Patents by Inventor K. Michael Hardy

K. Michael Hardy 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: 11072746
    Abstract: A process is presented to treat a process stream containing a hydrocarbon (oil and/or gas) and hydrogen sulfide with a liquid treatment solution containing a sulfur dye catalyst. The process stream can be within a pipeline, wellbore, subsea pipeline or a wellhead that contains hydrogen sulfide where the liquid treatment solution is injected at a predetermined point to define a scavenger zone such that the sulfur dye catalyst in the liquid treatment solution causes the sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide to react with the catalyst. The hydrocarbon component is separated substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide from a spent treatment solution containing spent sulfur dye catalyst which can then be fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Preshit Gawade, Jeffrey Bruce Gomach, E. Cole Nelson, David Jackson, K. Michael Hardy
  • Publication number: 20200332203
    Abstract: A process is presented to treat a process stream containing a hydrocarbon (oil and/or gas) and hydrogen sulfide with a liquid treatment solution containing a sulfur dye catalyst. The process stream can be within a pipeline, wellbore, subsea pipeline or a wellhead that contains hydrogen sulfide where the liquid treatment solution is injected at a predetermined point to define a scavenger zone such that the sulfur dye catalyst in the liquid treatment solution causes the sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide to react with the catalyst. The hydrocarbon component is separated substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide from a spent treatment solution containing spent sulfur dye catalyst which can then be fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Preshit Gawade, Jeffrey Bruce Gomach, E. Cole Nelson, David Jackson, K. Michael Hardy
  • Patent number: 10787614
    Abstract: A process is presented to treat a process stream containing a hydrocarbon (oil and/or gas) and hydrogen sulfide with a liquid treatment solution containing a sulfur dye catalyst. The process stream can be within a pipeline, wellbore, subsea pipeline or a wellhead that contains hydrogen sulfide where the liquid treatment solution is injected at a predetermined point to define a scavenger zone such that the sulfur dye catalyst in the liquid treatment solution causes the sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide to react with the catalyst. The hydrocarbon component is separated substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide from a spent treatment solution containing spent sulfur dye catalyst which can then be fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Preshit Gawade, Jeffrey Bruce Gomach, E. Cole Nelson, David Jackson, K. Michael Hardy
  • Publication number: 20200116003
    Abstract: A process is presented to treat a process stream containing a hydrocarbon (oil and/or gas) and hydrogen sulfide with a liquid treatment solution containing a sulfur dye catalyst. The process stream can be within a pipeline, wellbore, subsea pipeline or a wellhead that contains hydrogen sulfide where the liquid treatment solution is injected at a predetermined point to define a scavenger zone such that the sulfur dye catalyst in the liquid treatment solution causes the sulfide from the hydrogen sulfide to react with the catalyst. The hydrocarbon component is separated substantially free of the hydrogen sulfide from a spent treatment solution containing spent sulfur dye catalyst which can then be fed to an oxidation vessel where it is contacted with an oxygen containing gas causing the sulfide to oxidize to thiosulfate and converting the spent sulfur dye catalyst to regenerated sulfur dye catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Preshit Gawade, Jeffrey Bruce Gomach, E. Cole Nelson, David Jackson, K. Michael Hardy
  • Patent number: 9458392
    Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
  • Publication number: 20150048006
    Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
  • Patent number: 8900446
    Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Merichem Company
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
  • Publication number: 20110163008
    Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: MERICHEM COMPANY
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi
  • Publication number: 20110127194
    Abstract: In a catalytic treatment process, mercaptans in sour hydrocarbon are oxidized to disulfide oils using an aqueous treatment solution containing a chelated polyvalent metal catalyst, alkali metal hydroxide, and the alkali metal salt of at least one alcohol in a non-dispersive mixing apparatus wherein an upgraded hydrocarbon containing the disulfide oils is produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventors: Tiejun Zhang, K. Michael Hardy, V. Keith Turner, Ignacio C. Bincaz, Tom Varadi