Abstract: A plural stage process for the production of tertiary butyl alcohol from isobutane wherein isobutane is reacted with oxygen in a first reactor to prepare a primary liquid reaction mixture comprising unreacted isobutane, tertiary butyl alcohol, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and small amounts of oxygen-containing by-products, distilling the primary reaction product to provide a first lighter isobutane recycle distillation fraction and a first heavier liquid distillation fraction comprising the debutanized mixture of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide with tertiary butyl alcohol, diluting the first heavier liquid distillation fraction with an amount of tertiary butyl alcohol sufficient to provide a feed mixture comprising about 15 to 25 wt. % of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, about 75 to 85 wt.

Abstract: A mild hydrocracking process for the hydrodemetallation (HDM), hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and hydroconversion (HC) of hydrocarbon feedstocks such as residuum feedstocks which provides increased conversion and increased yields of middle distillates is disclosed. The process utilizes a catalyst comprising about 1.0 to about 6.0 wt. % of an oxide of a Group VIII metal, about 12.0 to about 25.0 wt. % of an oxide of molybdenum and 0 to about 5.0 wt. % of an oxide of phosphorus supported on a porous alumina support containing about 0.1 to about 10.0 wt. % of lithium oxide.

Abstract: An aqueous emulsion accumulating and breaking system for an offshore drilling or hydrocarbon producing platform, located at an offshore operating site. The system is comprised of a primary emulsion separator, which receives untreated aqueous emulsion and includes a hydrocarbon component, and further includes an emulsion accumulating system of conductors which collect rainwater and discharge it into the separator or to a secondary accumulating tank. A control system in the emulsion separator includes a liquid level monitor, which activates a flow regulating valve at the separator inlet to adjust the influx of the aqueous emulsion as a function of the emulsion level within the separator.

Abstract: A naphtha or a middle distillate hydrocarbon is dehydroaromatized by hydrotreating in the presence of a catalyst containing non-noble Group VIII metal and Group VI-B metal on carbon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for aligning fixed and movable shafts includes members fastened to each shaft to extend substantially normal to the axis thereof and with indicators on the free ends thereof. Rigid members couple the free ends so that misalignment will be reflected in the indicators and necessary movement to align the shafts calculated from a simple formula.

Abstract: Tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and tertiary butyl alcohol are prepared from isobutane and oxygen in a vertical reactor by sparging a mixture of isobutane with oxygen to the bottom of the reactor, by charging a reaction mixture recycle stream to the reactor above the sparge point, by centrally charging a downwardly flowing stream of cooled fresh isobutane to the top of the reactor to induce central downflow of the fresh isobutane annular and upflow of the sparged mixture and the recycle stream, by withdrawing a liquid product stream adjacent the top of the reactor, by withdrawing a vapor product stream from the top of the reactor, by condensing entrained liquids in the vapor product, by recycling the condensed liquids and by recovering the liquid product stream.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbons are hydrotreated to increase content of components boiling below 1000.degree. F. by contact with Group VIII non-noble metal oxide and Group VI-B metal oxide on alumina having a Total Surface Area of 150-240 m.sup.2 /g, a Total Pore Volume, (TPV) of 0.7-0.98, and a Pore Diameter Distribution whereby .ltoreq.20% of the TPV is present as primary micropores of diameter .ltoreq.100 .ANG., at least about 34% of TPV is present as secondary micropores of diameter of about 100 .ANG.-200 .ANG., and about 26%-46% of the TPV is present as mesopores of diameter >200 .ANG..

Abstract: A feedstock composition comprising residuum fractions and deasphalter bottoms is formulated by use of a carbon residue characterization factor. It has been found in the feedstock composition that the character of carbon residue is determinative of the coke quality. The process is used to make coke having a sulfur concentration of 0.5 to 0.9 of the feedstock composition sulfur.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two-step process for the generation of diisopropyl ether from a crude by-product acetone stream which comprises:a) Hydrogenating said crude acetone over a bulk-metal, nickel-rich catalyst to give an isopropanol-rich effluent;b) Dehydrating said isopropanol-rich intermediate in the presence of a strong acid zeolite catalyst from the group consisting of .beta.-zeolite, optionally modified with one or more metals from Group IB, VB, VIB, VIIB and VIII of the Periodic Table, and a dealuminized Y-zeolite, wherein the dehydration temperature is from about 80.degree. C. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: A method for determining the widths of fractures in reservoir earthen cores utilizes a series of CT X-ray scans which are translated into an estimated porosity image. A region of interest within the image is selected and a frequency histogram of the porosity distribution is created. The contribution of the fracture widths to the pore volume is determined from the histogram.

