Abstract: A refinery built around a slurry phase hydrocracking process unit, such as a Veba Combi-Cracker (VCC), is simpler, produces more liquid product as transportation fuels and has much higher net cash margin than a refinery built around a coker or other bottoms upgrading processes. The VCC unit replaces one or more processing steps normally included in refineries as separate and distinct processing units including heavy distillate/gas oil cracking and optionally bottoms upgrading and deep desulfurization of diesel and gasoline range cuts. The refinery design is especially suited for heavy crude upgrading and can be tuned to provide a wide range of gasoline to distillate production ratios. The refinery design is “bottomless” in the sense that it produces no heavy fuel oil or asphalt as product and no solid fuel (e.g., petroleum coke).

Abstract: A method for use in seismic exploration comprises: accessing a set of seismic data representative of a subterranean geological formation and a subsurface attribute model of the subterranean geological formation; performing a wavefield extrapolation on the seismic data in the subsurface attribute model; applying the time-shift extended imaging condition to the extrapolated wavefields; forming shot-indexed, time shift gathers for each image pixel of the subsurface attribute model from the conditioned extrapolated wavefields; adaptively focusing the gathers; and stacking the adaptively focused gathers; and imaging the subterranean geological formation from the stacked, adaptively focused gathers. The method may, in some aspects, be realized by a computing apparatus programmed to perform the method or as a set of instructions encoded on a non-transitory program storage medium that, when executed by a computing apparatus, perform the method.

Abstract: A method for analyzing a rock sample to determine a mechanical property of the rock sample includes (a) segmenting a digital image volume corresponding to an image of the rock sample. In addition, the method includes (b) partitioning the digital image volume to associate a plurality of voxels in the digital image volume with a plurality of grains of the rock sample. Further, the method includes (c) determining the voxels of the plurality of voxels that are adjacent to each other to identify a plurality of contact interfaces between the grains. Still further, the method includes (d) determining a contact area of each of the contact interfaces using adjacent voxels at the corresponding grain-grain interface. The method also includes (e) determining a number of contact interfaces that each grain of the plurality of grains has with each adjacent grain.

Abstract: A method for screening a candidate for efficacy as an asphaltene stabilizer comprises: forming a reconstituted oil by dispersing an asphaltene-containing solid in a hydrocarbon fluid; adding an asphaltene stabilizer candidate to the reconstituted oil to give an additized oil; and analyzing the stability of the asphaltenes in the additized oil. The method may be used to select a candidate for use as an asphaltene stabilizer during crude oil production, transportation or processing.

Abstract: A remotely operated device for inspecting and/or cleaning a subsea flexible pipe joint comprises a support assembly. In addition, the device comprises a tool positioning assembly coupled to the support assembly. The tool positioning assembly includes a rotating member disposed about a central axis. The tool positioning assembly is rotatable relative to the support assembly about the central axis. Further, the device comprises a cleaning assembly including a cleaning device adapted to clean the flexible pipe joint. The cleaning device is axially moveable relative to the rotating member. Still further, the device comprises a clamping assembly coupled to the support assembly. The clamping assembly has an open position disengaged with the section of the flexible pipe joint and a closed position engaging the section of the flexible pipe joint.

Abstract: A method for use in seismic imaging a subterranean geological formation, includes: displaying a gather of seismic images, the seismic images being generated from a set of seismic data representative of the geological formation; interactively selecting an illumination band based on the degree of signal and noise separation in the seismic images; decomposing each of the seismic images of the gather into a partial image, each partial image defined in the seismic image by the selected illumination band; interactively selecting at least a portion of one or more of the partial images based on a predominance of signal; interactively weighting the selected portions relative to the predominance of signal; stacking the selected, interactively weighted portions; and displaying an image of the stacked, weighted portions.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean well including a wellbore extending from a surface into a subterranean formation includes a wellhead disposed at the surface. In addition, the system includes a production tree coupled to the wellhead and a casing coupled to the wellhead and extending into the wellbore. Still further, the system includes a first production tubing string extending into the casing from the wellhead to a first production zone and a second production tubing string extending into the casing from the wellhead to the first production zone. The first production tubing string and the second production tubing string are each configured to provide a fluid flow path for gases from the first production zone. The second production tubing string is radially spaced from the first production tubing string. The first production tubing string has an inner diameter D1 that is larger than an inner diameter D2 of the second production tubing string.

Abstract: Toluene disproportionation and C9/C10 transalkylation are a significant source of xylenes in a modern aromatics complex. Methods and apparatuses for improving the energy efficiency of these disproportionation and transalkylation processes are provided.

