Patents by Inventor Donald P. Shatto

Donald P. Shatto 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: 10876052
    Abstract: A hydrogen sulfide (H2S) scavenging system for removing H2S, mercaptans, and/or other sulfur-containing compounds from a natural gas stream. A co-current contacting system is located in-line within a pipe and receives the natural gas stream and a liquid scavenger stream. The co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor including a droplet generator and a mass transfer section. The droplet generator generates droplets from the liquid scavenger stream and disperses the droplets into the natural gas stream. The mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase includes the liquid scavenger stream with H2S, mercaptans, and/or other sulfur-containing compounds absorbed from the natural gas stream, and the vapor phase includes the natural gas stream. A separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Shwetha Ramkumar, Donald P. Shatto, P. Scott Northrop, Sean T. Philbrook
  • Publication number: 20180362858
    Abstract: A hydrogen sulfide (H2S) scavenging system for removing H2S, mercaptans, and/or other sulfur-containing compounds from a natural gas stream. A co-current contacting system is located in-line within a pipe and receives the natural gas stream and a liquid scavenger stream. The co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor including a droplet generator and a mass transfer section. The droplet generator generates droplets from the liquid scavenger stream and disperses the droplets into the natural gas stream. The mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase includes the liquid scavenger stream with H2S, mercaptans, and/or other sulfur-containing compounds absorbed from the natural gas stream, and the vapor phase includes the natural gas stream. A separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Shwetha Ramkumar, Donald P. Shatto, P. Scott Northrop, Sean T. Philbrook
  • Publication number: 20170145803
    Abstract: Systems and methods for dehydrating a natural gas stream are provided herein. The system includes a lean solvent feed system, including a line from a topsides facility, wherein the line is configured to divide a lean solvent stream to feed lean solvent to each of a number of co-current contacting systems in parallel. The co-current contacting systems are placed in series along a wet natural gas stream, wherein each of the co-current contacting systems is configured to contact the lean solvent stream with the wet natural gas stream to adsorb at least a portion of the water from the wet natural gas stream to form a dry natural gas stream. A rich solvent return system includes a line to combine rich solvent from each of the plurality of co-current contacting systems and return a rich solvent stream to the topsides facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Norman K. Yeh, J. Tim Cullinane, Tracy A. Fowler, Shwetha Ramkumar, Donald P. Shatto
  • Publication number: 20170085064
    Abstract: Described herein is a local electrical room (LER) for use in an industrial facility such as an oil and gas facility. The LER includes one or more robots that perform functions on the electrical equipment enclosed therein. The LER is filled with a non-atmospheric fluid or gas and may be cooled and/or pressurized for optimal performance of the electrical equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Brandon CASSIMERE, Michael T. Matheidas, Donald P. Shatto
  • Patent number: 8430169
    Abstract: A method for managing hydrates in a subsea production system is provided. The production system includes a host production facility, a control umbilical, at least one subsea production well, and a single production line. The method generally comprises producing hydrocarbon fluids from the at least one subsea production well and through the production line, and then shutting in the production line. In addition, the method includes the steps of depressurizing the production line to substantially reduce a solution gas concentration in the produced hydrocarbon fluids, and then repressurizing the production line to urge any remaining gas in the free gas phase within the production line back into solution. The method also includes displacing production fluids within the production line by moving displacement fluids from a service line within the umbilical line and into the production line. The displacement fluids preferably comprise a hydrocarbon-based fluid having a low dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Richard F. Stoisits, David C. Lucas, Larry D. Talley, Donald P. Shatto, Jiyong Cai
  • Publication number: 20120255737
    Abstract: Provided are apparatus, systems, and methods for generating a non-plugging hydrate slurry. The apparatus, systems, and methods for generating a hydrate slurry are useful for transport and/or production of wellstream hydrocarbons in subsea and arctic environments. The present invention provides methods of seeded or unseeded methods of making dry hydrates. Dry hydrates are made with or without the aid of chemicals and, preferably, with minimum use of rotating or other energized equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Chad A. Broussard, Tracy A. Fowler, Donald P. Shatto, Douglas J. Turner, Larry D. Talley, Jason W. Lachance, David Greaves
  • Publication number: 20120216899
    Abstract: Provided are piggable static mixers, apparatus for generating a non-plugging hydrate slurry, systems incorporating the same, and methods of using the same. Piggable static mixers include an inlet orifice, an outlet orifice in fluid communication with the inlet orifice, and a mechanism fluidly coupled between the inlet and outlet orifices. The mechanism is configurable between a first state and a second state. Fluid flow between the inlet and outlet orifices is substantially unimpeded when the mechanism is in the first state. A static mixer element impinges upon the fluid flow when the mechanism is in the second state. The system further includes a production facility and a production line. The system and methods provided are useful for production of wellstream hydrocarbons from subsea and arctic environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Chad A. Broussard, Tracy A. FOWLER, Donald P. SHATTO, Douglas J. TURNER, Larry D. TALLEY, Jason LACHANCE, David GREAVIS
  • Publication number: 20100193194
    Abstract: A method for managing hydrates in a subsea production system is provided. The production system includes a host production facility, a control umbilical, at least one subsea production well, and a single production line. The method generally comprises producing hydrocarbon fluids from the at least one subsea production well and through the production line, and then shutting in the production line. In addition, the method includes the steps of depressurizing the production line to substantially reduce a solution gas concentration in the produced hydrocarbon fluids, and then repressurizing the production line to urge any remaining gas in the free gas phase within the production line back into solution. The method also includes displacing production fluids within the production line by moving displacement fluids from a service line within the umbilical line and into the production line. The displacement fluids preferably comprise a hydrocarbon-based fluid having a low dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Richard F. Stoisits, David C. Lucas, Larry D. Talley, Donald P. Shatto, Jiyong Cai