Abstract: A method has been discovered for recovering polyoxyalkylene glycols from wastewater. A skimming surface is heated to a temperature above the cloud point. The heated surface is contacted with the wastewater, causing the polymer to deposit. Deposited polymer skimmed from the surface is recovered. Heating, or other processing of the bulk wastewater is avoided.

Abstract: An artificial intelligence system is used with a conglomeration of fluorescence data to provide a method of improving recognition of an unknown from its spectral pattern. Customized neural network systems allow the ultimate organization and resourceful use of assumption-free variables already existing in a total scanning fluorescence database for a much more comprehensive, discrete and accurate differentiation and matching of spectra than is possible with human memory. The invention provides increased speed of fingerprinting analysis, accuracy and reliability together with a decreased learning curve and heightened objectivity for the analysis.

Abstract: A method for fluid control or plugging of a well by injecting a mixture of an acid polymerizable resin, a polar organic diluent, and an acid catalyst, and later injecting an acidic fluid to quick-set a portion of the resin and hold it in place while the pre-mixed catalyst sets the resin. In an alternate sand consolidation embodiment, a fluid slug is injected between the resin and acidic fluid injections to create permeability in the resin saturated area of the formation prior to final set of the resin.

Abstract: Hydrodesulfurization of cracked naphtha, with minimum attendant hydrogenation of olefins, is effected over a sulfided carbon support catalyst bearing (i) a non-noble Group VIII metal, (ii) a Group VI-B metal, and (iii) a metal of Group IA, II A, III B, or the lanthanide Group of rare earths.

Abstract: A chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material comprising (1) an aqueous slurry of sewage sludge-containing material having a solids content in the range of about 10 to 30 wt. %; and (2) a chemical disinfectant comprising a water soluble silicate of sodium in the amount of 5 to 20 wt. % (basis dry wt. of said sewage sludge). In one embodiment, a pumpable chemically disinfected sewage sludge-containing material was produced by the steps of (1) dewatering sewage sludge to produce an aqueous slurry having a solids content of about 10 to 30 wt. %; (2) shearing the dewatered sewage sludge from (1) at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. and at a shear rate of at least 30 per second for a period in the range of about 0.5 to 180 minutes; and (3) mixing the following materials together at a temperature in the range of about ambient to 230.degree. F. to produce a pumpable aqueous slurry having a solids content in the range of about 30 to 65 wt.

Abstract: Pumpable aqueous slurries of low rank coal e.g. subbituminous coal and lignite having a comparatively high solids content are made by keeping the particles of coal in contact with a non-oxidizing gas e.g. nitrogen and/or CO.sub.2 thereby maintaining a hydrophobic surface on the particles of coal while they are ground and dried, contacted with an aqueous slurry of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel which is absorbed and which coats the particles of coal, and then dried. The dried coated particles of low rank coal are mixed with water to produce a pumpable slurry having a solids content in the range of about 50 to 60 wt. %. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the water needed to produce said pumpable slurry is derived by cooling and condensing out water from the non-oxidizing gas that was used to dry the low rank coal. In still another embodiment, the dewatered non-oxidizing gas is introduced into the combustor of a gas turbine to moderate the temperature and thereby reduce the formation of NO.sub.x gases.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for concurrently determining steam flow rate and quality, through a conduit which comprises an orifice plate positioned in series with a critical flow venturi in said conduit. Pressure sensing means in the conduit senses pressures therein for application in a formula to provide the desired steam values and provide a method for determining both the quality and the mass flow rate of steam flow passing through the conduit. The measurements are of particular value in the instance of steam flow where a minimal decrease in steam pressure across the measuring instrument is a relevant factor.

Abstract: The apparatus and method proves to be the use of the pipeline carrying a petroleum fluid. A through-put pipe having a meter to be proved, and the bypass pipe are connected with valves to the pipe line so that petroleum fluid may be caused to fall either through the through put pipe or the bypass pipe. A prover is spatially arranged with a bypass pipe and measures a fluid flow in the bypass pipe. At least one sensor arranged with a through-put pipe senses a physical characteristic of the petroleum stream flowing the through-put pipe. A computer which includes memories having stored the meter's manufacturers' performance data, is at work for determining the type of curve generated by the stored performance data, a circuit for fitting data generated by the prover to the determined type of curve.

Abstract: A wear resistant vent orifice is formed by a ring plate member, having erosion protective material at least on the inner annulus thereof, defining the vent orifice between the inner annulus of the ring plate and a tube member passing therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a new optical photometry system for on-line analysis of industrial fluid streams. The invention is a general purpose optical photometer, capable of absorption, fluorescence and reflectance measurements at single wavelengths in the ultraviolet, visible and near infrared spectral ranges. Light signals generated by the light source are carried between a central photometric console and remote analysis sites by fiber optic cables. The return light signals are compared with a standard to make the desired analysis.