Deasphalting Patents (Class 208/309)
  • Patent number: 11926801
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a process for producing upgraded product from residue comprising atmospheric residue or vacuum residue upgrading comprising separating the residue through a Solvent Deasphalting (SDA) unit, wherein the SDA unit includes an asphaltene separator that separates the residue into asphaltene pitch and a stream comprising deasphalted oil (DAO) and resin, and a resin separator that subsequently separates the stream comprising DAO and resin into separate DAO and resin streams, treating the resin stream with supercritical water (SCW) to produce an upgraded resin stream, and hydroprocessing a portion of the upgraded resin stream and the DAO stream to produce the upgraded product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Ki-Hyouk Choi, Mohammed S. Aldossary, Abdullah T. Alabdulhadi
  • Patent number: 11820938
    Abstract: Dispersants including at least one organic carbonate can keep deposits dispersed within hydrocarbons, where the solids are asphaltenes and derivatives from triazine-based H2S scavengers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Onome Ugono, Sankaran Murugesan, Jerry J. Weers, Kekeli A. Ekoue-Kovi
  • Patent number: 11649408
    Abstract: Methods are provided to prepare a low sulfur fuel from hydrocarbon sources, such as light tight oil and high sulfur fuel oil, often less desired by conventional refiners, who split crude into a wide range of differing products and may prefer presence of wide ranges (C3 or C5 to C20 or higher) of hydrocarbons. These fuels can be produced by separating feeds into untreated and treated streams, and then recombining them. Such fuels can also be formulated by combinations of light, middle and heavy range constituents in a selected manner as claimed. Not only low in sulfur, the fuels of this invention are also low in nitrogen and essentially metals free. Fuel use applications include on-board large marine transport vessels but also on-shore for large land based combustion gas turbines, boilers, fired heaters and transport vehicles and trains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Mawetal LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Wohaibi, Tom F. Pruitt
  • Patent number: 11649407
    Abstract: Methods are provided to prepare a low sulfur fuel from hydrocarbon sources, such as light tight oil and high sulfur fuel oil, often less desired by conventional refiners, who split crude into a wide range of differing products and may prefer presence of wide ranges (C3 or C5 to C20 or higher) of hydrocarbons. These fuels can be produced by separating feeds into untreated and treated streams, and then recombining them. Such fuels can also be formulated by combinations of light, middle and heavy range constituents in a selected manner as claimed. Not only low in sulfur, the fuels of this invention are also low in nitrogen and essentially metals free. Fuel use applications include on-board large marine transport vessels but also on-shore for large land based combustion gas turbines, boilers, fired heaters and transport vehicles and trains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Mawetal LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Wohaibi, Tom F. Pruitt
  • Patent number: 11484841
    Abstract: Provided is a feed spacer having a three-layer structure, in which a set forming the feed spacer is formed in a three-layer structure, so that the set, which is in contact with a reverse osmosis membrane, convects raw water to a center of the structure of the feed spacer and a laminar flow velocity gradient is generated at the center to decrease a polarization phenomenon of a reverse osmosis filter module and minimize pressure loss, and a reverse osmosis membrane filter module including the feed spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Ayoung Lee, Dae Hun Kim, Bumjoo Kim, Chong Kyu Shin, Phill Lee, Kyunghoon Min
  • Patent number: 11286429
    Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy oil is provided, which integrates thermal cracking, hydrogenolysis, and catalytic aquathermolysis. A catalytic hydrogen-aquathermolysis reactor receives a heavy oil feed, water and hydrogen. In addition catalytic materials and a viscosity reducing agent are introduced. The catalytic hydrogen-aquathermolysis reactor is operated at conditions effective to produce an upgraded heavy oil product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Mazin M. Fathi, Omer Refa Koseoglu
  • Patent number: 11142831
    Abstract: A method of preventing or mitigating corrosion on a metallic surface exposed to a supercritical fluid is disclosed. The method includes adding a corrosion inhibitor composition to a supercritical fluid comprising a supercritical carbon dioxide; and contacting the supercritical fluid with a metallic surface, wherein the corrosion inhibitor composition comprises a corrosion inhibitor that has a solubility of greater than 5,000 ppm in the supercritical fluid at 48.9° C. and 2,200 psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Tracey Jackson, Sunder Ramachandran, Zhengwei Liu, Jonathan Stewart-Ayala
  • Patent number: 10954448
    Abstract: A high temperature paraffinic froth treatment (HTPFT) process utilizes an unheated flash vessel as a first stage of solvent recovery in a paraffinic solvent recovery unit (PSRU) to minimize asphaltene precipitation and fouling in subsequent stages of solvent recovery. The HTPFT may utilize a heat pump circuit for heat integration in the PSRU where a first stage of solvent recovery is at a lower temperature than a second stage of solvent recovery. Froth entering froth separation vessels can be heated using heat in a tailings stream using a heat pump. Froth separation vessels used to separate froth for collecting a bitumen-containing overflow utilize a collector pot and conventional feedwell combination, or a combination of a collection ring and nozzle arrangement for reducing disturbance in the vessel and improving collection of the overflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITED
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Alvaro Blanco, Guillaume Viguie, Randy Paine, Jiangying Wu, Julio Gomez, Eduardo Fernandez, Matthew Armour
  • Patent number: 10947464
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integration of use deasphalted resid as a feed for fuels and/or lubricant base stock production with use of the corresponding deasphalter rock for gasification to generate hydrogen and/or fuel for the fuels and/or lubricant production process. The integration can include using hydrogen generated during gasification as a fuel to provide heat for solvent processing and/or using the hydrogen for hydroprocessing of deasphalted oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: Kendall S. Fruchey, Sara K. Green, Anjaneya S. Kovvali, Timothy L. Hilbert, Michael B. Carroll, Ajit B. Dandekar, Sara L. Yohe, Stephen H. Brown, Tracie L. Owens, April D. Ross, Eric B. Senzer, Steven Pyl
  • Patent number: 10934456
    Abstract: A method of forming an asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-source material and a bitumen source to form a bitumen mixture. The bitumen mixture can be mixed with a catalyst to form the asphalt mixture. Particles can be added to the asphalt mixture to form a roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 93° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 25 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 204° C., or any combination thereof. The asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product. The asphalt mixture can be applied as a pavement product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Husnu M. Kalkanoglu, Keith Hong, Gregory F. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 10889770
    Abstract: A method and device for lightening heavy oil by utilizing a suspension-bed hydrogenation process are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Huashi United Energy Technology and Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin Li, Ke Lin, Guoliang Li, Erxuan He
  • Patent number: 10876056
    Abstract: A process and device for hydrogenation of heavy oil using a suspension-bed are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Beijing Huashi United Energy Technology and Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin Li, Ke Lin
  • Patent number: 10550335
    Abstract: Deasphalter rock from high lift deasphalting can be combined with a flux to form a fuel oil blending component. The high lift deasphalting can correspond to solvent deasphalting to produce a yield of deasphalted oil of at least 50 wt %, or at least 65 wt %, or at least 75 wt %. The feed used for the solvent deasphalting can be a resid-containing feed. The resulting fuel oil blendstock made by fluxing of high lift deasphalter rock can have unexpectedly beneficial properties when used as a blendstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Sheryl B. Rubin-Pitel, Kenneth Kar, Kendall S. Fruchey
  • Patent number: 10550341
    Abstract: Methods are provided for producing lubricant base stocks from deasphalted oils formed by sequential deasphalting. The deasphalted oil can be exposed a first deasphalting process using a first solvent that can provide a lower severity of deasphalting and a second deasphalting process using a second solvent that can provide a higher severity of deasphalting. This can result in formation of at least a deasphalted oil and a resin fraction. The resin fraction can represent a fraction that traditionally would have been included as part of a deasphalter rock fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen N. Harandi, Doron Levin, Himanshu Gupta, James R. Lattner, Glenn C. Wood, Keith K. Aldous, Timothy L. Hilbert, Michael B. Carroll, Ajit B. Dandekar, Sara L. Yohe, Stephen H. Brown, Tracie L. Owens, April D. Ross, Eric B. Senzer, Steven Pyl
  • Patent number: 10280373
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is provided for improved asphaltene separation from heavy hydrocarbon or bitumen with low process complexity through mass transfer using solvent and counter-current flows, with three sections: an upper DAO/solid-asphaltene separation zone, a middle solvent mixing and segregation zone, and a bottom clarification zone. Solvent mixed with heavy hydrocarbon forms a process feed introduced to the process vessel's upper zone and exposed to counter-current solvent removing DAO from solid asphaltene particles in the feed, the particles fall through the middle zone and are mixed with introduced solvent, which introduced solvent segregates DAO-rich solution in the upper zone (for extraction from that zone) from solvent-rich mixtures in the middle mixing and lower clarification zones. Solvent flows and precipitate movement are controlled to optimize mass transfer in process, resulting in high DAO recovery and dry, solid asphaltene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: MEG ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: Tom Corscadden, Jim Kearns, Greg Diduch, Damien Hocking, Darius Remesat
  • Patent number: 10093873
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for crude oil separation and upgrading, which include the ability to reduce aromatic complex bottoms content in gasoline and higher-quality aromatic compounds. In some embodiments, aromatic complex bottoms are recycled for further processing. In some embodiments, aromatic complex bottoms are separated for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Robert Peter Hodgkins, Bruce Richard Beadle, Vinod Ramaseshan, Rakan Sulaiman Bilaus
  • Patent number: 10048244
    Abstract: A method to determine the distribution of non-reactive sulfur compounds and reactive sulfur compounds in petroleum samples by separating non-reactive sulfur compounds from reactive sulfur compounds in a petroleum composition includes the step of contacting the petroleum composition with a Ag-containing cation exchange media. The petroleum composition and the Ag-containing cation exchange media are contacted with a non-reactive sulfur compound solvent capable of eluting the non-reactive sulfur compounds in the presence of the Ag-containing cation exchange media and incapable of eluting the reactive sulfur compounds in the presence of the Ag-containing cation exchange media at the conditions of the exchange. The non-reactive sulfur compounds are eluted from the media with the non-reactive sulfur compound solvent to provide a first fraction. The amount of non-reactive sulfur compounds in the first fraction is then determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Ryan P. Rodgers, Winston K. Robbins, Vladislav V. Lobodin
  • Patent number: 9976093
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is provided for improved asphaltene separation from heavy hydrocarbon or bitumen with low process complexity through mass transfer using solvent and counter-current flows, with three sections: an upper DAO/solid-asphaltene separation zone, a middle solvent mixing and segregation zone, and a bottom clarification zone. Solvent mixed with heavy hydrocarbon forms a process feed introduced to the process vessel's upper zone and exposed to counter-current solvent removing DAO from solid asphaltene particles in the feed, the particles fall through the middle zone and are mixed with introduced solvent, which introduced solvent segregates DAO-rich solution in the upper zone (for extraction from that zone) from solvent-rich mixtures in the middle mixing and lower clarification zones. Solvent flows and precipitate movement are controlled to optimize mass transfer in process, resulting in high DAO recovery and dry, solid asphaltene product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MEG ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: Tom Corscadden, Jim Kearns, Greg Diduch, Damien Hocking, Darius Remesat
  • Patent number: 9963643
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process for refining a heavy hydrocarbon feed, comprising the following steps: a) a step for selective deasphalting of the heavy hydrocarbon feed by single-step liquid/liquid extraction in an extraction medium, said extraction being carried out using a mixture of at least one polar solvent and at least one apolar solvent, in order to obtain an asphalt phase and a deasphalted oil phase DAO, the proportions of said polar solvent and said apolar solvent in the solvent mixture being adjusted as a function of the properties of the feed and the desired asphalt yield, said deasphalting step being carried out under subcritical conditions for the solvent mixture; b) a step for hydrotreatment of at least a portion of the deasphalted oil phase DAO obtained from step a); c) optionally, a step for catalytic cracking of at least a portion of the effluent obtained from step b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Isabelle Merdrignac, Jerome Majcher, Mathieu Digne
  • Patent number: 9944796
    Abstract: A asphalt binder modifier or a stand-alone asphalt binder and the method of making the asphalt binder or binder modifier are disclosed. The asphalt modifier or binder consisting of treated re-refined engine oil bottoms/VTB's treated by injecting air into re-refining engine oil bottoms/VTB's at temperatures between 150° F. and 550° F. The re-refined engine oil can be processed with ground tire rubber. The binder modifier was blended with various paving and roofing asphalts to form performance-enhanced modified asphalt binders used in paving, roofing, and industrial products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: PRI ASPHALT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth F. Grzybowski
  • Patent number: 9926499
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for refining a heavy feedstock of the vacuum residue type. Selective deasphalting of the feedstock is conducted in a single-stage liquid/liquid extraction in an extractant. Extraction is carried out by means of a mixture of at least one polar solvent and at least one apolar solvent, to obtain an asphalt phase and a deasphalted oil (DAO) phase. The proportions of polar solvent and apolar solvent in the solvent mixture are adjusted according to properties of the feedstock, desired yield of asphalt and/or desired quality of the DAO. Deasphalting is implemented under subcritical conditions. At least a part of the DAO is subjected to hydrotreatment. At least a part of the effluent originating from the hydrotreatment is subjected to catalytic cracking in at least one fluidized-bed reactor under conditions allowing a gasoline fraction and/or a light olefins fraction to be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: Isabelle Merdrignac, Jerome Majcher
  • Patent number: 9771524
    Abstract: Methods for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed are disclosed. The methods include a hydrocarbon feed having an insolubility number, Ifeed, with at least a first fluid to form a fluid-feed mixture; and inducing a centrifugal force to the fluid-feed mixture sufficient to form at least a higher density portion and a lower density portion, said lower density portion having an insolubility number, ILD, wherein ILD/Ifeed?0.95. Methods and apparatus for hydroprocessing the treated feed and blending with a fuel oil blend-stock are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Teng Xu, Kapil Kandel, David T. Ferrughelli, Michael J. Clemmons, James H. Beech, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9650578
    Abstract: A process for upgrading oil including optionally pre-treating a heavy oil including at least one dissolved gas, asphaltenes, water, and mineral solids; reducing at least one dissolved gas content from said heavy oil, optionally further reducing water content from said heavy oil; adding a paraffinic solvent to said heavy oil, at a predetermined paraffinic solvent:heavy oil ratio, facilitating separation of asphaltenes, water, and mineral solids from the heavy oil resulting in a de-asphalted or partially de-asphalted oil (“DAO”)-paraffinic solvent stream, comprising a low asphaltenes content DAO-paraffinic solvent stream and an asphaltenes-mineral solids-paraffinic solvent-water slurry stream; optionally separating the paraffinic solvent and water from the asphaltenes-mineral solids-paraffinic solvent-water slurry stream; optionally separating the DAO-paraffinic solvent stream into a paraffinic solvent rich stream and a DAO stream; and optionally adding diluent to the DAO stream resulting in transportable oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: NEXEN ENERGY ULC
    Inventors: Amo De Klerk, Nestor Gregorio Zerpa Reques, Yuhan Xia, Ayyub Abduljawad Omer
  • Patent number: 9650580
    Abstract: Treating a hydrocarbon feed having a sulphur content of at least 0.5% by weight, an asphaltenes content of at least 1% by weight, an initial boiling point of at least 340° C. and a final boiling point of at least 480° C., in order to obtain at least one deasphalted oil fraction with a sulphur content of 0.5% by weight or less and a sediment content of 0.1% by weight or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: IFP Energies nouvelles
    Inventors: Isabelle Merdrignac, Wilfried Weiss, Jerome Majcher
  • Patent number: 9493710
    Abstract: A process for stabilization of heavy hydrocarbons to reduce sludge formation in storage tanks and/or transportation lines and to enhance the hydrocarbon yield includes mixing a paraffinic or heavy naphtha solvent having carbon numbers in the range 10 to 20 with the feedstock to solvent-flocculate a relatively small, predetermined portion of asphaltenes present in the feedstock, separating and flashing the sediment to recover a light hydrocarbon fraction, flashing the heavy hydrocarbon/solvent phase and recycling the solvent to stabilize the heavy hydrocarbons without significantly affecting the yield of valuable products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Adnan Al-Hajji
  • Patent number: 9382486
