Patents by Inventor Randall S. Lachine

Randall S. Lachine 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: 11199526
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a content of a hydrocarbon or other compound, such as a C3 to C7 hydrocarbon, in a condensed steam sample. Cooled steam condensate can be flowed through a sample chamber including an inner overflow tube. When the flow stops, water can be drained from the sample chamber, and then the sample chamber can be opened to allow fluid communication with a vapor chamber above the sample chamber. This can allow hydrocarbons in the condensed steam (and/or other gas) to be transferred from the sample chamber into the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber can then be isolated from the sample chamber. At least a portion of the content of the vapor chamber can then be passed to a detection volume, such as the characterization cell for a gas chromatography system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Randall S. Lachine, Raymond J. Henry
  • Publication number: 20190187121
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a content of a hydrocarbon or other compound, such as a C3 to C7 hydrocarbon, in a condensed steam sample. Cooled steam condensate can be flowed through a sample chamber including an inner overflow tube. When the flow stops, water can be drained from the sample chamber, and then the sample chamber can be opened to allow fluid communication with a vapor chamber above the sample chamber. This can allow hydrocarbons in the condensed steam (and/or other gas) to be transferred from the sample chamber into the vapor chamber. The vapor chamber can then be isolated from the sample chamber. At least a portion of the content of the vapor chamber can then be passed to a detection volume, such as the characterization cell for a gas chromatography system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Randall S. Lachine, Raymond J. Henry
  • Patent number: 9550190
    Abstract: Described herein, is a method of dewatering a slurry, the slurry being tailings from bitumen extraction of mined oil sand. The slurry is passed through at least one electro-kinetic thickener having a voltage gradient to separate water from the slurry to produce a dewatered slurry. The electro-kinetic thickener may comprise an auger to move the slurry downstream. The auger has a conductive component in the form of a wire, ribbon or rod as an anode (positive electrode) to attract negatively-charged slurry particles and to repel the positively-charged cations and associated water. The auger is shafted or shaftless. The electro-kinetic thickener may also comprise a porous drum having the auger disposed therein. The porous drum is a cathode (negative electrode) to repel the negatively-charged slurry particles, attract the positively-charged cations and associated water, and allow the water to pass through the porous drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Babak A. Jajuee, Randall S Lachine, Joseph L. Feimer, Aaron Ortiz-Gomez, Frederick Vandervaart
  • Publication number: 20130112561
    Abstract: Described herein, is a method of dewatering a slurry, the slurry being tailings from bitumen extraction of mined oil sand. The slurry is passed through at least one electro-kinetic thickener having a voltage gradient to separate water from the slurry to produce a dewatered slurry. The electro-kinetic thickener may comprise an auger to move the slurry downstream. The auger has a conductive component in the form of a wire, ribbon or rod as an anode (positive electrode) to attract negatively-charged slurry particles and to repel the positively-charged cations and associated water. The auger is shafted or shaftless. The electro-kinetic thickener may also comprise a porous drum having the auger disposed therein. The porous drum is a cathode (negative electrode) to repel the negatively-charged slurry particles, attract the positively-charged cations and associated water, and allow the water to pass through the porous drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Babak A. Jajuee, Randall S. Lachine, Joseph L. Feimer, Aaron Ortiz-Gomez, Frederick Vandervaart
  • Patent number: 5466376
    Abstract: The presence of carryunder in the extract phase recovered from a solvent extraction tower is an indication of unsatisfactory performance. The continuous analysis of the extract phase using a turbidity analyzer to detect the presence of two phases, indicating carryunder permits corrective measures to be taken in tower operation to reduce or eliminate carryunder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Boyle, Gordon C. Camano, Randall S. Lachine, Howard R. Lingley, Raymond W. Saunders