Abstract: A method for controlling filtration loss during drilling to a downhole hydrocarbon bearing formation by drilling with a drilling fluid containing a filtration control additive that is made up of petroleum coke particles impregnated with a cationic surfactant and coated with a butadiene-styrene polymer.

Abstract: A method for making a nanocatalyst includes the steps of forming a mixture of a catalyst precursor, and a crude oil media, wherein the catalyst precursor is insoluble in the oil media, then heating the mixture in the presence of a stability agent, thereby liberating the catalyst particles from the precursor while the stabilizing agent prevents growth of the catalyst particle so that nanocatalyst particles form and are maintained in the oil media. The resulting catalyst composition as well as a hydroconversion process using the catalyst are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coke drum includes a coke drum vessel having a substantially cylindrical wall and a conical bottom portion; a skirt downwardly depending from a transition of the cylindrical wall into the conical bottom portion, an inner annular space being defined between the skirt and the conical bottom portion; and a fluid injection system communicated with the inner annular space for injecting fluid at a desired temperature to heat or cool the inner annular space. The fluid injection system allows the inner annular space and junction of the skirt with the coke drum vessel to be heated or cooled to minimize temperature difference between these areas and a batch of coke to be introduced into the drum.

Abstract: A system for controlling thermal changes using air injection including a coke drum having a cylindrical outer surface, a material surrounding the cylinder defining an annular space between the material and the cylindrical outer surface, and an air injection system communicated with the annular space for introducing air into the annular space. A method of operating the system is also included.

Abstract: A process for the production of petroleum tar pitch with the using a fresh hydrocarbon feedstock, preheating it, treating the heated feedstock and passing fractionating the treated feedstock into gases, light distillates and a bottom fractionation stream, then dividing the bottom fraction stream into a recycle stream and a cracked fraction stream and using the cracked fraction stream in a reduced pressure distillation tower so that the light cracked fraction is fractionated light vacuum gas oil, heavy vacuum gas oil and a high quality petroleum tar pitch.

Abstract: A process for the removal of acid gas from fluid produced from a subterranean formation into a subterranean well includes the steps of producing fluid from the subterranean formation into an area selected from the group consisting of the subterranean well, a production tube in the well, an annular space defined therebetween, and combinations thereof so as to produce a production fluid containing acid gas; and introducing an aqueous solution of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of Na2CO3, NaOH, and combinations thereof into the area so as to contact the aqueous solution with the fluid as the fluid travels from a down-hole production tube to a surface well facility so as to contact the active ingredient with the acid gas and thereby remove the acid gas from the production fluid.

Abstract: A high pressure trap for separating sand and asphaltene from a high pressure stream of oil includes a vessel having a longitudinal axis arranged substantially vertically; an oil inlet for introducing a high pressure stream of oil with entrained sand and asphaltene into the vessel; an impact plate in the vessel and arranged at the inlet so that the high pressure stream of oil impacts the plate such that the entrained sand and asphaltene separate from the stream and collect in a bottom portion of the vessel; and a chemical inlet at the bottom portion for introducing chemicals to contact separated sand and asphaltene in the bottom portion to facilitate removal of the separated sand and apshaltene from the vessel.

Abstract: A method of recovering vanadium, nickel and molybdenum from heavy crude oil refinery residues comprises pyrolysis and combustion of the residues at temperatures up to 900° C. to produce an ash, converting the ash to an aqueous slurry comprising sodium hydroxide as leading agent and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizer, and extracting vanadium, nickel and molybdenum salts and oxides from the slurry. Extraction processes for the metals are disclosed.

Abstract: An aqueous well completion/workover fluid, including a surfactant, at least one salt and an alkaline material, wherein the surfactant comprises a mixture of a phosphate ester and a non ionic ethoxylated alcohol, wherein the fluid has a pH between 6 and 8, and wherein the fluid generates an interfacial tension with crude oil of less than or equal to 1 dyne/cm. The fluid is not harmful to a formation if it penetrates the formation, and further exhibits an excellent detergency which can be beneficial as well.

Abstract: An additive for hydroconversion processes includes a solid organic material having a particle size of between about 0.1 and about 2,000 ?m, a bulk density of between about 500 and about 2,000 kg/m3, a skeletal density of between about 1,000 and about 2,000 kg/m3 and a humidity of between 0 and about 5 wt %. Methods for preparation and use of the additive are also provided. By the use of the additive of the present invention, the hydroconversion process can be performed at high conversion level.

Abstract: A method for improving flow conditions in a porous media while servicing a well penetrating to the porous media includes: stopping drilling or production activities on the well; introducing a well control fluid into the well and the porous media, the well control fluid comprising a mixture of a surfactant, a co-surfactant and a carrier fluid; holding the well control fluid in the well and the porous media in the presence of water while the well is being serviced, such that the fluid penetrates the porous media and forms a water film on surfaces of the porous media; and when well servicing is finished, resuming drilling or production activities on the well.

