Patents by Inventor Edward L. Kimble

Edward L. Kimble 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).

  • Publication number: 20120079852
    Abstract: A system for removing acid gases from a sour gas stream is provided. The system includes an acid gas removal system and a heavy hydrocarbon removal system. The acid gas removal system receives the sour gas stream and separates the sour gas stream into an overhead gas stream comprised primarily of methane, and a bottom acid gas stream comprised primarily of acid gases such as carbon dioxide. The heavy hydrocarbon removal system may be placed upstream or downstream of the acid gas removal system or both. The heavy hydrocarbon removal system receives a gas stream and separates the gas stream into a first fluid stream comprising heavy hydrocarbons and a second fluid stream comprising other components. The components of the second fluid stream will depend on the composition of the gas stream. Various types of heavy hydrocarbon removal systems may be utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Paul Scott Northrop, Edward L. Kimble, Charles J. Mart, Paul W. Sibal, Bruce T. Kelley
  • Publication number: 20120036890
    Abstract: Methods and systems for removing nitrogen from a natural gas feed stream. The systems and methods generally include a heat exchange unit, a separation unit, and a liquid methane pump unit, where the separation unit produces a liquid methane bottoms stream and a gaseous overhead stream enriched in nitrogen and the liquid methane pump unit compresses the liquid methane bottoms stream and then pumps the stream through the heat exchange unit to cool a natural gas feed stream. In some embodiments the liquid methane pump unit is a sleeve bearing type unit. Beneficially, the disclosed systems and methods incorporate high head pumps for liquid methane compression instead of vaporizing the liquid methane and compressing it in a gaseous compression units that are typically used for this purpose, saving space, materials, and power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Edward L Kimble, Peter C Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 7910629
    Abstract: The GTL process of the invention comprises: reacting a combustible carbonaceous material in a syngas reactor, preferably an autothermal reformer, under conditions to produce a synthesis gas; contacting the synthesis gas with an F-T catalyst to form liquid products and a tail gas; separating the tail gas from the liquid products; separating CO2 from the light products in the tail gas; recovering the light products as additional products for sale or other use and utilizing at least a portion of the separated CO2 as a feed stream to the syngas reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Moses K. Minta, Edward L. Kimble, Russ H. Oelfke, Eric D. Nelson, Ross Mowrey, Albrecht Goethe
  • Patent number: 6023942
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for liquefying a gas stream rich in methane and having a pressure above about 3103 kPa (450 psia). The gas stream is expanded to a lower pressure to produce a gas phase and a liquid product having a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid product to be at or below its bubble point. The gas phase and the liquid product are then phase separated in a suitable separator, and the liquid product is introduced to a storage means for storage at a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Eugene R. Thomas, Ronald R. Bowen, Eric T. Cole, Edward L. Kimble
  • Patent number: 5950453
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for liquefying a pressurized gas stream rich in methane in which the liquefication of the gas stream occurs in a heat exchanger being cooled by a closed-loop multi-component refrigeration system to produce a methane-rich liquid product having a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.) and a pressure sufficient for the liquid product to be at or below its bubble point. The liquefied gas product is then introduced to a storage means at a temperature above about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Ronald R. Bowen, Eric T. Cole, Edward L. Kimble, Eugene R. Thomas, Lonny R. Kelley