Abstract: A method for determining a displacement seismic image between two seismic images may begin with receiving a first seismic image and a second seismic image. The method may then include generating a first scaled image based on the first seismic image and a second scaled image based on the second seismic image and determining a scaled displacement volume between the two scaled images using an optical flow algorithm. The method may then involve calculating a displacement volume based on the scaled displacement volume and a scaling function used to generate the scaled images. The method may then generate a third seismic image by applying the displacement volume to the second seismic image. The method may then involve determining the difference volume between the first seismic image and the third seismic image.

Abstract: A method for aligning a plurality of seismic images associated with a subsurface region of the Earth may include receiving the seismic images and determining a first respective relative shift volume between a first seismic image and a second seismic image, a second respective relative shift volume between the first seismic image and a third seismic image, and a third respective relative shift volume between the second seismic image and the third seismic image. The method may include determining a first shift volume associated with the first seismic image and a second shift volume associated with the second seismic image based on the first, second, and third respective relative shift volumes. The method may then apply the first shift volume to the first seismic image and the second shift volume to the second seismic image.

Abstract: The invention relates to xylanases and to polynucleotides encoding the xylanases. In addition, methods of designing new xylanases and methods of use thereof are also provided. The xylanases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.

Abstract: A sample preparation apparatus and method of preparing a rock sample using such an apparatus, as useful in connection with the digital numerical simulation of properties of the rock. The disclosed apparatus includes a fixably mounted diamond wire cutter. Three linear translation stages are coupled to a specimen holder. One of the translation stages moves the specimen in a direction parallel to the plane of the cutting wire. The other two translation stages move the specimen in different directions from one another, and when actuated together, advance the specimen into the wire for short distances in a direction out of the plane of the cutting wire. Short piecewise linear cuts are made in the specimen, to provide a sample of the desired shape with a small cross-section.

Abstract: There is provided herein a new system and method of local attribute match filtering which operates in the local attribute domain via the use of complex wavelet transform technology. This approach is adaptable to address various noise types in seismic data and, more particularly, is well suited to reduce the noise in geophone data as long as an associated hydrophone signal is relatively noise-free.

Abstract: Methods for providing effective, efficient and convenient ways of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid are presented. In addition, compositions of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and at least one byproduct are presented. In some aspects, 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid is dehydrated to obtain the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. A solvent, catalyst, and/or reactant may be combined with the 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid to produce a reaction product including the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. In some arrangements, the reaction product may additionally include water and/or byproducts.

Abstract: Methods for providing effective, efficient and convenient ways of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, are presented, in addition, compositions of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid including 2;5-furandicarboxylic acid and at least one byproduct are presented. In some aspects, 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid is dehydrated to obtain the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, A solvent catalyst and/or reactant may be combined with the 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid to produce a reaction product including the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. In some arrangements, the reaction product may additionally include water and/or byproducts.

Abstract: Methods for providing effective, efficient and convenient ways of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid ate presented. In addition, compositions of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and at least one byproduct are presented. In some aspects, 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid is dehydrated to obtain the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. A solvent, catalyst, and/or reactant may be combined with, the 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid to produce a reaction product including the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. In some arrangements, the reaction product may additionally include water and/or byproducts.

Abstract: Methods for providing effective, efficient and convenient ways of producing 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid are presented. In addition, compositions of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid including 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and at least one byproduct are presented. In some aspects, 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid is dehydrated to obtain the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. A solvent, catalyst, and/or reactant may be combined with the 4-deoxy-5-dehydroglucaric acid to produce a reaction product including the 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid. In some arrangements, the reaction product may additionally include water and/or byproducts.

