Patents by Inventor Hyouk Choi

Hyouk Choi 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: 11149218
    Abstract: A method for producing a supercritical water (SCW)-treated product is provided. The method comprising the steps of introducing a crude oil stream and a water stream to a supercritical water process, wherein the crude oil stream can undergo conversion reactions to produce the supercritical water (SCW)-treated product, wherein the SCW-treated product includes an increased paraffin concentration as compared to crude oil stream. The method further includes the step of introducing the SCW-treated product to a steam cracking process, wherein the SCW-treated product can undergo conversion reactions to produce furnace effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Abdullah T. Alabdulhadi, Gonzalo Feijoo Martinez, Ali M. Alsomali, Mohammad A. Alabdullah, Essam A. Al-Sayed
  • Patent number: 11149213
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system and method for producing light olefins from a crude oil. A crude oil feed is introduced to a crude distillation unit to produce a distillate fraction and a residue fraction. The distillate fraction is introduced to a non-catalytic steam cracker to produce a light olefin fraction and a pyrolysis oil fraction. The residue fraction is introduced to a supercritical water reactor to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a flash separator to produce a gas phase fraction and a liquid phase fraction. The gas phase fraction is introduced to a catalytic steam cracker to produce a light olefin fraction and a pyrolysis oil fraction. Optionally, the residue fraction is introduced to a vacuum distillation unit to produce a light vacuum gasoil fraction, a heavy vacuum gasoil fraction, and a vacuum residue fraction. The vacuum residue fraction is introduced to a solvent deasphalting unit to produce a deasphalted oil and a pitch fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Ali S. Alnasir, Emad N. Shafei
  • Patent number: 11149216
    Abstract: An integrated hydrothermal process for upgrading heavy oil includes the steps of mixing a heated water stream and a heated feed in a mixer to produce a mixed fluid, introducing the mixed stream to a reactor unit to produce a reactor effluent that includes light fractions, heavy fractions, and water, cooling the reactor effluent in a cooling device to produce a cooled fluid, depressurizing the cooled fluid in a depressurizing device to produce a depressurized fluid, introducing the depressurized fluid to a flash drum configured to separate the depressurized fluid into a light fraction stream and a heavy fraction stream. The light fraction stream includes the light fractions and water and the heavy fraction stream includes the heavy fractions and water. The process further includes the step of introducing the heavy fraction stream to an aqueous reforming unit that includes a catalyst to produce an aqueous reforming outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Mazin M. Fathi, Bader M. Alotaibi, Ali S. Al-Nasir
  • Publication number: 20210301212
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for producing light olefins from a hydrocarbon feed. The hydrocarbon feed and a water feed are introduced to a reactor to produce an effluent stream. The reactor is operated at a temperature and pressure such that cracking reactions occur in the reactor. The reactor includes a catalyst bed including a nanoscale zeolite catalyst having a crystal size ranging between 10 nm and 300 nm. The effluent stream includes the light olefins. The effluent stream is introduced to a first separator to produce a gas phase fraction and a liquid phase fraction. The gas phase fraction includes the light olefins. The liquid phase fraction is introduced to a second separator to produce a liquid hydrocarbon stream and a spent water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Emad Naji AL-SHAFEI, Mohammed Z. AL-BAHAR, Ali Nader AL-JISHI, Ki-Hyouk CHOI, Mohammad F. AL-JISHI, Ali S. AL-NASIR
  • Patent number: 11124707
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system for recycling a plastic material to produce hydrocarbons. A plastic feed and a water feed are introduced to a first stage reactor. The first stage reactor is operated at a pressure equal to or greater than 22.06 MPa and a temperature equal to or greater than 373.9 deg. C. to produce an effluent stream. Residual solid components can be removed from the effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a second stage reactor. The second stage reactor is operated at a pressure less than that of the first stage reactor but equal to or greater than 22.06 MPa and a temperature greater than that of the first stage reactor to produce a product stream. The plastic feed can include polyolefins. Optionally, a sulfur additive feed can be introduced either to the first stage reactor or the second stage reactor. Optionally, a residual oil feed can be introduced either to the first stage reactor or the second stage reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Ali S. Alnasir, Mohammed Z. Albahar
  • Patent number: 11118439
    Abstract: A process directed toward enhanced oil recovery in an oil-containing formation, the process comprising the steps of removing a water/oil emulsion from an oil-water separator, wherein the water/oil emulsion comprises a stable emulsion, wherein a temperature of the water/oil emulsion is less than 120 deg C., wherein a pressure of the water/oil emulsion is greater than the saturation pressure at the temperature of the water/oil emulsion, wherein the water/oil emulsion comprises an alkali content, and introducing the water/oil emulsion into the oil-containing formation as an enhanced oil recovery stream, wherein the enhanced oil recovery stream is used in enhanced oil recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Mazin M. Fathi, Ki-Hyouk Choi, Muneef F. AlQarzouh
  • Patent number: 11118121
