Abstract: A method for digitizing seismic traces comprising optically digitizing the seismic sections to produce a digitized image, normalizing the digitized image for brightness to produce a normalized digitized image, geometrically straightening the digitized image, and recovering the negative portions of said seismic traces to produce a fully restored wave form of the digitized image.

Abstract: I disclose a method for upgrading low-grade uintaite to high-grade uintaite having a desired meltpoint. It comprises dissolving the uintaite in a medium polarity solvent, mixing the dissolved uintaite with a nonpolar saturated hydrocarbon solvent at a volume-to-volume ratio that determines the meltpoint of the upgraded uintaite product, separating residual asphaltenes from the mixture, and recovering the medium polarity solvent and nonpolar saturated hydrocarbon to produce an upgraded uintaite having the desired meltpoint.

Abstract: A method of increasing the viscosity of CO.sub.2 at least three-fold by adding (1) a viscosifying amount of a polymer having a Minimum Solubility Parameter of 6.85 or less and a plurality of electron donor atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S, and (2) a sufficient amount of a cosolvent to form a one-phase solution, said cosolvent being capable of (a) dissolving at least 2% by weight of CO.sub.2 at 25.degree. C. and 900 psig, and (b) forming a one-phase mixture with the polymer when the mixture contains 10 weight percent cosolvent at ambient temperature and a pressure sufficient to maintain the cosolvent in the liquid phase. New compositions containing CO.sub.2, the defined polymer and cosolvent are also claimed as is a method for recovering oil from underground formations using a viscosified CO.sub.2.

Abstract: An erosion-inhibited phosphate ester-based functional fluid comprising a major amount of a phosphate ester and from 10 to 50,000 parts per million by weight of a calcium salt of an organic sulfonate, said functional fluid having been heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to increase the conductivity of said fluid to at least 0.3.mu. mho/cm.

Abstract: A method of determining mass flow rate and phase distribution of gas/liquid two-phase flows is disclosed. The method uses a Coriolis-based mass flow meter. Flow streams of known mass flow rate and phase distribution are directed through the meter and correlation factors are obtained using an apparent mass flow rate output and an apparent density output from the Coriolis meter. The true mass flow rate and phase distribution of unknown flow streams can then be determined.

Abstract: A water-based drilling mud additive comprising a pre-blended combination of about 2 parts of high softening point uintaite, about 1 part of a lower softening point uintaite, about 1 part of causticized lignite, and a strongly lipophilic, non-ionic surfactant is disclosed. This composition decreases shale sloughing and borehole instability during drilling of wells.

Abstract: Heavy oils containing metal contaminants are hydrodesulfurized in a reactor containing a series of fixed beds of catalyst. The catalyst particles become caked together during the hydrodesulfurization process, possibly due to formation of metal sulfides and carbonaceous deposits, and the caked catalyst is removed by a hydro drilling method. The hydro drilling is preferably commenced by drilling a central opening through the catalyst beds. The catalyst particles and chunks are cut from the bed and removed from the reactor vessel through catalyst dump openings at the bottom of the vessel. Preferably, the dump openings are maintained open by hydro lancing as the cutting of catalysts in the upper part of the vessel loosens the catalyst so that the catalyst will drop down the central opening and thus out through the catalyst dump openings at the bottom of the reactor vessel.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for preparing Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenols. In particular, the present invention employs a sulfurization catalyst in the preparation of Group II metal overbased sulfurized alkylphenols. Use of a sulfurization catalyst in this preparation results in a product generally characterized as having lower crude sediment, a higher Total Base Number and lower viscosity than a similar product prepared without using a sulfurization catalyst.

Abstract: Production of viscous hydrocarbons is initiated by first injecting an injection fluid down at least two tubing strings in a wellbore having multiple tubing strings therein. Following an initiation phase, flow of injection fluid in the production tubing string is ceased, and production of formation fluid to the surface commenced in the heated tubing. The production of formation fluids is controlled, and entry of uncondensed steam from the formation into the wellbore avoided by maintaining a liquid level in the formation which is above the production perforations.

Abstract: A polymer having pendant silyl ether groups is disclosed having a minimum solubility parameter of 6.85 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 or less. That minimum solubility parameter is reduced to 6.85 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 or less by control of the number of pendant silyl ether groups and by the selection of said silyl ether groups. The polymer can be formed by reacting a olefin monomer with a silyl monomer or by grafting a silyl monomer onto an unsaturated polyolefin. Preferably, the silyl monomer is either a vinyl trimethylsilyl ether monomer, a vinyl dimethylchlorosilane monomer, or a vinyl methyldichlorosilane monomer. Preferably, the olefin monomer is decene, and the unsaturated polyolefin is polydecene.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fluid injection and oil production from a single wellbore which includes providing a path of communication between the injection and production zones.

Abstract: Methylene and oxymethylene bis-esters are produced by the reaction of an aliphatic ester of a carboxylic acid, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Group VIII noble transition metal compound, an iodide or bromide promoter, and a proton donor.

Abstract: A crystalline zeolite SSZ-26 is prepared using a hexamethyl [4.3.3.0] propellane-8,11-diammonium cation as a template. Also disclosed is a process for converting hydrocarbons with crystalline zeolite SSZ-26.

Abstract: A method of enhanced oil recovery using foam to improve the effectiveness of steam to mobilize viscous crude, either for steam stimulation in a single well or for steam drive between wells. A new surfactant composition having branched alkyl aromatic sulfonates as the effective agent for the steam foamer is used because of its ability to foam in the presence of substantial pore volumes of residual oil and thereby mobilize significant amounts of producible oil by diverting steam to less-permeable zones.

Abstract: The present invention is comprised of a non-intrusive microwave sensor system for measuring fluid saturation or multiple fluids contained within a flowline or a fluid saturated porous medium. Here, the microwave oil saturation scanner (MOSS) comprises a transmit portion and a measurement portion. The transmit portion generates two signals for different purposes. The first signal is used as a reference signal upon which the sample signal is eventually compared. The second signal is transmitted through the sample which causes a phase angle shift and signal attenuation. The two signals are then compared in the measurement portion where the phase angle shift and the signal attenuation is related to the concentration of oil and water in the sample mixture.

Abstract: A catalytic cracking process is disclosed employing a dual component cracking catalyst system comprising zeolite as a first component and a mixture of a calcium/magnesium-containing material and a magnesium-containing material as a second component. The preferred calcium/magnesium-containing material is dolomite and the preferred magnesium-containing material is sepiolite.

Abstract: Novel hydrocarbon conversion catalysts and methods for their preparation are disclosed. The catalysts are particularly appropriate for the conversion of hydrocarbon feeds to high octane gasoline, while increasing light cycle oil and decreasing heavy cycle oil yield. The catalyst comprises a zeolite, a cogelled silica-alumina matrix, and clay.

Abstract: A method for selective alteration of yield structures in fluid catalytic cracking units toward more middle distillate (light catalytic gas oil) and less light distillate (gasoline) by the addition of basic nitrogen compounds.

Abstract: Controlling sulfur oxide emissions from FCC regenerator flue gas by mixing a sulfur sorbent in the circulating inventory and having present in the regeneration zone a chromium/tin sulfur dioxide oxidation promoter.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons containing vanadium are converted to lower boiling fractions employing a zeolitic cracking catalyst containing a significant concentration of a vanadium passivator.