Patents by Inventor Thomas Francis Degnan
Thomas Francis Degnan 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).
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Patent number: 10035959Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feed, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid. The systems and methods allow for slurry hydroconversion using catalysts with enhanced activity and/or catalysts that can be recycled as a side product from a complementary refinery process.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: July 31, 2018Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, Thomas Francis Degnan, Jr., Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Natalie Ann Fassbender, Manuel A. Francisco, Anjaneya Sarma Kovvali, Randolph J. Smiley, John Peter Greeley, William Ernest Lewis, Roby Bearden, Jr.
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Patent number: 9816039Abstract: A heavy petroleum oil feed is upgraded by having its amenability to cracking improved by subjecting the oil to selective partial oxidation with a catalytic oxidation system to partially oxidize aromatic ring systems in the heavy oil. The partially oxidized oil can then be cracked in the conventional manner but at lower severities to lower molecular weight cracking products. The cracking following the partial oxidation step may be thermal in nature as by thermal cracking, delayed, contact or fluid coking or fluid catalytic cracking or hydrogenative as in hydrocracking.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Manuel A. Francisco, Thomas Francis Degnan, Jr., Colin L. Beswick, Ramanathan Sundararaman
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Patent number: 9605218Abstract: Improved yields of fuels and/or lubricants from a resid or other heavy oil feed can be achieved using slurry hydroconversion to convert at least about 90 wt % of the feed. The converted portion of the feed can then be passed into one or more hydroprocessing stages. An initial processing stage can be a hydrotreatment stage for additional removal of contaminants and for passivation of high activity functional groups that may be created during slurry hydroconversion. The hydrotreatment effluent can then be fractionated to separate naphtha boiling range fractions from distillate fuel boiling range fractions and lubricant boiling range fractions. At least the lubricant boiling range fraction can then be hydrocracked to improve the viscosity properties. The hydrocracking effluent can also be dewaxed to improve the cold flow properties. The hydrocracked and/or dewaxed product can then be optionally hydrofinished.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Randolph J. Smiley, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, Ramanathan Sundararaman, Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Thomas Francis Degnan, Jr.
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Patent number: 9605217Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sequential slurry hydroconversion of heavy oil feedstocks. One or more low pressure slurry hydroconversion stages can be used to perform a majority of the conversion of a heavy oil feedstock. The bottoms from the low pressure stages can then be slurry hydroconverted in one or more high pressure stages to further convert the feedstock.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, Thomas Francis Degnan, Jr., Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Randolph J. Smiley
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Patent number: 9499752Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feed, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid. The systems and methods allow for slurry hydroconversion using catalysts with enhanced activity. The catalysts with enhanced activity can be used in conjunction with demetallization catalysts or catalysts that can be recycled as a side product from a complementary refinery process.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANYInventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, Thomas Francis Degnan, Jr., Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Keith Wilson, Randolph J. Smiley, Jacob Johannes Thiart
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Publication number: 20160060550Abstract: A heavy petroleum oil feed is upgraded by having its amenability to cracking improved by subjecting the oil to selective partial oxidation with a catalytic oxidation system to partially oxidize aromatic ring systems in the heavy oil. The partially oxidized oil can then be cracked in the conventional manner but at lower severities to lower molecular weight cracking products. The cracking following the partial oxidation step may be thermal in nature as by thermal cracking, delayed, contact or fluid coking or fluid catalytic cracking or hydrogenative as in hydrocracking.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2015Publication date: March 3, 2016Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Manuel A. Francisco, Thomas Francis DEGNAN, JR., Colin L. BESWICK, Ramanathan SUNDARARAMAN
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Publication number: 20150315480Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for pretreating a heavy oil feed to a hydrocracker, such as a slurry hydrocracker to partially convert the stream and/or to convert catalyst precursors in the stream to catalytically active particles by hydrodynamic cavitation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Patrick Loring Hanks, Michel DAAGE, Thomas Francis DEGNAN, JR., Randolph J. SMILEY
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Publication number: 20150315478Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improve the rheological properties of heavy crudes, waxy crudes, dilatant crudes and other crudes possessing challenging transporting properties utilizing hydrodynamic cavitation to crack hydrocarbons in the crude oil and thereby improve the transport properties of such crudes.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Patrick Loring Hanks, Michel Daage, Thomas Francis Degnan, JR., Robert Dean Denton
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Publication number: 20150315490Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for deasphalting with integrated hydrodynamic cavitation to improve the yield or quality of deasphalted oil obtained from a deasphalting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Patrick Loring Hanks, Michel Daage, Thomas Francis Degnan, JR.
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Publication number: 20150315492Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for improving liquid product quality or yield from atmospheric or vacuum distillation unit by subjecting fractionated streams from such distillation units to hydrodynamic cavitation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Patrick Loring Hanks, Michel DAAGE, Thomas Francis DEGNAN, JR., Kenneth R. GRAZIANI
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Publication number: 20150315491Abstract: New methods and systems for crude oil desalting are provided that utilize hydrodynamic cavitation to crack molecules that have a tendency to form emulsions, thereby allowing increased desalter throughput, reduced desalter operating temperatures, and/or reduced or eliminated need for diluent oil or emulsifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Patrick Loring Hanks, Michel Daage, Thomas Francis Degnan, JR.
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Publication number: 20150315489Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for converting resids to oil streams useful as fuel oils by utilizing hydrodynamic cavitation. The cavitated fuel oils are more suitable for subsequent conversion to lighter products (e.g., through fluid catalytic cracking) or they can be blended to produce heating oils or bunker fuels.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Patrick Loring Hanks, Michel DAAGE, Thomas Francis DEGNAN, JR.
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Publication number: 20150021233Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for sequential slurry hydroconversion of heavy oil feedstocks. One or more low pressure slurry hydroconversion stages can be used to perform a majority of the conversion of a heavy oil feedstock. The bottoms from the low pressure stages can then be slurry hydroconverted in one or more high pressure stages to further convert the feedstock.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, Thomas Francis Degnan, JR., Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Randolph J. Smiley
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Publication number: 20150014217Abstract: Improved yields of fuels and/or lubricants from a resid or other heavy oil feed can be achieved using slurry hydroconversion to convert at least about 90 wt % of the feed. The converted portion of the feed can then be passed into one or more hydroprocessing stages. An initial processing stage can be a hydrotreatment stage for additional removal of contaminants and for passivation of high activity functional groups that may be created during slurry hydroconversion. The hydrotreatment effluent can then be fractionated to separate naphtha boiling range fractions from distillate fuel boiling range fractions and lubricant boiling range fractions. At least the lubricant boiling range fraction can then be hydrocracked to improve the viscosity properties. The hydrocracking effluent can also be dewaxed to improve the cold flow properties. The hydrocracked and/or dewaxed product can then be optionally hydrofinished.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Randolph J. Smiley, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, Ramanathan Sundararaman, Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Thomas Francis Degnan, JR.
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Publication number: 20150014216Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feed, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid. The systems and methods allow for slurry hydroconversion using catalysts with enhanced activity. The catalysts with enhanced activity can be used in conjunction with demetallization catalysts or catalysts that can be recycled as a side product from a complementary refinery process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ramanathan Sundararaman, Thomas Francis Degnan, JR., Rustom Merwan Billimoria, Keith Wilson, Randolph J. Smiley, Jacob Johannes Thiart
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Publication number: 20140374314Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for slurry hydroconversion of a heavy oil feed, such as an atmospheric or vacuum resid. The systems and methods allow for slurry hydroconversion using catalysts with enhanced activity and/or catalysts that can be recycled as a side product from a complementary refinery process.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: December 25, 2014Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Ramanathan SUNDARARAMAN, Thomas Francis DEGNAN, JR., Rustom Merwan BILLIMORIA, Natalie Ann FASSBENDER, Manuel A. FRANCISCO, Anjaneya Sarma KOVVALI, Randolph J. SMILEY, John Peter GREELEY, William Ernest LEWIS, Roby BEARDEN, JR.
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Patent number: 8455415Abstract: A poly(alpha-olefin/alkylene glycol) copolymer of the following formula: wherein R3, R4, Ra, and Rb are, independently, any of H, a C1 to C18 normal or branched alkyl radical, or a C1 to C18 aromatic radical or aromatic-containing alkyl radicals; wherein n and m, are, independently, integers from 1 to 1000; and wherein x is an integer from 0 to 10. There is also a process for making the copolymer. There is also a lubricant formulation having the copolymer.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Abhimanyu Onkar Patil, Satish Bodige, Suzzy Chen Hsi Ho, Thomas Francis Degnan, David Joseph Baillargeon, Margaret May-Som Wu
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Patent number: 8394255Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants, or a high pressure separation can be used to partially eliminate contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial hydrotreatment, hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing of the hydrocracking effluent, and an option final hydrotreatment.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Stephen J. McCarthy, Gary Paul Schleicher, Krista Marie Prentice, Michel Daage, Christopher Gordon Oliveri, Thomas Francis Degnan, José Guadalupe Santiesteban, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, William Joseph Novak, Wenyih F. Lai
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Publication number: 20110098204Abstract: A poly(alpha-olefin/alkylene glycol) copolymer of the following formula: wherein R3, R4, Ra, and Rb are, independently, any of H, a C1 to C18 normal or branched alkyl radical, or a C1 to C18 aromatic radical or aromatic-containing alkyl radicals; wherein n and m, are, independently, integers from 1 to 1000; and wherein x is an integer from 0 to 10. There is also a process for making the copolymer. There is also a lubricant formulation having the copolymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2009Publication date: April 28, 2011Inventors: Abhimanyu Onkar Patil, Satish Bodige, Suzzy Chen Hsi Ho, Thomas Francis Degnan, David Joseph Baillargeon, Margaret May-Som Wu
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Publication number: 20100187155Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants, or a high pressure separation can be used to partially eliminate contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial hydrotreatment, hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing of the hydrocracking effluent, and an option final hydrotreatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Stephen J. McCarthy, Gary Paul Schleicher, Krista Marie Prentice, Michel Daage, Christopher Gordon Oliveri, Thomas Francis Degnan, Jose Guadalupe Santiesteban, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, William Joseph Novak, Wenyih F. Lai