Abstract: Processes for recovering a purified aromatic carboxylic acid include contacting a 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 to form a solid/liquid mixture comprising purified aromatic carboxylic acid solids; filtering the solid/liquid mixture in a rotary pressure filter apparatus to remove a liquid filtrate, washing the solid/liquid mixture in the rotary pressure apparatus with a wash fluid to form a washed solid/liquid mixture, and drying the washed solid/liquid mixture in the rotary pressure apparatus with an inert gas to form a filter cake comprising purified aromatic carboxylic acid solids and a wet gas stream; withdrawing the wet gas stream from the rotary pressure filter apparatus while maintaining the wet gas stream at a pressure above ambient; and recovering the purified aromatic carboxylic acid solids from the filter cake.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for producing ketone(s) from the condensation of methyl ketone(s) and alcohol(s) in the presence of an amine catalyst and a metal catalyst. Such amine catalysts may be supported, for example, on a silica-alumina support. Such ketones may be suitable for use in producing fuels, gasoline additives, and/or lubricants, or precursors thereof. The methyl ketone(s) and/or alcohol(s) may be obtained from renewable sources, such as by fermentation of biomass.

Abstract: Systems and methods process a measured ultrasonic response waveform to determine a well casing thickness and an acoustic impedance of a sealing medium surrounding the well casing. An array of simulated response waveforms corresponding to a set of candidate acoustic impedances for the sealing medium surrounding the well casing and a set of candidate well casing thicknesses is generated. A simulated response waveform from the array of simulated response waveforms is identified that best matches the measured response waveform so as to determine the sealing medium acoustic impedance.

Abstract: The presently disclosed seismic acquisition technique employs a receiver array and a processing methodology that are designed to attenuate the naturally occurring seismic background noise recorded along with the seismic data during the acquisition. The approach leverages the knowledge that naturally occurring seismic background noise moves with a slower phase velocity than the seismic signals used for imaging and inversion and, in some embodiments, may arrive from particular preferred directions. The disclosed technique comprises two steps: 1) determining from the naturally occurring seismic background noise in the preliminary seismic data a range of phase velocities and amplitudes that contain primarily noise and the degree to which that noise needs to be attenuated, and 2) designing an acquisition and processing method to attenuate that noise relative to the desired signal.

Abstract: A method for waterflooding of a reservoir in a subterranean formation includes (a) appraising the reservoir to obtain a plurality of physical properties relating to the formation and the oil in the reservoir. The plurality of physical properties include a reservoir pressure and a Bubblepoint pressure of the oil in the reservoir. The method also includes (b) determining that the Bubblepoint pressure is greater than 60% of the reservoir pressure. In addition, the method includes (c) waterflooding the reservoir at a voidage replacement ratio (VRR) less than 1.0 based on the determination in (b).

Abstract: A compact seismic source for seismic acquisition generating a humming signal includes a casing and a low-frequency reciprocating drive. The casing defines a fluid tight chamber and comprises a first casing section and a second casing section of roughly equal mass. The drive is disposed within the fluid tight chamber and, in operation, reinforces the natural reciprocating oscillation of the first and second casing sections relative to one another at a low seismic frequency. In one aspect, this action omni-directionally radiates the low frequency, humming seismic signal. On another aspect, the compact seismic source is substantially smaller than the wavelength of the low seismic frequency. Such a compact source may be deployed to omni-directionally radiate a low frequency, humming seismic signal during a seismic survey.

Abstract: A technique for use in geophysical surveying includes imparting a plurality of humming seismic signals and a plurality of low-frequency seismic signals into a geological formation. The technique also includes receiving returned seismic energy of the plurality of humming seismic signals and the plurality of low-frequency seismic signals after interacting with the geological formation and recording the returned seismic energy.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel xylose isomerases and their uses, particularly in fermentation processes that employ xylose-containing media.

Abstract: A real-time drilling monitor (RTDM) workstation provides real-time information at a well-site. The workstation may include a display and a processor coupled to the display. The processor receives sensor signals from a plurality of sensors and generates a single graphical user interface (GUI) populated with dynamically generated parameters based on the sensor signals, as well as static information and dynamically updated uncertainty assessments.

