Michael Andrew Berger

US Patent:

6358422, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Nov 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/706130

Inventors:

Jeffrey J. Smith - New Orleans LA
Michael R. Johnson - Mandeville LA
John Occhipinti - Mandeville LA
Elmo Robichaux - Cut Off LA
Michael A. Berger - New Orleans LA

Assignee:

AMCOL International Corporation - Arlington Heights IL

International Classification:

C02F 140

US Classification:

210691, 210746, 210112, 210252, 210282

Abstract:

Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e. g. , a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination. At some point in time, the organophilic media will become âspentâ and at a certain âspent levelâ, the saturated condition of the organomedia will be electronically detected by the embedded probe and alarm/control panel.

US Patent:

6398951, Jun 4, 2002

Filed:

Aug 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/925869

Inventors:

Jeffrey J. Smith - New Orleans LA
Michael R. Johnson - Mandeville LA
John Occhipinti - Mandeville LA
Elmo Robichaux - Cut Off LA
Michael A. Berger - New Orleans LA

Assignee:

AMCOL International Corporation - Arlington Heights IL

International Classification:

C02F 140

US Classification:

210 85, 210291, 210458

Abstract:

Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e. g. , a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination. At some point in time, the organophilic media will become âspentâ and at a certain âspent levelâ, the saturated condition of the organomedia will be electronically detected by the embedded probe and alarm/control panel.

US Patent:

6398966, Jun 4, 2002

Filed:

Aug 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/925898

Inventors:

Jeffrey J. Smith - New Orleans LA
Michael R. Johnson - Mandeville LA
John Occhipinti - Mandeville LA
Elmo Robichaux - Cut Off LA
Michael A. Berger - New Orleans LA

Assignee:

AMCOL International Corporation - Arlington Heights IL

International Classification:

C02F 128

US Classification:

210691, 210662, 210746, 210804, 210808, 210924

Abstract:

Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e. g. , a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic media canisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic media and detected by the embedded probe in selected canisters. The canisters are provided in a plurality of stacks and are in fluid communication with a header disposed at the bottom of the vessel housing the various stacks of canisters. Solids that do not pass through the canisters are accumulated at the bottom of the vessel and easily drained through a drain port. The water will pass through the media and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination. At some point in time, the organophilic media will become âspentâ and at a certain âspent levelâ, the saturated condition of the organomedia will be electronically detected by the embedded probe and alarm/control panel.

US Patent:

62352016, May 22, 2001

Filed:

Jul 13, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/352457

Inventors:

Jeffrey J. Smith - New Orleans LA
Michael A. Berger - New Orleans LA
Jerald W. Darlington - Marengo IL
Michael R. Johnson - Mandeville LA

Assignee:

AMCOL International Corporation - Arlington Heights IL

International Classification:

C02F 140

US Classification:

210691

Abstract:

Apparatus in fluid communication with a water leg portion of a hydrocarbon-contaminated water, e. g. , a water leg portion of an offshore drilling or production platform sump tank for conveying water, separated from oil, into contact with organophilic clay cannisters such that the hydrocarbons and other organic materials commingled with the sump tank water will be adsorbed onto the organophilic clay and detected by the embedded probe in selected cannisters. The water will pass through the clay and will be conveyed back to the ocean water without contamination. At some point in time, the organophilic clay will become "spent" and at a certain "spent level", the saturated condition of the organoclay will be electronically detected by the embedded probe and alarm/control panel. The alarm indicates that the "spent" organophilic clay should be replaced with fresh clay or the spent clay regenerated.