Abstract: Secure and automated vehicular control using automatic authentication is disclosed herein. An example system includes a processor; and memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in memory to automatically track a signal associated with a vehicle in motion, automatically track a signal associated with a mobile device in motion, determine that the vehicle and the mobile device are moving in sync, and automatically authenticate a user associated with the mobile device to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method to recover hydrocarbonfractions from refineries gas streams involves a pre-cooled heat refinery fuel gas stream mixed with a pre-cooled and expanded supply of natural gas stream in an inline mixer to condense and recover at least C3+ fractions upstream of a fractionator. The temperature of the gas stream entering the fractionator may be monitored downstream of the in-line mixer. The pre-cooled stream of high pressure natural gas is sufficiently cooled by flowing through a gas expander that, when mixed with the pre-cooled refinery fuel gas, the resulting temperature causes condensation of heavier hydrocarbon fractions before entering the fractionator. A further cooled, pressure expanded natural gas reflux stream is temperature controlled to maintain fractionator overhead temperature. The fractionator bottoms temperature may be controlled by a circulating reboiler stream.

Abstract: There is described a method to produce LNG at gas pressure letdown stations. A high pressure gas stream is pre-cooled, dewatered, and then divided into two streams: a diverted LNG production stream (LNG stream) and a gas to end users stream (User stream). Carbon dioxide is removed from the LNG stream and the LNG stream is compressed. The LNG stream is then precooled by passing through one or more heat exchangers. Hydrocarbon condensate is removed from the LNG steam by passing the LNG stream through a first Knock Out drum. The LNG stream is then depressured by passing through a JT valve to depressurize the gas vapour exiting the first Knock Out drum and discharge it into a second Knock Out drum where the LNG is captured.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cutter tool for cutting tubulars from the inside thereof. The tubulars can be an oil well or a gas well, pipeline or other type of tubular. The cutter tool can include a housing that is insertable within the tubular and a cutting member that is receivable within the housing. The cutting member has a first end and a second end with the first end for cutting the tubular. The tool also includes a first shaft with a first shaft-end and a second shaft-end. The first shaft-end is releasably connectable to the housing. The tool also includes a second shaft that is connectable with the second end of the cutting member. The cutting member is moveable within the housing between a retracted position and an extended-and-cutting position by movement of the second shaft.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuation member for traveling down a borehole of a casing to engage with one or more geometrical profile locations provided inside the casing, and a system for controllably exposing selected locations along the wellbore to a pressurized fluid. The actuation member comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body extending between an uphole end and a downhole end, and a plug seat configured to receive a plug for blocking the borehole. The actuation member has two edge portions separate and movable relative to one another to facilitate resilient deformation of the hollow body, wherein the deformation causes a reduction of cross-sectional area of the hollow body. An outer surface of the hollow body comprises one or more protrusions and/or grooves configured to matingly engage with the one or more geometric profile locations in the casing.

Abstract: A method to enhance the production of oil from underground oil deposits recovers the anode exhaust stream components and thermal energy from a fuel cell for injection in a well pipeline to heat, displace and flow oil into a production well pipeline at optimal reservoir pressure and operating conditions. The process recovers and injects the GHG emission stream from a fuel cell anode exhaust stream into an oil reservoir to increase oil production.

