Abstract: A virgin heavy oil is hydrotreated, separated into a light fraction and a heavy fraction which are separately delay coked to obtain (a) a coke product of low sulfur content suitable for use as recarburizer coke or for use in the manufacture of graphite electrodes used in the manufacture of steel and (b) a coke product of higher sulfur content suitable for use in electrodes employed in the manufacture of aluminum.

Abstract: An improved process for producing an anisotropic pitch product suitable for carbon fiber manufacture. A carbonaceous feedstock substantially free of mesophase pitch is heated at elevated temperature while passing an oxidatively reactive sparging gas such as air through the feedstock. The oxidatively treated feedstock, which remains substantially free of mesophase pitch, is then heated at a higher temperature in the presence of a non-oxidative sparging gas to produce an anisotropic pitch having from 50 to 100% by volume mesophase which is suitable for producing good quality carbon fibers.

Abstract: An improved process for producing an anisotropic pitch product suitable for carbon fiber manufacture. A carbonaceous feedstock substantially free of mesophase pitch is heated at elevated temperature while passing an oxidatively reactive sparging gas such as air through the feedstock. The oxidatively treated feedstock, which contains isotropic pitch, is solvent fractionated to recover a solid pitch which on fusion becomes an anisotropic pitch product having from 50 to 100 percent by volume mesophase. In one aspect of the invention the carbonaceous feedstock is oxidatively treated in a melt phase at a lower temperature and the resulting isotropic pitch is then heated at a higher temperature in a melt phase in the presence or absence of a non-oxidative sparging gas prior to solvent fractionation.

Abstract: Method for reducing pressure drop in a conduit carrying a viscous drag reducing material by injecting a lower viscosity liquid which is immiscible with the drag reducing material at the periphery of the conduit to form a flowing annular layer of such lower viscosity liquid thereby reducing the pressure drop in the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a seismic transducer under water adjacent a towing vessel includes an elongated substantially rigid towing arm. A lower connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting a lower end thereof to the transducer. An upper connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting an upper end thereof to the vessel. The upper connector assembly includes a first pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to be lowered into the body of water. The upper connector assembly further includes a torsional support structure for resisting rotation of the towing arm about a longitudinal axis thereof. Preferably the upper connector assembly also includes a second pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to move laterally relative to the towing vessel.

Abstract: A stable extreme pressure grease comprising a base oil, a soap and an EP agent, in the preparation of which excess soap is provided for reaction with the EP agent whereby the thickening effect of the remaining soap in the grease is retained.

Abstract: A mesophase pitch suitable for carbon fiber production is produced by heat soaking a heavy aromatic hydrocarbon feedstock at conditions such that a substantial part of the feedstock is converted to mesophase pitch. The mesophase pitch is separated from the heat soaked material by settling at a pressure higher than the pressure of the heat soaking step. In one embodiment, separate mesophase pitches having different properties can be recovered from the heat soaked feedstock.

Abstract: Properties of premium coke are improved by coking the feed at a temperature lower than the normal coking temperature and thereafter subjecting the coke to a heat soak at substantially the same temperature as the temperature at which the coke was formed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a low toxicity oil for use in drilling fluids. The oil consists essentially of branched- and cyclic-paraffins having 11 to 17 carbon atoms per molecule and further having a low aromatic content of less than about 1% and a low normal-paraffin content of less than about 5%. The low polynuclear aromatic oil is useful in both oil-based and water-based drilling mud, particularly where low toxicity and lack of water sheen are important such as in offshore drilling environments. The oil also has the advantage of being non-fluorescent so that it does not mask UV fluorescence of formation crudes produced from the drill cuttings in wildcatting operations.

Abstract: Drag reduction in hydrocarbon fluids flowing through conduits is improved by the injection of high molecular weight non-crystalline hydrocarbon soluble drag-reducing polymers through dies having multiple openings at substantially the same distance from the conduit wall.

Abstract: High molecular weight viscoelastic polymers are dissolved by passing the polymer solution through a die which "beads" the polymer allowing the formation of very fine filaments which are drawn into the flow. The beading and flow rate are balanced to maintain constant fine filament formation.

Abstract: Sulfonate surfactants are removed from crude oil or crude oil emulsions, such as may be produced using enhanced recovery methods, by mixing with an aqueous solution of synthetic brine such as ammonium chloride, allowing the phases to separate, and removing the aqueous phase containing brine and sulfonates from the organic phase containing hydrocarbons.

Abstract: In a delayed premium coking process utilizing as feedstock an aromatic mineral oil having a high aromatic content and a low molecular weight, coke CTE is reduced and coke particle size is increased by sparging with a gas during the coking cycle.

Abstract: The combination of a conventional emulsifier package for soluble oils and a synergistic combination of (a) an oxazoline derivative and an amide and (b) an ether sulfate ammonium salt surfactant. The oxazoline drivative and amide contain straight or branched chain alcohol and fatty acid substituents. The ether sulfate ammonium salt surfactant contains a mixture of alkyl groups. The combination is incorporated with a base oil to produce soluble oil concentrate.

Abstract: Drag reduction in fluids flowing through conduits is improved by the injection of high molecular weight fluid soluble drag-reducing polymers through land-length dies having multiple openings.

Abstract: A method of improving production of heavy crude oil from a well by mixing a first solution of water soluble surfactant and water, and preferably forming a mixture of the first solution and an oil solvent, and pumping the mixture into the well to mix with the heavy crude oil to be produced. A desirable surfactant is a water soluble ethoxylated nonylphenol and a desirable oil solvent is kerosene distillate.

Abstract: Flue gases from two or more boilers are treated for reduction of their sulfur dioxide content by injecting as sorbent fine limestone or dolomite into one of the boilers, recovering a mixture of spent and calcined sorbent from the resulting flue gas, hydrating the resulting mixture to provide a dry slaked sorbent, and adding the dry slaked sorbent to sulfur-containing flue gas from a second boiler at a temperature of about 120.degree. to 230.degree. C.

Abstract: A method of activating inactive copper salt catalysts for phenol oxidation by the addition of acid.