Abstract: A suitable slurry composition allows gas hydrates to be stored or transported under metastable conditions. The slurry includes gas hydrate particles and a carrier liquid for the gas hydrate particles. Suitable carrier liquids have a specific gravity in the range from about 0.6 to about 2, a pour point below about -20.degree. C. a viscosity of about 10 centipoise or less, and a thermal conductivity lower than that of the gas hydrate particles. The slurry can be stored or transported in a system that includes a container for holding the slurry; a device for agitating the slurry while in the container (e.g., a mixing blade, a rotating screw, a reciprocating box beam, or an ultrasound generator); a device for removing excess carrier liquid from the container while it is loaded or being loaded with gas hydrates and/or carrier liquid (e.g., a skimming device or a drain); and a device for reslurrifying the gas hydrates with carrier liquid before or during unloading of the gas hydrates from the container (e.g.

Abstract: There is provided an isomerization process using a catalyst comprising a hydrogenation/dehydrogenation component, such as a noble metal, and an acidic solid component comprising a Group IVB metal oxide modified with an oxyanion of a Group VIB metal. An example of this catalyst is zirconia, modified with tungstate and platinum. This catalyst is used to isomerize, for example, C.sub.4 to C.sub.8 paraffins. The feed to this paraffin isomerization reaction may, optionally, include cyclic hydrocarbons, such as benzene or cyclohexane, which may undergo ring opening reactions during the course of the isomerization reaction.

Abstract: A heat sealable thermoplastic film is coated on at least one side with an acrylonitrile-containing coating containing from at least about 25 wt. % acrylonitrile. More specifically the film is coated on a first side with a polymeric coating comprising (i) from about 25 to about 85 wt. % of a nitrile such as acrylonitrile, (ii) from about 40 to about 75 wt. % of a monomer selected from the group consisting of an alkyl acrylate or 1,3-butadiene, and (iii) from about 1 to about 10 wt. % of a monomer selected from the group consisting of an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or sulfoethyl methacrylate, the coating having a calculated glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) of at least about 10.degree. C. In one embodiment, the second side of the film is coated with an acrylic coating composition which is the same or different. In another embodiment, the second side of the film is metallized. The coating on the first side is heat sealable to itself or to the acrylic coating on the second side.

Abstract: A block-resistant film is described which comprises a core layer of a thermoplastic polymer having a first side and a second side; a functional layer which is printable or sealable or treatable for printing or sealing is on the first side of the core layer, and a block-resistant layer is on the second side of the core layer. The block-resistant layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer and an amount of a polydialkylsiloxane, based upon the entire weight of the block-resistant layer, sufficient to inhibit blocking of the block-resistant layer to the functional layer when they are in contact and which polydialkylsiloxane deposits silicon onto the functional layer but the amount of silicon deposited is not substantially detrimental to the printing function or the sealing function.

Abstract: Novel methods for the preparation of modified poly .alpha.-olefins, and compositions prepared by the novel methods are disclosed. The modified poly alpha-olefins of the present invention are useful as base fluids or additives in synthetic lubricants.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new synthetic porous crystalline material, designated MCM-67, a method for its preparation and use thereof in catalytic conversion of organic compounds. MCM-67 appears to be closely related in structure to VPI-8 and SSZ-41 but is synthesized without zinc and in the presence of manganese and/or cobalt ions.

Abstract: The novel synthetic polyethylene fluids of the present invention are characterized by high viscosity indices (about 94-151 VI), low pour points (about -60 to -10.degree. C.), and a kinematic viscosity of about 6 to 28 cSt KV at 100.degree. C. The product compositions comprise polymers having a molecular weight of from about 300 to about 30,000 and a branching index of 151 to 586 branches per 1000 CH.sub.2 groups, or BI=0.18-0.40. A process for preparing such novel synthetic polyethylene fluids comprises polymerizing ethylene in the presence of a catalyst system, said catalyst system comprising [A] and [B], wherein [A] is a catalyst having the formula MX.sub.5 and [B] is a co-catalyst having the formula R.sub.n AlX.sub.3-n where M is a Group VB, VIB, or VIII transition metal; X is a halogen anion; R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl group; and n is 1-2.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a long interval within a wellbore wherein a treatment fluid is delivered to selected levels within the interval by blocking flow to certain zones while allowing flow to others. A treatment tube extends substantially through the interval and is comprised of a perforated conduit which is open at its upper end and which has a plurality of openings spaced along its length. Each of the openings have a valve seat within the conduit at its entrance which is adapted to receive a valve to seal and block flow through that opening. In operation, a treatment fluid is flowed through the treatment tube and out the openings into different levels within wellbore. At desired intervals, the valve are introduced into the treatment fluid and are carried into the treatment tube to seat at a respective opening to thereby block flow through that opening while allowing continued flow through others.

Abstract: Tray designs for use in a separation column for distilling or fractionating a feed stream are provided that incorporate co-current contact of the liquid and vapor streams and their subsequent separation on each tray. In one embodiment, located on the trays are a plurality of co-current vapor and liquid contacting sections including a volume of the tray in which vapors and liquid can be in co-current contact. Also located on the trays are a plurality of de-entrainment devices for separating entrained liquids from a vapor stream, the de-entrainment devices having an inner and an outer side, the inner side being adjacent to the co-current contacting sections.

Abstract: The invention provides certain hydroxyacetamides which have been prepared by reacting primary etheramines with hydroxycarboxylic acid, particularly etheramine glycolamide, and their use as friction reducing additives in fuels and lubes.

