Abstract: The current subject matter relates to compliant variable tension risers to connect deep-water subsea wellheads to a single floating platform in wet tree or dry try systems. The variable tension risers allow several subsea wellheads, in water depths from 1220 to 3050 meters, at lateral offsets from one-tenth to twice the depth or more, to tie back to a single floating platform. Also, the current subject matter relates to methods to counter buoyancy and install variable tension risers using a weighted chain ballast line.

Abstract: Various apparatuses and methods to traverse an undersea topographic feature (12) with a subsea pipeline (18) are disclosed. The apparatuses and methods of the present invention accomplish this task through the use of a concentrated buoyancy scheme (10). The invention disclosed can allow more efficient and cost effective traversal of hostile terrain for subsea pipelines at great depths while minimizing the risk of rupturing the pipeline (18) or negatively impacting the surrounding undersea environment.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering fines from a light FCC-type effluent gas. Cracked gases from the reactor are cooled by direct contact with circulating oil in an oil quench tower. The circulating oil also washes out the catalyst fines carried with the reactor effluent gas. A flow of the oil from the quench tower bottoms is sent through one of a pair of filters to remove fines and recycled to the tower. The other filter is in backwash operation using a compressed gas to remove the fines therefrom and into a surge drum. Fuel oil or quench oil is added to the drum to form a slurry, which carries the catalyst fines to the regenerator where the oil is combusted to supply the FCC system heat requirements. Since a minimum amount of fuel oil is generated in the FCC, fuel oil is imported to inventory the quench tower.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for contacting two liquid phases for liquid-liquid extraction in a vertical extraction vessel. A relatively heavier liquid phase, descending the extraction vessel at a relatively low volumetric flow rate, is dispersed into a continuous phase comprising a relatively lighter liquid rising through the extraction vessel at a relatively high flow rate. Sieve trays are provided with adjustable active areas and overlapping manways for personnel access.

Abstract: A semisubmersible trimaran for use in an afloat sea base is disclosed. The trimaran has an upper deck structure 12 supported on a longitudinal center hull 26 and column-stabilized, longitudinal outrigger pontoons 28. The center hull 26 and pontoon columns 38 and 40 have a reduced waterplane area for minimizing motion during operations. The trimaran has a transit draft 37 for deployment at full waterplane area, and an operating draft 36 with a reduced waterplane area for damping motion. The vessel can be deployed with a transit drive 42 on the hull 26, and dynamically positioned at a destination for operations. Multiple trimarans can be assembled to provide an extended upper surface, including a landing area for fixed-wing aircraft.

Abstract: Syngas production process and reforming exchanger. The process involves passing a first portion of hydrocarbon feed mixed with steam and oxidant through an autothermal catalytic steam reforming zone to form a first reformed gas of reduced hydrocarbon content, passing a second portion of the hydrocarbon feed mixed with steam through an endothermic catalytic steam reforming zone to form a second reformed gas of reduced hydrocarbon content, and mixing the first and second reformed gases and passing the resulting gas mixture through a heat exchange zone for cooling the gas mixture and thereby supplying heat to the endothermic catalytic steam reforming zone. The endothermic catalytic steam reforming zone and the heat exchange zone are respectively disposed tube side and shell side within a shell-and-tube reforming exchanger.

Abstract: Washed cleavage product (WCP) in a phenol manufacturing process is treated to remove sodium ions. The WCP is contacted with a cation exchange resin in hydrogen form, and then with anion exchange resin in free base or hydroxide form, to produce a WCP essentially free of sodium ions. The cation and anion exchange resins are regenerated with acid and caustic, respectively. The treatment improves productivity and product quality of new and existing phenol processes.

