Solvent Extraction Patents (Class 208/45)
  • Patent number: 11613714
    Abstract: Systems and integrated methods are disclosed for processing aromatic complex bottoms into high value products. The system includes an adsorption column, the adsorption column in fluid communication with an aromatics complex and operable to receive and remove polyaromatics from an aromatic bottoms stream. The adsorption column producing a cleaned aromatic bottoms stream with reduced polyaromatic content and a reject stream including the removed polyaromatics. In some embodiments, the reject stream is recycled for further processing, passed to a coke production unit to produce high quality coke, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa Koseoglu, Robert Peter Hodgkins
  • Patent number: 11591524
    Abstract: This invention relates to manufacturing briquettes, pellets and shapes from recycled asphaltic limestone powder derived from waste residential roofing products. Briquettes and pellets are manufactured through a densification process at varying temperatures, creating recycled asphalt pellets, asphalt limestone pellets and bio mass and coal fines briquettes. Various shapes, including curbs and posts, are manufactured through heat and pressure in molds. Seawalls, walkways and wall panels are manufactured by blending asphaltic limestone powders with polymer resins and extruded or pultruded into shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Inventor: Jonathon Daniel Horton
  • Patent number: 11499103
    Abstract: A process for the hydroconversion of heavy oil products includes the following steps where heavy oil products and hydrogen are supplied to a slurry hydroconversion section having a molybdenum-based catalyst: separating the reaction effluent into a vapour phase and a slurry phase; and sending the slurry phase to a separation section having the function of separating the Vacuum Gas Oil, Heavy Vacuum Gas Oil, Light Vacuum Gas Oil, and Atmospheric Gas Oil fractions, from a stream of heavy organic products which contains asphaltenes, unconverted feed, catalyst, and solid formed during the hydroconversion reaction. This stream is partly sent to the reaction section and partly forms a purge stream, which is heated and made fluid between 185° C.-220° C., and subjected to a static settling unit up to at least 100° C. From the settling unit two new products, clarified component and cake, are obtained. The clarified component is recycled to the hydroconversion reaction section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefania Guidetti, Alberto Malandrino, Simone Cattaneo
  • Patent number: 11318161
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of treating basal cell carcinoma or glioblastoma by administering coal tar or a coal tar product to a patient with basal cell carcinoma or glioblastoma. The coal tar or coal tar product may be administered as a standalone therapy or in combination with other treatments for basal cell carcinoma or glioblastoma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Inventor: Carol J. Buck
  • Patent number: 11009439
    Abstract: The use of recycled materials can have significant economic value. With the increasing quantity of recycled material used in viscoelastic materials, especially asphalt mixture, understanding how they interact with original materials to produce a mixture that performs successfully, becomes critical. Currently, the technology to determine the effect of additives on the performance of asphalt mixture is lacking. The present invention relates to a new unified methodology for mechanical testing of asphalt mixture and other viscoelastic materials that improves the current practice in speed, convenience, and accuracy. A new improved specimen mounting method on Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR), a new recovery method for fine portion of asphalt mixture, and three new tests for the performance of recovered material using DSR is disclosed. The new methods provide performance grading of asphalt mixtures that is new to the industry and provide necessary tools for determining the effect of recycled materials on performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Alaeddin Mohseni
  • Patent number: 10703992
    Abstract: Settling unconverted pitch from a SHC reactor effluent before fractionation improves efficiency of fractionation of slurry hydrocracked products. The recycle of soft pitch to the SHC reactor results in improved reactor operation by avoiding the recycle of lighter products which vaporize in the reactor to occupy reactor space and the recycle of hard pitch which will not convert. The settling step facilitated by mixing with a solvent can achieve a separation between soft pitch and hard pitch not achievable in a fractionation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Ping Sun, Grant H. Yokomizo, Bart Dziabala
  • Patent number: 10519382
    Abstract: Production of bitumen from bitumen froth can include separating the froth into a solvent diluted tailings and solvent diluted bitumen, and then the diluted tailings can be treated to recover solvent for reuse in the froth separation. The solvent recovery from tailings can employ a distributor for use in a tailings solvent recovery unit (TSRU). The distributor can include slot-shaped pressure let-down apertures and a closed curved end portion to introduce the tailings into a separation vessel. The distributor construction can have various advantages, such as facilitating manufacturing as well as effective mitigation of pre-flashing and solids segregation issues, for enhanced bitumen production and solvent recovery operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: FORT HILLS ENERGY L.P.
