Abstract: A mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising ethylbenzene and at least one xylene, is isomerized using a two reactor system to convert the ethylbenzene to compounds that may be removed from the aromatic hydrocarbon stream and to produce a product stream wherein the para-xylene concentration is approximately equal to the equilibrium ratio of the para-isomer. The catalyst present in the first reactor is one that is effective for ethylbenzene conversion with minimal xylene loss when operated under suitable conversion conditions, e.g., a catalyst comprising silica bound ZSM-5 that has been selectivated by one or more silicon impregnations or that has been coke selectivated. The catalyst present in the second reactor is one which is effective to catalyze xylene isomerization when operated under suitable conditions. Each of the catalysts of this invention may contain one or more hydrogenation or dehydrogenation components.

Abstract: An improved process for alkylation of isoparaffins with olefins to yield a product which includes a high proportion of highly branched alkylates for blending into gasolines is disclosed. The catalyst comprises a large pore zeolite such as USY which may be partially or fully exchanged with a cation or cations selected from the rare-earth metals.

Abstract: A marine riser system for a bottom-supported platform which can be installed by divers without the use of J-tubes or I-tubes. A flowline, e.g. steel pipeline, is laid between a subsea well or the like, and a jacket of a bottom-supported platform. The free end of the flowline is curved upwardly in a catenary amd is attached to the jacket at a depth which is below the turbulence zone but is one which is substantially above the marine bottom; preferably at a depth at which divers can safely work. After the flowline is structurally attached to the jacket, the free end of the flowline is fluidly connected (e.g. by divers) to a substantially vertical riser section which is clamped within the jacket and which extends through the turbulence zone to the surface.

Abstract: A method for generating, recording and pre-processing high fidelity vibratory seismic data in a system that uses a plurality of vibratory sources includes the steps of measuring the motion of each of the vibrators, determining a ratio by dividing the vibratory seismic data by the measured motion of the vibrator to remove the unknown applied force leaving the earth reflectivity times a time derivative divided by a minimum phase function, minimum phase band pass filtering the resulting ratio and performing minimum phase deconvolution to remove the time derivative divided by the transfer function of minimum phase. The method may also include the steps of shot ensemble deconvolution, receiver ensemble deconvolution, statics correction, F-K filtering for noise, zero phase spiking deconvolution and model dephasing. A signal directly proportional to the actual signal that the vibrator is sending into the ground is used in pre-processing.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the alkylation of toluene with ethylene to selectively produce para-ethyltoluene over a catalyst which has been selectivated by multiple treatments with a siliceous material.

Abstract: A method for extracting oil from oil-contaminated soil containing 2 to 5 wt. % oil, comprising contacting the oil-contaminated soil with a solvent in the presence of sonic energy in the frequency range of 0.5 to 2.0 kHz. Specifically, a solvent is first mixed with the oil-contaminated soil and the mixture is then formed into a slurry of oil-contaminated soil particles suspended in the solvent. Thereafter the oil-contaminated soil slurry is passed through a shaker screen to remove soil particles greater than 1/4 inch. The oil-contaminated soil slurry containing the smaller soil particles is then fed into the top of a vertically disposed, substantially rectangular shaped, hollow acoustic chamber of uniform cross-section. Fresh solvent is injected into the bottom of the acoustic chamber that flows upwardly through the acoustic chamber. The fresh solvent is injected at a rate low enough whereby the oil-contaminated soil particles fall by gravity through the upwardly flowing solvent.

Abstract: A method and well tool for using a low-viscosity slurry to gravel pack an interval. The well tool is comprised of a conduit which includes a main screen and an upper by-pass screen. The tool is lowered into the interval and slurry is pumped into the annulus around the screen whereby the fluid from the slurry is lost into casing perforations while the gravel falls to the bottom of the annulus to form the gravel pack. When the gravel rises above the uppermost perforations, fluid from the slurry by-passes the gravel pack by flowing into the by-pass screen, through a washpipe in the conduit, and out the lower end of the main screen to thereby pack perforations in the casing and to improve the gravel distribution of the gravel pack within the annulus.

Abstract: This invention relates to use of a new and improved form of crystalline material identified as having the structure of SUZ-9 as a sorbent or a catalyst for organic compound, e.g., hydrocarbon compound, conversion.

Abstract: A mixture of aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising ethylbenzene and at least one xylene, is treated to convert the ethylbenzene to compounds that may be removed from the aromatic hydrocarbon stream and to isomerize any xylenes present. The ethylbenzene conversion catalyst is one that is effective for ethylbenzene conversion with minimal xylene loss, e.g., a silica bound intermediate pore size zeolite that has been selectivated. The xylene isomerization catalyst is one which is effective to catalyze xylene isomerization. Each of the catalysts of this invention may contain one or more hydrogenation or dehydrogenation components.

Abstract: Cracked naphtha feeds such as FCC naphtha and coker naphtha are upgraded to produce chemical grade BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene with ethylbenzene) while co-producing a low sulfur gasoline of relatively high octane number. The cracked, sulfur-containing naphtha is processed by hydrodesulfurization followed by treatment over an acidic catalyst, preferably a zeolite such as ZSM-5 or zeolite beta with a hydrogenation component, preferably molybdenum. The treatment over the acidic catalyst in the second step restores the octane loss which takes place as a result of the hydrogenative treatment and results in a low sulfur gasoline product to permit a low sulfur gasoline of blending quality to be obtained with the BTX. The BTX can be extracted from the second stage effluent, preferably from a C.sub.6 -C.sub.8 fraction of this effluent.

