one or more components from a multi-component gas stream comprising at least one non-acid gas component and at least one acid gas component. A multi-component gas stream at a pressure above 1,200 psia (82.8 bar) and a temperature above 120° F. (48.9° C.) with the concentration of at least one acid gas component in the gas stream being at least 20 mole percent is passed to a membrane system that selectively separates at least one acid gas component from the multi-component gas stream as a permeate stream. The permeate stream has a pressure of at least 20% of the pressure of the feed pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: July 17, 2003Applicant: EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANYInventors: Eugene R. Thomas, Harry W. Deckman, Donald J. Victory, Ronald R. Chance, Russell H. Oelfke
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Publication number: 20030084668Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fueling gas turbines from natural gas reserves with relatively low methane concentrations. The invention uses such reserves to generate electric power. The invention permits the use of these reserves at significantly lower cost than by producing pipeline natural gas to fuel gas turbines to generate electric power. These reserves currently generally are used only after the removal of impurities to produce pipeline natural gas quality turbine fuel. The latter current technology is capital intensive, and at current natural gas prices, economically unattractive. The process of the invention can remove the impurities from the gas from the natural gas reserve necessary for protection of the environment, and leaves inert gasses in the fuel in an amount which will increase the output of a gas turbine for the generation of power by about 5 to about 20%.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory
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Publication number: 20030047310Abstract: The invention is a method and system of separating a multi-component fluid in a wellbore. At least one fluid separation membrane comprising a feed side and a permeate side is incorporated in the wellbore. A flowing stream of the multi-component fluid obtained from a subterranean zone being in fluid communication with the wellbore is passed across the feed side of the membrane at a first pressure. A retentate stream depleted in at least one component compared to the multi-component fluid is withdrawn from the feed side of the membrane and passed to the earth's surface. A permeate stream at a second pressure is withdrawn from the permeate side, in which the permeate stream is enriched in at least one component compared with the multi-component fluid. The second pressure is controlled to maintain the second pressure below the first pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANYInventors: Eugene R. Thomas, Thomas A. Paulley, Donald J. Victory, Harry W. Deckman
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Patent number: 6523351Abstract: A method of fueling a gas turbine with methane gas originating from low-methane (40%-80%) natural gas comprising the following steps: 1) blending inert gas and a natural gas stream, 2) removing at least one acid from the blend, 3) hydrating the blend, 4) converting part of the methane to hydrogen, 5) dehydrating the blend obtained in step (4) for ultimately obtaining a dehydrated hydrogen enhanced inert gas/methane gas/hydrogen gas blend, and 5) fueling a gas turbine with the blend obtained in step (5).Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory
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Publication number: 20020014068Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of fueling gas turbines from natural gas reserves with relatively low methane concentrations. The invention uses such reserves to generate electric power. The invention permits the use of these reserves at significantly lower cost than by producing pipeline natural gas to fuel gas turbines to generate electric power. These reserves currently generally are used only after the removal of impurities to produce pipeline natural gas quality turbine fuel. The latter current technology is capital intensive, and at current natural gas prices, economically unattractive. The process of the invention can remove the impurities from the gas from the natural gas reserve necessary for protection of the environment, and leaves inert gasses in the fuel in an amount which will increase the output of a gas turbine for the generation of power by about 5 to about 20%.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2001Publication date: February 7, 2002Inventors: Frank F. Mittricker, Donald J. Victory