Abstract: S-bar refractory anchors having at least one elliptical tab formed in the main body section are resistant to stress cracking.

Abstract: A corrosion cracking test assembly comprising a pair of strips each having notches formed along one edge and assembled in a stressed condition.

Abstract: Produced oil and water from a waterflood operation are initially subjected to a rough separation step producing an oil stream and an oily water stream. The oily water stream is mixed with a high density solvent for the oil, and the resulting mixture is processed in a hydrocyclone to produce clean water and an oil-solvent stream. The clean water is reinjected as additional flooding water, and the oil-solvent stream is separated to produce an oil product and clean solvent which is recycled to the process.

Abstract: A microwave-based emulsion treating system comprising a microwave energy source, a microwave applicator for treating an oil-water emulsion, a wave guide between the microwave energy source and the microwave applicator, a circulator in the wave guide, a separator vessel for receiving and separating microwave-treated emulsion, and means for removing an oily water phase from the separator, circulating it to a water load chamber on the circulator, and returning it from the water load chamber to the separator.

Abstract: Spent solid phosphoric acid catalyst is neutralized prior to removal from a reactor vessel to avoid generation of toxic dust or acidic washings during catalyst removal.

Abstract: In a delayed premium coking process the particle size of the premium coke is increased by the addition of a Lewis acid such as aluminum chloride to the coking process. Preferably the aluminum chloride is added during the latter part of the coking cycle.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon oil is subjected to hydrogen donor diluent cracking under conditions of high temperature, moderate pressure and short residence time.

Abstract: Vacuum resid and cracked residuum such as decant oil or thermal tar are processed together to reduce the ultimate yield of coke, asphalt and fuel oil. The vacuum resid is donor cracked, and the donor cracker effluent is quenched with decant oil or thermal tar and then fractionated. Fractionator bottoms are vacuum distilled, and vacuum tower overheads are hydrogenated to produce donor for the donor cracker.

Abstract: A oil shale retorting process in which oil shale particles are separated into fines and large particles. The large particles are preheated and combined with hot spent shale from a combustor and introduced into a retorting vessel. The fines are introduced into the disengaging section of the retorting vessel. Retort vapors are processed to produce an upgraded syncrude. The portion of the retort vessel where the oil shale and spent shale are introduced has a smaller diameter than the retorting section.

Abstract: An internal draw tray is added to the flash zone of a coker fractionator below the coker vapor inlet to collect condensed coke drum overhead components and to keep the condensed material separate from the fresh feed to the coker furnace.

Abstract: The feed end dam of a rotary kiln is cooled by air directed into an annulus between the feed end dam and a seal mechanism.

Abstract: A slide valve for use in a high temperature gas line is described. The valve is constructed to allow field assembly and disassembly for ease of service, and has insulating means and gas purge means for maintaining the exterior of the valve housing at a low temperature. The valve includes a slide plate which can be provided with a flow opening in either a first location such that the slide plate is in tension when the valve is closed while hot or in a second location such that the slide plate is in tension when the valve is opened while hot.

Abstract: A delayed coking process in which the coker furnace feed is free of conventional heavy recycle. Elimination of this material from the coker furnace feed produces, based on fresh feed to the process, increased liquids and decreased coke. Coker furnace feed is initially combined with a diluent hydrocarbon having a lower boiling range than conventional heavy coker recycle and then transferred to the coker furnace. The hydrocarbon diluent is much lower in coke-forming components than the heavy recycle which is normally combined with the fresh feed and fed to the coker furnace.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil is cracked by hydrogen donor diluent cracking, and pitch from the donor cracking step is recycled. The pitch is catalytically hydrotreated before it is recycled. Hydrotreating the pitch enables complete conversion of the 950.degree. F.+ fraction of heavy hydrocarbonaceous oil to 950.degree. F.- distillate.

Abstract: A device for use during operation of a borehole survey probe or the like. The device is attachable to a flexible cable which in turn is connected to the survey probe, and the device includes an outer sealing or swab member and an interior valve. The valve and sealing member cooperate during pumping of the survey probe down through a conduit, and the valve opens during retrieval of the survey probe so that fluid in the conduit passes through the device as the survey probe is removed.

Abstract: An insulation system for protecting metal membranes that seal a fluidization grid floor in a process vessel to the vessel wall or to a standpipe in the vessel. The seal is comprised of erosion-resistant castable refractory, compressible insulation and metal in specifically arranged layers and in a manner such that expansion of the grid floor does not stress the castable refractory.

Abstract: Respirable dust particles in air are reduced by spraying with water from high pressure spray nozzles. The removal of particles in the size range most likely to cause pathological damage is enhanced by addition of a surfactant to the spray water.

Abstract: Boreholes are drilled at an angle from gate roads to the working face in a longwall mining operation, and air is exhausted from the working face area through the boreholes. Additional boreholes, parallel to the first boreholes, are drilled from the gate roads into the longwall pillar, and as the face moves through the pillar it intersects the additional boreholes, and dust-laden air is exhausted through the additional boreholes.

Abstract: In a method for producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream and carbonaceous agglomerates from a heavy crude oil by charging the crude oil and finely divided carbonaceous solids to a rotary kiln with the crude oil and carbonaceous solids being charged in a weight ratio from about 0.6 to about 1.5; tumbling the crude oil and finely divided carbonaceous solids in the rotary kiln at a temperature from about 850.degree. to about 1000.degree. F.

Abstract: A process for controlling the direction of advance of a generally horizontal borehole extended through a subterranean coal-bearing formation by a rotary drilling operation. As the drill string is rotated in the hole, the advance of the drill bit is guided along a designated path by repeatedly deflecting the drill string from its axis in a constant radial direction. The drill string may also be centralized and the deflection operation carried out either within or outside of the drill-pipe segment between the bit and the centralizer. A deflection unit includes a plurality of deflector pads disposed about the periphery of a segment of the drill pipe. The deflector pads are cyclicly actuated to sequentially place each pad in an extended position at a constant rotational position of the drill pipe segment.