    Abstract: A process is provided that is directed to a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a hydrotreating zone and a solvent deasphalting zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics. The integrated hydrotreating, solvent deasphalting and steam pyrolysis process comprises charging the crude oil to a hydroprocessing zone to produce a hydroprocessed effluent; charging the hydroprocessed effluent to a solvent deasphalting zone to produce a deasphalted and demetalized oil stream and a bottom asphalt phase; thermally cracking the deasphalted and demetalized oil stream in the presence of steam to produce a mixed product stream; separating the mixed product stream; purifying hydrogen recovered from the mixed product stream and recycling it to the hydroprocessing zone; recovering olefins and aromatics from the separated mixed product stream; and recovering pyrolysis fuel oil from the separated mixed product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdennour Bourane, Raheel Shafi, Essam Sayed, Ibrahim A. Abba, Abdul Rahman Zafer Akhras
  • Patent number: 9315733
    Abstract: A cost-effective solution is provided for eliminating refinery process waste, including spent catalytic and non-catalytic adsorbent materials, as well as adsorbate process reject materials derived from desorption, while minimizing conventional waste handling demands. An asphalt composition includes asphalt and spent adsorbent material from a solvent deasphalting unit. The asphalt can comprise asphaltic material obtained from a solvent deasphalting unit, and spent adsorbent material in the asphalt composition was previously utilized in the solvent deasphalting unit. The asphalt composition can also include process reject materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Salman Al-Khaldi, Adnan Al-Hajji, Ali Al-Hamadh
  • Patent number: 9284502
    Abstract: A process is provided that is directed to a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a solvent deasphalting zone and a hydrotreating zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdennour Bourane, Raheel Shafi, Essam Sayed, Ibrahim A. Abba, Abdul Rahman Zafer Akhras
  • Patent number: 9284497
    Abstract: A process is provided that is directed to a steam pyrolysis zone integrated with a solvent deasphalting zone to permit direct processing of crude oil feedstocks to produce petrochemicals including olefins and aromatics. The integrated solvent deasphalting and steam pyrolysis process for the direct processing of a crude oil to produce olefinic and aromatic petrochemicals comprises charging the crude oil to a solvent deasphalting zone with an effective amount of solvent to produce a deasphalted and demetalized oil stream and a bottom asphalt phase; thermally cracking the deasphalted and demetalized oil stream in the presence of steam to produce a mixed product stream; separating the mixed product stream; recovering olefins and aromatics from the separated mixed product stream; and recovering pyrolysis fuel oil from the separated mixed product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdennour Bourane, Raheel Shafi, Essam Sayed, Ibrahim A. Abba, Abdul Rahman Zafer Akhras
  • Patent number: 9238780
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a process for obtaining extracted crude oil (ECO) which is substantially free of naphthenic acids, calcium and other impurities from low asphaltic crude oils or their residue fractions by preferential extraction of saturates using at least one solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Reliance Industries Limited
    Inventors: Harender Bisht, Asit Kumar Das, Bibeka Hazarika, Biswajit Shown, D. P. S. Rana, Mahesh G. Marve, Manthan A. Malvanker, Paras N. Shah, Rohit R. Irabatti, Sukumar Mandal, Suyog S. Salgarkar
  • Patent number: 9028680
    Abstract: A method and system for handling viscous liquid crude hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method involves (a) solvent deasphalting at least a portion of an asphaltene-containing liquid crude hydrocarbon feedstock to form an asphaltene fraction and a deasphalted oil (DAO) fraction essentially free of asphaltenes; (b) adjusting the density of the asphaltene fraction to substantially the same density of a carrier for the asphaltene fraction; (c) forming coated asphaltene particles from the asphaltene fraction of step (b); (d) slurrying the coated asphaltene particles with the carrier; and (e) transporting the slurry to a treatment facility or a transportation carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Gunther Hans Dieckmann, John Segerstrom, Cesar Ovalles, Estrella Rogel, Vasudevan Sampath, Donald L. Kuehne, Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani, Dennis John O'Rear
  • Publication number: 20150122703
    Abstract: A residual petroleum fraction feed is subjected to a deasphalting process by solvent extraction using a light paraffinic solvent with recovery of the solvent under supercritical process conditions. Fouling is reduced by the injection of an aromatic stream into the DAO-solvent stream from the extractor in order to provide a degree of solvency for residual asphaltenes in the DAO-solvent stream which otherwise would tend to precipitate in the heat exchanger used to create the supercritical conditions for the solvent. The aromatic solvent stream which, by its aromatic character, has solvency properties for the asphaltene components remaining in the DAO-solvent stream, is selected to have a boiling point above the boiling point of the solvent so that it does not contaminate the process solvent when the solvent is recovered in the solvent recovery section of the unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Howard Edwin SPENCER, Will G. Fisher, JR., Michael L. Fullen, Brock T. Pearson, Gary Tak Cheng, Matthew Andrews
