Abstract: A system for predicting hydrocarbon production from a subterranean region of interest using reflection seismic data. The system sets a drainage area around reference traces and defines drainage pathways extending outwardly from the reference trace towards the perimeter of the drainage area. A mathematical combination of the trace-to-trace coherence factors and reservoir quality attributes along each drainage pathway is calculated for each reference trace, thereby providing an indication of both initial and sustained hydrocarbon production from that location.

Abstract: A desulfurization system employing a system of fluidizable and circulatable solid particles to desulfurize a hydrocarbon-containing fluid in a fluidized bed reactor. The solid particulate system includes solid sorbent particles operable to remove sulfur from the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream and solid catalyst particles operable to enhance the octane of the resulting desulfurized hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream. The solid particulate system can be circulated between a reactor, regenerator, and reducer, to thereby allow for substantially continuous desulfurization in the reactor.

Abstract: A method for releasing gas from a gas hydrate without melting the gas hydrate by substituting the gas with a releasing agent that forms a more stable hydrate structure than the gas.

Abstract: An expansion loop for an above-ground pipeline that utilizes cold bent pipe sections having a bend angle of less than 90 degrees and a bend rate (in degrees per foot) of relatively low severity.

Abstract: A composition comprising a metal oxide, a silica-containing material, a gallium-containing material, an aluminum-containing material, and a promoter, wherein at least a portion of the promoter is present as a reduced-valence promoter and methods of preparing such composition are disclosed. The thus-obtained composition is employed in a desulfurization zone to remove sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: The wear resistance of impellers used in multi-stage turbine pumps is tested by using a multi-stage turbine pump having impellers with different physical properties to pump a fluid containing small amounts of an abrasive material. After the fluid has been pumped for a time period sufficient to provide measurable wear to the impellers, the impellers are inspected to determine their relative resistance to wear.

Abstract: Waveform data, such as reflection seismic data, is filtered by concurrently analyzing various phase angles of the data. The various phase angles of the data are compared to phase rotated background trends and the phase angle producing the maximum deviation from the equivalent background trend is selected as the optimum phase angle for predictive analysis or exclusion filtering.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the productivity of a subterranean well comprising passing a solvent out of a string of production casing through perforations proximate an unfractured soluble formation, dissolving a region of the soluble formation to create a cavity therein, and increasing the size of the cavity until the subterranean formation proximate the cavity collapses.

Abstract: Mechanical lock system for preventing disengagement of a marine loading arm from an inlet/outlet port of a marine tanker by physically restraining rotation of a collar of a quick-connect coupler relative to a main body of the quick-connect coupler.

Abstract: An oil field separation facility utilizing a total organic carbon analyzer to help maintain consistently acceptable levels of oil and water separation. The facility separates a produced oil and water mixture into an oil-rich stream and a water-rich stream. The total organic carbon analyzer measures the total organic carbon content of the water-rich stream. The measured total organic carbon content of the water-rich stream can then be used to adjust an operating parameter of the separation facility.

Abstract: A system for filtering elevation-sensitive data. The system generates coincident contour and attribute maps of a physical structure. A filter band that is limited to a certain range of contour values is used to filter the attribute values that are output to a CBA attribute map. The filter band applied to the data is defined between upper and lower boundaries, with each boundary having a substantially constant contour value. Thus, each data point has a uniquely-shaped a real filter that is at least partly defined by the filter band.

Abstract: A method for predicting reservoir properties at an unexplored subterranean location based on known seismic attributes at the unexplored subterranean location, as well as known reservoir properties and seismic attributes at a plurality of explored subterranean locations proximate to the unexplored subterranean locations. The method uses residual stepwise regression to generate a prediction equation capable of calculating predicted reservoir properties based on multiple seismic attributes. The residual stepwise regression involves using residual values from a previous regression step to determine which seismic attribute will be included in a subsequent regression step.

Abstract: A system for liquefying natural gas by cooling the natural gas stream in a first refrigeration cycle employing a non-volatile refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, and subsequently cooling the natural gas stream in a second refrigeration cycle employing a predominately methane refrigerant.

Abstract: A process for hydrotreating acidic compounds of an acidic petroleum oil is disclosed. The process includes contacting the acidic petroleum oil with a hydrogen donor solvent to thereby produce a treated petroleum oil. The process can further include contacting a fraction or a full-boiling range portion of the treated petroleum oil with a hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen and under process conditions sufficient to hydrogenate at least a portion of the hydrocarbons of the fraction or full-boiling range portion; and utilizing at least a portion of the hydrogenated fraction or full-boiling range portion as the hydrogen donor solvent.

Abstract: An improved system for designing seismic surveys wherein the density and areal size of the seismic survey components (e.g., sources or receivers) are selected based on a plurality of calculated templates of the components that are generated using a mapping function.

Abstract: A catalyst and process for converting carbon dioxide into oxygenates. The catalyst comprises copper, zinc, aluminum, gallium, and a solid acid.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of predicting rock properties of a subsurface formation using reflection seismic data and well log data. Synthetic seismic data is generated from the well log data and quantized into discrete synthetic data subcells based on rock property-predictive seismic attributes of the synthetic seismic data. The reflection seismic data is also quantized into discrete reflection data subcells based on the same seismic attributes used to quantize the synthetic seismic data. Each reflection data subcell is correlated with a corresponding synthetic data subcell based on the seismic attributes of the reflection and synthetic seismic data. A statistical distribution of well log properties associated with the synthetic seismic data subcells is then assigned to corresponding reflection data subcells, which can be viewed as 2D seismic lines, 3D seismic volumes, or single data point histograms.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing oil recovery through improved injection well performance is provided, wherein a fluid is injected into the well bore at a pressure Pi, and a downhole fluid-actuated engine and pump assembly is employed as a booster in order to generate a high pressure output at pressure Ph greater than Pi and a low pressure output at pressure Pl lower than Pi; the respective output streams are directed to lower and higher permeability geological strata adjacent the well bore in order to increase production.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic fracturing method for fracturing an unconsolidated zone in a subterranean formation by fracturing a nearby consolidated zone to form a fracture which extends into the unconsolidated zone. This invention further relates to a method for producing fluids from an unconsolidated subterranean zone via a fracture extending from the unconsolidated zone through a consolidated zone to a wellbore.

Abstract: The invention is a system for retrieving loose metallic debris, such as stray radioactive marker bullets, from a borehole in a subterranean formation. The system can be used to retrieve stray radioactive marker bullets during placement of the radioactive marker bullets in the subterranean formation. The system utilizes a downhole fishing tool having at least one recessed magnetic surface for attracting and holding stray radioactive marker bullets. The recessed magnetic surface allows the fishing tool to be removed from the borehole without scraping off retrieved marker bullets that are held against the magnetic surface.