Patents by Inventor Robert F. Heinemann

Robert F. Heinemann 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: 6214175
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for recovering gas from a clathrate hydrate comprising the steps of: (a) providing a clathrate hydrate within an occupying zone; (b) positioning a source of electromagnetic radiation within said clathrate hydrate occupying zone; and (c) recovering gas from the clathrate hydrate by applying electromagnetic radiation from the electromagnetic radiation source of step (b) to the clathrate hydrate at a frequency within the range of from direct current to visible light at energy density sufficient to dissociate the clathrate hydrate to evolve its constituent gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Robert F. Heinemann, David Da-Teh Huang, Jinping Long, Roland B. Saeger
  • Patent number: 6082118
    Abstract: A suitable slurry composition allows gas hydrates to be stored or transported under metastable conditions. The slurry includes gas hydrate particles and a carrier liquid for the gas hydrate particles. Suitable carrier liquids have a specific gravity in the range from about 0.6 to about 2, a pour point below about -20.degree. C. a viscosity of about 10 centipoise or less, and a thermal conductivity lower than that of the gas hydrate particles. The slurry can be stored or transported in a system that includes a container for holding the slurry; a device for agitating the slurry while in the container (e.g., a mixing blade, a rotating screw, a reciprocating box beam, or an ultrasound generator); a device for removing excess carrier liquid from the container while it is loaded or being loaded with gas hydrates and/or carrier liquid (e.g., a skimming device or a drain); and a device for reslurrifying the gas hydrates with carrier liquid before or during unloading of the gas hydrates from the container (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Fred P. Endrizzi, Robert F. Heinemann, David Da-Teh Huang, Jinping Long, Roland B. Saeger, Anthony A. Urbanelli