Michael Craig Pierce
Engineers in Odessa, TX

6915662, Jul 12, 2005

Oct 26, 2001

10/003453

John D. Wilkinson - Midland TX, US
Hank M. Hudson - Midland TX, US
Michael C. Pierce - Odessa TX, US

ElkCorp. - Dallas TX

F25J003/02

62621, 62625

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. In recent years, the preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes supplying at least portions of the gas stream to a fractionation tower having at least one reboiler, and often one or more side reboilers, to supply heat to the column by withdrawing and heating some of the tower liquids to produce stripping vapors that separate the more volatile components from the desired components. The reboiler and side reboilers (if any) are typically integrated into the feed stream cooling scheme to provide at least a portion of the refrigeration needed to condense the desired components for subsequent fractionation in the distillation column. In the process disclosed, the tower reboiling scheme is modified to use one or more tower liquid distillation streams from a point higher in the column than is used in the conventional reboiling scheme, providing colder stream(s) for the reboiler(s) that allow more effective cooling of the feed streams and thereby improve the efficiency with which the desired components are recovered. In addition, the tower liquid streams withdrawn from a higher point in the column contain larger quantities of the more volatile components, which when vaporized provide better stripping of undesirable components like carbon dioxide without reducing the recovery of the desired components.

5001320, Mar 19, 1991

Nov 14, 1988

7/270812

Ralph N. Conley - Odessa TX
Michael N. Pierce - Odessa TX

B23K 9035

219 61

A pipe welding connector for joining pipe sections that have been internally coated with a heat sensitive coating material. The connector is arranged so that during the welding process, the coating remains below its degradation temperature. The connector has a first fixture at the end of one pipe section and a second fixture at the end of another pipe section. The first and second fixtures, when brought into abutting relationship, can be butt welded together to form the pipe welding connector. The second fixture is a cylinder that outwardly diverges into a bell and the opposed marginal end is of constant inside diameter and is attached about the exterior of a pipe section. Part of the pipe section extends from the belled marginal end and forms a stinger. The first fixture has an enlarged interior that telescopingly receives the stinger therein and further includes a belled marginal terminal end of a diameter equal to the diameter of the belled marginal end of the second fixture. This unique structure allows a first fixture to be formed on one end of a pipe section and the second fixture to be formed on the other end of the same pipe section so that series connected pipe sections can be welded together to form a pipe line without destroying the internal coating.

6182469, Feb 6, 2001

Nov 12, 1999

9/439508

Roy E. Campbell - late of Midland TX
John D. Wilkinson - Midland TX
Hank M. Hudson - Midland TX
Michael C. Pierce - Odessa TX

Elcor Corporation - Dallas TX

F25J 302

62621

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. In recent years, the preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes supplying at least portions of the gas stream to a fractionation tower having at least one reboiler, and often one or more side reboilers, to supply heat to the column by withdrawing and heating some of the tower liquids to produce stripping vapors that separate the more volatile components from the desired components. The reboiler and side reboilers (if any) are typically integrated into the feed stream cooling scheme to provide at least a portion of the refrigeration needed to condense the desired components for subsequent fractionation in the distillation column. In the process disclosed, the tower reboiling scheme is modified to use one or more tower liquid distillation streams from a point higher in the column than is used in the conventional reboiling scheme, providing colder stream(s) for the reboiler(s) that allow more effective cooling of the feed streams and thereby improve the efficiency with which the desired components are recovered. In addition, the tower liquid streams withdrawn from a higher point in the column contain larger quantities of the more volatile components, which when vaporized provide better stripping of undesirable components like carbon dioxide without reducing the recovery of the desired components.

5890378, Apr 6, 1999

Mar 31, 1998

/052845

C. L. Rambo - Midland TX
John D. Wilkinson - Midland TX
Hank M. Hudson - Midland TX
Michael C. Pierce - Odessa TX

Elcor Corporation - Dallas TX

F25J 300

62621

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is divided into first and second streams, and the second stream is cooled and expanded to a lower pressure and supplied to a contacting device. The first stream is cooled to condense substantially all of it, expanded to the lower pressure, and then used to cool a warmer distillation stream from a distillation column to at least partially condense the distillation stream. At least a portion of the partially condensed distillation stream is directed to the contacting device to intimately contact the expanded second stream, the resulting vapors and liquids are separated from the contacting device, and these liquids are supplied to the distillation column. The quantities and temperatures of the feeds to the contacting device and the distillation column are effective to maintain the overhead temperatures of the contacting device and the distillation column at temperatures whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

5555748, Sep 17, 1996

Jun 7, 1995

8/477444

Roy E. Campbell - Midland TX
John D. Wilkinson - Midland TX
Hank M. Hudson - Midland TX
Michael C. Pierce - Odessa TX

Elcor Corporation - Dallas TX

F25J 302

62621

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. The stream is cooled to partially condense it, then separated to provide a first vapor stream and a first condensed stream. The first vapor stream is divided into first and second streams, then the first stream is combined with the first condensed stream. The combined stream is cooled and expanded to an intermediate pressure to partially condense it, then separated to provide a second vapor stream and a second condensed stream. The second vapor stream is cooled at the intermediate pressure to condense substantially all of it and is thereafter expanded to the fractionation tower pressure and supplied to the fractionation tower at a top feed position. The second condensed stream is subcooled at the intermediate pressure, expanded to the tower pressure, and is supplied to the column at a first mid-column feed position. The second stream is expanded to the tower pressure and is then supplied to the column at a second mid-column feed position.

5983664, Nov 16, 1999

Apr 3, 1998

9/054802

Roy E. Campbell - late of Midland TX
John D. Wilkinson - Midland TX
Hank M. Hudson - Midland TX
Michael C. Pierce - Odessa TX

Elcor Corporation - Dallas TX

F25J 300

62621

A process for the recovery of ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream is disclosed. In recent years, the preferred method of separating a hydrocarbon gas stream generally includes supplying at least a portion of the gas stream to a work expansion device, then directing the work expanded stream to a distillation column at a mid-column feed point below an upper rectification section. The top column feed above the upper rectification section is typically a condensed and subcooled gaseous stream, frequently comprised of a gas stream that would otherwise feed the work expansion device. In the process disclosed, the work expanded stream is further cooled prior to feeding the distillation column at the mid-column feed point, so that a lesser volume of top column feed is required to maintain the column overhead temperature at a temperature whereby the major portion of the desired components is recovered.

5464188, Nov 7, 1995

Mar 7, 1994

8/206365

W. F. Priebe - Midland TX
Ricky L. Foster - Odessa TX
Michael C. Pierce - Odessa TX

Atlantic Richfield Company - Los Angeles CA

F16M 100

248678

A sucker rod well pump base that is readily movable and universally adjustable comprising at least two spaced apart footing members which carry, but are not connected to at least two spaced apart transverse support members. A plurality of spaced apart hold down members are carried along the length of the support members in an unconnected manner, but yet are restrained from movement away from the footing members by abutment of the hold down members against the support member. Each hold down member carries at least one tie down member for securing the base to a well pump unit.