Patents by Inventor James R. Rigby

James R. Rigby 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: 6672104
    Abstract: A process is provided for converting a boil-off stream comprising methane to a liquid having a preselected bubble point temperature. The boil-off stream is pressurized, then cooled, and then expanded to further cool and at least partially liquefy the boil-off stream. The preselected bubble point temperature of the resulting pressurized liquid is obtained by performing at least one of the following steps: before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, removing from the boil-off stream a predetermined amount of one or more components, such as nitrogen, having a vapor pressure greater than the vapor pressure of methane, and before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, adding to the boil-off stream one or more additives having a molecular weight heavier than the molecular weight of methane and having a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of methane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: E. Lawrence Kimble, Ronald R. Bowen, James R. Rigby
  • Publication number: 20030182947
    Abstract: A process is provided for converting a boil-off stream comprising methane to a liquid having a preselected bubble point temperature. The boil-off stream is pressurized, then cooled, and then expanded to further cool and at least partially liquefy the boil-off stream. The preselected bubble point temperature of the resulting pressurized liquid is obtained by performing at least one of the following steps: before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, removing from the boil-off stream a predetermined amount of one or more components, such as nitrogen, having a vapor pressure greater than the vapor pressure of methane, and before, during, or after the process of liquefying the boil-off stream, adding to the boil-off stream one or more additives having a molecular weight heavier than the molecular weight of methane and having a vapor pressure less than the vapor pressure of methane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: E. Lawrence Kimble, Ronald R. Bowen, James R. Rigby
  • Patent number: 6560988
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering pressurized liquefied natural gas to an import terminal equipped with containers and vaporization facilities suitable for conventional LNG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: E. Lawrence Kimble, James R. Rigby, Ronald R. Bowen
  • Patent number: 6539747
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a pressurized multi-component liquid from a pressurized, multi-component stream, such as natural gas, which contains C5+ components and at least one component of C1, C2, C3, or C4. The process selectively removes from the multi-component stream one or more of the C5+ components that would be expected to crystallize at the selected temperature and pressure of the pressurized multi-component liquid product and leaves in the multi-component stream at least one C5+ component. The multi-component stream is then liquefied to produce a pressurized liquid substantially free of crystallized C5+ components. The removal of the C5+ components can be by selective fractionation or crystallization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Moses Minta, Ronald R. Bowen, James R. Rigby
  • Publication number: 20030014981
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for delivering pressurized liquefied natural gas to an import terminal equipped with containers and vaporization facilities suitable for conventional LNG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 23, 2003
    Inventors: E. Lawrence Kimble, James R. Rigby, Ronald R. Bowen
  • Publication number: 20020088249
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process of manufacturing a pressurized multi-component liquid from a pressurized, multi-component stream, such as natural gas, which contains C5+ components and at least one component of C1, C2, C3, or C4. The process selectively removes from the multi-component stream one or more of the C5+ components that would be expected to crystallize at the selected temperature and pressure of the pressurized multi-component liquid product and leaves in the multi-component stream at least one C5+ component. The multi-component stream is then liquefied to produce a pressurized liquid substantially free of crystallized C5+ components. The removal of the C5+ components can be by selective fractionation or crystallization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventors: Moses Minta, Ronald R. Bowen, James R. Rigby
  • Patent number: 6237347
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for loading pressurized liquefied natural gas (PLNG) into a plurality of containers containing pressurized vapor, wherein the containers are loaded in succession. The containers may be onshore or onboard a ship or other ocean transporting vessel. As a first step, the liquefied gas is introduced into the containers, thereby discharging the vapor therefrom. Vapor discharged from the containers is passed to auxiliary storage tanks comprising a first tank and a second tank. Vapor from at least one of the tanks is withdrawn and passed to a vapor utilization means such as a liquefaction plant for liquefaction of the vapor or to an engine or turbine for use of the vapor as fuel. Fluid flow to and from the first and second tanks is regulated to assure that the total flow rate of vapor to the vapor utilization means remains at a relatively constant flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: James R. Rigby, Brandon T. Stone
  • Patent number: 6212891
    Abstract: Process components, containers, and pipes are provided that are constructed from ultra-high strength, low alloy steels containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having tensile strengths greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and DBTTs lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Moses Minta, Lonny R. Kelley, Bruce T. Kelley, E. Lawrence Kimble, James R. Rigby, Robert E. Steele
  • Patent number: 6203631
    Abstract: Pipeline distribution network systems arc provided for transporting pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about −123° C. (−190° F.) to about −62° C. (−80° F.). Pipes and other components of the pipeline distribution network systems are constructed from an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about −73° C. (−100° F.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Ronald R. Bowen, Moses Minta, James R. Rigby
  • Patent number: 6112528
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for unloading a plurality of containers having pressurized liquefied gas contained therein. A pressurized displacement gas is fed to a first container or group of containers to discharge the liquefied gas therefrom. The displacement gas is then withdrawn from the first container or group and it is separated into a first vapor stream and a second vapor stream. The first vapor stream is heated and passed to the first container or group. The second vapor stream is fed to a second container or group to discharge liquefied gas therefrom. Communication between the first container or group and the second container or group is severed and the foregoing steps are repeated for all of the containers in succession, with only the last container or group emptied of liquid remaining at the pressure of the displacement gas, and all of the containers at the end of the process except the last container or group being filled with a lower pressure vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventor: James R. Rigby