Roger Ken Noble

US Patent:

6576145, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Jun 18, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/883718

Inventors:

Lawrence M. Conaway - Niagara Falls NY
Roger Noble - Tulsa OK
Michael Keller - Tulsa OK
David Caffey - Bixby OK

Assignee:

Continuum Environmental, LLC - Niagara Falls NY

International Classification:

C02F 172

US Classification:

210759, 210766, 210768, 210774, 210805, 210808

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for treating a mixture of mineral substrate particles and hydrocarbon compounds, especially tar sands and contaminated soils, to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned substrate portion. In a preferably continuous process, hydrocarbonaceous rock, sand, ore, or soil containing bitumen, petroleum, and/or kerogen is crushed or otherwise comminuted as needed to the particle size of sand or smaller. The comminuted ore is mixed with water to form a slurry, is heated to between 60Â C. and 100Â C. , and is blended with an oxidant in aqueous solution, preferably hydrogen peroxide. Both free interstitial hydrocarbons and those hydrocarbons bound electrostatically to the surfaces of clay-like particles in the ore are released from the mineral substrate.

US Patent:

6840760, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

Aug 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/640193

Inventors:

Michael R. Keller - Tulsa OK, US
Roger K. Noble - Tulsa OK, US
John A. Simmer - Jenks OK, US

International Classification:

F23D 1400

US Classification:

431202, 431 4, 431 5, 431190

Abstract:

An improved flare burner for burning combustible gases in petroleum and petrochemical installations. A cylindrical shell has a closed bottom and an open top. A central opening in the bottom is connectable to a source of the gas to be burned. A plurality of linear steam/gas tubes is disposed within the shell, each tube extending to the open end of the shell and also extending through the shell bottom. A lower steam distribution sub-assembly below the shell bottom includes individual steam jets adjacent the ends of the tubes for educting air to the upper end of the tube. A pilot gas sub-assembly for igniting the flare gas is disposed within the shell. Gas to be burned is passed into the interior of the shell through the bottom opening and moves to the open end. Steam injected into the steam/air tubes educts air, and air and steam exit the tubes and mix with the gas to create a combustible mixture. The pilot light assembly provides an open flame which ignites the mixture.

US Patent:

6951248, Oct 4, 2005

Filed:

Jul 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/195096

Inventors:

Lawrence M. Conaway - Niagara Falls NY, US
Roger Noble - Tulsa OK, US
Michael Keller - Tulsa OK, US
David Caffey - Bixby OK, US

Assignee:

Continuum Environmental, LLC - Niagara Falls NY

International Classification:

E21B043/24

US Classification:

166270, 1662726

Abstract:

A method for separating oil from geological formations by application of an aqueous oxidant. The oxidant breaks the interfacial attraction between the oil phase and the geological formation and also produces ketone moieties which assist in separating the oil phase from the mineral phase and also dissolve into the oil phase, thereby decreasing the viscosity. The method is especially useful in recovering heavy oil from geological formations wherein oil has been previously extracted to exhaustion by prior art methods.

US Patent:

7229547, Jun 12, 2007

Filed:

Jan 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767871

Inventors:

Byron G. Merrell - Vernal UT, US
Michael R. Keller - Tulsa OK, US
Roger K. Noble - Tulsa OK, US

Assignee:

Oil-Tech, Inc. - Morris Plains NJ

International Classification:

C10G 11/18

US Classification:

208 81, 208407, 208409

Abstract:

A retort heating apparatus includes a perimeter wall bounding a central compartment. A partition wall is disposed within the central compartment so as to separate the central compartment into at least a heating chamber and a vapor chamber. The partition wall has a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed thereon so as to provide fluid communication between the heating chamber and the collection chamber. A plurality of spaced apart baffles are disposed within the heating chamber between the perimeter wall and the partition wall. A collection plate is disposed within the vapor chamber at a downward curved or sloped orientation. The collection plate has lower end disposed at or adjacent to the partition wall and an opposing upper end disposed at or toward the perimeter wall.

US Patent:

7264694, Sep 4, 2007

Filed:

Jan 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767838

Inventors:

Byron G. Merrell - Vernal UT, US
Michael R. Keller - Tulsa OK, US
Roger K. Noble - Tulsa OK, US

Assignee:

Oil-Tech, Inc. - Morris Plains NJ

International Classification:

C10B 47/00

US Classification:

202105, 202 82, 202209, 202211, 202214, 202215, 202217, 202220, 202222, 202247, 202270, 202 81, 201 3, 201 5, 201 6, 201 7, 201 8, 201 19, 201 30

Abstract:

A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

US Patent:

7718038, May 18, 2010

Filed:

Dec 7, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/608196

Inventors:

Byron G. Merrell - Vernal UT, US
Michael R. Keller - Tulsa OK, US
Roger K. Noble - Tulsa OK, US

Assignee:

Ambre Energy Technology, LLC - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

C10B 53/00

US Classification:

201 23, 201 30, 208400, 208410

Abstract:

A retort heating method for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bound at least in part by said wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed with the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. The method for oil shale processing within the retort chamber includes for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

US Patent:

8043478, Oct 25, 2011

Filed:

Mar 19, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/727773

Inventors:

Byron G. Merrell - Vernal UT, US
Michael R. Keller - Tulsa OK, US
Roger K. Noble - Tulsa OK, US

Assignee:

Ambre Energy Technology, Inc. - Salt Lake City UT

International Classification:

C10B 1/00

US Classification:

202105, 196125, 196135, 196138, 202 93, 202 96

Abstract:

A retort heating apparatus for processing a feed material includes a heating chamber bounded at least in part by a side wall. A plurality of baffles are at least partially disposed within the heating chamber. Each baffle includes an elongated body having a top surface, at least a portion of the top surface being arched. The plurality of baffles are vertically and horizontally spaced apart so that substantially all of the feed material that vertically passes through the heating chamber is horizontally displaced as the feed material passes by the baffles. Systems are also provided for heating the feed material within the heating chamber.

US Patent:

20040129646, Jul 8, 2004

Filed:

Nov 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/715186

Inventors:

Lawrence Conaway - Niagara Falls NY, US
Michael Keller - Tulsa OK, US
Roger Noble - Tulsa OK, US

International Classification:

C02F001/72

US Classification:

210/759000

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for treating an ore comprising mineral substrate particles surrounded by hydrocarbon compounds, especially tar sand grains and contaminated soils, to recover a hydrocarbon portion and a cleaned substrate portion. In a preferably continuous process, hydrocarbonaceous rock, sand, ore, or soil containing bitumen, petroleum, and/or kerogen may be crushed or otherwise comminuted as needed to provide a particle size of sand or smaller. The ore is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry is heated to about 80 C. and is intensively sheared to condition the slurry for separation, preferably by shear-fracture of the hydrocarbon layers surrounding the particles in the grains. The conditioned slurry is blended with a peroxide in aqueous solution, preferably hydrogen peroxide, which enters the grains and is decomposed therein, creating bubbles of free oxygen within the grains which disrupt the hydrocarbon envelope. In decomposing, the peroxide increases the hydrophilicity of the particle surfaces. Both free and bound hydrocarbons in the ore are thereby released from the mineral substrate particles. The resulting hydrocarbon globules are separated from the substrate particles by flotation, accelerated by attached oxygen bubbles. Water and mineral tailings from the process are substantially free of hydrocarbon contamination and are environmentally suitable for landfill disposal.