Abstract: A method for preparing a thermally stable well servicing fluid in the form of an oil-in-water (O/W) macroemulsion, a water-in-oil (W/O) macroemulsion or a water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsion at the well drilling location is provided. The servicing fluid is prepared by mixing a hydrocarbon phase, a water phase and a surfactant phase to obtain either an O/W macroemulsion, a W/O macroemulsion or a W/O microemulsion. The surfactant phase comprises a first surfactant and/or a second surfactant. The first surfactant comprises a fatty acid mixture and a hygroscopic first additive. The second surfactant comprises a C4-C6 alcohol. Whether or not an O/W macroemulsion, W/O macroemulsion or a W/O microemulsion is produced is determined by the concentration of the phases, the first surfactant, the second surfactant and the timing upon which the first additive, water phase and second surfactant are introduced to the mixture.

Abstract: A combined injection and production method includes establishing a production well and an injection well into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; introducing a mixture of a surfactant, a co-surfactant and a carrier fluid into each of the production well and the injection well so that the mixture flows into porous media surrounding the production well and the injection well; holding the mixture in the porous media surrounding the production well in the presence of water for a period of time sufficient to form a water film on surfaces of the porous media surrounding the production well; and injecting an injection fluid into the injection well while producing from the production well, whereby hydrocarbons flow from the porous media around the injection well toward the production well.

Abstract: A microgenerator for use in petroleum distribution systems includes a casing defining an interior portion and an exterior portion. The casing has an opposed first support wall and second support wall coupled within an inner diameter of a cylinder containment wall. At least one fluid inlet penetrates the cylinder containment wall. The fluid inlet is fluidly coupled to an energized fluid source. At least one nozzle is fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet. The nozzle is configured to accelerate the fluid into the interior portion. At least one fluid outlet penetrates the cylinder containment wall. The fluid outlet is configured to discharge the fluid from said interior portion of the casing. An impulse turbine is located within the interior portion. The turbine has a first stator coupled to the first support wall and a second stator coupled to the second support wall opposite the first stator. A rotor is rotatably mounted between the first stator and the second stator on a shaft at a central axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A microgenerator for use in petroleum distribution systems includes a casing defining an interior portion and an exterior portion. The casing has an opposed first support wall and second support wall coupled within an inner diameter of a cylinder containment wall. At least one fluid inlet penetrates the cylinder containment wall. The fluid inlet is fluidly coupled to an energized fluid source. At least one nozzle is fluidly coupled to the fluid inlet. The nozzle is configured to accelerate the fluid into the interior portion. At least one fluid outlet penetrates the cylinder containment wall. The fluid outlet is configured to discharge the fluid from said interior portion of the casing. An impulse turbine is located within the interior portion. The turbine has a first stator coupled to the first support wall and a second stator coupled to the second support wall opposite the first stator. A rotor is rotatably mounted between the first stator and the second stator on a shaft at a central axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A method for mitigation of H2S during a steam injection hydrocarbon producing process includes the steps of injecting steam and an additive comprising soluble molasses condensate (SMC) and amines of natural origin into a steam injection well; and producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon producing well in subterranean fluid communication with the steam injection well, wherein the additive reduces H2S content in the hydrocarbon produced from the hydrocarbon producing well.

Abstract: A combined injection, production and transportation method includes the steps of introducing a mixture of a surfactant, a co-surfactant and a carrier fluid into each of a production well and an injection well so that the mixture flows into porous media surrounding the production well and the injection well, and holding the reservoir mixture in the porous media surrounding the production well in the presence of water for a period of time sufficient to form a water film on surfaces of the porous media surrounding the production well. An injection fluid is then injected into the injection well while producing from the production well, whereby hydrocarbons flow from the porous media around the injection well toward the production well. An injection mixture of a surfactant and a carrier fluid is injected downhole into a desired point in tubing of the production well so that the tubing injection mixture mixes with the production stream forming an emulsion, and the emulsion flows through the tubing to the wellhead.

Abstract: An aqueous well completion/workover fluid, including a surfactant, at least one salt and an alkaline material, wherein the surfactant comprises a mixture of a phosphate ester and a non ionic ethoxylated alcohol, wherein the fluid has a pH between 6 and 8, and wherein the fluid generates an interfacial tension with crude oil of less than or equal to 1 dyne/cm. The fluid is not harmful to a formation if it penetrates the formation, and further exhibits an excellent detergency which can be beneficial as well.

Abstract: A regenerable sorbent for the removal of acid gas from a fluid stream. The regenerable sorbent is made from raw materials such as iron mineral, expansive clay and starch. Acid gas is removed from the fluid stream by a process where the raw materials are obtained, crushed, sifted, possibly pelletized, calcined and contacted with the fluid stream containing the acid gas.

Abstract: A PVT system for evaluating foamy heavy and extra-heavy hydrocarbons, including a cell having a wall defining an inner space; a floating piston slidable in the inner space; a stirring mechanism slidable into the inner space and operative to mix a hydrocarbon sample in the inner space; a volumetric pump associated with the cell for selectively increasing and decreasing pressure on the floating piston, and communicated with the inner space to control pressure in the space; an oven for heating the cell, wherein the cell is mounted within the oven; an inversion mechanism for inverting the cell at least about 180°; and a frame supporting the oven, wherein the wall of the cell and the oven have corresponding elongated transparent sections arranged to allow visual inspection of fluid in the inner space along an entire longitudinal extent of the inner space.