Abstract: Fouling of metallic surfaces contacted with petroleum oils at elevated temperatures is reduced by adding to the oil small amounts of an oil-soluble N-alkylamino-alkylbenzene sulfonate, a heterocyclic amine, and phenylhydrazine.

Abstract: Fouling of metallic surfaces contacted with petroleum oils at elevated temperatures is reduced by adding to the oil small amounts of an oil-soluble N-alkylamino-alkylbenzene sulfonate, a heterocyclic amine, and phenylhydrazine.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of H.sub.2 S to SO.sub.2 in a feed gas containing H.sub.2 S is effected by oxidation with air or oxygen at temperatures between 300.degree. and 900.degree. F. The oxidation is conducted in the presence of an extremely stable oxidation catalyst comprising an oxide and/or sulfide of vanadium supported on a non-alkaline porous refractory oxide. The preferred catalyst comprises between 5 and 15 wt.% V.sub.2 O.sub.5 on hydrogen mordenite or alumina. Hydrogen, carbon monoxide, light hydrocarbons, and ammonia present in the feed gas are not oxidized. The invention is especially contemplated for use in treating waste gases from geothermal steam power plants.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of H.sub.2 S to SO.sub.2 in a feed gas containing H.sub.2 S is effected by oxidation with air or oxygen at temperatures between 300.degree. and 900.degree. F. The oxidation is conducted in the presence of an extremely stable oxidation catalyst comprising an oxide and/or sulfide of vanadium supported on a non-alkaline porous refractory oxide. The preferred catalyst comprises between 5 and 15 wt. % V.sub.2 O.sub.5 on hydrogen mordenite or alumina. Hydrogen, carbon monoxide, light hydrocarbons, and ammonia present in the feed gas are not oxidized. The invention is especially contemplated for use in treating waste gases from geothermal steam power plants.

Abstract: Benzene is alkylated with ethylene in the presence of a crystalline zeolite catalyst to produce ethylbenzene and polyethylbenzenes. At least a portion of the diethylbenzene fraction is recycled to the alkylation zone while the remainder thereof plus the higher polyethylbenzenes are subjected to transalkylation with benzene in a separate transalkylation zone to produce additional ethylbenzene.

Abstract: A process for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content of steam, such as steam produced from a subterranean geothermal reservoir, in which the steam is contacted with an aqueous, alkaline solution having a temperature approximating that of the steam to absorb hydrogen sulfide from the steam which is thereafter discharged or utilized in a power generation plant. Hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a cooled portion of the aqueous, alkaline solution to reduce the hydrogen sulfide content thereof and then the aqueous alkaline solution is heated to about the temperature of the steam and recycled into contact with the hydrogen sulfide-containing steam. The temperature of the cooled portion of the aqueous, alkaline solution into which hydrogen peroxide is introduced is such that thermal decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is substantially prevented.

Abstract: Crushed oil shale is segregated into a major portion of relatively large particles and a minor portion of "fines" which will pass through screen openings up to about 1/4 inch in size. The large particles are subjected to retorting as an upflowing moving bed in countercurrent contact with downflowing hot eduction gas, while the fines are retorted by controlled distribution over the hot upper surface of the bed of retorted large particles.

Abstract: This invention involves a method of producing vinyl esters by the reaction of olefins with carboxylic acids in the presence of alkali and alkaline earth metal salts of carboxylic acids, a noble metal compound, and a regenerative oxidant capable of maintaining the noble metal in oxidized form.

Abstract: An improved gas drilling method for drilling a well through steam-bearing formations in which emissions of particulate material and other contaminants are reduced by imposing a surface back pressure on, and thereby reducing the velocity of, the contaminant-bearing gas rising through the well. The drilling cuttings and other particulate material rising through the well are subjected to less abrasion and therefore arrive at the surface as larger, more easily separated particles. Drill string erosion is also reduced by the method and the efficiencies of any well effluent treatment facilities are increased.

Abstract: Highly active, acidic sulfactive metal hydrogenation catalysts comprising Mo and/or W plus Ni and/or Co are prepared by methods comprising as the essential novel feature impregnating gamma alumina particles with an aqueous solution having dissolved therein one or more fluosilicates of cobalt and/or nickel, followed by drying and calcining. The resulting compositions contain uniformly distributed fluorine and SiO.sub.2 as active acidic promoters, intimately associated with the sulfactive metal components.

