| ExxonMobil
Retains GTL Patent
Posted: 14 April 2003
ANNANDALE, N.J. — ExxonMobil Research &
Engineering announced today that in a recent hearing before the
European Patent Office Board of Appeals, it retained European Patent
450860, directed to the optimal operation of a slurry bubble column
for the production of environmentally beneficial gas-to-liquids
(GTL) products.
A previous decision to maintain the patent by the European Patent
Office Opposition Division had been appealed by Shell International
BV.
"ExxonMobil is pleased that the European Patent Office confirmed
the patentability of its invention," said Bill Innes, president
of ExxonMobil Research & Engineering.
"We have devoted considerable resources to develop this proprietary
technology and to secure patent protection for it."
In separate proceedings in 2001, the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Federal Circuit unanimously confirmed the validity of the U.S.
counterpart of this patent.
The patent also exists in a number of other jurisdictions abroad.
ExxonMobil recently announced that it is not planning to use its
GTL patent portfolio to block others from introducing clean products
into market, and that it is willing to offer licenses for others
to practice under this and other of its over 2700 worldwide patents
in this area.
The company confirmed that such discussions are now underway.
ExxonMobil Research & Engineering invents, develops and applies
process, product, and engineering technology to support Exxon Mobil
Corporation (NYSE:XOM) worldwide. (BUSINESS WIRE)
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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