Patents by Inventor Michel Chornet

Michel Chornet 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: 20190144762
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil by heating a feedstock comprising a heavy oil in order to separate from the heavy oil a first fraction. The first fraction contains no more than 25% of the total number of acid groups of the heavy oil. A second fraction contains at least 75% of the total number of acid groups of the heavy oil. The second fraction then is treated under conditions that provide a heavy oil that has a total acid number, or TAN, that does not exceed 1.0 mg KOH/g, or is at least 50% lower than the total acid number prior to treatment, an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %, and a p-value of at least 50% of the p-value of the heavy oil prior to treatment, or a p-value that is at least 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Soumaine Dehkissia, Christos Chronopoulos, Michel Chornet, Jean Frechette
  • Publication number: 20190119583
    Abstract: A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Christos Chronopoulos, Soumaine Dehkissia
  • Publication number: 20170321133
    Abstract: A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Christos Chronopoulos, Soumaine Dehkissia
  • Patent number: 9745525
    Abstract: A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Fractal Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Christos Chronopoulos, Soumaine Dehkissia
  • Publication number: 20170137727
    Abstract: A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25° C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Publication number: 20150060333
    Abstract: A process for treating heavy oil to provide a treated heavy oil having a reduced density and viscosity, as well as an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %. The process comprises separating the initial heavy oil into a first fraction, which in general contains lower-boiling components, and a second fraction. The second fraction comprises a heavy oil having a p-value of at least 5% greater than the p-value of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction, and the second fraction has an aromaticity that is no more than 5% less than the aromaticity of the initial heavy oil prior to separating the initial heavy oil into the first fraction and the second fraction. The second fraction then is upgraded to reduce the density and viscosity of the heavy oil. After the second fraction is upgraded, it is recombined with at least a portion of the first fraction to provide a treated heavy oil having an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Christos Chronopoulos, Soumaine Dehkissia
  • Publication number: 20150065766
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil by heating a feedstock comprising a heavy oil in order to separate from the heavy oil a first fraction. The first fraction contains no more than 25% of the total number of acid groups of the heavy oil. A second fraction contains at least 75% of the total number of acid groups of the heavy oil. The second fraction then is treated under conditions that provide a heavy oil that has a total acid number, or TAN, that does not exceed 1.0 mg KOH/g, or is at least 50% lower than the total acid number prior to treatment, an olefin content that does not exceed 1.0 wt. %, and a p-value of at least 50% of the p-value of the heavy oil prior to treatment, or a p-value that is at least 1.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Soumaine Dehkissia, Christos Chronopoulos, Michel Chornet, Jean Frechette
  • Patent number: 8871081
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil which comprises subjecting a heavy oil to cavitation to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. The treated heavy oil, which has a reduced viscosity and specific gravity, thus is more pumpable and transportable, which facilitates further processing. The treated heavy oil also can be fractionated with less severity than untreated heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fractal Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Publication number: 20130096354
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil which comprises subjecting a heavy oil to cavitation to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. The treated heavy oil, which has a reduced viscosity and specific gravity, thus is more pumpable and transportable, which facilitates further processing. The treated heavy oil also can be fractionated with less severity than untreated heavy oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Patent number: 8105480
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil which comprises subjecting a heavy oil to cavitation to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. The treated heavy oil, which has a reduced viscosity and specific gravity, thus is more pumpable and transportable, which facilitates further processing. The treated heavy oil also can be fractionated with less severity than untreated heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Fractal Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Publication number: 20110240517
    Abstract: A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25° C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Patent number: 7943035
    Abstract: A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25° C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Fractal Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Publication number: 20100163019
    Abstract: A process for converting wet cellulosic biomass to at least one sugar, such as glucose. The process comprises treating the wet cellulosic biomass with a strong acid at a temperature no greater than 40° C., wherein the acid is present in an amount of at least 10 moles per mole of monomeric sugar present in the wet cellulosic biomass. The acid then is neutralized partially, and the cellulose is hydrolyzed to the at least one sugar at a temperature of at least 60° C. Such process provides improved yields of sugar from cellulose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet, Jean-Michel Lavoie
  • Publication number: 20080314796
    Abstract: A treated oil, such as a treated heavy oil, which has a viscosity which is lower than the viscosity of the oil prior to the treatment thereof (i.e., the initial oil). The temperature at which 80 mass % of the treated oil has boiled is within 25° C. of temperature at which 80 mass % of the oil prior to the treatment thereof has boiled. Thus, the treated oil and the oil prior to the treatment thereof, have distillation curves or boiling point curves which are the same as or approximate to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet
  • Publication number: 20080217211
    Abstract: A process for treating a heavy oil which comprises subjecting a heavy oil to cavitation to reduce the viscosity of the heavy oil. The treated heavy oil, which has a reduced viscosity and specific gravity, thus is more pumpable and transportable, which facilitates further processing. The treated heavy oil also can be fractionated with less severity than untreated heavy oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Michel Chornet, Esteban Chornet