Abstract: Recycling a portion of autothermal reformer effluent into the steam-hydrocarbon feed stream with a thermo-compressor ejector is disclosed, using the preheated feed mixture as motive fluid. Syngas recycle-motive fluid molar ratios are 0.2-1.0, selected to optimize the overall configuration. The recycle introduces hydrogen and steam into the feed, and elevates the feed temperature, for operating the reformer in a soot-free regime. There is some pressure drop between the raw feed steam-natural gas mixture and the reformer feed, which requires the raw feed mixture to be supplied at a higher pressure, but this is offset by the lower pressure drop in the process heater and other upstream and downstream equipment due to lower quantities of steam. The feed pre-heater can have a lower duty, and the upstream and downstream equipment can be reduced in size, while the size of the autothermal reformer is about the same compared to the size needed for operation without effluent recycle.

Abstract: A steam/hydrocarbon reformer employing a convection-heated pre-reformer is disclosed. The pre-reformer comprises catalyst-filled tubes disposed in the transition section between the radiant and convection sections. The pre-reformer tubes are transverse to the flow of flue gas from the radiant section. The pre-reformer achieves 10-20% of the total reforming load, and can be installed as a module or modules between the radiant and convection sections without increasing the size of the reformer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a subsea system for the production of hydrocarbon reserves. More specifically, the present invention relates to a control wellhead bouy that is used in deepwater operations for offshore hydrocarbon production. In a preferred embodiment, a bouy for supporting equipment for use in a remote offshore well or pipeline includes a hull having a diameter:height ratio of at least 3:1, a mooring system for maintaining the hull in a desired location, and an umbilical providing fluid communication between the hull and the well or pipeline.

Abstract: A multi-cyclone gas/solids separator with reduced solids re-entrainment is disclosed. The separator uses a plurality of cyclones spaced horizontally apart from adjacent cyclones to process flue gas containing residual catalyst fines. Each cyclone has a body that has a feed inlet end for admitting gas and entrained solids into an annular space defined by a sidewall of the cyclone body and a cylindrical gas outlet tube axially aligned with the cyclone body. A solids outlet at an opposing end of the cyclone body has a tangential outlet for solids and a minor amount of gas through a sidewall of the cyclone body. A gas reflux opening is axially aligned with the outlet tube. The plurality of cyclones share both a common catch chamber for solids discharged from the solids outlet, and a common manifold for gas and entrained solids.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well comprises an unmanned floating platform positioned over the well, the platform including equipment for inserting coiled tubing or wireline tools or the like into the well for servicing, controlling, or conducting other operations in or to the well, a vertical access riser connecting the platform to the well, a control umbilical connecting the platform to the well, a host facility adapted to receive the produced hydrocarbons, and a production pipeline connecting the well to the host facility, the production pipeline including at least one access port between the well and the host facility.

Abstract: A vertical, fixed-bed ammonia converter wherein a fixed-bed catalyst zone is configured into two mechanically separated catalyst volumes and two gas streams that operate in parallel. The design maintains the ratio of gas flow to catalyst volume so that there is no catalyst effectiveness penalty. The catalyst beds and gas flow paths are configured so that gas flow is downward through each catalyst volume. Each fixed-bed catalyst zone in the present invention can hold the catalyst in an annular space formed between two concentric shrouds arranged around a shell and tube heat exchanger. The two catalyst beds associated with each zone are situated above one another along the length of an interstage heat exchanger. Pipes or conduits are disposed through the beds to effect the parallel gas flow configuration, or alternatively, annular flows are created via passages through the internal shrouds that contain the catalyst beds.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering fines from a light FCC-type effluent gas. Cracked gases from the reactor are cooled by direct contact with circulating oil in an oil quench tower. The circulating oil also washes out the catalyst fines carried with the reactor effluent gas. A flow of the oil from the quench tower bottoms is sent through one of a pair of filters to remove fines and recycled to the tower. The other filter is in backwash operation using a compressed gas to remove the fines therefrom and into a surge drum. Fuel oil or quench oil is added to the drum to form a slurry, which carries the catalyst fines to the regenerator where the oil is combusted to supply the FCC system heat requirements. Since a minimum amount of fuel oil is generated in the FCC, fuel oil is imported to inventory the quench tower.