  • Patent number: 8993495
    Abstract: A novel composition is provided that incorporates the residual solids from solvent deasphalting to make a high value asphalt product. A process for making the asphalt composition is also provided. A first portion of heavy oil or another feedstock can be deasphalted using propane deasphalting or another suitable deasphalting process. This generates a solvated fraction and an insoluble deasphalting residue. The deasphalting residue is then added to a second portion of heavy oil, such as a second portion of the same type of heavy oil that was used as feedstock in the solvent deasphalting. The mixture of deasphalting residue and heavy oil results in a novel dispersion that is suitable for use as an asphalt. Optionally, an additive such as an alkyl substituted aromatic sulfonic acid can be added to the composition to further improve the asphalt properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramesh Varadaraj, Lyle E. Moran, John Brownie, Mary J. Gale
  • Patent number: 8986537
    Abstract: Provided are multiple correlations for relationships between MI value for a brightstock extract and the distillation cut point temperature used for separation of the vacuum resid that is used to form the brightstock extract. Based on these correlations, a BSE having a desired MI value can be formed based on an adjustment of the distillation cut point temperature. A first correlation establishes a relationship between a fractional weight boiling temperature for a vacuum resid fraction and a distillation cut point temperature for separating the vacuum resid fraction from at least one distillate fraction in a feedstock. A second correlation establishes a relationship between a fractional weight boiling temperature for a brightstock extract derived from the vacuum resid fraction, and the fractional weight boiling temperature for the vacuum resid fraction. A third correlation has been established between the fractional weight boiling temperature for the brightstock extract and a mutagenicity index value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventors: Cristina M. Sircar, Keith K. Aldous, James J. Freeman, Katy O. Goyak
  • Patent number: 8980080
    Abstract: A system and process for integrated desulfurizing, desalting and deasphalting of hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided. A hydrocarbon feedstock, a water soluble oxidant, and a water soluble catalyst can be introduced in a oxidation zone and retained for a period of time sufficient to achieve the desired degree of desulfurization, or introduced directly into the desalting zone along with wash water. Catalyst and dissolved salt are discharged along with the wastewater effluent from the desalting zone. A hydrocarbon stream including converted hydrocarbons and oxidation by-products is passed to a deasphalting zone. In the deasphalting zone, phase separation occurs, whereby a light phase including desulfurized hydrocarbons are produced, and a heavy phase including asphaltenes and oxidation by-products are discharged, e.g., passed to an asphalt pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Abdennour Bourane
  • Publication number: 20150060329
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process to prepare a residual base oil, which process at least comprises the following steps: (a) providing a mineral bright stock waxy raffinate; (b) combining the mineral bright stock waxy raffinate provided in step (a) with a catalytically dewaxed residual Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil to obtain a mixture; and (c) solvent dewaxing the mixture obtained in (b) to obtain a residual base oil, wherein the weight ratio of the mineral bright stock waxy raffinate to the catalytically dewaxed residual Fischer-Tropsch derived base oil in step (b) is in the range of from 75:25 to 35:65. In another aspect the present invention provides a residual base oil obtainable by the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: David John Wedlock
  • Patent number: 8932451
    Abstract: Methods are provided for processing crude oil feeds with reduced or minimized energy usage, reduced or minimized numbers of processing steps, improved allocation of hydrogen, and reduced or minimized formation of low value products. The methods reduce or minimize the use of vacuum distillation, and in many aspects reduce or minimize the use of both atmospheric and vacuum distillation. The methods also reduce or minimize the use of coking and fluid catalytic cracking processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Ramon A. Strauss, Stephen Harold Brown, Donald E. Stratton, Stefan Maria Willy Ceulemans
  • Patent number: 8932450
    Abstract: A process and apparatus to remove asphaltenic contaminants from bitumen, heavy oil or residue to produce lower viscosity petroleum products and high purity asphaltenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Value Creation Inc.