Abstract: A hydraulic fluid distribution system includes a mechanical switch including a first valve, a first actuation pin extending axially from the first valve, and a second actuation pin extending axially from the first valve. The first valve includes an inlet port, a first outlet port, and a second outlet port. The first valve has a first position with the inlet port in fluid communication with the first outlet port and a second position with the inlet port in fluid communication with the second outlet port. The first actuation pin is configured to move in a first axial direction to transition the first valve from the second position to the first position, and the second actuation pin is configured to move in a second axial direction to transition the first valve from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, there is provided a system and method of collecting seismic data using a predetermined pattern of source activations that is intended to control the properties of the resulting seismic signal. One embodiment utilizes a seismic source array (or, more generally, any collection of controllable sources) to create a series of spaced apart in time source activations, with the spacing and number of such activations being used to shape the resulting signal. In one method of building sweeps, the guns are fired at an increasing rate (decreasing time separation) as time goes by. Other patterns may be generated by decreasing the firing rate as time goes by, or some combination of the foregoing. In an embodiment, the rate of the increase or decrease in the firing rate will change from pattern to pattern.

Abstract: A piston includes a piston housing and a decompression valve disposed in the piston housing. The decompression valve includes a valve housing seated in the piston housing and a valve member moveably received by the valve housing. The valve member has a radially outer surface including an annular shoulder. In addition, the piston includes an end cap secured to the first end of the piston housing. A radially inner surface of the end cap includes an annular valve seat. The decompression valve has a closed position with the annular shoulder of the valve member engaging the valve seat of the end cap and an open position with the annular shoulder of the valve member axially spaced from the valve seat of the end cap. The piston also includes a biasing member configured to bias the decompression valve to the closed position.

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: Provided herein are methods for producing cyclic and acyclic ketones from trimerization and dimerization of alkyl ketones, including for example methyl ketones. Such cyclic and acyclic ketones may be suitable for use as fuel and lubricant precursors, and may be hydrodeoxygenated to form their corresponding cycloalkanes and alkanes. Such cycloalkanes and alkanes may be suitable for use as fuels, including jet fuels, and lubricants.

Abstract: A method of making a xylene isomerization catalyst comprises the steps of (i) contacting a ZSM-5 zeolite starting material having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 50 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 50 m2/gram to 200 m2/gram in a reactor with a base to provide an intermediate zeolite material; (ii) recovering the intermediate ZSM-5 zeolite material of step (i); (iii) contacting the intermediate zeolite material with an acid to provide an acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite product; (iv) recovering the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material; and (v) calcining the acid treated ZSM-5 zeolite material to provide a desilicated ZSM-5 zeolite product having a silica to alumina molar ratio of 20 to 150 and having a mesopore surface area in the range of 100 m2/gram to 400 m2/gram.

Abstract: A method for predicting the critical solvent power of a visbroken residue stream of interest, CSPVisRes(OI) comprises predicting CSPVisRes(OI) from the critical percentage titrant of an atmospheric residue stream, CPTAR, the atmospheric residue stream being derived from the same crude oil as the visbroken residue stream of interest. A method for predicting the solvent power of a visbroken residue stream of interest, SPVisRes(OI), comprises predicting SPVisRes(OI) from the critical solvent power of the visbroken residue stream, CSPVisRes, and the critical percentage titrant of the visbroken residue stream, CPTVisRes. CPTVisRes is derived from the critical percentage cetane of the visbroken residue stream, CPCVisRes, which, in turn, is calculated from the P-value of the visbroken residue stream. The methods may be used to predict the stability of a fuel oil containing the visbroken residue.

Abstract: A compact seismic source for seismic acquisition generating a humming signal includes a casing and a low-frequency reciprocating drive. The casing defines a fluid tight chamber and comprises a first casing section and a second casing section of roughly equal mass. The drive is disposed within the fluid tight chamber and, in operation, reinforces the natural reciprocating oscillation of the first and second casing sections relative to one another at a low seismic frequency. In one aspect, this action omni-directionally radiates the low frequency, humming seismic signal. On another aspect, the compact seismic source is substantially smaller than the wavelength of the low seismic frequency. Such a compact source may be deployed to omni-directionally radiate a low frequency, humming seismic signal during a seismic survey.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to novel xylose isomerases and their uses, particularly in fermentation processes that employ xylose-containing media.

Abstract: A technique for use in geophysical surveying includes imparting a plurality of humming seismic signals and a plurality of swept seismic signals into a geological formation. The technique also includes receiving returned seismic energy of the plurality of humming seismic signals and the plurality of swept seismic signals after interacting with the geological formation and recording the returned seismic energy.