John A Stone

US Patent:

6510706, Jan 28, 2003

Filed:

May 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/863191

Inventors:

John B. Stone - Kingwood TX
Horace G. Winningham - Anderson TX

Assignee:

ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

F25J 100

US Classification:

62620, 62611

Abstract:

A process for removing hydrocarbons less volatile than methane from a pressurized liquid natural gas (PLNG). PLNG is heated in a heat exchanger, thereby vaporizing at least a portion of the PLNG. The partially vaporized PLNG is passed to a fractionation column. A liquid stream enriched with hydrocarbons (C or C ) less volatile than methane is withdrawn from a lower portion of the fractionation column and a vapor stream lean in the hydrocarbons less volatile than methane is withdrawn from an upper portion of the fractionation column. The withdrawn vapor stream is passed to the heat exchanger to condense the vapor to produce PLNG lean in hydrocarbons less volatile than methane.

US Patent:

20070193303, Aug 23, 2007

Filed:

Jun 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/629744

Inventors:

Daniel Hawrysz - Houston TX, US
John Stone - Kingwood TX, US

Assignee:

EXXONMOBIL UPSTREAM RESEARCH COMPANY - Houston TX

International Classification:

F25J 1/00
F25J 3/00

US Classification:

062612000, 062620000

Abstract:

The current invention is related to hydrocarbon fluid processing plants, methods of designing hydrocarbon fluid processing plants, methods of operating hydrocarbon fluid processing plants, and methods of producing hydrocarbon fluids using hydrocarbon fluid processing plants. More particularly, some embodiments of the invention are related to natural gas liquefaction plants, methods of designing natural gas liquefaction plants, methods of operating natural gas liquefaction plants and methods of producing LNG using natural gas liquefaction plants. One embodiment of the invention includes a hydrocarbon fluid processing plant including a plurality of process unit module types, the plurality of process unit module types including at least a first process unit module type including one or more first process unit modules and a second process unit module type including two or more integrated second process unit modules wherein at least one of the first process unit modules and at least one of the second process unit modules are sized at their respective substantially maximum processing efficiency.

US Patent:

20070227185, Oct 4, 2007

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/579129

Inventors:

John Stone - Kingwood TX, US
Daniel Hawrysz - Houston TX, US
E. Kimble - Sugar Land TX, US

International Classification:

F25J 1/00

US Classification:

062611000

Abstract:

A method for liquefying a natural gas stream is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes placing a mixed component refrigerant in a heat exchange area with a process stream; separating the mixed component refrigerant at one or more pressure levels to produce a refrigerant vapor and a refrigerant liquid; bypassing the refrigerant vapor around the heat exchange area to a compression unit; and passing the refrigerant liquid to the heat exchange area. In another embodiment, the method further includes partially evaporating the refrigerant liquid stream within the heat exchange area to retain a liquid fraction of at least 1% by weight.

US Patent:

20090217701, Sep 3, 2009

Filed:

May 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/922623

Inventors:

Moses Minta - Missouri City TX, US
Kevin N. Stanley - Doha, QA
John B. Stone - Kingwood TX, US
Ronald R. Bowen - Magnolia TX, US
Linda J. Cote - Sugar Land TX, US

International Classification:

F25J 1/00

US Classification:

62612, 62613

Abstract:

Embodiments of this invention relate to a process for liquefaction of natural gas and other methane-rich gas streams, and more particularly to a process for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG). In a first step of the process, a first fraction of the feed gas is withdrawn, compressed to a pressure greater than or equal to 1500 psia, cooled and expanded to a lower pressure to cool the withdrawn first fraction. The remaining fraction of the feed stream is cooled by indirect heat exchange with the expanded first fraction in a first heat exchange process. In a second step a separate stream comprising flash vapor is compressed, cooled and expanded to a lower pressure providing another cold stream. This cold stream is used to cool the remaining feed gas stream in a second indirect heat exchange process. The expanded stream exiting from the second heat exchange process is used for supplemental cooling in the first indirect heat exchange step. The remaining feed gas is subsequently expanded to a lower pressure, thereby partially liquefying this feed gas stream. The liquefied fraction of this stream is withdrawn from the process as LNG having a temperature corresponding to the bubble point pressure.

US Patent:

20100186445, Jul 29, 2010

Filed:

Jun 26, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/668811

Inventors:

Moses Minta - Missouri City TX, US
John B. Stone - Kingwood TX, US
Raymond Scott Feist - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

F25J 1/00

US Classification:

62606

Abstract:

The described invention relates to processes and systems for treating a gas stream, particularly one rich in methane for forming liquefied natural gas (LNG), said process including: (a) providing a gas stream; (b) providing a refrigerant; (c) compressing said refrigerant to provide a compressed refrigerant; (d) cooling said compressed refrigerant by indirect heat exchange with a cooling fluid; (e) expanding the refrigerant of (d) to cool said refrigerant, thereby producing an expanded, cooled refrigerant; (f) passing said expanded, cooled refrigerant to a first heat exchange area; (g) compressing the gas stream of (a) to a pressure of from greater than or equal to 1,000 psia to less than or equal to 4,500 psia; (h) cooling said compressed gas stream by indirect heat exchange with an external cooling fluid; and heat exchanging the compressed gas stream with the expanded, cooled refrigerant stream.

US Patent:

43517161, Sep 28, 1982

Filed:

Mar 15, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/020603

Inventors:

Martin L. Gorbaty - Westfield NJ
John B. Stone - Houston TX
Syamal K. Poddar - Houston TX

Assignee:

Exxon Research & Engineering Co. - Florham Park NJ

International Classification:

C10G 102

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

Scale formation during the liquefaction of lower ranking coals and similar carbonaceous materials is significantly reduced and/or prevented by pretreatment with a combination of pretreating agents comprising SO. sub. 2 and an oxidizing agent. The pretreatment is believed to convert at least a portion of the scale-forming components and particularly calcium, to the corresponding sulfate prior to liquefaction. The pretreatment may be accomplished with the combination of pretreating agents either simultaneously by using a mixture comprising SO. sub. 2 and an oxidizing agent or sequentially by first treating with SO. sub. 2 and then with an oxidizing agent.

US Patent:

44500661, May 22, 1984

Filed:

Nov 8, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/440062

Inventors:

John B. Stone - Houston TX
Frank M. Floyd - Baytown TX

Assignee:

Exxon Research and Engineering Co. - Florham Park NJ

International Classification:

C10G 100

US Classification:

208 8LE

Abstract:

Scale formation during the liquefaction of lower ranking coals and similar carbonaceous materials is significantly reduced and/or prevented by hydrothermal pretreatment. The said pretreatment is believed to convert the scale-forming components to the corresponding carbonate prior to liquefaction. The said pretreatment is accomplished at a total pressure within the range from about 1000 to about 4400 psia. Temperature during said pretreatment will generally be within the range from about 500. degree. to about 700. degree. F.

US Patent:

52654273, Nov 30, 1993

Filed:

Jun 26, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/904787

Inventors:

John B. Stone - Kingwood TX
George N. Jones - Houston TX

Assignee:

Exxon Production Research Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

F25J 300

US Classification:

62 20

Abstract:

A process for obtaining ethane and propane refrigerant from a lean feed gas is disclosed. Said process involves the addition of a small amount of propane to a stream of said lean feed gas, thus widening the phase envelope and increasing the ease of separation of the methane and nitrogen from heavier components.