Patents by Inventor Willem van Wijngaarden

Willem van Wijngaarden 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: 20060180231
    Abstract: An economical system provides gaseous hydrocarbon to numerous locations (16, 18) that are each in the vicinity of an ocean coast, such as islands in a developing country, so the coastal inhabitants have access to low cost, easily supplied by pipeline and clean-burning natural gas. The system includes a local supply station (24), or hub, that stores natural gas, as by receiving LNG (liquefied natural gas) that has been liquefied by cooling it to ?160° C., from a large tanker (20) having a storage capacity of over 50 million standard cubic feet of natural gas. Shuttle boats (40) that each has a much smaller LNG storage capacity than the tanker, load LNG from the local supply station, carry it to one of a plurality of local coastal stations (12, 14), heat the LNG to produce gaseous hydrocarbons, and transfer the gaseous hydrocarbons to an offshore receiving facility of the local coastal station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Leon Harland, Mohsin Siddiqui, Willem Van Wijngaarden
  • Patent number: 7017506
    Abstract: An offshore hydrocarbon production system in which gases are economically stored for transport. After the produced hydrocarbons are separated into liquid (crude oil) and gases, the gases are separated into heavy and light gases. The heavy gases, which consist primarily of propane and butane, are stored as LPG (liquid petroleum gas) in a refrigerated LPG tank. The light gases (methane and other light gases) are hydrated and the ice crystals are stored in a refrigerated hydrate tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Single Buoy Moorings, Inc.
    Inventors: Willem van Wijngaarden, Hein Wille
  • Publication number: 20060032423
    Abstract: An offshore structure includes a floating support carrying process equipment and a processing column supported thereon. The processing column is connected via a hinging connection such as to maintain its upright position under low frequency inclinations of the vertical center line of the floating support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: OEDC (OFFSHORE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION)
    Inventors: Jack Pollack, Willem Van Wijngaarden
  • Publication number: 20050141968
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vessel comprising at least two parallel hulls at a predetermined mutual distance. A deck structure is supported on the hulls. Fluid storage tanks are placed in the at least two hulls, at least partly below the deck structure. The deck structure carries fluid processing and/or production equipment. The fluid is a hydrocarbon. The ratio of length to width of the vessel being at least 3, preferably at least 4. The length of the vessel being at least 150 m, preferably at least 250 m, more preferably at least 350 m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Theodorus Johannes Brinkel, Willem Van Wijngaarden
  • Publication number: 20040140100
    Abstract: An offshore hydrocarbon production system in which gases are economically stored for transport. After the produced hydrocarbons are separated into liquid (crude oil) and gases, the gases are separated into heavy and light gases. The heavy gases, which consist primarily of propane and butane, are stored as LPG (liquid petroleum gas) in a refrigerated LPG tank. The light gases (methane and other light gases) are hydrated and the ice crystals are stored in a refrigerated hydrate tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Willem van Wijngaarden, Hein Wille