Patents by Inventor Errico De Francesco

Errico De Francesco 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: 8479814
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Errico De Francesco
  • Publication number: 20120273204
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Errico DE FRANCESCO
  • Patent number: 8210259
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Errico De Francesco
  • Patent number: 7866389
    Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas, oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas, injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons, purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas, and injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Errico De Francesco, Pietro Di Zanno, Denis Cieutat, Guillaume De-Smedt
  • Patent number: 7703519
    Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen and extracting heavy oil from underground reserves is provided. This method includes providing a carbon monoxide source stream and a water vapor stream to a first reactor, wherein the first reactor comprises a water shift reactor and a membrane-type separation device. This method also includes separating the products of the water shift reactor, thereby producing at least a hydrogen-rich stream, and a high pressure off-gas stream. This method also includes providing the high pressure off-gas stream and an oxidant stream to a combustion chamber. This method also includes combusting the oxidant stream and the high pressure off-gas stream as at least part of a combustion cycle thereby producing a hot injection gas stream. This method also includes combining the hot injection gas stream with a liquid water stream, wherein the combined stream may be used to heat the underground reserve sufficiently to release petroleum hydrocarbons therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Errico De Francesco
  • Publication number: 20090266540
    Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Errico De Francesco
  • Publication number: 20090194278
    Abstract: An in situ combustion process is utilized to extract hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil formation. The process includes injecting a foaming agent solution into the formation via an injection well that penetrates the oil formation, injecting an oxygen containing gas into the formation via the injection well and facilitating a combustion reaction between oxygen and hydrocarbons within the formation. The combustion gases formed by the combustion reaction force the flow of hydrocarbons within the formation. Hydrocarbons that are displaced within the formation are extracted from the formation via a production well that penetrates the formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et l'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Errico De Francesco
  • Publication number: 20080289820
    Abstract: A method of producing hydrogen and extracting heavy oil from underground reserves is provided. This method includes providing a carbon monoxide source stream and a water vapor stream to a first reactor, wherein the first reactor comprises a water shift reactor and a membrane-type separation device. This method also includes separating the products of the water shift reactor, thereby producing at least a hydrogen-rich stream, and a high pressure off-gas stream. This method also includes providing the high pressure off-gas stream and an oxidant stream to a combustion chamber. This method also includes combusting the oxidant stream and the high pressure off-gas stream as at least part of a combustion cycle thereby producing a hot injection gas stream. This method also includes combining the hot injection gas stream with a liquid water stream, wherein the combined stream may be used to heat the underground reserve sufficiently to release petroleum hydrocarbons therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exloitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Errico De Francesco
  • Publication number: 20080257543
    Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas, oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas, injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons, purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas, and injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Errico De Francesco, Pietro Di Zanno, Denis Cieutat, Guillaume De-Smedt