"Rail travel at high speeds is not possible because passengers, unable to breathe, would die of asphyxia."
Dionysius Lardner, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy at University College, London ; 1830
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7964092 | Heavy hydrocarbon dewatering and upgrading process Systems and methods for processing hydrocarbons are provided. A first mixture including one or more hydrocarbons and water can be separated to provide a first waste water and a second mixture. The second mixture can be apportioned into a first portion and a second p... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7662275 | Methods of managing water in oil shale development The present disclosure relates to a system and method of providing water management and utilization during the process of dewatering and retorting of oil shale. More specifically, the process described relates to co-producing potable and non-potable water, for vario... | 02/16/2010 |
| 7442290 | Mesoporous aluminum oxide, preparation and use thereof Mesoporous aluminum oxides with high surface areas have been synthesized using inexpensive, small organic templating agents instead of surfactants. Optionally, some of the aluminum can be framework-substituted by one or more other elements. The material has high the... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7341102 | Flue gas injection for heavy oil recovery A variety of methods for thermal recovery of natural gas and bitumen from a formation containing the latter. In general, the methods incorporate a series of existing, but previously uncombined technologies. A modified flue gas from the steam generators conventionall... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7326819 | High-activity isomerization catalyst and process A catalyst and process is disclosed to selectively upgrade a paraffinic feedstock to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. The catalyst comprises a support of a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of a Group IVB (IUPAC 4) metal, a first component of... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7323342 | Method for improving oil desalting by forming unstable water-in-oil emulsions A method for determination for a given oil the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by that oil with water comprises measuring for the given oil the weight fraction of the oil that is most strongly adsorbed on a silica gel column success... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7279017 | Method for converting heavy oil residuum to a useful fuel A method for enabling the use of heavy oil residuum by conversion to a useful product. The method, in one embodiment, involves the use of a heavy oil residuum which is substantially non flowable. The viscosity of the residuum is reduced by heat or a combination of h... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7270741 | Method of purifying a water-rich stream produced during a fischer-tropsch reaction This invention relates to an improved method of separating non-acid chemicals from a water rich stream produced during a Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction. ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7261808 | Upgrading of pre-processed used oils A process to further upgrade a pre-processed used lubricating oil by: (a) contacting the partially upgraded used oil in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrodemetallization catalyst; (b) contacting the effluent of step (a) in the presence o... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7226533 | Process for re-refining used oils by solvent extraction A process to re-refine used petroleum oils by extraction with aliphatic solvents, wherein after eliminating the extract solvent, the process consists of the following treatments, (a) flash, continuous vaporization, at atmospheric pressure or near atmospheric pressur... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7198715 | Device for separating fluid mixtures A device for separating fluid mixtures, in particular for separating water from oil, includes a vacuum container (10) with several sub-chambers (26, 44, 40). At least one liquid constituent of the fluid mixture can be transported from the vacuum contai... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7150822 | Five degrees for separation A process for heating thermally unstable or difficult to heat liquid feeds, e.g., used lubricating oil (ULO) to dehydrate and/or recover distillable components therefrom, is disclosed. The liquid feed is heated by direct contact heat exchange with molten metal, pref... | 12/19/2006 |
| 7108780 | Oil desalting by forming unstable water-in-oil emulsions A method for determination for a given oil the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by that oil with water comprises measuring for the given oil the weight percent asphaltenes (A), total acid number (TAN), and ratio of the amount of naph... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7097761 | Method of removing water and contaminants from crude oil containing same A method for contaminant and water removal from crude oil. The method involves recirculating at least a portion of the dewatered crude into a dehydrator. The dehydrator contains a heated dehydrated crude oil and the surface or adjacent thereto is maintained at a tem... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7077950 | Continuous process for the removal of water from a hydrocarbon stream Process for the continuous drying of a hydrocarbon stream at a temperature being effective in drying the stream with an ionic liquid drying agent comprising a salt of sulphuric acid being in liquid or melted form at the drying temperature. ... | 07/18/2006 |
| 7059180 | Water cut rate of change analytic method A method of measuring a water effect on an underground non-water well includes the steps of assembling a history of water cut (WC) measurements for the well over an extended period of time, determining a water cut rate of change (R) for the well based upon the histo... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7060865 | Recovery of C4 olefins from a product stream comprising C4 olefins, dimethyl ether and C5+ hydrocarbons Disclosed is a process for removing DME from a stream containing C4 olefins. The process includes providing a first stream comprising C4 olefins, C5+ hydrocarbons, DME, and methanol. The first stream is separated into a second stream comprising the C4 olefins and th... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7045038 | Process for treating waste oil There is disclosed a burnable used oil fuel product by the process comprising: (a) obtaining a used oil sample having at least 1% (by weight) aqueous substances; (b) heating the used oil sample to a temperature of ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7008536 | Oil desalting and dewatering The invention includes a method for dewatering and/or desalting a water-in-oil emulsion comprising introducing a plurality of streams of the emulsion into the electrostatic field under opposed flow whereby the water coalescence is enhanced. The invention also includ... | 03/07/2006 |
| 6923257 | In situ thermal processing of an oil shale formation to produce a condensate An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyro... | 08/02/2005 |
