Eugene Ritter Thomas

US Patent:

6632266, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/234920

Inventors:

Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX
Harry W. Deckman - Clinton NJ
Donald J. Victory - Sugar Land TX
Ronald R. Chance - Annandale NJ
Russell H. Oelfke - Houston TX

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

B01D 5322

US Classification:

95 49, 95 50, 95 51

Abstract:

The invention relates to a method of separating one or more components from a multi-component gas stream comprising at least one non-acid gas component and at least one acid gas component. A multi-component gas stream at a pressure above 1,200 psia (82. 8 bar) and a temperature above 120Â F. (48. 9Â C. ) with the concentration of at least one acid gas component in the gas stream being at least 20 mole percent is passed to a membrane system that selectively separates at least one acid gas component from the multi-component gas stream as a permeate stream. The permeate stream has a pressure at least 20% of the pressure of the feed pressure.

US Patent:

6755251, Jun 29, 2004

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/234907

Inventors:

Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX
Thomas A. Paulley - Houston TX
Donald J. Victory - Sugar Land TX
Harry W. Deckman - Clinton NJ

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 4308

US Classification:

166265, 166266, 166227

Abstract:

The invention is a method and system of separating a multi-component fluid in a wellbore. At least one fluid separation membrane comprising a feed side and a permeate side is incorporated in the wellbore. A flowing stream of the multi-component fluid obtained from a subterranean zone being in fluid communication with the wellbore is passed across the feed side of the membrane at a first pressure. A retentate stream depleted in at least one component compared to the multi-component fluid is withdrawn from the feed side of the membrane and passed to the earths surface. A permeate stream at a second pressure is withdrawn from the permeate side, in which the permeate stream is enriched in at least one component compared with the multi-component fluid. The second pressure is controlled to maintain the second pressure below the first pressure.

US Patent:

7128150, Oct 31, 2006

Filed:

Sep 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/234620

Inventors:

Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX, US
P. Scott Northrop - Spring TX, US
Hua Hu - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 43/38
E21B 43/40

US Classification:

166266, 166265, 166306, 166401, 166402, 40512935, 588250

Abstract:

This invention is method of recovering gas from a gas-bearing subterranean formation in which gas is produced from an upper portion of the formation and a waste gas is injected into a lower portion of the formation to dispose of the waste gas. The waste gas is injected within a 3000 foot (914 m) radial distance from the production of the gas. The injection and production can be carried out using one well or a plurality of wells.

US Patent:

8298997, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

Jun 14, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/305636

Inventors:

Ramesh Varadaraj - Flemington NJ, US
Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

C09K 8/58

US Classification:

507259, 507258, 507263, 507265, 507276, 1663051

Abstract:

A method is provided for enhancing the shear stability of a high-viscosity fluid-water flow system, such as a core annular flow system. The method employs a family of demulsifier additives for maintaining separation of the fluids in biphasic flow. The additive family is sodium salts of polynuclear aromatic sulfonic acids. In one aspect, the high-viscosity fluid is heavy oil. A method of transporting heavy oil through a tubular body is also provided. The method includes pumping the heavy oil through the tubular body within an annular flow of water, and subjecting the water in the tubular body to a salt of a polynuclear, aromatic sulfonic acid additive so as to improve shear stability of the heavy oil and water.

US Patent:

8444750, May 21, 2013

Filed:

Apr 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/080661

Inventors:

Harry W. Deckman - Clinton NJ, US
Ronald R. Chance - Annandale NJ, US
Sebastian C. Reyes - Branchburg NJ, US
Gregory J. DeMartin - Flemington NJ, US
Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX, US
Paul S. Northrop - Spring TX, US
Bruce T. Kelley - Kingwood TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

B01D 53/02

US Classification:

95 96, 95148, 96130

Abstract:

The present invention relates to the separation of one or more of CO, N, and HS gas components from a gas mixture containing at least a second gas using a swing adsorption process unit. The adsorbent contactors of the swing adsorption process unit are engineered structured adsorbent contactors having a plurality of flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors is in the mesopore and macropore range.

US Patent:

8529662, Sep 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/080660

Inventors:

Bruce T. Kelley - Kingwood TX, US
Paul S. Northrop - Spring TX, US
Ronald R. Chance - Annandale NJ, US
Harry W. Deckman - Clinton NJ, US
Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

B01D 53/047

US Classification:

95 96, 95148

Abstract:

A process for the separation of one or more heavy hydrocarbon gases from a gas mixture containing heavy hydrocarbon gas components and methane. The process is conducted in swing adsorption apparatus containing adsorbent contactor having a plurality of flow channels and wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactors, is in the mesopore and macropore range.

US Patent:

8529663, Sep 10, 2013

Filed:

Apr 4, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/080782

Inventors:

Sebastian C. Reyes - Branchburg NJ, US
Harry W. Deckman - Clinton NJ, US
Ronald R. Chance - Annandale NJ, US
Gregory J. DeMartin - Flemington NJ, US
Frank Hershkowitz - Liberty Corner NJ, US
Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX, US
Paul S. Northrop - Spring TX, US
Bruce T. Kelley - Kingwood TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

B01D 53/047

US Classification:

95 96, 95148, 96130

Abstract:

The present invention relates the separation of a target gas from a mixture of gases through the use of engineered structured adsorbent contactors in pressure swing adsorption and thermal swing adsorption processes. Preferably, the contactors contain engineered and substantially parallel flow channels wherein 20 volume percent or less of the open pore volume of the contactor, excluding the flow channels, is in the mesopore and macropore range.

US Patent:

8529664, Sep 10, 2013

Filed:

May 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/152874

Inventors:

Harry W. Deckman - Clinton NJ, US
Bruce T. Kelley - Kingwood TX, US
Eugene R. Thomas - Houston TX, US
Ronald R. Chance - Annandale NJ, US
Paul S. Northrop - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company - Annandale NJ

International Classification:

B01D 53/02

US Classification:

95 96, 95148, 96130

Abstract:

The separation of a target gas selected from a high pressure gas mixture containing said target gas as well as a product gas using a swing adsorption process unit. A turboexpander is used upstream of the swing adsorber to reduce the pressure of the high pressure gas mixture. A compressor is optionally used downstream of the swing adsorber to increase the pressure of the target gas-containing stream for injecting into a subterranean formation.