Abstract: Hereinafter disclosed is methodology and apparatus for converting wide dynamic amplitude range digital data recorded in floating point digital word form, comprising a binary coded mantissa and a binary coded exponent, to an analog signal, or oscillogram, of compressed dynamic amplitude range. The digital word, occupying a number of binary bit positions, is, in algebraic form, .+-.AG.sup..sup.-E ; where A represents the mantissa, or argument, G represents the base, or radix, of the number system used and E represents the exponent. Since the base G is constant at 8, for example, the only binary bits that need to be recorded are those representing the mantissa A and the exponent E. In reconverting the digital data to analog form for making an oscillogram, or wiggle trace, it is proposed to compress the dynamic range and, yet, at the same time avoid introducing serious distortion. Apparatus for performing the aforesaid changes, among other things, is disclosed.

Abstract: A piston structure for an internal combustion engine which utilizes fuel injection to furnish the engine charge. To provide a more effective operation, and to more fully utilize the air induced into the engine, the piston face is formed with a main cavity as well as with one or more supplementary depressions spaced away from the main cavity whereby to promote turbulence at the combustion chamber and consequently a better fuel-air mixture during a power stroke.

Abstract: Viscous petroleum may be recovered from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits by injecting into the formation a gaseous mixture of a carrier gas and a solvent which is liquid at reservoir conditions, such as pentane, hexane, heptane, octane, carbon disulfide, etc., and mixtures thereof. The gaseous mixture is formed by contacting a normally liquid solvent with a carrier gas such as nitrogen and introducing the carrier gas having solvent vaporized therein into the formation. Recovery of petroleum and solvent may be from the same well as is used for injection or from a remotely located well. The carrier gas and/or solvent may be heated prior to injection to increase solvency rate and vapor pressure. In throughput operations, the gaseous solvent mixture may be followed by water, hot water or steam to displace the residual solvent from the formation.

Abstract: Pyrolysis naphtha is contacted with a residuum hydrocarbon charge stock under process conditions suitable for delayed coking of said residuum hydrocarbon charge. Unstable olefinic and diolefinic components of said pyrolysis naphtha are reduced in the product naphtha. Such conversion of unstable olefin and diolefin components is accomplished without substantial conversion of aromatic components of said pyrolysis naphtha.

Abstract: Radio frequency electromagnetic fields are used to excite earth formations in the vicinity of a well borehole. The total field amplitude at a single coil receiver and at a dual coil receiver are detected and signals representative thereof are combined according to a predetermined relationship to obtain the relative permittivity and resistivity of the earth formations. By combining the measured permittivity with porosity measurements from another source according to predetermined relationships, the water saturation S.sub.w and residual oil saturation ROS may be determined and logged as a function of borehole depth.

Abstract: A three surfactant system usable in high temperature petroleum formations containing water having from about 200 to about 14,000 parts per million polyvalent ions such as calcium and/or magnesium dissolved therein and a pH of from 5 to 9, and a method of using said surfactant system for recovering petroleum from high temperature subterranean petroleum-containing formations. The three component surfactant system comprises (1) water-soluble salt of an alkyl or alkylaryl sulfonate wherein the alkyl chain may have from 5 to 25 carbon atoms, (2) a phosphate ester surfactant with an average molecular weight not to exceed 1000, and (3) a surfactant having the following betaine related structure: ##STR1## wherein R is an alkyl group having from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, and n is an integer from one to five. The surfactant combination is stable up to at least 225.degree. F and resistant to bacterial attack and inhibits scale formation.

Abstract: The subject process pertains to the secondary recovery of oil by the steam stimulation of an underground oil reservoir. As an added benefit, mechanical power and/or electrical energy may be simultaneously produced. In the subject process, raw fuel gas is first produced by the partial oxidation in a free-flow gas generator of a hydrocarbonaceous feed, such as preferably a portion of the oil recovered. The raw fuel gas is cleaned, purified, and burned in a gas turbine which drives a compressor or electric generator. The sensible heat in the raw fuel gas leaving the gas generator and in the flue gas discharged from the gas turbine is recovered by the production of high quality steam. This steam is injected into subterranean formations and reservoirs to accelerate production and to provide additional oil recovery.

Abstract: Alkylaromatic hydrocarbons are dealkylated with steam in the presence of catalyst (typically containing oxides of nickel, potassium, chromium, and aluminum) which has been hydrogen-treated at high temperature.

