Patents
US 9869510 B2: Liquefied natural gas processing
- Granted
- 2018-01-16
- Filed
- 2008-04-01 application 12060362
- Type
- Utility · 25 claims
- Elsewhere
- Google Patents ↗ · USPTO patent document ↗ · USPTO Patent Center record ↗
Abstract
A process and apparatus for the recovery of heavier hydrocarbons from a liquefied natural gas (LNG) stream is disclosed. The LNG feed stream is heated to vaporize at least part of it, then supplied to a fractionation column at a mid-column feed position. A vapor distillation stream is withdrawn from the fractionation column below the mid-column feed position and directed in heat exchange relation with the LNG feed stream, cooling the vapor distillation stream as it supplies at least part of the heating of the LNG feed stream. The vapor distillation stream is cooled sufficiently to condense at least a part of it, forming a condensed stream. At least a portion of the condensed stream is directed to the fractionation column as its top feed. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the column are effective to maintain the column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered in the bottom liquid product from the column.
Source: PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 (ipg180116.xml).
Assignees
| Assignee | Type | Place | Also on furp.org | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ortloff Engineers, Ltd. 30 patents | US company or organization | Midland, TX | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Inventors
| Inventor | Place | Patents | Person page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle T. Cuellar | Katy, TX | 40 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| John D. Wilkinson | Midland, TX | 38 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 | |
| Hank M. Hudson | Midland, TX | 40 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
CPC categories
| Subclass | Category | First group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| F25J | Liquefaction, solidification or separation of gases or gaseous ; or liquefied gaseous; mixtures by pressure and cold treatment ; or by bringing them into the supercritical state | F25J3/0233 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
| C10L | Fuels not otherwise provided for; natural gas; synthetic natural gas obtained by processes not covered by subclasses c10g or c10k; liquified petroleum gas; use of additives to fuels or fires; fire-lighters | C10L3/10 | PVGPATDIS, file of 2026-04-10 |
Cooperative Patent Classification, as currently assigned (one row per subclass).
Assignments and security interests
| Recorded | What | From | To | Reel/frame | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-09-24 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | ORTLOFF ENGINEERS, LTD. signed 2020-09-18 | UOP LLC DES PLAINES, IL | 54188/807 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
| 2008-06-03 | Assignment Assignment of assignor's interest | CUELLAR, KYLE T. signed 2008-05-14 HUDSON, HANK M. signed 2008-05-14 WILKINSON, JOHN D. signed 2008-05-14 | ORTLOFF ENGINEERS, LTD MIDLAND, TX | 21033/507 | ECORSEXC, file of 2026-09-25 |
Documents recorded with the USPTO Assignment Recordation Branch that list this patent. A security interest is a lender’s claim on the patent as collateral; a release ends it.
USPTO bulk data: PatentsView granted patents, disambiguated (PVGPATDIS) for patents, assignees, inventors, places and CPC categories; the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (ECORSEXC) for assignments and security interests. Patents filed in the last 20 years. No claims or full text. Links to other records are by name (and state): EXACT means the identical full name and state; FUZZY means a looser name match, with the confidence shown.