Abstract: A method for creating a linear programming (LP) model of an industrial process facility is disclosed. The model may be used for interactively simulating and/or optimizing the operation of the facility to facilitate feedstock selection and/or other economic analyses. According to the inventive method, a first principles reference tool is used to create a non-linear reference model of the entire facility. Then, independent input variables and key output variables are specified, and initial values for the independent input variables are specified. Base case values for each key output variable are determined by running the non-linear reference model using the specified initial values for the independent input variables. Next, partial derivatives for each key output variable with respect to each independent input variable are determined. A matrix is constructed containing the base case values and partial derivatives.

Abstract: The invention is a method for removing trapped water bottom multiples, receiver side peg-leg multiples, and source side peg-leg multiples from dual sensor OBC data, where the data includes both pressure signals and velocity signals. The pressure and velocity signals are compared to determine any polarity reversals between them. Polarity reversals are used to identify and separate up-going and down-going wavefields in the pressure and velocity signals. A matching filter is applied to a portion of the velocity signal where polarity reversals exist. The down-going wavefield is then estimated by calculating the difference between the portion of the velocity signal where polarity reversals exist and the portion of the pressure signal where polarity reversals exist and applying a scaling factor to the result. An attenuated up-going pressure wavefield is then determined by combining the estimated down-going wavefield and the pressure signal.

Abstract: A method for analyzing and classifying the morphology of seismic objects extracted from a 3D seismic data volume. Any technique may be used to extract the seismic objects from the 3D seismic data volume. According to the inventive method, one or more morphologic parameters are selected for use in classifying the morphology of the selected seismic objects. Geometric analyses are then performed on each seismic object to determine geometric statistics corresponding to the selected morphologic parameters. The results of these geometric analyses are used to classify the morphology of the seismic objects according to the selected morphologic parameters.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the riser base pressure and detecting well control problems, such as kicks or lost circulation, during drilling of an offshore well using a gas-lifted riser. The pressure control apparatus preferably includes two separate control elements, one to adjust the pressure at the surface (prs) and the mass flow rate out of the top of the riser ({dot over (m)}o) to compensate for changes in riser base pressure (prb) and the other to adjust either or both of the boost mud flow rate (qb) and lift gas flow rate (qg) to maintain a constant or nearly constant mass flow rate entering the base of the riser ({dot over (m)}i). According to the method of the present invention, the well return flow rate (qw) is preferably determined by directly measuring various other parameters and then computing qw from the measured parameters. The computed value of qw may be compared to the drill string flow rate (qc) to detect well control problems, such as kicks or lost circulation.

Abstract: A metallized multilayer film structure includes a core layer of a film-forming polyolefin having a first side and a second side. A metal receiving skin layer may be disposed on the first side of the core layer. A metal layer may be deposited on the surface of the metal receiving skin layer opposite the core layer. A topcoat layer may be disposed on the surface of the metal layer opposite the metal receiving skin layer. A polymer skin layer may be disposed on the second side of the core layer. The film structure may optionally include one or more tie layers. The film structure may also optionally include a primer layer interposed between the topcoat layer and the metal layer. The present metallized multilayer film structure may be suitable for use as a monoweb to package product as opposed to being used in a lamination. The film structure exhibits superior scratch resistance and resistance to other types of damage. The film structure may be directly surface printed and then used to directly package product.

Abstract: Multilayer films are contemplated. Specifically, films containing 3, 4, 5, 6 or more layers. Anti-block will be included in a tie layer, contiguous to a skin layer and a core layer. The film may contain one or two skin layers. If there are two tie layers, the anti-block may be found in one or both. Metallized films made from the multilayer films are also contemplated. Use of the multilayer films in packaging, imaging, or labeling, is further contemplated.

Abstract: A back-up pad is provided over an anvil surface of a back-up plate, and between the anvil surface and a sealing surface of a sealing die, in an apparatus for forming seals between layers of film material. The back-up pad has a slip layer on one side thereof and a firm polymeric support layer on an opposite side thereof, the slip layer opposing the sealing face of the die so that the layers of film material pass between the sealing die and the back-up pad during seal formation. The polymeric support layer may have a Shore-A hardness of at least 10 at 20° C. and a dynamic loss tangent of less than 0.1 from 20° C. to 80° C. An example of a support layer is a polycarbonate pad, and an example of slip layer is a glass cloth coated with Teflon™. The back-up pad is particularly useful for forming lap seals in relatively thick film materials, such as laminated films having multi-layered films laminated together.

Abstract: A multilayer polymeric film comprises: (a) a core layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer; and (b) at least one skin layer comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a non-migratory polydimethylsiloxane block copolymer.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film having a substantially continuous, adherent coating on at least one surface, wherein the coating includes a polymeric binder and nano-scale particles. When the coating is formed on the surface of the film, the nano-scale particles form a barrier that substantially reduces the diffusion of moisture and oxygen. In preferred embodiments, the coating includes a polymeric binder and silicate particles formed on a base substrate layer that includes a polyolefin selected from the group consisting of homopolymers, copolymers, and terpolymers of propylene, ethylene, butylene, and blends thereof.

