Abstract: A method for reducing the permeability of a region of an underground formation by injecting a gelant solution that forms a stable gel into the region is disclosed. The gelant solution includes an aqueous solvent, about 2% to about 16% by weight of a lignosulfonate-acrylic acid graft copolymer and a sufficient concentration of a crosslinking agent to crosslink the copolymer. The lignosulfonate-acrylic acid copolymer used in the invention has an acrylic acid content of about 10% to about 50% by weight and the crosslinking agent is a complex of one or more positively charged chromium (III) species and one or more negatively charged carboxylate species. Preferably, the chromium (III) species used in the invention has a concentration of about 0.1% to about 8.0% by weight. In one preferred embodiment, the carboxylate species of the crosslinker may be selected from formate, acetate, propionate, lactate, oxalate and malonate.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a heavy oil flowing through a pipe is disclosed. The method includes mixing heavy oil, water and an effective amount of C1 to C10 alcohol so as to reduce the viscosity by at least 20% that of the heavy oil. The amount of water present in the heavy oil should be less than about 50% vol. and preferably from about 1% vol. to about 10% vol. The alcohol preferably should be a primary linear alcohol and more preferably is a C3 to C7 primary linear alcohol which may be selected from 1-propanol, 1-butanol, 1-pentanol, 1-hexanol, 1-heptanol or combinations thereof The concentration of alcohol should be less that 10% by weight of the mixture. The mixture may further include a polymeric drag reducing agent in a concentration from about 1 to about 10,000 ppm.

Abstract: A polymerizable resin composition useful in downhole applications in a subterranean well is disclosed as including a furfuryl alcohol oligomer resin and a polymerization catalyst. The catalyst should be a C9 to C15 alkyl benzene sulfonic acid and preferably is a dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid. The polymerizable resin composition may also include an organic diluent selected from C3 to C8 alkyl esters, C1 to C6 alkyl alcohols; halogenated aromatics and mixtures thereof. Preferably the organic diluent is a C1 to C6 alkyl acetate and more preferably the organic diluent is butyl acetate. The polymerizable resin composition may include super-slurper polymers such as copolymers of starch and acrylamides or starch and acrylates. Solid particles may also be included in the polymerizable resin composition.

Abstract: The invention is a process for separating acid gases from synthesis gas and treating the resulting solids. A mixture comprising synthesis gas and acid gas is contacted with a fluid that reacts with said acid gas to form a particulate solid dispersed in a fluid. The slurry comprising fluid and particulate solid is filtered to separate the particulate solid from the fluid by means of a regenerable filter. The particulate solids are removed from the regenerable filter by back-washing with a back-washing fluid to form a pumpable slurry comprising a mixture of particulate solids and back-washing fluid. The slurry is gasified to form synthesis gas and vitrified solids.

Abstract: This invention is directed to improved spraying apparatus for coating substrates with a coating material and supercritical fluid which apparatus is provided with various features, either alone or in combination, to prevent undesirable premature cooling of the coating mixture which might detrimentally affect the final coating on the substrate; to prevent undesirable depressurization of supercritical fluid contained in the coating mixture which remains in the spray gun after spraying has been stopped; and/or to desirably provide the ability to mix the components of the coating mixture directly in the spray gun. Methods for utilizing these features in the spraying apparatus of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for spraying liquid compositions by airless spray techniques which avoid fishtail spray patterns and desirably obtain feathered spray patterns through use of spraying coating formulations which contain supercritical fluid.

Abstract: A liquid coatings application process and apparatus is provided in which supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, are used to reduce to application consistency viscous coatings compositions to allow for their application as liquid sprays. The coatings compositions are sprayed by passing the composition under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate.