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an aqueous reforming system and a method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon feed and a surfactant stream are combined to produce a first precursor stream. The first precursor stream and an alkali feed are combined to produce a second precursor stream. The second precursor stream and a transition metal feed are combined to produce a catalytic emulsion stream. The catalytic emulsion stream is heated to produce a catalytic suspension and a decomposition gas, where the decomposition gas is separated by a first separator. The catalytic suspension is combined with a preheated water stream to produce an aqueous reformer feed. The aqueous reformer feed is introduced to an aqueous reformer such that the heavy hydrocarbons undergo conversion reactions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a second separator to produce a heavy stream and a light stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventors: Mazin M. Fathi, Ki-Hyouk Choi, Mohammed R. Aldossary
  • Patent number: 11090643
    Abstract: Systems and methods for production of externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals, the method including mixing zeolite crystals with an organic pore blocking agent; heating the zeolite crystals mixed with the organic pore blocking agent to block internal pores of the zeolite crystals and produce internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals; mixing the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals with an external pore blocking agent; and calcining the internally-pore-blocked zeolite crystals mixed with the external pore blocking agent, to re-open internal pores via decomposition of the organic pore blocking agent and to block external pores via formation of a silica layer over external pores of the zeolite crystals, forming the externally-pore-blocked, internally-pore-opened modified zeolite crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Emad Naji Al-Shafei, Oki Muraza, Ki-Hyouk Choi, Ali Al-Nasir, Zain Hassan Yamani, Idris Akolade Bakare, Mohammad Al-Abdullah
  • Publication number: 20210230488
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and system for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A heavy hydrocarbon feed and a non-saline water feed are introduced to a first stage reactor. The first stage reactor is operated under supercritical water conditions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream and a saline water feed are combined to produce a mixed stream, where the saline water feed includes an alkali or alkaline earth metal compound. The mixed stream is introduced to a second stage reactor. The second stage reactor is operated under supercritical water conditions to produce a product stream including upgrading hydrocarbons. The second stage reactor is operated at a temperature less than that of the first stage reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk CHOI, Faisal M. ALMULLA
  • Publication number: 20210222074
    Abstract: A method for producing a diesel having improved cold flow properties, the method comprising the steps of introducing a crude oil to a distillation column, separating the crude oil in the distillation unit to produce a light gas oil, and a light vacuum gas oil, where the light gas oil has a T95% cut point in the range between 300 deg C. and 340 deg C., where the light vacuum gas oil has a T95% cut point in the range between 400 deg C. and 430 deg C., processing the light vacuum gas oil in the supercritical water unit to produce an upgraded vacuum gas oil, separating the upgraded vacuum gas oil in the fractionator to produce an upgraded light fraction, an upgraded light gas oil, and upgraded heavy fraction, introducing the upgraded light gas oil into a diesel pool, and blending the light gas oil into the diesel pool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Vinod RAMASESHAN, Mohnnad H. ALABSI
  • Patent number: 11071045
    Abstract: A communication method of an electronic device may comprise: a step of wirelessly outputting an advertisement signal at predetermined time intervals when power is supplied; a step of acquiring access information of an access repeater from an external device while outputting the advertisement signal; a step of stopping the output of the advertisement signal and accessing the access repeater on the basis of the access information of the access repeater when the access information of the access repeater is acquired; and a step of stopping the output of the advertisement signal if an elapsed time after the power is supplied is greater than a predetermined reference time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Kyung Yang, Hyun Cheol Oh, Ji-Hyouk Choi
  • Patent number: 11066606
    Abstract: Systems and methods for upgrading a heavy oil feed to a light product comprising distillate fractions and olefins, the method including combining a heavy oil feed with a naphtha-based cracking additive to produce a mixed heavy oil feed; heating the mixed heavy oil feed with a nano-zeolite catalyst in the presence of steam to effect catalytic upgrading of the mixed heavy oil feed to produce lighter distillate fractions and olefins in an upgraded product, the upgraded product including at least about 30 wt. % olefins; and separating the lighter distillate fractions from the olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Emad Naji Al-Shafei, Mohamed Al-Bahar, Ali Nader Al-Jishi, Ki-Hyouk Choi, Ali Al-Nasir, Mohammad Al-Jishi
  • Patent number: 11066605
    Abstract: Systems and methods for upgrading a heavy oil feed to a light product comprising distillate fractions and olefins, the method including combining a heavy oil feed with a naphtha-based cracking additive to produce a mixed heavy oil feed; heating the mixed heavy oil feed with a nano-zeolite catalyst to effect catalytic upgrading of the mixed heavy oil feed to produce lighter distillate fractions and olefins in an upgraded product; and separating the lighter distillate fractions from the olefins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Emad Naji Al-Shafei, Mohamed Al-Bahar, Ali Nader Al-Jishi, Ki-Hyouk Choi, Mohammad Al-Jishi, Ali Al-Nasir
  • Publication number: 20210214620
    Abstract: A method of upgrading a petroleum feedstock, the method comprising the steps of introducing a disulfide oil, a water feed, and a petroleum feedstock to a supercritical water upgrading unit, and operating the supercritical water upgrading unit to produce a product gas stream, a product oil stream, and a used water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Emad N. Shafei, Mohammed Zuhair Albahar, Abdulaziz A. Ghabbani