Abstract: A process for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content of geothermal steam during a drilling operation by injecting hydrogen peroxide and an alkali metal hydroxide or calcium hydroxide into a flowing stream containing geothermal steam. Environmentally harmless reaction products are thus formed and the emission of hydrogen sulfide during drilling operations is substantially abated.

Abstract: Heavy residual fractions are treated to remove vanadium and nickel contaminants by contact with zinc chloride and/or titanium tetrachloride under mild conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. The zinc chloride and titanium tetrachloride act as catalysts for the conversion of vanadium and nickel contaminants to insoluble metal-containing constituents removable by filtration from the product oil. The zinc chloride and titanium tetrachloride are recovered and recycled in the process.

Abstract: Subterranean formations having temperatures between about 250.degree. F. and about 700.degree. F. are acidized by introducing a substantially anhydrous acid precursor through a well and into the formation, wherein the precursor hydrolyzes in situ to generate a hydrohalic acid. The acid precursor is a normally liquid, halogenated hydrocarbon having one or two carbon atoms per molecule which is thermally stable under the high temperature and pressure conditions encountered prior to hydrolysis.

Abstract: A process of treating a plurality of wells involved in an enhanced oil recovery process so that oil and/or gas can be displaced from a reservoir in a more uniform manner comprising treating the formation surrounding and in the immediate vicinity of each well involved in the process with a solution that sets with time to form a plug in the more permeable zones of the reservoir surrounding each well.

Abstract: A method for producing mechanical energy from geothermal fluids in which a heat transfer fluid (HTF) is heated by direct contact with the hot geothermal fluids, thereby partially cooling the geothermal fluids. A working fluid is heated by direct contact with the partially cooled geothermal fluid and is heated further by indirect heat exchange with the hot HTF. The heated working fluid is utilized in a heat engine for the production of mechanical energy.

Abstract: Compact, lightweight, rotating eccentric weight seismic sources and a seismic exploration method particularly suitable for use in relatively inaccessible onshore regions. The source includes an eccentric weight rotatable about an axis and a sensor to detect the instant of peak earthward force developed by the source. A coded energy signal is transmitted into the earth and the seismic waves returned from within the earth are detected. The polarity of a signal proportional to the seismic waves is periodically sampled to produce a plurality of sign-bit samples. The sign-bit samples are automatically shift-summed in response to a code signal generated by the sensor, thereby forming a plurality of shift-summed samples which are recorded to provide a correlated seismic trace.

Abstract: A high temperature cement system including a carbon-containing, low volatile material additive admixed with cement in proportions sufficient to provide a fixed carbon content of at least 0.02 weight percent. Additives include anthracite, calcined coke, uncalcined coke, burned oil shale and raw oil shale.

Abstract: A method for treating arsenic-containing waste materials for disposal in landfill sites comprises admixing an arsenic waste, Portland cement, sand, one or more water-soluble manganese or alkaline earth metal salts, and water, thereby producing a slurry similar to wet concrete, which slurry, when cured, leaves a rock-like material containing entrapped arsenic. This material may be used for landfill without danger of ground or rain waters leaching arsenic therefrom.

Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery process for subterranean reservoirs wherein there is injected into the reservoir a relatively large slug of a dilute aqueous alkali metal silicate solution. It is optional to follow the silicate solution with an aqueous drive fluid. In treating heterogeneous reservoirs, it is further optional, prior to injecting the large slug of silicate solution, to inject one or more small slugs of the silicate solution alternately with one or more small slugs of a dilute aqueous solution of an agent that reacts with the alkali metal silicate to form a gelatinous precipitate. In the latter instance a small spacer slug of water is injected between successive slugs of the reactant solutions to separate the reactants during injection.

Abstract: Liquid fuels of readily identifiable origin contain extremely small quantities of certain types of chlorohydrocarbon or chlorocarbon tracers dissolved therein. The presence of such tracers is readily detected by gas chromatography, using a pulsed electron capture detector.