    Inventor: Columba K. Yeung
  • Publication number: 20150008159
    Abstract: Toluene-insoluble hydrocarbon-containing compounds are selectively separated from a hydrocarbon-containing feedstock containing at least 5 wt. % n-heptane insoluble hydrocarbon-containing materials, wherein at least 10 wt. % of the n-heptane insoluble hydrocarbon-containing materials are toluene insoluble hydrocarbon-containing materials, by contacting the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock with a porous silica adsorbent having a median pore size diameter of less than 180 ? at a temperature of from 120° C. to 300° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Jeramie Joseph ADAMS, Franciscus Gondulfus Antonius VAN DEN BERG, Carolus Matthias Anna Maria MESTERS, Joseph FRANK ROVANI, John Francis SCHABRON
  • Patent number: 8900447
    Abstract: A method and a product made by treating a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed, e.g., heavy crude asphaltene reduction is disclosed herein. The method comprises the steps of: mixing the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed with a hydrogen donor solvent and an acidified silica to form a mixture and oxidizing the sulfur in the mixture at a temperature between 50° C. and 210° C., wherein the oxidation lowers the amount sulfur in the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon heavy feed by at least 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Karina Castillo, Jason Parsons, Russell R. Chianelli
  • Patent number: 8852427
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for removing polar molecule contaminants from a refinery stream in connection with the processing of hydrocarbon fluids, chemicals, whole crude oils, blends and fractions in refineries and chemical plants that include adding high surface energy and/or high surface area nanoparticle compounds to a refinery stream to remove the polar molecule contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Mohsen S. Yeganeh, Peter W. Jacobs, Ian A. Cody, Steven W. Levine, Eric B. Sirota, Ramesh Gupta, Walter Weissman
  • Patent number: 8845886
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for separating a hydrocarbon stream via a filtration process to produce an upgraded permeate stream with decreased Conradson Carbon Residue (“CCR”) content. The invention involves the modification of a porous ceramic filter by functionalizing the surface of the ceramic filter with an multi-ring aromatic-diimide polymer. Preferably, the multi-ring aromatic-diimide polymer is comprised of a multi-ring aromatic monomer component. The functionalized filters of the present invention can be used in a process to selectively separate components of a hydrocarbon stream to produce an improved permeate (or “filtrate”) product stream with a lower CCR content and improved processing capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: David C. Calabro, Dennis G. Peiffer, Benjamin A. McCool, Stanley E. Jakubowicz
  • Publication number: 20140262958
    Abstract: Provided are multiple correlations for relationships between MI value for a brightstock extract and the distillation cut point temperature used for separation of the vacuum resid that is used to form the brightstock extract. Based on these correlations, a BSE having a desired MI value can be formed based on an adjustment of the distillation cut point temperature. A first correlation establishes a relationship between a fractional weight boiling temperature for a vacuum resid fraction and a distillation cut point temperature for separating the vacuum resid fraction from at least one distillate fraction in a feedstock. A second correlation establishes a relationship between a fractional weight boiling temperature for a brightstock extract derived from the vacuum resid fraction, and the fractional weight boiling temperature for the vacuum resid fraction. A third correlation has been established between the fractional weight boiling temperature for the brightstock extract and a mutagenicity index value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
  • Publication number: 20140262960
    Abstract: A system and process for solvent recovery after sonic treatment of heavy oil feedstocks is disclosed. The system avoids supercritical variations. The separation process involves solvent selection and use of a proprietary sonic reactor. The solvent recovery process may include pressure variations to solvent materials in order to obtain separation from of solvents from separated asphaltenes or deasphalted oil at high temperatures. The applied pressure variations allow the separation to occur avoiding supecritical states in the solvent materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PetroSonic Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Art AGOLLI, Patrick Brunelle, Alfred Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140262962
    Abstract: The present disclosure refers to a method for hydrocarbon recovery from a variety of oil spills, using a proprietary sonic treatment process for removal of solids from hydrocarbon substances, to convert contaminated hydrocarbons into de-asphalted oil and heavy oil fuel output. This method may generally require a solvent for removal of material in suspension, which may dissolve contaminated hydrocarbons by using a plurality of alkane containing non polar solvents, which may be filtered through simple separation. The sonic treatment method may reduce the production time of de-asphalted oil and heavy oil fuel, from a range from about six hours up to more than ten hours to about two minutes up to 30 seconds depending on the solvent-feedstock mixture being processed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PetroSonic Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Art Agolli, Patrick Brunelle, Alfred Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140262961