    Inventors: Shawn Van Der Merwe, Mohammad Shariati, Ali Vakil, Benito Moyls, Bryan Demko
  • Patent number: 9399713
    Abstract: An asphalt recovery system may include an extractor, a desolventizer, and an evaporator. During operation, the extractor may receive a solvent and roofing waste and extract asphalt from the roofing waste with the solvent. The desolventizer may receive a solvent-wet solids stream from the extractor and vaporize solvent from the solvent-wet solids stream to yield desolventized solids. The evaporator may receive an asphalt-rich solvent stream from the extractor and vaporize solvent from the stream to produce a solvent stream and an asphalt stream. By configuring the evaporator to operate at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, the boiling point in the evaporator may increase as compared to operating the evaporator at a pressure below atmospheric pressure. In turn, this may keep the viscosity of asphalt within the evaporator less than 500 centipoise, which may improve heat transfer to the asphalt and prevent that asphalt from plugging the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: CROWN IRON WORKS COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard W. Ozer
  • Patent number: 9284499
    Abstract: Solvent deasphalting (SDA) is used to prepare a heavy hydrocarbon feed for further upgrading. An overhead deasphalted oil (DAO) stream is prepared for catalytic upgrading and an asphaltene stream is prepared for slurry hydrocracking (SHC). SHC product can be further deasphalted and the DAO can be separated from solvent in an upstream extraction column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Mark Van Wees, Robert S. Haizmann, Daniel B. Gillis
  • Publication number: 20150075065
    Abstract: The invention provides a processing method for upgrading an organic phase substance by removing heavy element species from the organic phase substance originating from a resource substance in mild environmental conditions, and further provides a method for collecting removed heavy element species and a method for collecting other substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Tooru Nakamura, Yutaka Hayashi, Akira Suzuki, Richard Brommeland, Andrew Myles
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8926833
    Abstract: A continuous process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon includes the steps of: obtaining a heavy hydrocarbon; heating the heavy hydrocarbon; contacting the heavy hydrocarbon with a solvent at upgrading conditions so as to produce a first product comprising a mixture of upgraded hydrocarbon and solvent and a second product comprising asphaltene waste and water; continuously feeding the first product and the second product to a first separator; heating the first product; and continuously feeding the first product to a second separator to separate the upgraded hydrocarbon from the solvent. A system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Chirinos, Galanda Morfes, Mariángel Alvarez, Félix Silva
  • Patent number: 8920636
    Abstract: Methods for transporting bitumen extraction product include providing bitumen-laden aromatic solvent, providing bitumen-laden paraffinic solvent, and blending the two materials. The resulting mixture can be transported through existing pipeline infrastructure and can use existing separation processing equipment, and thereby avoids the need for separate infrastructure for each composition. Combining the two compositions can also avoid undesirable asphaltene precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Canada Energy and Chervon Canada Limited
    Inventors: Julian Kift, Mahendra Joshi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140332442
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for recycling a deashed pitch to a slurry hydrocracking zone. The process may include adding a solvent to a neat pitch to obtain a mixture, separating a supernate and a precipitate from the mixture, segregating the solvent from the supernate, and recycling the deashed pitch from the supernate to the slurry hydrocracking zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Jagannathan Govindhakannan, Grant Yokomizo
  • Publication number: 20140305840
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Omer Refa KOSEOGLU, Salman AL-KHALDI, Adnan AL-HAJJI, Ali AL-HAMADH
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8778173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for desulfurizing heavy oil feedstreams with alkali metal compounds and improving the compatibility of the to stream components in either the feed stream, an intermediate product stream, and/or the reaction product stream in the desulfurization process. The present invention utilizes a high stability aromatic-containing stream that is preferably added to the heavy oil prior to reaction with the alkali metal compounds. The resulting stream resists precipitation of reaction solids in the desulfurization reactors. Even more preferably, the desulfurization system employs at least two desulfurization reactors in series flow wherein the high stability aromatic-containing stream is contacted with the reaction product from the first reactor prior to the second reactor, wherein the first reactor can be operated at a higher severity than without the use of the high stability aromatic-containing component stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Michael F. Raterman, Daniel P. Leta, Walter D. Vann, Roby Bearden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8758597
