Patents by Inventor Kimanh T. Le

Kimanh T. Le 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).

  • Recovery of oil from a shale containing the same
    Patent number: 5013428
    Abstract: Enhanced recovery of oil from an oil-containing particulate shale sludge is achieved by contacting the sludge with a light hydrocarbon solvent fraction, obtained from the processing of oil derived from the shale, in the presence of water to form an oil-solvent liquid phase which is separated from an aqueous phase containing oil-depleted shale. The oil-solvent liquid phase when introduced into a slurry of product oil and particulate contained within a shale retort provides several advantages, including lowering the viscosity of the product oil and enhanced separation of the product oil from the particulate shale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Ben A. Christolini, Kimanh T. Le, Mitchell J. Berndt, Steven E. Howe