US3630212A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prevention and removal of sulfur deposits during the pipeline transportation of a sulfur-oil slurry
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1969-05-26
•
Granted: 1971-12-28
•
Expires: 1989-05-26
Abstract
Abstract Method of preventing and removing sulfur deposition on the interior of pipe walls during the transportation of sulfur liquid-hydrocarbon slurries through pipelines by intermittently purging the lines with a neat liquid hydrocarbon under conditions capable of recovering and solubilizing any deposited sulfur on the pipe walls and thereafter repeating the cycle.
Inventors
- 👤 Godfrey Q Martin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:01
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G53/00; B65G53/30; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/13; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0318; Y10T137/0402; Y10T137/0419; Y10T137/0424
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the neat liquid hydrocarbon is injected only in the sections of the line which have been plugged with sulfur.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon in steps a and c is a crude oil and in step a the flow rate of the slurry is at least 3 foot/sec. and in step c the neat crude oil flow rate is greater than 3 foot/sec.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the neat crude oil is injected hot.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the crude oil in steps a and c contains asphaltenes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the crude oil is a desalted, dehydrated crude oil.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of preventing and removing sulfur deposition during pipeline transportation of a sulfur liquid-hydrocarbon slurry by intermittently injecting into said pipeline neat liquid hydrocarbon at a velocity greater than the velocity of the sulfur slurry flowing through the line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the velocity of the slurry is at least 3 foot/sec. and the velocity of the neat liquid hydrocarbon is greater than the velocity of the sulfur slurry flowing through the line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the hydrocarbon is crude oil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the crude oil contains asphaltenes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the crude oil is a desalted, dehydrated crude oil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the crude oil is hot crude oil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |