Patents by Inventor Will T. JAMES

Will T. JAMES 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: 20240337441
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and processes for removing heavies during the liquefaction of a natural gas. The processes include dissolving the heavies in the natural gas by adding external natural gas liquid (NGL), followed by a staged removal of the natural gas liquid (NGL) and dissolved heavies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Michael J. Calderon, Will T. James, Dale L. Embry, Jinghua Chan, Qi Ma
  • Patent number: 12050055
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and processes for removing heavies during the liquefaction of a natural gas. The processes include dissolving the heavies in the natural gas by adding external natural gas liquid (NGL), followed by a staged removal of the natural gas liquid (NGL) and dissolved heavies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael J. Calderon, Will T. James, Dale L. Embry, Jinghua Chan, Qi Ma
  • Publication number: 20230375261
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing liquefied natural gas (LNG) can include an LNG production system with a methane refrigeration cycle downstream from an ethylene refrigeration cycle. The methane refrigeration cycle can be a closed loop methane refrigeration cycle that maintains a methane refrigerant separate from a natural gas feed, (e.g., compared to an open loop methane refrigeration cycle that extracts the methane refrigerant from the natural gas feed and recombines the methane refrigerant with the natural gas feed). The natural gas feed can be a medium or high nitrogen gas feed having a nitrogen content greater than 1.0% molarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Ying Zhang, Qi Ma, Wesley R. Qualls, Will T. James, Jinghua Chan
  • Publication number: 20220364005
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for processing natural gas in an LNG facility. A natural gas feed is introduced into a heavies removal unit. The heavies removal system includes a heavies removal column and a distillation column. The heavies removal column and the distillation column are connected via a purge/recovery line. One or more components of the natural gas feed is purged from the heavies removal column to the distillation column via the purge/recovery line to obtain a specified concentration or concentration range of heavy components feeding into the distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Attilio J. PRADERIO, Qi MA, Wesley R. QUALLS, Will T. JAMES, Michael J. CALDERON, Paul R. DAVIES
  • Patent number: 11162732
    Abstract: A quench system for a refrigeration cycle of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility includes at least one compressor for compressing a refrigerant that cools a natural gas stream. Also included is a quench fluid supply structure containing a quench fluid. Further included is a cooler vessel and a quench fluid line extending from the quench fluid supply structure and through the cooler vessel for cooling therein, the quench fluid maintained in a liquid state through the entirety of the quench fluid line. Yet further included is a quench control valve disposed downstream of the cooler vessel to control a flow rate of the quench fluid routed therein. Also included is a refrigerant suction drum located downstream of the quench control valve and configured to receive the quench fluid from the quench fluid line, the refrigerant suction drum in fluid communication with at least one component for cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventor: Will T. James
  • Publication number: 20210140710
    Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for removing nitrogen during liquefaction of natural gas. In one implementation, a nitrogen rejection unit is used in an LNG facility to remove nitrogen from natural gas during an LNG liquefaction process. The nitrogen rejection unit contains at least two columns and at least one 3-stream condenser, 2-stream condenser or a two 2-stream condenser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Will T. James, Matthew C. Gentry, Wesley R. Qualls
  • Publication number: 20210095918
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and processes for removing heavies during the liquefaction of a natural gas. The processes include dissolving the heavies in the natural gas by adding external natural gas liquid (NGL), followed by a staged removal of the natural gas liquid (NGL) and dissolved heavies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Michael J. Calderon, Will T. James, Dale L. Embry, Jinghua Chan, Qi Ma
  • Publication number: 20190376741
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system, method and apparatus for processing natural gas in an LNG facility. A natural gas feed is introduced into a heavies removal unit. The heavies removal system includes a heavies removal column and a distillation column. The heavies removal column and the distillation column are connected via a purge/recovery line. One or more components of the natural gas feed is purged from the heavies removal column to the distillation column via the purge/recovery line to obtain a specified concentration or concentration range of heavy components feeding into the distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Attilio J. PRADERIO, Qi MA, Wesley R. QUALLS, Will T. JAMES, Michael J. CALDERON, Paul R. DAVIES
  • Publication number: 20160298899
    Abstract: A quench system for a refrigeration cycle of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility includes at least one compressor for compressing a refrigerant that cools a natural gas stream. Also included is a quench fluid supply structure containing a quench fluid. Further included is a cooler vessel and a quench fluid line extending from the quench fluid supply structure and through the cooler vessel for cooling therein, the quench fluid maintained in a liquid state through the entirety of the quench fluid line. Yet further included is a quench control valve disposed downstream of the cooler vessel to control a flow rate of the quench fluid routed therein. Also included is a refrigerant suction drum located downstream of the quench control valve and configured to receive the quench fluid from the quench fluid line, the refrigerant suction drum in fluid communication with at least one component for cooling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Will T. JAMES
  • Publication number: 20140260417
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons are provided. Methods for liquefying a natural gas stream include: (a) cooling at least a portion of the natural gas stream in an upstream refrigeration cycle of a liquefaction process to produce a cooled natural gas stream; (b) separating via a first distillation column the cooled natural gas stream into a first top fraction and a first bottom fraction, wherein the first fraction does not freeze in a subsequent downstream step of the liquefaction process; (c) separating via a second distillation column the first bottom fraction into a second top fraction and a second bottom fraction, wherein the second top fraction at least a portion of a reflux stream; (d) optionally separating via a third distillation column the second bottom fraction into a third top fraction and a third bottom fraction, wherein the third top fraction forms a portion of the reflux stream; and (e) introducing the reflux stream into the first distillation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Karl Lee HERZOG, Qi MA, Will T. JAMES, Attilio J. PRADERIO, Jackie CHAN, Wesley Roy QUALLS