Abstract: Methods for providing effective, efficient and convenient ways of producing 2-5-furandicarboxylic acid are presented. In addition, compositions of 2-5-furandicarboxylic acid including 2-5-furandicarboxylic acid, and at toast one byproduct are preserved, in some aspects, 4-deoxy-S-dehydroglucaric acid is dehydrated to obtain the 2-5-furandicarboxylic acid, A solvents catalyst, and/or reactant may be combined with the 4-deoxy-S-dehydroglucaric acid to produce a reaction product including the 2-5-furandicarboxylic acid. In some arrangements, the reaction product may additionally include water and/or byproducts.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, subsurface ray directions in beam migration or subsurface wave propagation directions in reverse time migrations are used to obtain additional Specular Filter (SF) and Dip Oriented Partial Imaging (DOPI) images. SF migration applies a specular imaging condition during migration with a pre-specified subsurface dip field. It boosts the S/N ratio in both images and gathers, by effectively removing migration noise. DOPI images are produced by decomposing a standard migration image according to subsurface dip inclination or/and dip azimuth groups, providing various views of the subsurface image. Both SF and DOPI migration images can supply valuable additional information compared to a standard migration image, and they can be efficiently generated during migration.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the production of fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof. The compounds used to produce the fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof may be derived from biomass. The fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, and precursors thereof may be produced by a combination of intermolecular and/or intramolecular aldol condensation reactions, Guerbet reactions, hydrogenation reactions, and/or oligomerization reactions.

Abstract: A centralizer for centralizing a pipe downhole in a well is provided. The centralizer includes a plurality of arcuate cuffs having first and second ends. The cuffs are affixed adjacent to the pipe's exterior wall, and positioned circumferentially adjacent around the pipe. The cuffs are flexible so as to be positioned in a first condition wherein the cuffs are retracted radially inward so as to be substantially flat against the pipe's exterior wall. The centralizer includes a lock for maintaining the cuffs substantially flat against the pipe's exterior wall until the centralizer has been transported downhole. Further, the centralizer includes an actuator for unlocking the lock so as to allow the cuffs to expand radially outward to form a loop wherein the loop has a central axis parallel to pipe's longitudinal axis. Preferably, the centralizer includes a collar causing the cuffs to all expand or retract together.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to methods for controlling souring in engineered systems, and more specifically to methods of controlling souring using chemical, physical, and combinatorial treatments of engineered systems to reduce hydrogen sulfide-associated souring in such engineered systems, such as oil reservoirs.

Abstract: The output spectrum of a controllable swept-frequency acoustic source at a given frequency can be controlled by making the rate of change of frequency equal to the desired output power spectrum divided by the squared envelope amplitude of the source output signal, both measured at the time after the start of its frequency sweep at which the sweep frequency passes through the given frequency. The system and method can also be used to correct for propagation effects outside the source by dividing the desired spectrum by the propagation effect. The method can further be used either to obtain an output spectrum of a desired shape from a source operating at maximum output or to design a sweep of a minimum feasible duration that will result in an output spectrum of a specified shape and with a specified amplitude.

Abstract: Processes and apparatuses for the neutralization of wastewater comprising terephthalic acid are provided. Such processes and apparatuses use magnesium hydroxide to neutralize the wastewater upstream of an anaerobic reactor.

Abstract: A process for removing acetic acid from an aqueous stream containing yellow oil. According to the process, yellow oil is removed from the aqueous stream prior to the removal of acetic acid by a reverse osmosis membrane.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering a heavy metal from a waste stream resulting from a process for producing aromatic carboxylic acid by liquid-phase oxidation of an aromatic feedstock compound in the presence of a heavy metal catalyst. The process comprises: (a) producing a carbonate salt precipitate of the heavy metal by adding a source of metal ions and carbonate or bicarbonate ions into the waste stream; (b) separating the precipitate from the waste stream; (c) washing the precipitate with an alkali solution having metal ions therein, wherein at least a portion of the metal ions in the alkali solution are the same as at least a portion of metal ions in the source of metal ions and carbonate or bicarbonate ions; and, (d) recovering the washed precipitate wherein the washed precipitate comprises the heavy metal ions. In one embodiment, the aromatic carboxylic acid comprises terephthalic acid.

Abstract: A method for use in marine seismic surveying includes: towing at least a portion of a marine seismic survey spread; imparting a composite swept seismic signal from the marine seismic survey spread, the composite swept seismic signal including a plurality of randomized subsweeps having different frequencies relative to one another and being emitted in parallel; and receiving a respective return for each of the subsweeps.

Abstract: The Monte-Carlo method of generating Popcorn shooting patterns starts with the number and sizes of the guns available and the length in time of the desired Popcorn pattern. The firing times and order of the guns will be randomly perturbed and a large number of Popcorn patterns built. Candidate Popcorn patterns will then be tested against a set of criteria to identify acceptable or the best patterns. These criteria may include limits on maximum peak strength, distinctiveness compared to the other patterns, and the size of the notches and peaks in the spectra.