Patents by Inventor Robert Hardy Ellison

Robert Hardy Ellison 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: 10030194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution resulting in the internal olefin sulfonate, wherein sulfonated internal olefin is contacted with the base containing solution in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant, and/or after step a) but before step b), the internal olefin sulfonate and said non-ionic surfactant are combined; b) transporting an aqueous solution comprising the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation; c) providing the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and d) allowing the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon c
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SHELL OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, James Laurel Buechele, Hendrik Dirkzwager, Robert Hardy Ellison, Johan Paul Smit
  • Patent number: 9441148
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: (a) providing a composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises an anionic surfactant based on an alkoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group, which group has an average carbon number of from 9 to 15 and an average number of branches of from 0.5 to 2.5, and having an average of at least 0.5 mole of alkylene oxide groups per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. Further, the invention relates to the hydrocarbon recovery composition that is used in said method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Robert Hardy Ellison, Marinus Johannes Faber, Khrystyna Groen, Robert Moene, Quoc An On
  • Publication number: 20150166937
    Abstract: A mixture of sulfates is made by dimerizing one or more even numbered alpha olefins to produce one or more vinylidenes; hydroformylating the vinylidene(s) to produce a mixture of alcohols; and sulfating the mixture of alcohols to form alcohol sulfates. The sulfates are useful in laundry detergents and other surfactants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Hardy Ellison, Elizabeth Elaine Endler, Carol Jean Klem, Abraham Robert De Kraker, Sharla Nance Papitto, Catherine Semien, Paul Theodore Sharko
  • Publication number: 20150129227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising the following steps: a) preparing an internal olefin sulfonate, comprising sulfonating an internal olefin into sulfonated internal olefin followed by contacting sulfonated internal olefin with a base containing solution resulting in the internal olefin sulfonate, wherein sulfonated internal olefin is contacted with the base containing solution in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant, and/or after step a) but before step b), the internal olefin sulfonate and said non-ionic surfactant are combined; b) transporting an aqueous solution comprising the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to the location of the hydrocarbon containing formation; c) providing the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation; and d) allowing the internal olefin sulfonate and the non-ionic surfactant to interact with the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon c
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Hendrik Diekzwager, Robert Hardy Ellison, Johan Paul Smit
  • Publication number: 20140290953
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising vinylidene olefin sulfonates is described. A method of treating a crude oil formation and a method of preparing the hydrocarbon recovery composition are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Robert Hardy Ellison, Maura Puerto, Kirk Herbert Raney, Johan Paul Smit
  • Publication number: 20140110305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation, comprising: (a) providing a composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises an anionic surfactant based on an alkoxylated primary alcohol having a branched aliphatic group, which group has an average carbon number of from 9 to 15 and an average number of branches of from 0.5 to 2.5, and having an average of at least 0.5 mole of alkylene oxide groups per mole of primary alcohol; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. Further, the invention relates to the hydrocarbon recovery composition that is used in said method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Robert Hardy Ellison, Marinus Johannes Faber, Khrystyn Groen, Robert Moene, Quoc An On
  • Publication number: 20140005082
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising vinylidene based alkoxylate derivatives. A method of treating a crude oil formation and a method of preparing the hydrocarbon recovery composition are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, James Laurel Buechele, Robert Hardy Ellison, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Johan Paul Smit
  • Patent number: 6960695
    Abstract: A hydroformylation process comprising reacting a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt catalyst, the hydroformylation process being carried out in one or more reactors, at least one of which comprises a gas cap region and a liquid-containing region while in use, characterized in that a sulphur-containing additive is present on the inside walls of the gas cap region of the at least one-reactor which comprises a gas cap region and a liquid-containing region. The sulphur-containing additive suppresses the formation of methane during the hydroformylation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert Hardy Ellison, Eric Kragtwijk, Frederik Hendrik Van Der Steen
  • Patent number: 6777579
    Abstract: A hydroformylation process is provided that involves reacting a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and a sulfur-containing additive which suppresses the formation of cobalt carbide in the reaction mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Peter Arnoldy, Robert Hardy Ellison, Herman Pieter Charles Eduard Kuipers, Robert Moene, Frederik Hendrik Van Der Steen
  • Publication number: 20040122262
    Abstract: A hydroformylation process comprising reacting a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt catalyst, the hydroformylation process being carried out in one or more reactors, at least one of which comprises a gas cap region and a liquid-containing region while in use, characterized in that a sulphur-containing additive is present on the inside walls of the gas cap region of the at least one-reactor which comprises a gas cap region and a liquid-containing region. The sulphur-containing additive suppresses the formation of methane during the hydroformylation process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Hardy Ellison, Eric Kragtwijk, Frederik Hendrik Van Der Steen
  • Publication number: 20030176742
    Abstract: A hydroformylation process is provided that involves reacting a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and a sulfur-containing additive which suppresses the formation of cobalt carbide in the reaction mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Arnoldy, Robert Hardy Ellison, Herman Pieter Charles Eduard Kuipers, Robert Moene, Frederik Hendrik Van Der Steen