Abstract: Viscous petroleum may be recovered from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits by contacting the formation with a heated multiple-component solvent for the petroleum. At least one solvent component is normally gaseous material such as methane, ethane, propane or butane and at least one component is normally liquid, such as pentane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The solvent mixture is heated to a temperature in excess of ambient temperature, and preferably from 100.degree. to 500.degree. F. prior to injection into the formation. The multiple solvent is introduced under sufficient pressure that it is substantially all liquid at the injection conditions. Recovery of petroleum and solvent may be from the same well as is used for injection or from a remotely located well.

Abstract: A liquid phase alkylation process for production of alkylate useful as motor fuel, wherein low molecular weight isoparaffin hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefin hydrocarbons in the presence of a catalyst comprising HFSO.sub.3 and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 in weight ratio of from about 0.11 to 1 to about 0.32 to 1, respectively, having a titratable acidity in the range of 16.5 to 21 milliequivalents per gram, and which may contain about 0-3 weight percent water and about 0-10 weight percent acid oils.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting via the injection well into the formation an aqueous solution of lignosulfonate salt as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant contained in a micellar dispersion (microemulsion) on the reservoir matrix. Normally the process would be carried out by first injecting the lignosulfonates into the formation through the injection well and following them with a micellar dispersion which may contain lignosulfonates. The micellar dispersion would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the dispersion to the production well.

Abstract: A method for decreasing the amplitude and period of bubble pulses following a primary seismic energy pulse comprises generating an expanding air bubble around a body and preventing the air bubble from contracting into the body for attenuating the sudden contraction and collapse of the air bubble, and two valve devices on a closed cylinder for carrying out the latter method resulting in minimizing bubble effect and the size of the bubble for decreasing amplitude and period of bubble oscillation for providing a clear, well-defined acoustical wave.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of low API gravity viscous oils or bitumens from a subterranean formation by the injection of a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and steam at a temperature corresponding to the temperature of saturated steam at the pressure of the formation.

Abstract: An improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing clean synthesis or fuel gas from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed is disclosed wherein hot gases from the process are simultaneously cooled and cleaned by direct contact with hydrocarbon oil. Thus, the effluent gas stream from the reaction zone of the gas generator is cooled and cleaned by discharging the gas stream directly into a relatively large body of hot liquid hydrocarbon immersion fluid. For example, the immersion fluid may be a dispserion of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel such as petroleum oil and particulate carbon which is contained in a separate immersion vessel. A portion of the immersion fluid is continuously removed from the immersion vessel and is cooled in an external cooler to a temperature in the range of about 300 to 850.degree. F but above the dew point of the water in the process gas stream.

Abstract: Lube oil, characterized by improved properties, may be prepared containing polymers having pendant N-hydrocarbylcarboxamide groups -- typically N-(N',N'-dihydrocarbylaminohydrocarbyl) carboxamide groups.

Abstract: Lube oil, characterized by improved properties, may be prepared containing polymers having pendant N-hydrocarbylcarboxamide groups - typically N-(N',N'-dihydrocarbylaminohydrocarbyl) carboxamide groups.

Abstract: An improved continuous partial oxidation process for producing clean synthesis or fuel gas and by-product steam from a hydrocarbonaceous fuel feed is disclosed wherein hot gases from the process are simultaneously cooled and cleaned by direct contact with hydrocarbon oil. Thus, the effluent gas stream from the reaction zone of the gas generator is cooled and cleaned by discharging the gas stream directly into a relatively large body of hot liquid hydrocarbon immersion fluid. For example, the immersion fluid may be a dispersion of liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel such as petroleum oil and particulate carbon which is contained in a separate immersion vessel. A portion of the hot immersion fluid is continuously removed from the immersion vessel and cooled to a temperature in the range of about 300.degree. to 850.degree. F. but above the dew point of the water in the process gas stream in an external heat exchanger, such as a steam generator. High pressure by-product steam may be produced thereby.

Abstract: Hydrogen is produced by the combustion of carbon with air to produce a combustion gas effluent containing carbon dioxide and nitrogen. The carbon dioxide is separated and reacted with carbon to produce carbon monoxide. The resulting produced carbon monoxide is then reacted with steam to produce carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the resulting produced hydrogen separated. The carbon utilized for the production of hydrogen may be obtained by the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons to yield carbon and gaseous hydrogen or the carbon utilized in this process may be obtained from a solid carbonaceous fuel, such as coal or coke or the like.

Abstract: A process for converting maleic anhydride to .gamma.-butyrolactone by treating the anhydride with hydrogen in the presence of co-catalysts comprising palladium and nickel-copper chromite at elevated pressures and temperatures.

Abstract: Metals are removed from metal- and asphaltene-containing petroleum oils by contacting the oil with pellets of sorptive type attapulgus clay which has been extruded and then dried at a temperature between about 100.degree. and 650.degree. C. to a volatile content of less than 20 weight %.