    Abstract: A method for solvent selection to be used in asphaltene and de-asphalted oils (DAO) separation process is disclosed. Such process uses solvents and sonication in heavy oil, which is the main feedstock for asphaltenes and DAO's. The method may involve consideration of variety of factors that drive solvent selection. The method disclosed herein may be used as part of an algorithm or as part of a planning sequence for selecting the optimal solvent. Furthermore, the method may include considerations for using of a plurality of solvents to meet requested volume and characteristics of asphaltenes and DAO's.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PetroSonic Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Art AGOLLI, Patrick Brunelle, Alfred Fischer
  • Publication number: 20140262959
    Abstract: A system and process for solvent and asphaltene separation after sonic treatment of heavy oil feedstocks are disclosed. The separation process involves solvent selection and use of a proprietary sonic reactor which are paramount for the efficient operation of the whole process. The solvent and asphaltene separation system include portable and scalable equipment of design that may allow optimal recover of recyclable solvent, deasphalted oil that may be practically free of solvent and asphaltenes, and high extraction of asphaltenes in the heavy oil feedstocks processed. The system and process may enable economic operation to small to medium oil producers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PETROSONIC ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: Art AGOLLI, Patrick Brunelle, Alfred Fischer
  • Patent number: 8834706
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing lubricating base oils by using vacuum distilled deasphalted oil, and more specifically, to a method for preparing various kinds of lubricating base oils by distilling a distillate obtained from a solvent deasphalting (SDA) process under reduced pressure to obtain heavy deasphalted oil (H-DAO) and light deasphalted (Lt-DAO) and then treating the H-DAO and the Lt-DAO by catalytic reactions, respectively. According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain heavy lubricating base oil (150BS) of a high viscosity grade which can not be obtained by a known catalytic reaction and a lubricating base oil of group III by hydrogenation, in a high yield, and thus economical efficiency is excellent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: SK Innovation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung Seok Noh, Jae Wook Ryu, Do Hyoun Kim, Gyung Rok Kim, Seung Woo Lee, Do Woan Kim, Sun Choi, Seung Hoon Oh, Byung Won Yoon, Bum Suk Chun
  • Publication number: 20140246357
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is provided for improved asphaltene separation from heavy hydrocarbon or bitumen with low process complexity through mass transfer using solvent and counter-current flows, with three sections: an upper DAO/solid-asphaltene separation zone, a middle solvent mixing and segregation zone, and a bottom clarification zone. Solvent mixed with heavy hydrocarbon forms a process feed introduced to the process vessel's upper zone and exposed to counter-current solvent removing DAO from solid asphaltene particles in the feed, the particles fall through the middle zone and are mixed with introduced solvent, which introduced solvent segregates DAO-rich solution in the upper zone (for extraction from that zone) from solvent-rich mixtures in the middle mixing and lower clarification zones. Solvent flows and precipitate movement are controlled to optimize mass transfer in process, resulting in high DAO recovery and dry, solid asphaltene product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: MEG ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: TOM CORSCADDEN, JIM KEARNS, GREG DIDUCH, DAMIEN HOCKING, DARIUS REMESAT
  • Publication number: 20140238903
    Abstract: The invention concerns with improved and more flexible deasphalting process for production of lube oil base stock as well as feed stock for secondary processes depending on requirement from heavy residual hydrocarbon oil containing saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes etc by contacting the oil with a solvent comprising of hydrocarbon containing two to six carbon atoms, preferably LPG having C3-C4 hydrocarbons and mixture thereof at predetermined deasphalting conditions wherein the yield of deasphalted oil including its quality is controlled by varying the deasphalting conditions including the operating temperature. The yield variations of 15 to 60 wt % is achieved by swinging the temperature by about 10-20° C. within the operative temperature range of 70-130° C. keeping the rest of the operating conditions including solvent to feed ratio same. The LPG solvent can be recovered using supercritical mode of operation using technology known in the art and recycled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Inventors: Devotta Irudayaraj, Naduhatty Selai Raman, Brijesh Kumar, Santanam Rajagopal