Abstract: A plunger with expandable mating pad elements arrayed circumferentially about the plunger's body sealed to the plunger and biased to expand the plunger assembly's outer circumferential surface toward the inner surface of the tubular within which the plunger assembly is designed to operate. The gaps between the pad elements are minimized by having the adjacent pad elements slidable against each other along two sets of surfaces along essentially the length of the interface between adjacent pad elements, one surface set being approximately axial to the plunger and the other set being approximately radial to the plunger's longitudinal axis, and in this way reducing the available pathway in the gap between adjacent pad elements for fluid to bypass the plunger assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for rotating the sucker rod strings of pumping equipment and adjusting the vertical position of the sucker rod string. The apparatuses can include a threaded tubular rod carrier or spindle and a polished rod can run through the rod carrier. The rod carrier can be held in place along the rod with a locking mechanism on the upper and lower ends of the rod carrier. A rotator can surround the rod carrier, and the rotator can include a wheel and a main thrust bearing, the wheel being in threaded connection with the threads of the rod carrier and supported by the main thrust bearing. The rotation of the wheel relative to the rod carrier can result in vertical movement of the rod and the vertical movement of the rod can be accomplished without disengaging the means for fixing the rod carrier to the rod.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically generating a commercial driver logbook based on vehicular data is disclosed herein. An example system includes a processor; and memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in memory to perform a first type of authentication of a user based on an identifier received from a mobile device, unlock a door of a vehicle when the first type of authentication is complete, perform a second type of authentication of the user that is based on verification of a code transmitted to the user in response to completion of the first type of authentication, allow a key on event for the vehicle when both the first type of authentication and the second type of authentication are complete, and automatically generating a commercial driver logbook based on real-time drive time data collected from the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring fluid-dynamic drag on an object, such as a bicycle, ground vehicle, watercraft, aircraft, or portion of a wind turbine are provided. An array of sensors obtain sensor readings for example indicating: power input for propelling the object; air speed and direction relative to motion of the object; and ground speed of the object. Sensor readings may also indicate: temperature; elevation and humidity for providing a measurement of air density. Sensor readings may also indicate inclination angle and forward acceleration. Processing circuitry determines a coefficient of drag area based on the sensor readings and optionally one or more stored parameters, according to a predetermined relationship. A pitot tube based apparatus for measuring fluid speed and direction is also provided. Methods for dynamic in situ calibration of the pitot tube apparatus, and of adjusting correction factors applied to correct measurement errors of this apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: Secure and automated vehicular control using multi-factor authentication is disclosed herein. An example system includes a processor; and memory, the processor being configured to execute instructions stored in memory to: perform a first type of authentication of a user using a unique identifier for a user of a mobile device; transmit an unlock request to a vehicle controller when the first type of authentication is complete, the vehicle controller unlocking a door of the vehicle in response; perform a second type of authentication of the user; and transmit an indication to the vehicle controller of the vehicle to confirm that the second type of authentication is complete, wherein the vehicle controller starts an engine of the vehicle in response to the second type of authentication being complete.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing distracted driving are disclosed herein. A mobile device may receive one or more beacon signals emitted from one or more beacons located at different locations within a vehicle. The mobile device determines whether the mobile device is located within the vehicle. The mobile device disables one or more functions of the mobile device if determined to be in the vehicle. The mobile device then determines whether to re-enable at least one of the disabled functions.

Abstract: A method and system for de-oiling a feed comprising oil and water. The feed has an input temperature above the boiling point of water and an input pressure sufficient to maintain the water in a liquid state. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises pumping the feed with a motive pump through a phase separator having a restriction to effect a phase separation of oil and water in the feed and produce an agitated mixture, supplying the agitated mixture from the phase separator into a pressure vessel operating at a pressure sufficient to maintain in a liquid state water that is at a temperature above the boiling point of water, removing an oil phase from the pressure vessel, and removing a water phase from the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A method for production of liquid natural gas (LNG) at natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery plants that maximizes NGLs recovery by producing LNG and using the produced LNG as an external cooling source to control the operation of a de-methanizer column at the NLG recovery facility. In at least one embodiment, LNG is added from an LNG overhead receiver by direct mixing to control the temperature profile in the NGL de-methanizer column. The temperature in an overhead product of the de-methanizer column is controlled by controlling addition of LNG as a reflux stream. The temperature in an expanded feed gas to the de-methanizer column is controlled by controlling addition of LNG as a tempering gas, while stripping of carbon dioxide from an NGL product stream is controlled by controlling the addition of LNG as stripping gas.

Abstract: A hosed-reeling apparatus comprising a hose reel and a rack having a front opening for demountably receiving and supporting the hose reel. The hose reel has two sidewalls, a connection member concentrically coupling the two sidewalls, and two spindles extending laterally outward from the centers of the two sidewalls, respectively. The rack has at least a base framework, and a locking structure configurable between an unlock position and a lock position. The base framework has two upward facing channels on opposite sides thereof for demountably receiving the hose reel spindles. The channels are accessible from thereabove when the locking structure is at the unlock position, and the channels are inaccessible from thereabove when the locking structure is at the lock position. Each of the sidewalls of the hose reel may have at least one straight outer edge, allowing the hose reel sit stably on a horizontal surface or a ramp.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for rotating the sucker rod strings of pumping equipment and adjusting the vertical position of the sucker rod string. The apparatuses can include a threaded tubular rod carrier or spindle and a polished rod can run through the rod carrier. The rod carrier can be held in place along the rod with a locking mechanism on the upper and lower ends of the rod carrier. A rotator can surround the rod carrier, and the rotator can include a wheel and a main thrust bearing, the wheel being in threaded connection with the threads of the rod carrier and supported by the main thrust bearing. The rotation of the wheel relative to the rod carrier can result in vertical movement of the rod and the vertical movement of the rod can be accomplished without disengaging the means for fixing the rod carrier to the rod.