| 6881873 | High-activity isomerization catalyst and process A catalyst and process is disclosed to selectively upgrade a paraffinic feedstock to obtain an isoparaffin-rich product for blending into gasoline. The catalyst comprises a support of a sulfated oxide or hydroxide of a Group IVB (IUPAC 4) metal, a first component of... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6849175 | Method of removing water and contaminants from crude oil containing same A method for contaminant and water removal from crude oil. The method involves recirculating at least a portion of the dewatered crude into a dehydrator. The dehydrator contains a heated dehydrated crude oil and the surface or adjacent thereto is maintained at a tem... | 02/01/2005 |
| 6787027 | Breaking of oil/water emulsion Process for separating an emulsion of a bituminous oil and water into a liquid water phase and a liquid bituminous oil phase, wherein the following steps are performed: (a) raising the temperature of the bituminous oil/water emulsion having a temperature of below 10... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6774276 | Method and system for transporting a flow of fluid hydrocarbons containing water A method of transporting a flow of fluid hydrocarbons containing water through a treatment and transportation system including a pipeline, wherein the flow of fluid hydrocarbons is introduced into a reactor where it is mixed with particles of gas hydrates which are ... | 08/10/2004 |
| 6746599 | Staged settling process for removing water and solids from oils and extraction froth Diluent-diluted bitumen froth containing bitumen and naphtha diluent, hydrocarbons, water, sand and fines (collectively “dilfroth”) is fed into a vapor-tight gravity settler (‘splitter’) and temporarily retained to produce a bottom layer of tails comprising ... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6740229 | Method for drying the charge from a unit that treats petroleum cuts with a low water charge This invention relates to a method for drying the charge of a unit that treats petroleum cuts with a low water charge that consists in injecting a hydrolysable chemical compound into said charge. The quantity of the chemical compound injected is at least equa... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6673239 | Hydrocarbon purificatin system regeneration A system and process for removing water and heteroatom-containing compounds from hydrocarbons and for regenerating the adsorbent used in the system and process is disclosed and includes contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a water adsorbent and a hetero... | 01/06/2004 |
| 6589417 | Thermal apparatus and process for removing contaminants from oil Used oil is treated in a reactor to remove contaminants. The reactor comprises a rotating vessel housed within a heating chamber. The inside of the vessel is indirectly heated by conduction through the vessel walls. The vessel contains a permanently resid... | 07/08/2003 |
| 6447672 | CONTINUOUS PLURAL STAGE HEATED VAPOR INJECTION PROCESS FOR RECOVERING LUBE OIL BASE STOCKS FROM USED MOTOR OIL FORMULATIONS, AND ASPHALT BLEND COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING USED MOTOR OIL BOTTOMS FROM SAID PROCESS A continuous, hot vapor injection process and apparatus is provided for recovering lube oil base stocks from used lubricating oil containing distillable liquid hydrocarbons and water. Also disclosed is an asphalt blend composition containing an asphalt co... | 09/10/2002 |
| 6383367 | Method and apparatus for separating water from oil A method and apparatus for separating water from oil includes creating a vacuum in a container so that oil which contains water and gas bubbles is drawn upward through a first section of the container. At the top of the first section, the oil impacts a ba... | 05/07/2002 |
| 6372123 | Method of removing water and contaminants from crude oil containing same A method for contaminant and water removal from crude oil. The method involves recirculating at least a portion of the dewatered crude into a dehydrator. The dehydrator contains a heated dehydrated crude oil and the surface or adjacent thereto is maintain... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6287455 | Purifier for lubricating oil or hydraulic oil The present invention provides a means of removing water, antifreeze and fuel from lubricating or hydraulic oil by evaporating these impurities and venting them out of the purifier. The oil is heated by heat of an exposed horizontal heating wand within th... | 09/11/2001 |
| 6274030 | Filtration of feed to integration of solvent deasphalting and gasification The invention is a process of removing solids, particularly catalyst fines, from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid. The process comprises contacting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid with a solvent to create a mixture. The solvent is t... | 08/14/2001 |
| 6204421 | Method of disposing of waste in a coking process A method for recycling a waste stream containing water and solids comprises (a) removing water from the waste stream to produce a second stream containing less than 60% by weight water, (b) drying the second stream to produce a waste feed charge containin... | 03/20/2001 |
| 6173776 | Cleaning compositions for oil and gas wells, lines, casings, formations and equipment and methods of use The use of high flash point, low vapor pressure compositions for injection into, and coating of, gas and oil wells and surrounding underground hydrocarbon bearing formations and processing equipment for the purpose of removing scale, paraffins, tars, and ... | 01/16/2001 |
| 6106700 | Method of treating crude oil with an amine oxide compound An aqueous composition containing an amine oxide surfactant, and preferably containing an amine oxide surfactant and enzymes, is added to crude oil, preferably by injecting the composition into the oil well, or adding the composition to pipelines or tanka... | 08/22/2000 |
| 6090273 | Process to remove ash-forming contaminants from wet used oil Used lubricating oil containing unacceptable levels of moisture and ash-forming contaminants is dried and clarified by a process that includes flash drying, heat treating at a temperature within the range of 600°-700° F. for 2-5 hours, and cooling the h... | 07/18/2000 |
| 6083406 | Lubricating oil reconditioning system Apparatus and methods for improved in-line contaminant removal from engine lubricating oil are provided which employ gravity to achieve a desired flow rate of oil. The invention is adapted for use with an existing engine oil lubrication system and continu... | 07/04/2000 |
| 6063972 | Hydrate inhibition A method of inhibiting or retarding formation of hydrates from water and a lower alkane, such as methane or ethane, involves adding additives which comprise (i) a corrosion inhibitor and (ii) a salt which is of formula [R1 (R2)XR | 05/16/2000 |
| 6042718 | Process for removing water from a water-containing crude oil A process and apparatus for treating a crude oil containing water. An inlet introduces a flow of the crude oil into the apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the water is a vapor. A first separator disrupts the crude oil flow in order to separate at le... | 03/28/2000 |