    Abstract: A saturated elastomeric mixture is disclosed having a cured or vulcanized elastomer crumb rubber and atmospheric distillations bottoms residue is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventor: John D. Osborn
  • Patent number: 8709233
    Abstract: In the invention, tar is upgraded by deasphalting and then hydrocracking to produce valuable products such as low sulfur diesel fuel and mogas. The invention is also directed to a system integrating a pyrolysis furnace operation with refinery operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: James N. McCoy, Paul F. Keusenkothen
  • Patent number: 8709237
    Abstract: A process for treating bitumen froth with paraffinic solvent is provided which uses three stages of separation. Froth and a first solvent are directed to a first stage at a solvent/bitumen ratio for precipitating few or substantially no asphaltenes. A first stage underflow is directed to a second stage and a first stage overflow is directed to a third stage. A second stage underflow is directed to waste tailings and the second stage overflow joins the first stage overflow. A third stage underflow is recovered as an asphaltene by-product and a third stage overflow is recovered as a diluted bitumen product. At least a second solvent is added to one or both of the second or third stages for controlling a fraction of asphaltenes in the third stage underflow. Asphaltene loss to waste tailings is minimized and asphaltenes are now recovered as asphaltene by-product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Total E&P Canada Ltd
    Inventors: Geoff Stevens, Ray Reipas
  • Patent number: 8673131
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing synthetic crude oil from a heavy crude reservoir, comprising: (a) extracting the heavy crude oil using a steam technology; (b) separating the crude extracted and the water; (c) separating the crude into at least one light cut and one heavy cut; (d) converting said heavy cut to a lighter product and a residue; (e) optionally, partially or totally hydroprocessing the converted product and/or the light cut(s) obtained upon separation (c); (f) burning and/or gasifying the conversion residue in the presence of metal oxides in at least one chemical looping cycle producing CO2-concentrated fumes in order to allow CO2 capture, the optionally hydroprocessed converted product and light separation cut(s) making up the synthetic crude oil, said combustion allowing to generate steam and/or electricity, and said gasification allowing to generate hydrogen, the steam and/or the electricity thus generated being used for extraction (a), and/or the electricity and/or the hy
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: IFP Energies Nouvelles, Total SA
    Inventors: Thierry Gauthier, Ali Hoteit, Ann Forret
  • Patent number: 8658029
    Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The methods may include a primary leaching or extraction process that separates most of the bitumen from a material comprising bitumen and produces first solvent-wet tailings. The first solvent-wet tailings are washed with a second solvent that removes the first solvent from the tailings. Second solvent remaining in the tailings is removed to thereby produce solvent-dry, stackable tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Julian Kift
  • Patent number: 8658030
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for deasphalting and extracting a hydrocarbon oil. The processes comprise providing an oil comprising asphaltenes and/or other impurities, combining the oil with a polar solvent an extracting agent to provide a mixture, and applying a stimulus to the mixture so that at least a portion of any asphaltenes and/or impurities in the oil precipitate out of the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Aibangbee Osaheni, Thomas Joseph Fyvie
  • Publication number: 20140042055
    Abstract: Methods are provided for making asphalt from crude oils derived from mined oil sands that have been subjected to a solvent froth treatment as part of the process for making a crude oil that is suitable for pipeline transport. A froth treatment is used that preserves a greater percentage of the asphaltene content of the crude oil derived from the mined oil sands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: EXXONMOBIL RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventors: John H. Brownie, Mary Josephine Gale, Lyle Edwin Moran
  • Patent number: 8591724
    Abstract: A method of delivering feed, for example a paraffinic solvent treated bitumen froth, to a separation vessel, for example a froth separation unit (FSU). The feed is delivered from one or more side inlets that may be substantially normal to, and flush with, the wall of the vessel. In contrast to certain conventional feed systems used in gravity separators which use a distributor plate to widely distribute the feed with a vessel, the feed is delivered such that it flows down the inside wall of the vessel. This feed delivery is characterized by a Richardson number of greater than 1.0. Such feed delivery is particularly useful where the feed has particles with a bi-modal size distribution to be separated from an overflow stream. The gentle flow serves to mitigate the upward flux of the smaller particles, for example mineral solids, by being trapped below the larger particles, for example precipitated asphaltene aggregates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Clay R. Sutton, Ken N. Sury, Darwin Edward Kiel, John Khai-Quang Diep
