(19)

(11)

EP 1 583 717 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 04.11.2004 (43) Date of publication: 12.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/41 (21) Application number: 03814852.4 (22) Date of filing: 17.12.2003

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: C01B 39/48 (86) International application number: PCT/US2003/040199 (87) International publication number: WO 2004/060794 (22.07.2004 Gazette 2004/30)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK (30) Priority: 26.12.2002 US 329939 26.12.2002 US 329600 26.12.2002 US 329963 (71) Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc. San Ramon, CA 94583 (US)	(72) Inventor: ELOMARI, Saleh Fairfield, CA 94534 (US) (74) Representative: Nash, David Allan  HASELTINE LAKE, Redcliff Quay 120 Redcliff Street Bristol BS1 6HU Bristol BS1 6HU (GB)