Patents by Inventor Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez

Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez 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).

  • Publication number: 20180111865
    Abstract: A system and method arranged to treat a produced water stream used in chemical enhanced oil recovery. The produced water stream is exposed to ultraviolet light sources that provide a radiant energy dosage that destabilizes organics. The ultraviolet-radiated stream is then passed through an adsorbent polymer media. An oxidant may be added to the ultraviolet-radiated stream ahead of the adsorbent polymer media or to an effluent stream exiting the adsorbent polymer media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez, Daniel E. Shannon, Georgianna Watson
  • Patent number: 9914073
    Abstract: A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank that is equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals arranged to provide a treatment flow path isolated from a surrounding volume of the electrostatic separator section of the tank. An oil-and-water stream or mixture entering the set of electrostatic internals travels along the treatment flow path and is subjected to an electric field. The treatment flow path is in an upwardly direction toward the oil outlet section and in a downwardly opposite direction toward the water outlet section of the tank. Employing electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Cameron Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcus D. Sprenkel, Gary W. Sams, S. Pavankumar B. Mandewalkar, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20180037527
    Abstract: A MEG reclamation process includes the step of increasing above 2,000 ppm the divalent metal salts concentration of a rich (wet) MEG feed stream flowing into a precipitator. The increasing step includes routing a salts-saturated MEG slipstream from the flash separator it to the precipitator. The slipstream may be mixed with a fresh water feed stream, a portion of the rich MEG feed stream, or some combination of the two. The rich MEG feed stream also may be split into two streams, with a portion of the stream being heated and routed to the flash separator and the other portion being combined as above with the removed slipstream. The process can be performed on the slipstream after dilution and prior to entering the precipitator or after being loaded into the precipitator. Removal of the insoluble salts may be done in either a batch or continuous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170370490
    Abstract: A system and process for intermittently venting combustible gas (c-gas) from a continuous source to the atmosphere are presented. The system may include a c-gas storage tank, an admission valve located upstream of the c-gas storage tank for regulating the flow of c-gas from the continuous source to the storage tank; an inert gas storage tank and an inert gas valve for regulating flow of inert gas to the c-gas storage tank, the inert gas diluting the c-gas within the c-gas storage tank below a flammable level; a vent valve for atmospheric venting located downstream of the c-gas storage tank, and a PIC that opens the vent valve when pressure in the c-gas storage tank reaches a pre-determined PIC vent point. The system may also include an auxiliary system to receive and vent c-gas diluted below the flammable level while the primary admission valve is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Inventor: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9790153
    Abstract: A MEG reclamation process includes the step of increasing above 2,000 ppm the divalent metal salts concentration of a rich (wet) MEG feed stream flowing into a precipitator. The increasing step includes routing a salts-saturated MEG slipstream from the flash separator it to the precipitator. The slipstream may be mixed with a fresh water feed stream, a portion of the rich MEG feed stream, or some combination of the two. The rich MEG feed stream also may be split into two streams, with a portion of the stream being heated and routed to the flash separator and the other portion being combined as above with the removed slipstream. The process can be performed on the slipstream after dilution and prior to entering the precipitator or after being loaded into the precipitator. Removal of the insoluble salts may be done in either a batch or continuous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventor: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170267548
    Abstract: A method to remove oil from an oily water stream includes the step of pressure controlling a release of dissolved gases from the stream as the stream passes through two or more stages of gas flotation treatment. The operating pressure of the first stage of flotation treatment is purposefully reduced relative to that of an upstream unit so that a certain controlled percent volume of dissolved gases is released. The operating pressure of the second stage of flotation treatment is then purposefully reduced relative to that of the first stage so that another controlled percent volume of dissolved gases is released. Any subsequent flotation treatment stage is at a lower operating pressure than that of the previous stage so that the subsequent treatment stage releases a controlled percent volume of dissolved gases. By controlling the operating pressure in this way, overall separation performance is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Wenjun Liu, Luis Eduardo Caires-Fernandez, Daniel E. Shannon
  • Patent number: 9732870