  • Publication number: 20130197284
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdennour BOURANE, Raheel SHAFI, Essam SAYED, Ibrahim A. ABBA, Abdul Rahman Zafer AKHRAS
  • Publication number: 20130197289
    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: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
    Inventors: Abdennour BOURANE, Raheel SHAFI, Essam SAYED, Ibrahim A. ABBA, Abdul Rahman Zafer AKHRAS
  • Patent number: 8454821
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting hydrocarbon products from waste tailings of a froth flotation unit and a paraffinic froth treatment process are provided. Bitumen and asphaltenes from the waste tailings are extracted using a serial addition of an aromatic solvent, followed by a polar-non-polar solvent. The method and system divert valuable hydrocarbons from tailings ponds. The hydrocarbon product can be used as a coating material or an emulsion fuel, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Tapantosh Chakrabarty, Ken N. Sury
  • Patent number: 8440072
    Abstract: Method of removing metals from hydrocarbon feedstock using esters of carboxylic acids, and additives for the same, are provided, wherein hydrocarbon stream including crude oil containing metals and salts thereof, wherein metal is calcium and its salt is calcium naphthenate, is mixed with an effective metal-removing-amount of an aqueous extraction-solution of non-precipitating and non-fouling additive comprising a chemical compound selected from a group consisting of methyl or ethyl or propyl or isopropyl mono- and/or di-esters of any one of the carboxylic acids selected from the groups consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, and fumaric acid, or an appropriate combination of said esters, or an appropriate combination of any of said esters with any of said carboxylic acids to form a hydrocarbonous phase and an aqueous phase containing the metal ions; and separating aqueous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Dorf Ketal Chemicals (I) Private Limited
    Inventor: Mahesh Subramaniyam
  • Publication number: 20130104772
    Abstract: At least one embodiment of the inventive technology may involve the intentional changing of the stability of an emulsion from a first stability to a more desired, second stability upon the addition of a more aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a most aromatic asphaltene subfraction), or a less aromatic asphaltene subfraction (perhaps even a least aromatic asphatene subfraction) to a emulsion hydrocarbon of an oil emulsion, thereby increasing emulsion stability or decreasing emulsion stability, respectively. Precipitation and redis solution or sorbent-based techniques may be used to isolate a selected asphaltene subfraction before its addition to an emulsion hydrocarbon when that hydrocarbon is part of an emulsion or an ingredient of a yet-to-be-formed emulsion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research Institute
    Inventor: The University of Wyoming Research Corporation d/b/a Western Research Institute
  • Publication number: 20130092597
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulfide evolution from asphalt or heavy fuel oil may be reduced or eliminated using an additive to act as a scavenger. Zinc, in conjunction with an additional metal selected from Fe, Mn, Co, Ni, Cr, Zr, when present in the form of nano-particles of an oxide, borate or carboxylate is an effective component is preventing or mitigating the evolution of hydrogen sulfide. The nano-particles may be used neat or as a dispersion. These metals may also be complexed and used in the form of a solution. Molybdenum, when used with one or both of Fe and Zn is also a useful in any of these forms for the same purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Baker Hughes Incorporated
  • Patent number: 8407916
    Abstract: An apparatus for solvent recovery from a solvent/gas mixture from the exhaust air of systems processing printing, painting or other solvents, wherein the solvent/gas mixture from at least one oil-containing solvent/gas mixture is cooled down to a temperature below the lower condensation temperature of the oil of the solvent mixture using a heat exchanger, wherein a further, second heat exchanger is connected upstream of the heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger cooling the solvent/gas mixture specifically to the condensation temperature of an oil present in the mixture and both heat exchangers produce a recovery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Prinotech GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Haerle, Stephan Krauss
  • Patent number: 8398857
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a process for separating a solute from a solute-bearing material. A substantial amount of solute is extracted from the solute-bearing material by contacting particles of the solute-bearing material with globules of an extraction solvent. The particle size of the solute-bearing material and the globule size of the extraction solvent are balanced such that little if any solute or extraction solvent remains in the solute-bearing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Epic Oil Extractors, LLC
    Inventor: Darrell J. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20130036714
    Abstract: A continuous process for fractioning, combination, and recombination of asphalt sources into asphalt components for pelletization of asphalt and asphalt-containing products such that the pellets formed are generally uniform in dimension, freely flowing, free from agglomeration, and the pelletized asphalt is packaged, and preferably compatibly packaged, for additional processing and applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: John Bolton, Roger B. Wright
  • Patent number: 8323481
    Abstract: A method of sequestering carbon dioxide emissions during recovery of hydrocarbons from hydrocarbonaceous materials can include forming a constructed permeability control infrastructure. This constructed infrastructure defines a substantially encapsulated volume. A comminuted hydrocarbonaceous material can be introduced into the control infrastructure to form a permeable body of hydrocarbonaceous material. The permeable body can be heated sufficient to remove hydrocarbons therefrom. During heating, the hydrocarbonaceous material is substantially stationary as the constructed infrastructure is a fixed structure. Additionally, during heating, any carbon dioxide that is produced can be sequestered. Removed hydrocarbons can be collected for further processing, use in the process, and/or use as recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Red Leaf Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Dana, James W. Patten
  • Patent number: 8257580
    Abstract: Methods for preparing solvent-dry, stackable tailings. The methods may include a primary leaching or extraction process that separates most of the bitumen from a material comprising bitumen and produces first solvent-wet tailings. The first solvent-wet tailings are washed with a second solvent that removes the first solvent from the tailings. Second solvent remaining in the tailings is removed to thereby produce solvent-dry, stackable tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Julian Kift
  • Patent number: 8257579
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the dehydration of, and in-line removal of asphaltenes from, heavy and extra-heavy crudes. The method is performed at the well head at pressures of between 414 and 689 KPa and temperatures of between 60 and 100° C. and includes two phases, namely a dehydration phase and a deasphalting phase. The first phase includes the addition of solvent, removal of free water, heating, addition of emulsion breakers and settling for removal of emulsified water. The asphaltenes are extracted in the second phase. Said phase comprises the use of low-force in-line static mixers and contactors having a specific design and a sedimentation device with specific internal arrangements for separation. The recovered solvent is recirculated into the method, the improved crude is separated and the asphaltenes are used as fuel for cogeneration which supplies the energy requirements for production and the improvement method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Ecopetrol S.A.
    Inventors: Rigoberto Barrero, Luz Edelmira Afanador, Gonzalo Leal, Jorge Luis Grosso, Martha Parra, Claudia Esneiden Cuadrado, Humberto Vidales, Erika Guzman, Lilia Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8152994
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbon feedstocks can be selectively separated to provide one or more light deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the light deasphalted oil can be hydrocracked to provide one or more hydrocarbon products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Anand Subramanian, Raymond Floyd, Odette Eng
  • Patent number: 8147679
    Abstract: A continuous process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon includes the steps of: obtaining a heavy hydrocarbon; heating the heavy hydrocarbon; contacting the heavy hydrocarbon with a solvent at upgrading conditions so as to produce a first product comprising a mixture of upgraded hydrocarbon and solvent and a second product comprising asphaltene waste and water; continuously feeding the first product and the second product to a first separator; heating the first product; and continuously feeding the first product to a second separator to separate the upgraded hydrocarbon from the solvent. A system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Chirinos, Galanda Morfes, Mariángel Alvarez, Félix Silva
  • Patent number: 8133446
    Abstract: Slurry hydrocracking a heavy hydrocarbon feed produces a HVGO stream and a pitch stream. At least a portion of the pitch stream is subjected to SDA to prepare a DAO stream low in metals. The DAO is blended with at least a portion of the HVGO stream to provide turbine or marine fuel with acceptable properties for combustion in gas turbines or for marine fuel grades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: James F. McGehee, Lorenz J. Bauer
  • Publication number: 20120055843
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock is provided. The method includes the steps of (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (c) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; (d) collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds; and (e) supplying the residue stream to a deasphalting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Abdennour Bourane, Omer Refa Koseoglu, Stephane Cyrille Kressmann
  • Patent number: 8114274
