Patents by Inventor Kyle T. Cuellar

Kyle T. Cuellar 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: 7216507
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is divided into two portions. The first portion is supplied to a fractionation column at an upper mid-column feed point. The second portion is directed in heat exchange relation with a warmer distillation stream rising from the fractionation stages of the column, whereby this portion of the LNG feed stream is partially heated and the distillation stream is totally condensed. The condensed distillation stream is divided into a “lean” LNG product stream and a reflux stream, whereupon the reflux stream is supplied to the column at a top column feed position. The partially heated portion of the LNG feed stream is heated further to partially or totally vaporize it and thereafter supplied to the column at a lower mid-column feed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyle T. Cuellar, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson
  • Patent number: 7210311
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Patent number: 7204100
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and then supplied to a distillation column at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is also expanded to intermediate pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second lower mid-column feed position. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the second stream and is cooled to condense at least a part of it, forming a reflux stream. At least a portion of the reflux stream is directed to the distillation column as its top feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Patent number: 7191617
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the second stream and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the tower overhead vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation tower as its top feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ortloff Engineers, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyle T. Cuellar, John D. Wilkinson, Joe T. Lynch, Hank M. Hudson
  • Patent number: 6889523
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. A portion of the condensed stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and then used to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream, and thereafter routed to the NGL recovery plant so that any heavier hydrocarbons it contains can be recovered in the NGL product. The remaining portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: ElkCorp
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Publication number: 20040177646
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. A portion of the condensed stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and then used to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream, and thereafter routed to the NGL recovery plant so that any heavier hydrocarbons it contains can be recovered in the NGL product. The remaining portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: ELKCORP
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Publication number: 20040079107
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Patent number: 6526777
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. The condensed natural gas stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and supplied to a mid-column feed point on a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas, and is routed to the NGL recovery plant so that these heavier hydrocarbons can be recovered in the NGL product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Elcor Corporation
    Inventors: Roy E. Campbell, John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Publication number: 20030005722
    Abstract: A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with producing a liquid stream containing predominantly hydrocarbons heavier than methane is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is partially cooled, expanded to an intermediate pressure, and supplied to a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas. The residual gas stream from the distillation column is compressed to a higher intermediate pressure, cooled under pressure to condense it, and then expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Elcor Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar
  • Patent number: 5799507
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled and/or expanded to partially condense it, then separated to provide one or more C.sub.3 containing liquid steams and a first vapor stream. These streams are then directed into a distillation column wherein a second vapor stream is separated to recover a product containing the major portion of the C.sub.3 components and heavier hydrocarbon components. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the column below the feed point of the first vapor stream and is then directed into heat exchange relation with the second vapor stream to cool the distillation stream and condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the distillation column as its top feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Elcor Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Wilkinson, Hank M. Hudson, Kyle T. Cuellar