Abstract: Incorporation of zirconium, nickel and/or copper into M41S results in selective sorption of bulky organic molecules. Zirconium, nickel and/or copper may be incorporated into M41S by exchange or impregnation.

Abstract: The invention provides dispersants and dispersant viscosity index improvers which include polymers of conjugated dienes which have been hydrogenated, functionalized, optionally modified, and post treated. The dispersant substances include a copolymer of two different conjugated dienes, such as butadiene-isoprene-butadiene. The polymers are selectively hydrogenated to produce polymers which have highly controlled amounts of unsaturation, permitting highly selective functionalization. Also provided are lubricant fluids, such as mineral and synthetic oils, which have been modified in their dispersancy and/or viscometric properties by means of the dispersant substances of the invention. Also provided are methods of modifying the dispersancy and/or viscometric properties of lubricating fluids such as mineral and synthetic lubricating oils. The dispersant substances may also include a carrier fluid to provide dispersant concentrates.

Abstract: This invention provides a method of producing an aromatics alkylation catalyst comprising the steps of:(a) synthesizing a layered oxide material MCM-56 in the presence of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal cations;(b) prior to any calcination of the MCM-56, subjecting the MCM-56 produced in step (a) to ammonium ion exchange so as to at least partially replace the alkaline or alkaline earth metal cations associated with the MCM-56 with ammonium ions; then(c) heating the ammonium-exchanged MCM-56 to decompose the ammonium cations and convert the MCM-56 into the hydrogen form; and(d) after step (b), forming the MCM-56 into catalyst particles.The resultant catalyst exhibits enhanced activity in the alkylation of benzene with ethylene and propylene.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing the distortion in marine seismic data resulting from the motion of the ship. The ship trails one or more seismic sources and receivers and moves forward at a known velocity. The seismic sources emit seismic waves that travel through the water and reflect off interfaces between rock formations below the ocean floor. The motion of the sources and receivers introduces distortion in the recorded seismic data that can be modeled using Doppler theory. The data preferably is corrected for source motion independently from the correction for receiver motion. The seismic data is first corrected for receiver motion and then for source motion. The technique for correcting for source motion includes correlating the receiver-corrected data with a reference sweep signal, performing an F-K transform, performing an inverse F-K transform on a selected subset of the F-K transformed data, and computing appropriate correction filters for the data resulting from the inverse F-K transform.

Abstract: There is provided a catalyst and a process for converting methanol or dimethyl ether to a product containing C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 olefins. The catalyst comprises a porous crystalline material having a Diffusion Parameter for 2,2-dimethylbutane of about 0.1-20 sec.sup.-1 when measured at a temperature of 120.degree. C. and a 2,2-dimethylbutane pressure of 60 torr (8 kPa). In addition, the catalyst is characterized by a hydrothermal stability such that, after steaming the catalyst at 1025.degree. C. for 45 minutes in 1 atmosphere steam, the catalyst exhibits a methanol conversion activity of at least 50% when contacted with methanol at a methanol partial pressure of 1 atmosphere, a temperature of 430.degree. C. and 0.5 WHSV. The porous crystalline material is preferably a medium-pore zeolite, particularly ZSM-5, which contains phosphorus and has been severely steamed at a temperature of at least 950.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an opaque, biaxially oriented polymeric film having a thermoplastic polymer matrix material within which is located a stratum of voids. The voids are formed during orientation by a cavitating agent which is a particle of a cyclic olefinic copolymer. The solid particle is phase-distinct and incompatible with the matrix material.

Abstract: There is provided a process for converting methanol and/or dimethyl ether to a product containing C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 olefins which comprises the step of contacting a feed which contains methanol and/or dimethyl ether with a catalyst comprising a porous crystalline material, said contacting step being conducted in the presence of an aromatic compound under conversion conditions including a temperature of 350.degree. C. to 480.degree. C. and a methanol partial pressure in excess of 10 psia (70 kPa), said porous crystalline material having a pore size greater than the critical diameter of the aromatic compound and the aromatic compound being capable of alkylation by the methanol and/or dimethyl ether under said conversion conditions.

Abstract: Low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane-barrel value is produced from cracked, sulfur containing olefinic naphthas by hydrodesulfurization at low temperature and low space velocity over either a conventional catalyst, such as CoMo/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, or a dual functional catalyst, such as CoMo ZSM-5/Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. This approach also minimizes the olefins/hydrogen sulfide re-combination frequently observed at high temperature. The process produces a gasoline having a reduced sulfur content with a less than 5% change in motor octane number and a less than 10% change in research octane number.

Abstract: A downhole wash tool for carrying out cleaning operations in a borehole. The tool has a housing on which a plurality of flow-blocking, diverters (e.g. steel) are mounted. The diverters move between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the diverters effectively block flow around the tool. A retainer normally maintains the diverters in their retracted position when in a first position and releases the diverters when in a second position. A spring normally biases the retainer towards its first position. The retainer is hydraulically-actuated through the housing to move it towards its second position. When the cleaning operation is completed, pressure in the workstring is relaxed whereupon the spring moves the retainer back to its first position to retract the diverters.

Abstract: There is described a process and a catalyst for the hydroalkylation of an aromatic hydrocarbon, particularly benzene, wherein the catalyst comprises a first metal having hydrogenation activity and a crystalline inorganic oxide material having a X-ray diffraction pattern including the following d-spacing maxima 12.4.+-.0.25, 6.9.+-.0.15, 3.57.+-.0.07 and 3.42.+-.0.07.