US4365978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Storage of liquid hydrocarbons in salt dome caverns
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1981-05-07
•
Granted: 1982-12-28
•
Expires: 2001-05-07
Abstract
Abstract Liquid hydrocarbons are stored in salt dome caverns containing brine after first stripping the brine of contaminating gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide by sparging a decontaminating gas such as nitrogen into the brine and removing the nitrogen and the contaminating gases from the salt dome cavern.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul R. Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 20:29
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D19/00; B01D19/0005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A process for decontaminating water in an underground cavern, said water containing at least one contaminating gas from the group consisting of oxygen and carbon dioxide, comprising bubbling a decontaminating gas into the water to displace some of the water from the cavern, reducing the pressure of the decontaminating gas filling the volume left above the water, allowing the contaminating gas to pass from the water into the decontaminating gas and passing the decontaminating gas and contaminating gas out of the underground cavern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A process for decontaminating water in an underground cavern, said water containing at least one contaminating gas from the group consisting of oxygen and carbon dioxide, comprising bubbling a decontaminating gas into the water to displace some of the water from the cavern, reducing the pressure of the decontaminating gas filling the volume left above the water, allowing the contaminating gas to pass from the water into the decontaminating gas and passing the decontaminating gas and contaminating gas out of the underground cavern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the underground cavern is formed by solution mining.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the water is brine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a liquid hydrocarbon is stored over the decontaminated water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminating gas is bubbled into the cavern via a sparger.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminating gas and contaminating gas are passed to a separation process, and at least one of the gases is recovered.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminating gas is added to the underground cavern until the analysis of the exiting decontaminating gas approaches the desired content of contaminating gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminating gas is bubbled into the cavern via a porous septum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the decontaminating gas is nitrogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US2104759A
Cited
US2341197A
Cited
US3083537A
Cited
US3289416A
Cited
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Cited
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | 1986-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-12-27 | 1990-06-28 | 1990-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-12-27 | 1994-06-28 | 1994-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |