Patents by Inventor Thomas Peter Hoelen

Thomas Peter Hoelen 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).

  • Publication number: 20240141262
    Abstract: A process to remove impurities from a surface of a cargo tank of a vessel used to transport liquid hydrocarbons includes using an active chemical solution to dissolve at least a portion of the impurities or the matrix in which they are embedded deposited n the surface of the cargo tank. The process also includes allowing the active chemical solution to subsequently remove embedded impurities from the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Adam James Dassey, Manoj Ramachandran, Shaik Mohammed Mushtaq, Thomas Peter Hoelen
  • Patent number: 10093556
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process to remove neutrally buoyant metal particles composed of solid particles and droplets of oil from water such as produced water from petroleum production or refinery wastewater. In one aspect, the water is contacted with oleophilic adsorbent materials which adsorb the neutrally buoyant metal particles. Also disclosed is a process for removing metal particles from a fluid volume that includes crude oil and/or condensate. The fluid volume is washed with a volume of water to form a volume of wastewater, thereby transferring at least a portion of the metal particles from the fluid into the wastewater. The volume of wastewater including the transferred metal particles is then contacted with an oleophilic adsorbent material wherein the neutrally buoyant metal particles are adsorbed by the adsorbent material. The adsorbent material is then separated from the wastewater. Finally, the treated wastewater is used to wash the crude and/or condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis John O'Rear, Thomas Peter Hoelen, Kevin J. Grice
  • Patent number: 9878191
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and a system for treating contaminated soil. The process includes introducing a contaminated soil to an agitation unit. Ozone is supplied to the agitation unit thereby forming a soil-gas mixture, and the soil-gas mixture is agitated for sufficient time for the ozone to contact the contaminants thereby forming an ozone-treated soil and a residual gas-particulates mixture. The ozone-treated soil and the residual gas-particulates mixture are removed from the agitation unit. If necessary, remaining ozone is then flushed from the soil. The process occurs under negative pressure to prevent ozone from being released to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Peter Hoelen, Gabriel P. Sabadell
  • Publication number: 20170361142
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and a system for treating contaminated soil. The process includes introducing a contaminated soil to an agitation unit. Ozone is supplied to the agitation unit thereby forming a soil-gas mixture, and the soil-gas mixture is agitated for sufficient time for the ozone to contact the contaminants thereby forming an ozone-treated soil and a residual gas-particulates mixture. The ozone-treated soil and the residual gas-particulates mixture are removed from the agitation unit. If necessary, remaining ozone is then flushed from the soil. The process occurs under negative pressure to prevent ozone from being released to the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Peter Hoelen, Gabriel P. Sabadell
  • Patent number: 9750967
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process and a system for treating contaminated soil. The process includes introducing a contaminated soil to an agitation unit. Ozone is supplied to the agitation unit thereby forming a soil-gas mixture, and the soil-gas mixture is agitated for sufficient time for the ozone to contact the contaminants thereby forming an ozone-treated soil and a residual gas-particulates mixture. The ozone-treated soil and the residual gas-particulates mixture are removed from the agitation unit. If necessary, remaining ozone is then flushed from the soil. The process occurs under negative pressure to prevent ozone from being released to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Peter Hoelen, Gabriel P. Sabadell
  • Publication number: 20170129784
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process to remove neutrally buoyant metal particles composed of solid particles and droplets of oil from water such as produced water from petroleum production or refinery wastewater. In one aspect, the water is contacted with oleophilic adsorbent materials which adsorb the neutrally buoyant metal particles. Also disclosed is a process for removing metal particles from a fluid volume that includes crude oil and/or condensate. The fluid volume is washed with a volume of water to form a volume of wastewater, thereby transferring at least a portion of the metal particles from the fluid into the wastewater. The volume of wastewater including the transferred metal particles is then contacted with an oleophilic adsorbent material wherein the neutrally buoyant metal particles are adsorbed by the adsorbent material. The adsorbent material is then separated from the wastewater. Finally, the treated wastewater is used to wash the crude and/or condensate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Dennis John O'Rear, Thomas Peter Hoelen, Kevin J. Grice