Robert Earl Pennington

US Patent:

39996077, Dec 28, 1976

Filed:

Jan 22, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/651661

Inventors:

Robert E. Pennington - Baytown TX
Michael A. Gibson - Houston TX
George T. Arnold - Baytown TX

Assignee:

Exxon Research and Engineering Company - Linden NJ

International Classification:

E21B 4324
E21B 4326

US Classification:

166259

Abstract:

Coal liquids and gases are recovered from a thick underground coal seam by drilling one or more boreholes from the earth's surface into the lower part of the seam, burning out the coal over a limited area near the bottom of the seam, collapsing the overlying coal to form a rubblized zone extending vertically to a point near the upper boundary of the seam, driving a flame front vertically through the rubblized zone to liberate hydrocarbon liquids and produce gases, and recovering the liquids and gases from the rubblized zone.

US Patent:

43668640, Jan 4, 1983

Filed:

Nov 24, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/209560

Inventors:

Michael A. Gibson - Houston TX
Robert E. Pennington - Baytown TX
George T. Arnold - Baytown TX

Assignee:

Exxon Research And Engineering Co. - Florham Park NJ

International Classification:

E21B 43247

US Classification:

166259

Abstract:

Hydrocarbon liquids and/or gases are recovered from thick underground deposits of oil-bearing limestone or dolomite by drilling two or more boreholes from the earth's surface into the lower part of the deposit, establishing communication between the boreholes, burning the oil in said limestone or dolomite in an area between the boreholes to decompose the alkaline earth carbonate into alkaline earth oxide, flushing out the alkaline earth oxide formed by the combustion with water to form a cavity, collapsing the overlying oil-bearing limestone or dolomite into the cavity to form a rubblized zone extending vertically to a point near the upper boundary of the deposit, driving a flame front vertically through the rubblized zone to liberate hydrocarbon liquids and produce gases, and recovering the liquids and/or gases from the rubblized zone.

US Patent:

39589579, May 25, 1976

Filed:

Jul 1, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/485041

Inventors:

Kwang K. Koh - Seabrook TX
Robert E. Pennington - Baytown TX
Lonnie W. Vernon - Baytown TX
Nicholas C. Nahas - Baytown TX

Assignee:

Exxon Research and Engineering Company - Linden NJ

International Classification:

C07C 904

US Classification:

48197R

Abstract:

Methane is produced by contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide and hydrogen with a carbon-alkali metal catalyst at a temperature in the range between about 800. degree. F. and about 1500. degree. F. and at a pressure between about atmospheric and about 2000 psig. The catalyst employed may be prepared by heating an intimate mixture of coal, coal char, coke or other carbonaceous solids and an alkali metal salt, hydroxide or similar constituent. Such a catalyst promotes the methanation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and the formation of higher hydrocarbons by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction and at the same time is resistant to high temperature sintering and poisoning by sulfur compounds present in the feed gas. The catalyst can be regenerated if necessary by air oxidation.