Abstract: A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device to access a beam migration image of a subsurface target. In addition, the computer-readable medium is configured to store instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device to determine a decomposition criteria based on at least one of subsurface dip inclinations, subsurface dip azimuths, or a combination thereof. Further, the computer-readable medium is configured to store instructions executable by a processor of an electronic device to decompose the beam migration image into a plurality of partial images according to the decomposition criteria to provide various views of the subsurface target. The plurality of partial images are usable by seismic interpreters in exploration for hydrocarbons within the subsurface target.

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: A process for analyzing a hydrocarbon stream comprises: withdrawing a hydrocarbon sample from a hydrocarbon stream; passing the hydrocarbon sample to an analysis device at a target temperature of greater than 120° C. and a target flow rate of greater than 20 liters per minute; and returning the hydrocarbon sample to the hydrocarbon stream. The process may be used for the on-line analysis of crude oil, in order to optimize a refinery operation.

Abstract: A rotary pressure filter apparatus, a sealing device for use with the rotary pressure filter apparatus, and a process of using the apparatus. The rotary pressure filter apparatus is designed to treat a solid-liquid mixture under pressure in successive work zones. A rotary drum moves compartments containing the solid-liquid mixture through the successive zones. The zones are separated by a sealing member, which is designed to reduce pressure fluctuations as the compartments enter a successive zone.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a purified aromatic carboxylic acid include oxidizing a substituted aromatic compound in a reaction zone to form a crude aromatic carboxylic acid and a gaseous stream; heating the crude aromatic carboxylic acid in a pre-heating zone, contacting the crude aromatic carboxylic acid with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a hydrogenation reactor to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid, crystallizing the purified aromatic carboxylic acid in a crystallization zone to form a slurry stream comprising solid purified aromatic carboxylic acid and a vapor stream. At least a portion of the vapor stream is directed to the pre-heating zone and at least a portion of the vapor stream from the pre-heating zone is vented to the off-gas treatment zone in order to achieve energy savings.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing a purified aromatic carboxylic acid include contacting crude aromatic carboxylic acid with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst in a hydrogenation reactor to form a purified aromatic carboxylic acid; separating vapor effluent from the purified aromatic carboxylic acid; scrubbing the vapor effluent to form a scrubber effluent; treating the scrubber effluent vapor to form a gaseous treated scrubber effluent and a liquid treated scrubber effluent; and removing at least a portion of organic impurities from the liquid treated scrubber effluent.

Abstract: A system and method for three-dimensional measurement of surfaces. In one embodiment, a measurement system includes a laser projector, a first camera, and a processor. The laser projector is configured to emit a laser projection onto a surface for laser triangulation. The first camera is configured to provide images of the surface, and is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the laser projector. The processor is configured to apply photogrammetric processing to the images, to compute calibrations for laser triangulation based on a result of the photogrammetric processing, and to compute, based on the calibrations, coordinates of points of the surface illuminated by the laser projection via laser triangulation.

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: A process for the hydrocracking of heavy oils and/or oil residues, the process comprising the step of contacting the heavy oils and/or oil residues with a non-metallised carbonaceous additive in the presence of a hydrogen-containing gas at a temperature of from 250° C. to 600° C. wherein the non-metallised carbonaceous additive has an average pore size of at least 2 nm.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, via a processor, a first seismic dataset generated using a first type of survey system. The method further includes receiving, via the processor, a second seismic dataset generated using a second type of survey system. The method additionally includes determining a frequency band in which to combine the first seismic dataset with the second seismic dataset to generate a combined dataset and generating a seismic image based upon the combined dataset, wherein the seismic image represents hydrocarbons in a subsurface region of the Earth or subsurface drilling hazards.

Abstract: Processes for recovering paraxylene from at least two feedstreams containing xylene isomers. The process includes directing to a paraxylene recovery zone comprising at least one crystallization zone, a paraxylene-lean feedstream having a paraxylene to total xylene isomer ratio of 0.50 or less, and also directing to the paraxylene recovery zone, a paraxylene-rich feedstream having a paraxylene to total xylene isomer ratio of greater than 0.50. A paraxylene-containing product stream is recovered from the paraxylene recovery zone having a paraxylene to total xylene isomer ratio greater than that of the paraxylene-rich feedstream. The process provides improvements in paraxylene recovery efficiency and/or cost effectiveness.

Abstract: A method for determining a relationship between the ratio of solvent power to critical solvent power and the threshold light paraffin content of a hydrocarbon fluid is provided. The method comprises: dividing the plurality of hydrocarbon fluids into subgroups, based on the ratio of solvent power to critical solvent power; for each of the subgroups, determining the threshold light paraffin content, said threshold light paraffin content being the light paraffin content of the hydrocarbon fluids at the point at which the fouling tendency of the hydrocarbon fluids exceeds a fouling threshold; and determining a relationship between the ratio of solvent power to critical solvent power and the threshold light paraffin content.