    Abstract: A process for removing contaminants, namely water and particulate solids, from hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen froth (“dilfroth”) is provided to produce hydrocarbon diluent-diluted bitumen (“dilbit”), comprising subjecting the dilfroth to gravity settling in a primary settler to produce an overflow stream of primary raw dilbit, comprising bitumen containing water and some fine solids, and an underflow stream of primary tails, comprising solids, water and residual bitumen; removing the overflow stream of primary raw dilbit and subjecting it to gravity settling in a clarifier vessel for sufficient time to produce an overflow first stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of clarifier sludge; diluting the primary tails with hydrocarbon diluent and subjecting the diluted primary tails to gravity settling in a secondary settler to produce an overflow second stream of cleaned dilbit and an underflow stream of secondary tails; and removing the clarifier sludge and diluting the clarifier sludge with a hyd
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Syncrude Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Moran, George Cymerman, Tom Tran
  • Patent number: 8110090
    Abstract: Integrated slurry hydrocracking (SHC) and solvent deasphalting (SDA) methods for making slurry hydrocracking (SHC) distillates are disclosed. Representative methods involve passing a slurry comprising a vacuum column resid, a recycled, deasphalted oil obtained from SDA, and a solid particulate through an SHC reaction zone in the presence of hydrogen to obtain the SHC distillate. Fractionation or distillation in the SHC product recovery section yields a combined SHC gas oil/SHC pitch stream that is sent to SDA. In a representative embodiment, vacuum distillation in the SHC product recovery is avoided, thereby eliminating equipment that is often most susceptible to fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Zimmerman, Mark Van Wees, Robert S. Haizmann, Milan Skripek
  • Patent number: 8101067
    Abstract: Methods for obtaining bitumen from bituminous material. The methods may include a dissolution step where a first solvent is added to material comprising bitumen to dissolve the bitumen contained therein. The majority of the dissolved bitumen is then removed from the mixture of first solvent and material comprising bitumen by filtering or settling the mixture of first solvent and material comprising bitumen. Any residual dissolved bitumen is then removed from the mixture of first solvent and material comprising bitumen by adding additional first solvent to the mixture to displace the residual dissolved bitumen from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Willem P. C. Duyvesteyn, Julian Kift
  • Patent number: 8048291
    Abstract: Systems and methods for processing one or more hydrocarbons are provided. One or more hydrocarbons can be selectively separated to provide one or more heavy deasphalted oils. At least a portion of the heavy deasphalted oil can be thermally cracked to provide one or more lighter hydrocarbon products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Brown & Root LLC
    Inventors: Anand Subramanian, Raymond Floyd
  • Patent number: 8017000
    Abstract: Process for the conversion of heavy feedstocks selected from heavy crude oils, distillation residues, heavy oils coming from catalytic treatment, thermal tars, oil sand bitumens, various kinds of coals and other high-boiling feedstocks of a hydrocarbon origin known as black oils, by the combined use of the following three process units: hydroconversion with catalysts in slurry phase (HT), distillation or flash (D), and deasphalting (SDA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignees: ENI S.p.A., SNAMPROGETTI S.p.A., ENITECNOLOGIE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Romolo Montanari, Mario Marchionna, Nicoletta Panariti, Alberto Delbianco, Sergio Rosi
  • Publication number: 20110210044
    Abstract: A method and system for extracting hydrocarbon products from waste tailings of a froth flotation unit and a paraffinic froth treatment process are provided. Bitumen and asphaltenes from the waste tailings are extracted using a serial addition of an aromatic solvent, followed by a polar-non-polar solvent. The method and system divert valuable hydrocarbons from tailings ponds. The hydrocarbon product can be used as a coating material or an emulsion fuel, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Tapantosh Chakrabarty, Ken N. Sury
  • Patent number: 7985333
    Abstract: Various methods and systems for obtaining bitumen from tar sands are disclosed. The disclosed methods and/or systems can be used to economically achieve a high degree of bitumen recovery from tar sands. The method may include a primary leaching or extraction process that separates most of the bitumen from the tar sands and results in a bitumen-enriched component and a bitumen-depleted component. The bitumen-enriched component includes mainly solvent and bitumen. The bitumen-depleted component includes mainly water and mineral solids with some residual bitumen and solvent. The bitumen-depleted component may be mixed with liquefied petroleum gas, e.g., propane and/or butane, to further separate the residual solvent and bitumen. The disclosed system can include separators configured to separate the various components at the various stages in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Marathon Oil Canada Corporation
    Inventor: Willem P C Duyvesteyn