Abstract: A method and system for compensating for stiction of a control valve in a pneumatically controlled valve system. A digital twin model of the pneumatically controlled valve system is generated. A current segment of data signals is received from a process measurement device connected to the pneumatically controlled valve system. Operation of the pneumatically controlled valve system is monitored by comparing the current segment to the digital twin model. Stiction is detected when the digital twin model directly detects stiction or when the nonlinearity and Gaussian index are above a certain threshold. A severity of the stiction is determined. Instructions for a stiction control device are used to generate control signals to be applied to the actuator to compensate for the severity of the stiction. Further, the digital twin model is displayed with a representation of the severity of the stiction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates drilling fluids and methods of producing and using drilling fluids. The drilling fluid includes an aqueous base fluid; a clay-based component; and a shale inhibitor comprising silica grafted with glutamate-glycol. The method of producing the drilling fluid includes reacting silica with glutamate and glycol thereby forming a shale inhibitor comprising silica grafted with glutamate-glycol; and mixing an aqueous base fluid, a clay-based component, and the shale inhibitor to produce a drilling fluid. The method of using the drilling fluid in drilling operations includes mixing an aqueous base fluid, a clay-based component, and a shale inhibitor comprising silica grafted with glutamate-glycol to produce a drilling fluid; and introducing the drilling fluid to a subsurface formation.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting carbon dioxide (CO2) hydrate formation in a CO2 pipeline is described. The method includes injecting a composition including monoethylene glycol carbon quantum dots (MEG CQDs) into the CO2 pipeline to deposit the MEG CQDs on an inside surface of the CO2 pipeline. The method further includes pressurizing the CO2 pipeline with a gas stream containing CO2 and water vapor at a pressure of 200-2,000 pounds per square inch (psi). The MEG CQDs are present on the inside surface of the CO2 pipeline in an amount effective to reduce the formation of CO2 hydrates in the CO2 pipeline during the pressurizing in comparison to the formation of the CO2 hydrates in the CO2 pipeline under the same conditions but in the absence of the MEG CQDs.

Abstract: Polystyrene waste, such as Styrofoam® waste, and carbon nanofibers may be used to produce highly hydrophobic compositions or composites that can separate oil and water. Methods for purifying an aqueous solution may include: passing the aqueous solution, including a hydrophobic organic substance, over or through a surface including a polystyrene-CNF composition, thereby producing an aqueous product including less of the hydrophobic organic substance; and optionally, passing the aqueous product over or through the surface at least one more time.

Abstract: A method to incorporate calcined Saudi calcium bentonite as a low-density cement admixture in oil and gas well applications. Low-density cement systems were designed using the calcined Saudi calcium bentonite in an amount of from 10 to 30 weight % of the admixture to form a low-density cement slurry at a density of from 10 pounds per gallon (ppg) to 15 ppg; and injecting the low-density cement slurry into the well to seal the well from the geological formation; and curing the low-density cement slurry in the well to seal the well from the geological formation.

Abstract: A hydrogen gas sensor is provided. The hydrogen gas sensor includes a polycarbonate substrate having hydrophobic nanostructures. The hydrogen gas sensor further includes a palladium layer in the form of nanoscale petals on the hydrophobic nanostructure. A method of making the hydrogen gas sensor is also provided. The method of making the hydrogen gas sensor includes fabricating the polycarbonate substrate. The method of making the hydrogen gas sensor further includes coating the polycarbonate substrate with the palladium layer. A method of using the hydrogen gas sensor is also provided. The method of using the hydrogen gas sensor includes contacting a palladium coated hydrophobic nanostructure of the hydrogen gas sensor with a gas sample comprising hydrogen gas.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a co-gasification process that uses biomass and VGO as a feedstock to produce syngas which includes a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Abstract: A composition and method for the removal of water from a water-containing hydrocarbon stream, and a method for the production of a metal/water-soluble polymer composite are provided. The composite includes a water-soluble polymer, such as guar gum, and a metal salt, such as aluminum nitrate or copper sulfate. The ratio of the metal salt to the water-soluble polymer is in the range from about 1:1 to about 5:1 by mass. The water-soluble polymer and the metal salt form a crosslinked material. The method for producing the metal/water-soluble polymer composite includes mixing a non-crosslinked water-soluble polymer with a metal salt and water to form a paste. The paste is then dried.

Abstract: An aerosol-assisted chemical vapor-deposition (AACVD) method of making NiPd nano-alloy electrocatalyst. The method includes subjecting a mixture including Pd(II)acetylacetonate Pd(C5H7O2)2, Ni(II)acetylacetonate Ni(C5H7O2)2 and a solvent to AACVD, to form a NiPd nano-alloy electrocatalyst. The NiPd nano-alloy electrocatalyst is formed on a surface of a porous metallic substrate in a single-step. The electrocatalyst of the present disclosure exhibits excellent OER activity, demonstrates excellent durability during prolonged water electrolysis experiments and imposing kinetics for OER.

Abstract: A drilling fluid formulation is provided, which includes an aqueous base fluid, a synthetic modified phyllosilicate as an anti-sagging additive, an inorganic base, and a weighting agent (e.g. barite). The synthetic modified phyllosilicate contains a clay material (e.g. smectite) and a metal selected from ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum. The synthetic modified phyllosilicate is effective in preventing barite sagging as demonstrated by low sag factor when drilling at elevated temperatures. Rheology properties of the drilling fluid including gel strength, yield point, plastic viscosity, and storage modulus are also specified.