Abstract: A catalyst regenerator for regenerating spent light FCC catalyst and heating the catalyst to supply heat to an FCC reactor. The regenerator has discharge outlets for catalyst and off gas and a valve for introducing spent catalyst through a central stand pipe portion. The regenerator houses a dense phase catalyst bed. A centerwell receives a lower end of the standpipe portion and defines an annulus therebetween. The spent catalyst is introduced through the standpipe portion into the annulus. A fuel distributor introduces fuel into the centerwell for mixing with the catalyst in the annulus. A fluidization distributor introduces fluidization gas into the centerwell for fluidizing the catalyst in the annulus. A radial slot in the centerwell introduces the catalyst and fuel mixture from the annulus below the upper surface of the dense phase bed. An air distributor located below the radial slot introduces combustion air into the dense phase bed.

Abstract: Recycling a portion of autothermal reformer effluent into the steam-hydrocarbon feed stream with a thermo-compressor ejector is disclosed, using the preheated feed mixture as motive fluid. Syngas recycle-motive fluid molar ratios are 0.2-1.0, selected to optimize the overall configuration. The recycle introduces hydrogen and steam into the feed, and elevates the feed temperature, for operating the reformer in a soot-free regime. There is some pressure drop between the raw feed steam-natural gas mixture and the reformer feed, which requires the raw feed mixture to be supplied at a higher pressure, but this is offset by the lower pressure drop in the process heater and other upstream and downstream equipment due to lower quantities of steam. The feed pre-heater can have a lower duty, and the upstream and downstream equipment can be reduced in size, while the size of the autothermal reformer is about the same compared to the size needed for operation without effluent recycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for preventing or reducing buildup of certain solids in a system or a conduit containing or conveying a fluid. The fluid can be a single phase liquid, such as a liquid hydrocarbon, or a multiphase fluid such as a mixture of several immiscible liquids, for example liquid hydrocarbon and water, plus a gaseous phase that may include hydrocarbon vapors as well as other gases, for example carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, etc. Preferably, the fluid is crude oil. The solids include all solids precipitating from fluids due to thermodynamically or chemical composition driven forces, as well as materials that can change phases. Preferably, the solids are solids typically dissolved in crude oil, such as higher paraffins, asphaltenes, hydrates, organic salts, and inorganic salts.

Abstract: A method for lowering the cloud/pour point of a waxy crude oil in locations where size and/or weight of the facility may need to be limited (i.e. arctic zones and offshore). The major components of the system comprise a fractionation/quench tower and a reaction furnace. The furnace has sufficient heat input to initiate thermal cracking of wax and the fractionation tower is operated at a temperature sufficient to flash off light hydrocarbons but also low enough to quench thermal cracking reaction. The feed to the furnace comprises a portion of the bottoms stream from the tower and the furnace output is fed back into the tower bottom to be quenched.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well comprises an unmanned floating platform positioned over the well, the platform including equipment for inserting coiled tubing or wireline tools or the like into the well for servicing, controlling, or conducting other operations in or to the well, a vertical access riser connecting the platform to the well, a control umbilical connecting the platform to the well, a host facility adapted to receive the produced hydrocarbons, and a production pipeline connecting the well to the host facility, the production pipeline including at least one access port between the well and the host facility.

Abstract: A system for producing hydrocarbons from a subsea well comprises an unmanned floating platform positioned over the well, the platform including equipment for inserting coiled tubing or wireline tools or the like into the well for servicing, controlling, or conducting other operations in or to the well, a vertical access riser connecting the platform to the well, a control umbilical connecting the platform to the well, a host facility adapted to receive the produced hydrocarbons, and aproduction pipeline connecting the well to the host facility, the production pipeline including at least one access port between the well and the host facility.