Abstract: A method of increasing the efficiency of a cyclone-fired boiler which uses high sodium lignite as fuel. The fuel produces ash deposits on heat transfer surfaces within the boilers, and in accordance with the method, powdered limestone is periodically injected into the firebox of the boiler in a quantity and for a time period such that the limestone is heated to a temperature in the range of from about 2200.degree. F. to about 2700.degree. F. and reacts with ash deposits in the boiler to form layers thereon. The layers so formed have a higher ash fusion temperature than the unreacted deposits and cause the resulting composite deposit to be more friable whereby the deposit can be removed using conventional soot blower apparatus.

Abstract: Rotary process and apparatus for drilling a borehole through a subterranean formation in which the path of a rotary drill bit is varied by deflecting the drill string in response to the pulsating flow of drilling fluid through the drill string. The pulsating drilling-fluid flow is synchronized with the rotation of the drill string by generating a function representative of the rotational position of the drill string and, in response to this function, diverting a portion of the drilling fluid through a secondary line. Flow through the secondary line is controlled by a valve which is opened and closed in synchronization with the rotational position of the drill string. The diverted fluid is supplied to the drilling fluid source for recirculation.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of geothermal energy from subterranean formations comprising injecting a thermally stable, non-corrosive, non-aqueous fluid into said formation to absorb heat; recovering the heated fluid from the formation; and, recovering heat energy from the heated fluid.

Abstract: The coke yield from a delayed coker is minimized by substituting a lower boiling range material for a part of the conventional recycle.

Abstract: A hydrogen donor diluent cracking process in which the pitch fraction from the cracking step is heat soaked in the presence of hydrogen donor solvent and then returned to the cracking coil.

Abstract: A process for the production of heavy oil from a subterranean oil reservoir by the injection of a hot aqueous fluid into the reservoir and the injection of a diluent solvent down the production well to produce a blend of solvent and oil having a decreased viscosity. The reservoir oil has a density greater than the density of water. The diluent solvent has a density such that the density of the resulting blend recovered from the production well also has a density greater than the density of the water. The water produced from the production well is separated from the blend and the blend then fractionated to recover a solvent fraction of the requisite density. This solvent fraction is then returned to the production well to produce additional blend within the well in a continuation of the process.

Abstract: Cold weather operation of a heat exchanger which utilizes ambient air to cool a process stream containing water is monitored by a series of thermocouples placed in the heat exchanger tubes subjected to the coldest air. A scanner monitors the thermocouples and alerts operators to unsafe or potentially freezing temperature conditions in the tubes.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the heating of fluids by heat exchange with falling shot particles. A heat-transfer medium is heated to a temperature above its melting point to produce a body of molten heat-transfer medium at an elevation above a fluid heating zone. The molten medium is sparged downardly into the heating zone where it contacts fluid therein. The molten medium is solidified to form shot particles and the aqueous fluid in contact therewith is heated. The resulting steam or hot water is recovered from the heating zone and the relatively cool shot particles are recovered from the heating zone and recirculated for heating to produce molten heat-transfer medium as described above. The heat-transfer medium may take the form of heavy metals such as lead and lead alloys.

Abstract: A foamed fluid containing a coal solvent is injected into a coal seam to improve the gas permeability of the coal.

Abstract: A variable diameter drill rod stabilizer including an inner piston having cam surfaces which bear against wall engaging segments. Movement of the piston axially within a drill rod section by differential pressure of a fluid flowing through a passage in the piston moves the wall engaging segments radially and controls the diameter of the stabilizer.

Abstract: A method of controlling the direction of a generally horizontal borehole drilled with a rotary drilling unit in a subterranean formation such as a coal seam. The method comprises predetermining drilling conditions for the formation being drilled and the equipment being utilized which will provide an upward buildup to the borehole trajectory, a downward change in trajectory, or a substantially level borehole trajectory. The predetermined conditions include the number of drill bit revolutions per unit length of borehole drilled. Periodic borehole surveys indicate to an operator which set of drilling conditions should be utilized for the next increment of hole drilled to maintain the hole within the boundaries of the formation being drilled.

Abstract: Pulverized coal is slurried with hydrogen donor solvent at atmospheric pressure and fed directly into a coker furnace and coking drum. Overhead products from the coking drum are fractionated, and a portion thereof is hydrogenated and used as donor solvent. Coke is calcined in a vertical shaft calciner, and calcined coke is contacted with steam in the calciner to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen is used to hydrogenate the donor solvent.

Abstract: Bitumen contained in tar sands is extracted in a primary extraction step which produces a bitumen-containing froth. A hydrogen donor diluent solvent is added to the froth, and the froth-solvent mix is subjected to a desalting operation. A bitumen-solvent product from the desalting step is subjected to a coking operation. In one embodiment, a delayed coker is used, and a gas oil fraction from the coker overhead vapors in hydrogenated and used as the donor solvent in the desalting step.

Abstract: Stable, pumpable slurry compositions of finely divided solid carbonaceous material in water are described. The composition includes a gelling agent to provide a supporting gel having a yield stress and a viscosity builder to reduce the bleeding of the supporting gel.

Abstract: A heavy high-sulfur hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is partially delayed coked and partially formcoked. The coke products are screened, with larger particles being calcined at desulfurizing temperatures and smaller particles being recycled to the formcoker. Overhead products from both coking operations are combined, fractionated, and desulfurized. The heaviest cut from the fractionator is combined with the feedstock as recycle.

Abstract: An additive composition and a method for using same are disclosed. The additive is useful in preparation of foamed bitumens such as asphalt used in manufacture of bituminous pavements. The additive is comprised of a metal stearate and a carrier oil, and is added to asphalt used to manufacture asphalt foam compositions to improve the foaming characteristics of the asphalt.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials are converted to distillate products and pitch in a hydrogen donor diluent cracking process, and the pitch is utilized as feed to a delayed coker. Green coke is calcined in a vertical shaft kiln, and steam is injected into the bottom of the kiln to produce hydrogen by reaction of steam with coke. The hydrogen is drawn from the kiln and used to hydrogenate recycle donor solvent for the cracking step. High sulfur coke can be desulfurized in the kiln, and distillate products in addition to donor solvent can be hydrotreated using hydrogen from the kiln.

Abstract: A vertically disposed gas distributor for injection of combustion air into a shaft kiln. The air distributor extends from the upper portion of the shaft kiln to an intermediate combustion zone, and includes at least one cooling water inlet line and at least one cooling water return line. The cooling water inlet and return lines extend along and adjacent to the outer surface of a central gas conduit. The distributor includes an insulation layer covering the central gas conduit and the cooling water inlet and return lines, and includes a baffle member which directs cooling water from the cooling water inlet line around the outlet end of the gas conduit and to the cooling water return line.

Abstract: Carbonaceous material such as petroleum coke is calcined in the upper part of an air-injected vertical shaft kiln, and steam injected into the lower part of the kiln reacts with hot coke below the combustion zone to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A product gas stream rich in hydrogen and low in nitrogen is withdrawn from a level below the combustion zone in the kiln. High sulfur coke can be desulfurized in the process by maintaining the temperature in the calcining zone above 1400.degree. C.

Abstract: Heavy high-sulfur crude oil is subjected to distillation to produce gas and liquid hydrocarbon products and a residuum. The gas and liquid products are desulfurized. Part of the residuum is coked in a delayed coker, and sulfur in the coke is removed by high temperature calcination. The remainder of the residuum is air-blown to produce an asphalt product, and sulfur recovered from the other products is added to the asphalt to produce a sulfur-enriched asphalt product.