Abstract: A process for the electrostatic liquid spray application of coatings to a substrate is disclosed. The process comprises forming a liquid mixture in a closed system comprising at least one polymeric component capable of forming a coating on the substrate and a solvent component consisting essentially of supercritical carbon dioxide in at least an amount which when added to the polymeric component is sufficient to render the viscosity of the mixture to a point suitable for spray application. The liquid mixture is then sprayed onto a substrate to form a liquid coating by passing the mixture under pressure through an orifice into the environment of the substrate to form a liquid spray, while negatively electrically charging the liquid mixture by a high electrical voltage relative to the substrate and electric current by electrical discharge from at least one external electrode located near the orifice and close to the spray.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved methods and apparatus for adding one or more fluids to another while substantially preventing the precipitation of one or more dissolved solids contained within a first fluid when being added to a second fluid containing at least one non-solvent component for the one or more dissolved solids.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods for effectively supplying, feeding, measuring, proportioning, mixing, pressurizing, and heating on a semi-continuous basis, a plurality of fluids. Preferably, the fluids comprise at least one substantially non-compressible fluid, such as coating formulation, and at least one substantially compressible fluid, such as carbon dioxide, to form a substantially accurately proportionated coating admixture in the supercritical state of the compressible fluid for spraying the combined mixture through a spraying means onto a substrate to produce a coating. The process employs vessels having a known displacement volume to feed and proportion the fluids. The pressurization, mixing and heating is accomplished in an oscillation loop wherein the mixture is pressurized and heated while in such oscillation loop. A spray gun connected to the oscillation loop is used to spray the mixture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to precursor adhesive coating compositions which optionally contain water, which are particularly suitable for being admixed with at least one supercritical fluid used as a viscosity reduction diluent and then spraying this resultant liquid mixture of supercritical fluid and precursor adhesive coating composition onto a substrate to be coated. Processes for spraying these precursor adhesive coating compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for spraying liquid compositions by airless spray techniques which avoid fishtail spray patterns and desirably obtain feathered spray patterns.

Abstract: A process for producing a 1,3-diol, e.g., 1,3-propanediol, or a 3-hydroxyaldehyde is disclosed which comprises contacting a combination of an epoxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the present of a rhodium-containing catalyst effective to promote the hydroformylation of the epoxide at conditions effective to form at least one of a 1,3-diol and a 3-hydroxyaldehyde, the contacting occurring in the substantial absence of a promoting amount of alkali metal ions, and at least a portion of the rhodium-containing catalyst being formed substantially without incorporation of the epoxide. A process for producing such rhodium-containing compositions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A liquid coatings application process and apparatus is provided in which supercritical fluids, such as supercritical carbon dioxide fluid, are used to reduce to application consistency viscous coatings compositions to allow for their application as liquid sprays.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for spraying liquid compositions by airless spray techniques so as to obtain wider spray patterns without having to alter the construction or configuration of conventional nozzles, nozzle tips or spray guns. By means of the present invention, the width of a spray pattern may be changed while the spraying operation is being conducted.

Abstract: Tri-substituted amine oxides having at least two reactive hydroxyls useful as reactive diluents in polyol polymer-containing coating compositions.

Abstract: An improved fluidized bed reactor characterized by a peripheral heating zone annulus containing particles of the fluidized bed. The particles are heated in the heating zone annulus and transferred to an inner reaction zone. The particles enter the heating zone annulus at an upper inlet and exit the heating zone annulus at a lower outlet. The heated particles supply heat to the inner reaction zone.

Abstract: A single crystal orthodontic bracket is disclosed which is provided with an outer protective layer of a polycrystalline material so as to provide fracture toughness of the orthodontic bracket.

Abstract: The Figure of Merit of titanium-doped oxide crystals suitable for use as a tunable laser is enhanced by treating the article at a temperature of about 50.degree. C. to 80.degree. C. below the melting point of the crystal in an atmosphere containing at least about 20 volume percent hydrogen.

Abstract: A sapphire orthodontic bracket with enhanced tolerance to fabrication, installation and use is fabricated such that the "r" planes of the sapphire are at substantially equal angles to the longitudinal axis of the arch wire groove of the bracket.