    Abstract: A system and process for intermittently venting combustible gas (c-gas) from a continuous source to the atmosphere are presented. The system includes a primary c-gas storage tank, at least one primary admission valve located upstream of the primary c-gas storage tank for regulating the flow of c-gas from the continuous source to the storage tank, a primary valve for atmospheric venting located downstream of the primary c-gas storage tank, and a primary PIC that opens the primary valve for atmospheric venting when pressure in the primary c-gas storage tank reaches a pre-determined PIC vent point. The system may include an auxiliary system to receive and vent c-gas while the primary admission valve is closed. The primary and auxiliary systems may also include an inert gas storage tank and inert gas valve for diluting the c-gas before it is vented to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Cameron Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170175008
    Abstract: A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals. The set of electrostatic internals are arranged to provide a treatment flow path within the crude oil storage tank oblique to a longitudinal centerline of the crude oil storage tank and through an electric field provided by the set of electrostatic internals. Employing these electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment. The process and system also includes, upstream of the tank, two separator vessels arranged in parallel so each receives a portion of an incoming oil-and-water stream, a flash vessel arranged downstream of the two separator vessels, and a degasser vessel. Downstream of the crude oil storage tank is an electrostatic treater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marcus D. Sprenkel, Gary W. Sams, S. Pavankumar B. Mandewalkar, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170173499
    Abstract: A process train for a floating production storage and offloading installation includes a crude oil storage tank that is equipped with at least one set of electrostatic internals arranged to provide a treatment flow path isolated from a surrounding volume of the electrostatic separator section of the tank. An oil-and-water stream or mixture entering the set of electrostatic internals travels along the treatment flow path and is subjected to an electric field. The treatment flow path is in an upwardly direction toward the oil outlet section and in a downwardly opposite direction toward the water outlet section of the tank. Employing electrostatic internals within the tank permits an allowable inlet water content into the tank of up to 80%, significantly reducing the required topside processing equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marcus D. Sprenkel, Gary W. Sams, S. Pavankumar B. Mandewalkar, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170175009
    Abstract: A system and method for dehydrating crude oil on a floating production storage and offloading installation include a separator vessel to receive an incoming produced water stream, followed by a flash vessel, a treatment block, a crude oil storage tank, and an electrostatic treater. The treatment block includes a low pressure degasser followed by a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater or a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater followed by a low pressure degasser. The flash vessel and/or the low pressure degasser may employ an inlet cyclonic distributor and demisting cyclones, while the electrostatic treater may employ DUAL FREQUENCY® technology. The separator vessel may be a single horizontal two-phase separator/degasser or two vertical two-phase separator/degassers that operate in parallel with each receiving approximately 50 percent of the incoming produced water stream. The final outlet stream preferably contains no more than 0.5 BS&W and 285 milligrams per liter salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Marcus D. Sprenkel, Gary W. Sams, S. Pavankumar B. Mandewalkar, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20170050908
    Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. An ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin adsorbs the divalent cations in the rich MEG feed stream as it flows through the ion exchange bed. After the divalent ions have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the feed stream flows through a distillation column to regenerate MEG. The spent cation exchange resin may be regenerated in place using a regeneration brine comprised of sodium chloride and water. After use, the regeneration brine may be disposed as waste or recycled to the brine storage tank and re-used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9433875
    Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. An ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin adsorbs the divalent cations in the rich MEG feed stream as it flows through the ion exchange bed. After the divalent ions have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the feed stream flows through a distillation column to regenerate MEG. The spent cation exchange resin may be regenerated in place using a regeneration brine comprised of sodium chloride and water. After use, the regeneration brine may be disposed as waste or recycled to the brine storage tank and re-used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20160109032