Abstract: A method for determining the efficiency of a carbon filter to absorb hydrocarbons from an organic amine solvent. After the solvent has passed through the filter, a sample is taken and passed through a standard gas chromatograph (GC) to measure the area counts for the hydrocarbons and the solvent. The sample does not have to have an internal standard added thereto nor does it have to be measured before it is run through the GC. The area counts are converted into actual amounts by using Reduction Factors taken from a specially-prepared calibration table. These amounts are normalized and added to give the total amount of hydrocarbons present in the solvent after it has passed through the carbon filter.

Abstract: A fluid separation packing that is useful as a packing material for distillation and fractionation columns or towers which provides for co-current liquid and vapor contact during the countercurrent separation process. The packing comprises a number of connected packing elements, suitably in the form of connected octagons, which have continuous side walls with an upper end and a lower end which terminates in a base with a vapor opening and a vapor tab above the opening. The side walls which define openings between adjacent packing elements are connected to one another to define a contacting volume above the base and there is a liquid slit on the side wall. The packing is also provided with liquid downcomers which have side walls with their upper portions within the openings between adjacent packing elements, and their lower portions extending below the packing element base. Downcomer ports through which liquid can flow are located proximate to the lower ends of the downcomers.

Abstract: A cyclone and process for fluidized catalytic cracking of heavy oils is disclosed. Gas and entrained solids are added around a clean gas outlet tube in a cyclone body. Solids and some gas are withdrawn via a solids outlet and discharged into a catch chamber. Some of the gas discharged with the solids into the catch chamber is returned to the interior of the cyclone body via an opening in the cyclone. Chaotic reflux of gas back into the cyclone via the solids outlet is eliminated. The device may be used as an FCC regenerator third stage separator or to improve other gas/solid separations.

Abstract: There is provided a multizone catalytic process for the treatment of exhaust gas comprising nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. In the multizone catalytic process, the exhaust gas is directed through a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone. The first zone comprises a catalyst that is effective for the three-way conversion of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide. The second zone comprises materials effective to sorb hydrocarbons, e.g., zeolites ZSM-5 and Beta, particularly iron modified zeolites ZSM-5 and Beta. The second zone is effective for the adsorption of hydrocarbons from the exhaust gas during the cold-start period of operation of an internal combustion engine. The third zone comprises a catalyst that is effective for the oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing an ex situ selectivated catalytic molecular sieve for shape selective aromatic alkylation in which a catalytic molecular sieve having a reduced activity is modified by being exposed to at least two selectivation sequences, each sequence includes contacting the molecular sieve with a selectivating agent and subsequently calcining the contacted molecular sieve. The present invention is also a method of producing an ex situ selectivated catalytic molecular sieve for shape selective aromatic alkylation in which a catalytic molecular sieve is modified by being exposed to at least two selectivation sequences and then reduced in activity. The ex situ selectivated catalytic molecular sieves may optionally be further modified by in situ trim selectivation. The present invention is also a process for shape selective aromatic alkylation utilizing the modified molecular sieves.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new synthetic porous crystalline material, designated MCM-61, a method for its preparation and use thereof as a sorbent or in catalytic conversion of organic or inorganic compounds. The new crystalline material exhibits a distinctive X-ray diffraction pattern.

Abstract: A production logging tool includes a plurality of pads affixed on a log tool so that the pads are located on the outer periphery of the well and are directed toward the borehole center. In the preferred embodiment, eight pads are used, with two groups of four pads, each group is spaced apart on the production log tool. Each set of four includes two pairs spaced opposite each other, all four being placed at ninety degree intervals along the circumference of the wellbore. The second set of four pads are also placed at ninety degree intervals along the circumference of the wellbore, however, the group of pads for the second set are displaced forty-five degrees along the circumference of the wellbore from the group of pads for the first set. Each pad contains two hot wire anemometers for temperature measurement, a capacitor plate and an ultrasonic transducer pointed toward reflective plates mounted on the center of the production log tool.

Abstract: There is provided a process for shape selective toluene disproportionation that involves contacting a feedstream which includes toluene under conversion conditions, with ZSM-5 that has been selectivated at least once with an organosilicon selectivating agent. The conversion conditions of the hydrocarbon conversion process provide a toluene conversion of at least 40 wt. %.

Abstract: A continuous water washing process for removing salts from refinery process streams is disclosed. The salt and salt precursor content of a process stream is determined, and iterative calculations made to ensure an aqueous phase forms downstream of the water injection point with a salt and ion concentration within acceptable limits. Preferably chemical speciation calculations are used to check for corrosive, transient aqueous phases intermediate the point of water injection and the process outlet.

Abstract: A process for determining if intermittent water injection is the best way to remove deposits such as salts from refinery process streams. A water vapor pressure, P1, at stream conditions and a water vapor pressure, Ps, at saturation conditions in the stream, are used to calculate a ratio P1/Ps. If the ratio is less than 0.1 intermittent water washing is preferred. An optimized intermittent injection procedure, frequency, duration, and constraints, is disclosed. Chemical speciation calculations ensure that all accumulated salts are removed, and that an aqueous phase forms downstream of the water injection point having a salt concentration within acceptable limits.