  • Publication number: 20210198582
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure produce a method and system for deasphalting a hydrocarbon feed. The hydrocarbon feed and a first solvent is combined using a Taylor-Couette mixer to form a mixed stream. The mixed stream and a second solvent are introduced to an extractor to produce a first deasphalted oil stream and a pitch stream. The first deasphalted oil stream is introduced to a solvent recovery unit to recover the first solvent and the second solvent via a recovered solvent stream and to produce a second deasphalted oil stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammad F. ALJISHI, Ki-Hyouk CHOI
  • Publication number: 20210198585
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system and method for producing light olefins from a crude oil. A crude oil feed is introduced to a crude distillation unit to produce a distillate fraction and a residue fraction. The distillate fraction is introduced to a non-catalytic steam cracker to produce a light olefin fraction and a pyrolysis oil fraction. The residue fraction is introduced to a supercritical water reactor to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a flash separator to produce a gas phase fraction and a liquid phase fraction. The gas phase fraction is introduced to a catalytic steam cracker to produce a light olefin fraction and a pyrolysis oil fraction. Optionally, the residue fraction is introduced to a vacuum distillation unit to produce a light vacuum gasoil fraction, a heavy vacuum gasoil fraction, and a vacuum residue fraction. The vacuum residue fraction is introduced to a solvent deasphalting unit to produce a deasphalted oil and a pitch fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk CHOI, Ali S. ALNASIR, Emad N. SHAFEI
  • Patent number: 11046624
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system and method for producing a linear alpha olefin. A disulfide, a hydrogen donating compound, and water are combined to produce a mixture. The mixture is introduced to a reactor operated at a pressure equal to or greater than 22.06 MPa and a temperature equal to or greater than 374 deg. C. to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is separated to produce a product stream including the linear alpha olefin. The disulfide can be a compound of formula R—S—S—R? where R is a first alkyl group having carbon atoms ranging from 1 to 12 and R? is a second alkyl group having carbon atoms ranging from 5 to 12. The hydrogen donating compound can include a partially hydrogenated multi-ring aromatic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Muneef F. Alqarzouh, Abdullah T. Alabdulhadi, Maddala V. Bhanumurthy
  • Publication number: 20210189264
    Abstract: A method for producing alkene gases from a cracked product effluent, the method comprising the steps of introducing the cracked product effluent to a fractionator unit, separating the cracked product effluent in the fractionator to produce a cracked light stream and a cracked residue stream, wherein the cracked light stream comprises the alkene gases selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, butylene, and combinations of the same, mixing the cracked residue stream and the heavy feed in the heavy mixer to produce a combined supercritical process feed, and upgrading the combined supercritical process feed in the supercritical water process to produce a supercritical water process (SWP)-treated light product and a SWP-treated heavy product, wherein the SWP-treated heavy product comprises reduced amounts of olefins and asphaltenes relative to the cracked residue stream such that the SWP-treated heavy product exhibits increased stability relative to the cracked residue stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk CHOI, Mazin M. FATHI, Muneef F. ALQARZOUH, Bandar K. ALOTAIBI
  • Publication number: 20210189261
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an aqueous reforming system and a method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon feed and a surfactant stream are combined to produce a first precursor stream. The first precursor stream and an alkali feed are combined to produce a second precursor stream. The second precursor stream and a transition metal feed are combined to produce a catalytic emulsion stream. The catalytic emulsion stream is heated to produce a catalytic suspension and a decomposition gas, where the decomposition gas is separated by a first separator. The catalytic suspension is combined with a preheated water stream to produce an aqueous reformer feed. The aqueous reformer feed is introduced to an aqueous reformer such that the heavy hydrocarbons undergo conversion reactions to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a second separator to produce a heavy stream and a light stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mazin M. FATHI, Ki-Hyouk CHOI, Mohammed R. ALDOSSARY
  • Publication number: 20210189263
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a visbreaking system and method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons. A heavy hydrocarbon feed is introduced to a furnace to produce a soaker feed stream. The soaker feed stream is introduced to a soaker to produce a soaker effluent stream. The soaker effluent stream is introduced to a fractionator to produce a visbreaker distillate stream and a visbreaker residue stream. The visbreaker residue stream and a water feed are introduced to a supercritical water reactor operated at supercritical conditions of water to produce an effluent stream. The effluent stream is introduced to a flash column to produce a gas phase stream including water and a liquid phase stream including water. A portion of the liquid phase stream and the heavy hydrocarbon feed is combined. Optionally, a portion of the gas phase stream and the heavy hydrocarbon feed is combined. Optionally, a portion of the gas phase stream is introduced to the fractionator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk CHOI, Mohnnad H. ALABSI, Muneef F. ALQARZOUH, Rakan S. MUBAYEDH, Sung Ho CHOI