    Abstract: A system and process for intermittently venting combustible gas (c-gas) from a continuous source to the atmosphere are presented. The system includes a primary c-gas storage tank, at least one primary admission valve located upstream of the primary c-gas storage tank for regulating the flow of c-gas from the continuous source to the storage tank, a primary valve for atmospheric venting located downstream of the primary c-gas storage tank, and a primary PIC that opens the primary valve for atmospheric venting when pressure in the primary c-gas storage tank reaches a pre-determined PIC vent point. The system may include an auxiliary system to receive and vent c-gas while the primary admission valve is closed. The primary and auxiliary systems may also include an inert gas storage tank and inert gas valve for diluting the c-gas before it is vented to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventor: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Patent number: 9089790
    Abstract: A system and process for removing hydrocarbons and divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. A hydrocarbon removal bed containing a solid adsorbent material adsorbs the hydrocarbons in the rich MEG feed stream as it passes through the hydrocarbon removal bed. After the hydrocarbons have been removed, the rich MEG feed stream flows through an ion exchange bed containing an ion exchange resin in order to remove divalent cations. The rich MEG feed stream then flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Spent solid adsorbent material in the hydrocarbon removal beds and spent ion exchange resin in the ion exchange beds may be regenerated in place using by-products of the MEG reclamation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Patent number: 8808546
    Abstract: A system and process for removing hydrocarbons from a gas process feed stream is presented. The treatment process may be, but is not limited to, glycol dehydration, amine sweetening, and MEG reclamation. As an example, a hydrocarbon removal bed containing a solid adsorbent material adsorbs the hydrocarbons in a rich MEG feed stream as it passes through the hydrocarbon removal bed. After the hydrocarbons have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the hydrocarbon removal bed may be used after the MEG reclamation process to remove hydrocarbons in the distilled water from the distillation column. Spent solid adsorbent material may be regenerated in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20140053730
    Abstract: A system and process for removing hydrocarbons from a gas process feed stream is presented. The treatment process may be, but is not limited to, glycol dehydration, amine sweetening, and MEG reclamation. As an example, a hydrocarbon removal bed containing a solid adsorbent material adsorbs the hydrocarbons in a rich MEG feed stream as it passes through the hydrocarbon removal bed. After the hydrocarbons have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the hydrocarbon removal bed may be used after the MEG reclamation process to remove hydrocarbons in the distilled water from the distillation column. Spent solid adsorbent material may be regenerated in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20140058140
    Abstract: A system and process for removing hydrocarbons and divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. A hydrocarbon removal bed containing a solid adsorbent material adsorbs the hydrocarbons in the rich MEG feed stream as it passes through the hydrocarbon removal bed. After the hydrocarbons have been removed, the rich MEG feed stream flows through an ion exchange bed containing an ion exchange resin in order to remove divalent cations. The rich MEG feed stream then flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Spent solid adsorbent material in the hydrocarbon removal beds and spent ion exchange resin in the ion exchange beds may be regenerated in place using by-products of the MEG reclamation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel W. Phelps, Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez
  • Publication number: 20140054160
    Abstract: A system and process for removing divalent cations from a rich MEG feed stream is presented. An ion exchange bed containing a cation exchange resin adsorbs the divalent cations in the rich MEG feed stream as it flows through the ion exchange bed. After the divalent ions have been removed, the feed stream flows through a flash separator and a distillation column to reclaim MEG. Alternatively, the feed stream flows through a distillation column to regenerate MEG. The spent cation exchange resin may be regenerated in place using a regeneration brine comprised of sodium chloride and water. After use, the regeneration brine may be disposed as waste or recycled to the brine storage tank and re-used to regenerate the cation exchange resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel W. PHELPS, Luis Eduardo Caires FERNANDEZ
  • Publication number: 20130118989
    Abstract: A MEG reclamation process includes the step of increasing above 2,000 ppm the divalent metal salts concentration of a rich (wet) MEG feed stream flowing into a precipitator. The increasing step includes routing a salts-saturated MEG slipstream from the flash separator it to the precipitator. The slipstream may be mixed with a fresh water feed stream, a portion of the rich MEG feed stream, or some combination of the two. The rich MEG feed stream also may be split into two streams, with a portion of the stream being heated and routed to the flash separator and the other portion being combined as above with the removed slipstream. The process can be performed on the slipstream after dilution and prior to entering the precipitator or after being loaded into the precipitator. Removal of the insoluble salts may be done in either a batch or continuous mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Inventor: Luis Eduardo Caires Fernandez