Abstract: A method of removing a sulfate scale from a surface is provided. The method includes contacting the sulfate-comprising scale with a conversion solution including 1 to 10 wt. % of an alkali metal carbonate, 0.5 to 10 wt. % of a borate salt or hydrate thereof, and 0.5 to 2.5 wt. % of a base to produce a carbonate-comprising scale. The method further includes exposing the carbonate-comprising scale with an acid solution including 2.5 to 25 wt. % of an acid.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting corrosion of metal during acid stimulation of an oil and gas well is provided. According to the method the oil and gas well is treated with an acidic treatment fluid which is an oil-in-water emulsion containing 10 to 28 wt. % of an acid, from 10 to 30 vol. % of a solvent selected from the group consisting of dimethyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, phenol, cresol, and benzyl alcohol; and 0.001 to 0.045 wt.

Abstract: A method of making NiO nanoparticles is described, as well as a method of using NiO nanoparticles as an electrocatalyst component to a porous carbon electrode. The carbon electrode may be made of carbonized filter paper. Together, this carbon-supported NiO electrode may be used for water electrolysis. Using a pamoic acid salt in the NiO nanoparticle synthesis leads to smaller and monodisperse nanoparticles, which support higher current densities.

Abstract: A formation evaluating system including a sonic sensor device attached to a drill string adjacent to a bit includes a sonic source and a first sonic receiver aligned adjacent to the sonic source, and a second sonic receiver aligned with a horizontal offset X. Three kind of two-way trip times are measured: from the sonic source to a) the first receiver after a reflection at the borehole wall, b) the first receiver after propagation in a layer below the borehole wall, an invaded zone, and a reflection at an interface below the borehole wall, and c) the second receiver after oblique propagations in the invaded zone and a reflection at the interface. After determining a sonic speed in the drilling mud and a sonic speed in a matrix of the invaded zone, a porosity and a thickness of the invaded zone are estimated based on a time average equation.

Abstract: A method for mitigating gas override in an hydrocarbon reservoir by increasing sweep efficiency and consequently improving incremental oil recovery is provided with at least one injection well, at least one production well, and an hydrocarbon reservoir. The injection well and the production well are in fluid communication with the hydrocarbon reservoir. An injection blend produced by mixing a displacement fluid with an organic solvent is transferred into the hydrocarbon reservoir through the injection well. Preferably, the displacement fluid is supercritical carbon dioxide and the organic solvent is triethyl citrate. The higher density and the viscosity of the injection blend are vital in reducing gravity override and improving sweep efficiency. A resulting injection blend is extracted from the production well and the organic solvent is separated. Since the organic solvent can be reused, the method of mitigating gas override can be financially and operationally beneficial.

Abstract: Well stimulating fluids and methods may use a first and a second chelating agent, e.g., diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA), glutamic diacetic acid (GLDA), and/or hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine triacetic acid (HEDTA), particularly in amounts of from 1 to 10 wt. %, to control iron precipitation during the stimulation process. Such fluids can stabilize iron ions without precipitation to manage the efficiency and performance of the stimulation fluid. Such stimulation fluids can be used with for highly concentrated HCl solutions, e.g., more than 20 up to 28 wt. % or more, that are useful in emulsified acid formulations in acid fracturing or acidizing of carbonate formations.

Abstract: Drilling fluid compositions may include a weighting agent, a nitrite-containing compound, and an ammonium-containing compound, where the nitrite-containing compound and the ammonium-containing compound may be encapsulated together in copolymer micro-particles forming encapsulated thermochemical compounds, and where at least one property selected from the group consisting of the density, the plastic viscosity, the yield point, the gel strength, and the pH, of the drilling fluid composition may be substantially similar to the at least one property of a comparable drilling fluid composition devoid of the encapsulated thermochemical compounds. Methods for reducing a filter cake from a wellbore surface in a subterranean formation are also provided.

Abstract: A hybrid photoactive heterojunction including a copper vanadate, Cu2V2O7 (CVO) and a zinc vanadate, Zn2V2O6 (ZVO). Particles of the ZVO are dispersed in particles of the CVO to form the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. The hybrid photoactive heterojunction in the form of a photoactive film includes a substrate which is at least partially coated with the hybrid photoactive heterojunction. A method of photodegrading a dye includes contacting the photoactive film and the dye in a solution and exposing the solution to light. A method of photoelectrochemically oxidizing water includes contacting the photoactive film with water in a solution and exposing the solution to light.

Abstract: A system, method, and non-transitory computer readable medium that perform blind signal estimation for single-input multiple-output systems. The method can include receiving, by the two or more receiver antennas of the receiver, an observed signal comprising the input signal and an additive noise term. The method can then form a data matrix using the observed signals from the two or more receiver antennas. The method can also include computing a singular value decomposition of the data matrix. The singular value decomposition can then be used to generate a parameter matrix. The method can then form a Toeplitz signal matrix using the parameter matrix. The method can estimating the input signal using the Toeplitz signal matrix.

Abstract: A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and system for multiple-input multiple-output for blind identification that includes receiving an input signal, originated as an output signal of a transmitter, at a receiver. A signal processing module can obtain the input signal from the receiver. The signal processing module can use a finite impulse response filter and one or more matrices derived from the input signal to minimize a cost function and obtain a parameter matrix. The parameter matrix can then be used to estimate the output signal by generating one or more Toeplitz matrices using the parameter matrix.