Abstract: A cationically stabilized emulsion polymer is disclosed which comprises a combination of at least one polymerizable monomer which is uncharged or positively charged in an aqueous solution having a pH between 1 and 8, polymerized in the presence of at least one water-soluble polymer having a number-average molecular weight greater than 5000 which comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of primary amines, secondary amines, tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium salts. Coating compositions containing the cationically stabilized emulsion polymer and plastic films thus coated are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an oriented multi-layer polymer film with a core including a thermoplastic polypropylene matrix material. The core is substantially free of cavitations, voids, and fillers. Oriented multi-layer polymer films of the present invention include at least one opaque thermoplastic polymer layer on at least one side of the core which contains an opacifying pigment and at least one thermoplastic polymer skin layer on an outer most side of one of the opaque layer or the core. The film can be economically made, is from about 0.450 mil. to about 2 mils. thick and allows improved processing characteristics such as heat sealing, machinability, while also providing high whiteness, strength and stiffness.

Abstract: A thermoplastic film comprising a core layer comprising a polyolefin wherein the core layer comprises the interior of the film; and a first skin layer comprising a silicone grafted polymer, wherein the first skin layer is exterior to the core layer.

Abstract: An opaque, oriented polymeric film structure comprising: a core layer comprising a thermoplastic polymeric matrix material wherein the core layer has a first side and a second side, the core layer having a plurality of voids, substantially all or all of the voids being free from a void-initiating particle and at least some of the voids being interconnected with an adjacent void in the polymeric matrix material, the number of voids not containing a void-initiating particle being sufficient to impart a significant degree of opacity to the film structure, wherein the core layer comprises the interior of the film structure; and a first skin layer comprising a thermoplastic polymeric material and an effective amount of a high-melting incompatible additive to suppress cavitation in said first skin layer, wherein the first skin layer is exterior to the first side of the core layer.

Abstract: Methods of producing polyethylene films having a desired water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) are provided. The methods include casting a polyethylene sheet which has a base layer of a polyethylene and a cavitating agent, and at least one layer of a WVTR-controlling material, and subsequently biaxially orienting the sheet to yield a film having the desired WVTR. The base layer has a porous microstructure and a WVTR substantially higher than the desired WVTR.

Abstract: Polyethylene films having desired water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) and methods of producing the same are provided. The methods include adherently superimposing at least one layer of a WVTR-controlling material to a base layer including a polyethylene and a cavitating agent, and subsequently biaxially orienting the composite polyethylene sheet to yield a film having the desired WVTR. The base layer has a porous microstructure and a WVTR substantially higher than the desired WVTR.

Abstract: A uniaxially heat-shrinkable, biaxially oriented, multilayer film for use as a tobacco pack or carton overwrap having a polypropylene-containing core layer comprising at least 70 wt % of said multilayer film and at least one polyolefin-containing skin layer adjacent said core layer is prepared by biaxially orienting a coextrudate and thereafter orienting said coextrudate by stretching 10 to 45% in the machine direction. The core layer contains isotactic polypropylene and a modifier which reduces the crystallinity of the polypropylene-containing core. Such modifiers can be selected from the group consisting of atactic polypropylene, syndiotactic polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, propylene-butene-1 copolymer, ethylene-propylene-butene terpolymer, polyethylene and linear low density polyethylene. The skin layer can be selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ethylene-propylene copolymer, polyethylene, and ethylene-propylene-butene-1 terpolymer and contains silicone oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a matte surface film comprising: a base layer comprising a polyolefin; and a matte surface layer comprising a blend of high molecular weight high density polyethylene (HMWHD PE) with at least one incompatible polyolefin. The incompatible polyolefin may be ethylene propylene (EP) copolymers, ethylene butylene propylene (EBP) terpolymers or polypropylene (PP) homopolymers, such as metallocene catalyzed isotactic polypropylene (m-iPP) or metallocene catalyzed syndiotatic polypropylene (m-sPP). The matte surface layer may additionally contain a low molecular weight high density polyethylene or a medium molecular weight high density polyethylene. The film possesses an improved matte appearance and may be used for packaging and label applications.

Abstract: A method for producing an opaque polymeric film comprises: (a) extruding a base layer comprising a polymeric matrix and at least one cavitating agent; (b) coextruding at least one additional layer on at least one side of the base layer; (c) cooling the coextruded multi-layer film; and then (d) orienting the film in at least the machine direction (MD); wherein at least said base layer contains a syndiotactic polystyrene polymer, and wherein said syndiotactic polystyrene polymer is in the form of solid, non-hollow particles during the orienting step (d).

Abstract: Structural and stratigraphic discontinuities are identified in a 3-D volume of seismic data samples in the presence of reflection dip, by first selecting a primary and at least one secondary direction in the volume of seismic data samples. Next, skeleton patches are identified in the volume of seismic data samples, where the skeleton patches comprise groups of connected seismic samples representing seismic horizons in the volume of seismic data samples. Apparent dip is calculated in the primary and secondary directions at each data sample within the identified skeleton patches, creating a primary and secondary direction dip volumes, respectively, at corresponding data sample locations. A filter is applied to the primary direction dip and secondary direction dip volumes to fill in values at the data sample locations not within the identified skeleton patches.

Abstract: A metallized biaxially oriented film has at least one polypropylene layer and a metallized skin layer. This skin layer is formed from a blend of polymers including syndiotactic polypropylene. The polymer which is blended with the syndiotactic polypropylene may be a butylene-propylene copolymer or a graft copolymer of propylene and maleic anhydride. The film may include a separate non-metallized biaxially oriented film laminated to the metallized biaxially oriented film. The metal layer provides a barrier to oxygen and water vapor. The metallized film can be processed through package forming machines without damage to the metal barrier layer.