Patents by Inventor Soni O. Oyekan

Soni O. Oyekan 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: 9371493
    Abstract: This process operates a continuous catalyst regeneration (CCR) system for reforming comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a coking additive selected from the group consisting of organo sulfur, organo nitrogen and oxygenate compounds into a hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) continuously introducing the hydrocarbon feedstock and coking additive of step (a) into a CCR reforming unit; (c) continuously introducing hydrogen into the CCR reforming unit; (d) continuously operating the CCR reforming unit to produce coke and a hydrocarbon rich, hydrocarbon stream; (e) continuously operating the CCR reforming unit to burn off excess coking additive; and (f) continuously recovering the hydrocarbon rich hydrocarbon stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventor: Soni O. Oyekan
  • Patent number: 9371494
    Abstract: Optimizing low coke naphtha reforming continues to pose significant challenges for oil refining companies in the operation of continuous catalytic regenerative reforming units for economic production of hydrogen, LPG and reformate. A novel processing scheme is hereby disclosed wherein multiple additives are used to increase spent catalyst coke to ensure operating the regenerators in steady state white burn operations. In previous disclosures novel additives sulfur and kerosene were identified as separately imparting enhanced rates of coke formation on the catalysts even at very mild severity catalytic reforming operations. To further accelerate spent catalyst coke formation and derive benefits from synergistic use of sulfur and kerosene, it is suggested that both sulfur and kerosene be used as additives in combination or in series with sulfur added first followed by kerosene and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventors: Soni O. Oyekan, Michael G. Robicheaux
  • Patent number: 8778823
    Abstract: The process involves the use of specifically selected coke precursor compounds from the front end of oil distillate fractions that contain C11 to C14 hydrocarbons and their use as additives in the processing of naphtha in a catalytic reformer. The C11 to C14 compounds additives enhance coke make in continuous catalytic regeneration (CCR) reformers to levels higher than those which are usually produced in low coke naphtha reforming operations. With the increase of ethanol blending in gasoline and low reformate octane severity operations, reformers do not produce the necessary amount of coke to permit sustaining steady state white burn operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP
    Inventors: Soni O. Oyekan, Kenneth D. Rhodes, Nicholas K. Newlon
  • Patent number: 4539307
    Abstract: A metal catalyst preferably comprised of a platinum/rhenium metal combination, supported on alumina is activated for the reforming of hydrocarbon feedstock, by being contacted with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature sufficient to oxidize the metal catalyst and then being reduced sequentially by contacting the catalyst with a stream of hydrogen at about 650.degree. to about 750.degree. F. for a first period of time and then at about 900.degree. to about 1000.degree. F. for a second period of time, followed by sulfiding of the sequentially reduced catalyst. The sequential reduction procedure increases the selectivity of the reforming catalyst and results in increased C.sub.5.sup.+ liquid product yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Engelhard Corporation
    Inventor: Soni O. Oyekan
  • Patent number: 4436612
    Abstract: A process wherein, in a series of reforming zones, or reactors, each of which contains a bed, or beds of catalyst, the catalyst in the leading reforming zones is constituted of supported platinum and a relatively low concentration of rhenium, and the catalyst in the last reforming zone, or reactor of the series, is constituted of platinum and a relatively high concentration of rhenium. The amount of rhenium relative to the platinum in the last reforming zone, or reactor is present in an atomic or weight ratio of rhenium:platinum of at least about 1.5:1; preferably at least about 2:1, and more preferably ranges from about 2:1 to about 3:1. The beds of catalyst are contacted with a hydrocarbon or naphtha feed, and hydrogen, at reforming conditions to produce a hydrocarbon, or naphtha product of improved octane, and the product is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Soni O. Oyekan, George A. Swan